By Peter Dansu The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly working hard behind the scenes to convince former President Goodluck Jonat...
By Peter Dansu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly working hard behind the scenes to convince former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for president in 2027 under its platform. Party insiders say Jonathan is being promised an automatic ticket if he agrees to return.
This move comes amid fears that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, may not return to the PDP as earlier speculated. The party believes Obi remains a strong candidate, but many PDP leaders seem to prefer Jonathan, especially for strategic reasons.
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, speaking recently on Arise TV, admitted that Obi would be a strong contender if he returns to the PDP. He pointed out that the party’s northern structures could give him the numbers he needs to win. However, he also insisted that the PDP has even better options within its fold.
According to reports by The Guardian, many powerful figures within the PDP believe that bringing back Jonathan makes more political sense. One of the major reasons is that Jonathan can only serve one more term, which gives room for new aspirants in 2031.
A PDP Board of Trustees member, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that there’s growing momentum around the idea of a Jonathan comeback. He explained that the North is strongly in favour of this plan, seeing it as a way to unify the party and present a stable option.
“Efforts are seriously underway to bring Jonathan back. Our northern leaders feel he’s the best bet for just one term. It’s not that Obi is off the table, but relying on him alone might be risky considering the uncertainties in the Labour Party and their coalition,” he said.
Interestingly, discussions around Jonathan’s return reportedly came up during recent meetings in The Gambia. PDP leaders, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Senator Abdul Ningi, and Jonathan himself, were part of a summit on peacebuilding and democracy. But insiders say the real agenda also involved talks on the 2027 presidential race and party funding.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, has made his position clear. Speaking last year to a group that wanted him to run for president, he said the only reason he wouldn’t contest is if Jonathan agreed to run.
“I’ve always said I won’t contest if Jonathan is interested. If he runs, I’ll support him fully—even with my blood. He’s a good leader, and if we can convince him to step forward, I’ll stand behind him,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are signs that Peter Obi may not be interested in returning to the PDP for now. A leader of the Obidient Movement in the South East, Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, told The Guardian that Obi has no reason to join what he called a troubled PDP.
He said the party must first fix itself—especially at its elective convention coming up in Ibadan this November—before expecting any serious candidate to join them. “It’s risky to swim in a river filled with sharks and crocodiles,” he said.
As 2027 draws near, the battle for the PDP ticket is heating up, and all eyes are now on Jonathan to make his next move.
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