The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun high-level talks to woo former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, back into its fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A two-time member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Abduljabbar Rufai, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja. He said the move was part of the party’s strategy to consolidate its base, resolve internal disputes, and present a stronger opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Leaders of the PDP recently visited Obi,” Rufai revealed. “His return to the PDP, a party he once called home, would be highly strategic and impactful, especially in the South-East and South-South where he enjoys overwhelming support.”
Rufai added that Obi’s comeback could be a “game-changer” for the PDP, pointing to the former Anambra governor’s strong showing in the 2023 election. He stressed that the PDP is actively working to reconcile with aggrieved members, with the goal of resolving all internal issues before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned remarks made by the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who recently declared that there would be “no vacancy in Aso Rock” come 2027.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the comment as “presumptuous and undemocratic,” stating that the presidency is not a party’s birthright but a mandate to be earned through performance and the will of the electorate.
“This is an insult to democracy and to Nigerians grappling daily with hunger, insecurity, and unemployment,” Abdullahi said, insisting that President Bola Tinubu must earn a fresh mandate if he intends to remain in office beyond 2027.
Amid these political manoeuvres, some voices within the PDP have raised concerns about the party’s preparedness for the next electoral cycle. Segun Sowunmi, a former PDP campaign spokesman and close ally of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, warned that the party must not underestimate the impact of emerging opposition forces.
Referencing the turbulence caused by the G-5 governors during the 2023 elections — some of whom worked against the PDP’s presidential ambition — Sowunmi said the PDP “survived the first stroke” and must brace for a potential “second stroke” from ADC.
“To pretend not to see their efforts is madness,” Sowunmi posted on social media. “There is more to energising a party than what the present handlers are doing.”
As opposition parties realign and criticisms mount against the APC, the political landscape is expected to intensify in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
