Peter Obi Can Win 2027 If He Returns to PDP Says Jerry Gana
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has declared that Peter Obi would defeat any candidate from the North in the 2027 presidential election — if he rejoined the PDP.
Gana made this assertion during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday, amid growing speculations about Obi’s potential return to the PDP following his recent engagements with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Obi Will Beat Any Northern Candidate” — Gana
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 elections, left the PDP in May 2022. However, Gana believes the PDP remains a strong platform that can help Obi clinch victory in 2027.
“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,” Gana stated.
PDP Still Wooing Peter Obi Ahead of 2027
Gana confirmed that the party is actively working to bring Obi back into the PDP fold.
“We are reaching out to Peter Obi. I’m leading a search team. While Peter may be good, we believe there could be someone even better. So, we are still searching,” he revealed.
The former minister also admitted that the PDP mishandled Obi’s departure ahead of the 2023 polls.
“We made a mistake in 2023. If I were Atiku, I would have said, ‘Peter, it is now your turn; I will make you vice president.’ But he didn’t,” Gana said, reflecting on the party’s internal decisions.
PDP’s Internal Crisis Is Limited to Abuja Elites — Gana
Responding to recent reports of internal conflict within the PDP, Gana downplayed the situation, claiming it is confined to a few elites in the capital.
“This recent problem is mostly among a few elites in Abuja. It didn’t even go beyond,” he said.
He emphasized the PDP’s grassroots legacy, reminding Nigerians of the party’s role in restoring democratic rule in 1999.
“The PDP was created as a grassroots organization. In 1999, we won the presidency, the Senate, the House, and most of the local governments. We restored democracy and re-established civil rule in Nigeria after years of military governance,” Gana noted.
Background: Peter Obi’s 2023 Bid and Current Position
Peter Obi emerged as a significant third-force candidate during the 2023 elections under the Labour Party, gaining massive youth and urban support. His potential return to the PDP is seen by many political observers as a strategic move that could alter the dynamics of the 2027 race, especially if the North fields a strong candidate.
