PDP in talks with Obi, other southern politicians — Jerry Gana
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Jerry Gana, has disclosed that the party is holding discussions with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and other prominent southern political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gana, a former Minister of Information and one of the party’s most respected elders, disclosed this during an interview on African Independent Television on Friday, as he reflected on the internal decisions that shaped the PDP’s past presidential primaries.
Following the report that PDP may zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, there had been insinuations that the party was wooing the former Anambra State governor to its camp.
The insinuations intensified last Friday when the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said, “Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a very, very great capital for any political party.”
When asked to confirm the discussion with Obi on the AIT interview, Gana said, “Yes, why not? 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.’ It would have been a strong statement.”
Gana, who is leading one of the party’s consultative delegations, said although formal talks with Obi had not yet occurred, discussions were underway with people close to him.
“I have met people. I have met him (Obi), and I have met people he would refer to, and I have sat with them for hours. We are moving step by step,” he said.
Gana added that Obi was not the only figure being courted, as the PDP was exploring broader options across the southern region.
“We’re not just looking at one person. One, two, three, even more. You know, the South is full of talents,” he said.
The PDP chieftain also revisited the events leading up to the 2023 election, describing how the party rallied around Abubakar despite reservations from some quarters.
“If you ask many of our members, they’ll say we’re a quietly answered prayer, because really, there’s absolutely nothing else we’ve not done to show that we are brothers with Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“He left in 2014 to go and form the APC with other people. He only came back to us towards the end. He requested for the party’s ticket in 2019. Do you remember who was our candidate? He was still a candidate. He didn’t get it.”
Gana said that in 2023, PDP leaders gave Atiku another opportunity based on his 2019 candidacy.
He also recalled convening a crucial meeting at his home in 2023, which both Atiku and then-Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, attended in an effort to unite the party before the general election.
“To be fair to both of them, they honored me. They came to my small house, and I said, ‘Look, Nigerians expect the PDP to win this election.’ So let’s resolve this matter, so that we win and form government,” Gana said.
According to him, there was an agreement to respect the outcome of the party’s convention. “Sincerely, this thing should have initially gone to the South. But now you’ve won the primaries, you’ve been elected. We’ll respect the will of the people,” he said.
He disclosed that Wike, feeling sidelined after not being chosen as running mate, requested that the chairmanship be ceded to the South.
Gana emphasised that the PDP was focused on rebuilding its internal structure to serve as a credible alternative to the ruling APC, especially amid rising economic hardship.
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