The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making bold moves to woo back former Anambra Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his surge in popularity and electoral strength that saw him pull over 6 million votes despite alleged manipulation during the last general elections.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed during a live appearance on Arise News Thursday night that the party is actively working behind the scenes to bring Obi back. He described Obi as “our product” and a massive political asset, stating that any party that secures him ahead of 2027 would be positioning itself for major gains.
Peter Obi left the PDP in May 2022, just days before its presidential primaries, and clinched the Labour Party’s ticket. Riding on a populist, youth-driven movement, Obi won 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory but was controversially declared third behind Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Abdullahi suggested that had Obi remained within PDP’s structure, his showing could have altered the outcome of the 2023 elections. “He proved his mettle, drew six million votes despite the odds, and remains a valuable political capital,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the PDP has suffered a major internal jolt as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, its two-time presidential candidate, officially exited the party this week. Atiku is now one of the driving forces behind a powerful new political coalition aligning under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) umbrella to challenge Tinubu’s presidency in 2027.
Obi, who maintains he is still a member of the Labour Party, has also confirmed collaboration with the emerging coalition — a move that has sparked speculation about whether he could be the consensus flagbearer for the new front.
With Atiku out and the PDP fragmented, the party’s call for Obi’s return signals a dramatic shift in the pre-2027 political chessboard, raising questions about realignments, ideological clarity, and the true opposition ahead of Nigeria’s next general election.
