If You Rig Election The Way You Normally Rig It Before, You May Have Trump Coming To Get You — Pearse

Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a senior figure in the PDP, has issued a stern warning to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying any attempt to rig the 2027 elections could make US President Donald Trump arrest those culpable.

He stressed that the era of unchecked electoral malpractice in Nigeria is coming to an end and urged those in power to tread carefully ahead of 2027.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Pearse dismissed concerns about the shrinking number of PDP governors, arguing that governorship strength does not automatically translate into presidential victory.

He cited the 2023 election to support his position, noting that despite having a large number of governors, the APC failed to secure victory in many of the states they controlled. 

He also referenced Peter Obi’s performance in the same election, where Obi won multiple states without having any sitting governors supporting him.

Pearse maintained that recent defections from the PDP have not weakened the party’s grassroots support. 

He pointed to Delta and Akwa Ibom states, where former PDP governors defected but failed to move the electorate with them. According to him, the people remain loyal to the party rather than individual politicians.

He insisted that the PDP remain stable and well-organized following its national convention in Ibadan in November 2025. 

However, he identified INEC as the party’s biggest challenge, accusing the commission of recognizing expelled members and acting in favor of the ruling party.

Pearse warned that flawed elections now threaten Nigeria’s democratic survival, adding that the international community is watching closely and that 2027 will be fundamentally different.

In his words, "If you rig the election the way you normally rig it before, you may have Trump coming to get you in your chambers. You may disappear overnight. Everybody has to be careful.

"This is not the first time it's happening. The International Criminal Court is there. So, be careful what you do. The way they rig elections in Nigeria, no, it's not going to happen again. 2027 is going to be different."