‘We Tried to Stop Tinubu but Couldn’t, He’s a Master Strategist’ – Dan Ulasi warns PDP

July 26, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

The former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Ulasi, has acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s exceptional political acumen, describing him as a master strategist who is difficult to defeat.

According to Ulasi, the PDP needs to undergo a significant transformation to stand a chance against Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on AIT’s Kakaaki program, monitored by The Yoruba Times, Ulasi revealed that he was part of a team that attempted to unseat Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

Despite their efforts, Tinubu remained undefeated, and Ulasi attributed this to his strategic prowess.

“I was part of the factors to stop him in the South-West, but we couldn’t do anything in Lagos State, and he remained there for seven years,” Ulasi said.

“And in 2023 when we were preparing for this election, I was the Director for Atiku’s campaign in the South-East, we had an emergency meeting, and I told them that this guy, people have to sleep with both eyes open; that this guy is not somebody you push to the background.”

Ulasi admitted that the PDP has lost its former glory since leaving power and that many members are struggling to adapt to opposition politics.

“The PDP is no longer what it used to be since the party has been out of power,” he said. “Many members of the party are not accustomed to being in the opposition because the party came to power in 1999 without engaging in opposition politics.”

To mount a credible challenge against Tinubu and the APC in 2027, Ulasi emphasized the need for the PDP to reevaluate itself and develop a new strategy. “Look at where he is, President of Nigeria today,” Ulasi said, underscoring Tinubu’s political strength and strategic thinking.