Olusegun Adeyemo
A former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu, identified the emergence of the “G5” bloc during the previous election cycle as a key factor undermining the party’s cohesion and electoral fortunes.
In an interview with the Journal Nigeria, Sarumi-Aliyu asserted that the G5 faction, alongside Governor Seyi Makinde, effectively “killed” the PDP by acting against the party’s presidential candidate.
She recounted: “We grew this party. We have all invested our little money into the party… but you formed your G5, and you worked against our presidential candidate. That’s how they killed the party.”
“I told Atiku… ‘this party is gone.’ He said, ‘Basa, let’s repair it.’ I said, ‘nothing can be mended.’”
She stated that this fracture prompted many members, herself included, to leave the PDP en masse.
On the topic of women’s political involvement, Honourable Bolanle Sarunmi, has lamented that calls for increased women’s participation in politics have yet to produce tangible results in Nigeria.
Sarunmi noted that meaningful progress in women’s political representation can only be achieved with the active support of sitting governors, who have the power to influence political appointments and create enabling opportunities for women
She further stressed that the electorate also has a crucial role to play by supporting and voting for credible female candidates during elections, thereby helping to bridge the gender gap in the nation’s political space.