Indications have emerged suggesting that former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, may be considering a political return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sparking concerns over the stability of the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Political analysts and observers warn that Obi’s potential defection to the PDP could fragment the opposition bloc, which has recently been gaining momentum through the ADC-led alliance aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The speculation gathered traction on Monday when former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, claimed that “credible intelligence” pointed to Obi’s intention to contest the PDP’s presidential ticket in 2027. Sheriff, speaking during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, stated, “Peter Obi wants to be President. Atiku has been Vice President, and for him, it’s President or nothing.”
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Obi, who was the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections alongside Atiku Abubakar, defected from the party in 2022 to contest the presidency under the Labour Party.
Further fuelling the speculation, PDP elder statesman and founding member, Professor Jerry Gana, confirmed that the party is actively seeking to re-engage Obi and other former members. While formal talks have not begun, Gana disclosed that preliminary discussions with Obi’s close associates were already underway.
“Yes, why not?” Gana responded when asked if the PDP was courting Obi.
“He was our member. In fact, if I were the former Vice President, I would have in 2023 said, ‘No, Peter, you were my vice-presidential candidate in 2019. Now, I’ll support you.’ That would have been a powerful statement.”
Gana, who is leading the PDP’s reconciliation efforts, said he had personally met with Obi and some key figures in his political camp, describing the process as “step by step”.
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Political watchers have linked the PDP’s recent decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South as a strategic move potentially aimed at luring Obi back into the fold.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, recently described Obi as “a very, very great capital for any political party,” adding, “Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back.”
However, the ADC, which currently serves as the principal platform for the opposition coalition, has reacted with concern. Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesperson, stated that Obi cannot afford the risk of returning to the PDP, arguing that such a move would damage both his credibility and the opposition front.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time, Abdullahi said: “Regardless of what anybody is saying, it is good to see that it has taken the coming on board of ADC to get PDP to begin to make some movements. Peter Obi, more than anyone else, knows that he cannot take the risk of going to the PDP.”
In the midst of these developments, Obi on Tuesday distanced himself from any claims suggesting his defection or allegiance to either PDP or ADC. In a statement released by his media office, signed by Ibrahim Umar of Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), he clarified that any such statements did not originate from him.
“Peter Obi has been unequivocal in his position in the ongoing coalition and doesn’t need anyone to put words into his mouth, He has remained focused on his mission and will not accept anyone attributing false statements to him for their own agenda,” the statement read.
Efforts by NEW DAILY PRIME to reach the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, for clarification proved unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned.
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Commenting on the situation, Nduka Odo, a public affairs analyst and communication scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, noted that Obi’s unpredictability has unsettled both allies and adversaries.
“Obi’s unpredictable moves are rattling not only those he attended ADC coalition meetings with, but also the ruling APC. Nobody knows where he stands, and that gives him a strategic advantage,” Odo stated.
He advised Obi against returning to the PDP, which he described as “a carcass of its former self,” dominated by internal divisions and, in his view, controlled by Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister.
“If PDP thinks that zoning the ticket to the South at a time the party is in a coma is a great act, then Wike should clinch the ticket,” Odo quipped, adding that Obi must maintain his independence to avoid being “a caricature of the President and the FCT Minister”.
He further urged Nigerians to look beyond party affiliations and instead assess candidates based on merit, compassion, and past performance.
“We must be smart enough to understand that these are politicians. We should objectively compare the personalities, humanness, and records of these candidates, and choose the right one. That’s the only way we can move from having 133 million extremely poor Nigerians to a country where no one goes to bed hungry,” Odo concluded.
