Stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are weighing the merits of fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for the 2027 presidential election.
The Guardian has learned that a strong lobby, comprising high-ranking party chieftains, has been tasked with convincing Jonathan to return, offering him an automatic ticket. This move is said to stem from concerns among entrenched party interests over Mr. Peter Obi’s hesitation to fully commit to rejoining the PDP.
Sources within the party revealed that some chieftains, with their sights set on the 2031 presidential election, have thrown their weight behind Jonathan. They argue that his eligibility for only one more term, due to the constitutional two-term limit, makes him a safe option for a transitional presidency.
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Guardian that despite Obi’s assurances that he would serve only one term if elected, most party leaders believe Jonathan would bring greater stability.
“Let me tell you straight away, serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into the race,” the source said. “From the look of things, our northern colleagues believe that it is necessary to get the former president to come in and complete his second term.
“It is not that the Obi option has been ruled out, but developments in the Labour Party and the coalition make it risky to put all our eggs in one basket. We do not want a situation that could leave the party scratching around to field a strong contender.”
The feasibility of Jonathan’s return was reportedly a key part of discussions among party leaders who recently gathered in The Gambia. The meeting also covered strategies for financing the party and the 2027 election campaign.
Last Thursday, Lawal Muazu, Special Assistant to Governor Bala Mohammed, revealed that his principal, alongside Senator Abdul Ningi and Jonathan, was part of a delegation to a summit in The Gambia focused on bilateral relations and promoting democratic governance. In a Facebook post, Muazu explained that the visit was also part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the role of African statesmen in conflict resolution, good governance, and electoral support across the continent.
“The delegation engaged with Gambian leaders and stakeholders on matters related to peace building, regional stability, and democratic development,” he added.
It will be recalled that exactly a year ago, the Bauchi State governor had told a group urging him to run for president that the only scenario in which he would not contest was if former President Jonathan agreed to run. Pledging his full support, the governor, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, said he would back the former president.
“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss, Goodluck Jonathan. I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country unless he decides not to run,” the governor stated at the time. “If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.”
On why Obi appears reluctant to return to the PDP, a South-East leader of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, told The Guardian that no reasonable person would advise the former LP presidential candidate to rejoin the PDP in its current troubled state. Ezeh stressed that the party could only be considered stable after its elective convention, scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State. He added, “It is risky to swim in a river filled with sharks and crocodiles.”
However, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, expressed confidence that Peter Obi would defeat all other contenders in the 2027 presidential election if he contests on the PDP platform. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Gana said Obi would secure massive support across the northern states if he returns to the PDP ahead of the next election.
Although Obi has maintained that he remains a member of the Labour Party, he has also been involved in political collaboration with the African Democratic Congress-led coalition.
Gana said, “The PDP is on the ground. I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi, under the PDP, will defeat any candidate because our people are very fair-minded and just. We are reaching out to Peter Obi. Because I’m leading a search team and there are many brilliant people. Peter may be good, but we have somebody better. So, we are searching,” he added.
Reflecting on the outcome of the 2023 election, Gana said, “We made a mistake in 2023. If I were Atiku, I would say, ‘Peter, it is now your turn; I would give you a Vice President,’ but he didn’t,” he lamented.
