Former Lagos State governorship candidate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Funso Doherty, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can be defeated in the State come 2027, insisting that the opposition was better positioned to provide an alternative for residents.
Speaking in an interview, Doherty, who contested the 2023 election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before joining the PDP, dismissed suggestions that the opposition was too divided to challenge the APC, stressing that his party remained Nigeria’s “main opposition.”
“The PDP is still the main opposition. Yes, we have the likes of the Labour Party and ADC coming up, but the established structure, the history and the institutional capacity of PDP cannot be diminished,” he said.
“We’ve lost some members, but we are united and heading in one direction. The party is resolute and committed to giving Nigerians a viable alternative to the pain and suffering they’ve experienced in the past few years.”
Amid questions about perceived anti-party activities by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Doherty argued that the PDP cannot be judged on the actions of individuals.
“A political party is not a military setup; it’s a product of consensus and collaboration. If we organise ourselves and are united as a party, one or two dissenting voices cannot derail the direction in which the party is going,” he said.
Doherty lamented what he described as Lagos’ stagnant growth despite over two decades of APC rule.
“I don’t see a material change between where we were 10 years ago and today. Lagos has been essentially under one administration for about 26 years now. The truth is that Lagos has by far the greatest resources in the nation, yet the quality of life of the average Lagosian, in education, healthcare, housing, water, power, transportation , does not reflect this,” he stated.
He questioned the state’s N3 trillion budget performance, saying resources had not translated into better welfare.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. The man given 10 talents is expected to produce 10 more, not three or four,” he said, referencing a Biblical parable.
The PDP chieftain argued that voter apathy in Lagos provides an opportunity for change if more citizens are mobilised to vote.
“In the last couple of elections, Lagos had roughly one million votes out of about seven million registered voters. That means only one out of six registered voters participates. If you can just get one more person to come out, you double the number of votes,” Doherty said.
“The incumbent party lost the presidential election in Lagos in 2023. That’s not theoretical; it’s practical. Their dominance is tenuous.”
Doherty promised a government of inclusion rather than what he described as the “extractive” governance model of the APC.
“We will clean up and reform government, block leakages, and ensure resources benefit the people. In education, there will be truly free schooling up to senior secondary level, with expanded vocational and technical training.
Healthcare will include free services for children and maternal care. School transportation and one free meal per day for pupils will also be guaranteed,” he said.
On infrastructure, Doherty faulted the performance of the Lagos rail project.
“When the line was mooted, the plan was 500,000 passengers per day. After almost 15 years, it’s carrying about 6,000 daily. That’s nowhere near what was promised, despite the billions spent,” he noted.
He pledged that in eight years, his administration would “institutionalise good governance in Lagos and set it on the path to first-world status.”
Commenting on the national economy, Doherty criticised the implementation of the federal government’s reforms in foreign exchange and petroleum subsidy removal.
“It’s not just the policies, but how they are implemented. If managed better, the forex liberalisation could have stabilised at ₦800 or ₦900 to the dollar, not ₦1,600. The government failed the people by poor implementation,” he argued.
He also faulted what he described as the lack of sacrifice by political leaders.
“The government asks people to tighten their belts while leaders live in excess. People are not fooled; they watch what you do, not what you say. This undercuts the credibility of the reforms,” Doherty added.
Doherty also promised to leverage sports to engage young people and combat crime.
“Sports are vital both within and outside schools. My administration will invest in them as a central tool of youth engagement. We will also tackle the issue of out-of-school children through education and vocational training,” he said.
