The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed that it is actively working to bring back former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into its ranks.
This revelation was made by Ibrahim Abdullahi, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, during an interview on Arise Television. Abdullahi described Obi as a “very, very great capital” whose return could significantly boost the party’s electoral chances.
“Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a very, very great capital for any political party,” Abdullahi declared.
He praised Obi’s performance in the last general election, noting that despite “massive rigging” and “deliberate frustration” of his chances, Obi still managed to secure over six million votes nationwide.
“If he had not gone the way he did in the last dispensation and had not faced the institutional obstacles that were placed in his path, we are confident he would have performed even better. That he was still able to command over six million votes shows he is not a candidate to ignore.”
Obi left the PDP for the Labour Party shortly before the 2023 primaries and went on to place third in the presidential race behind PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who eventually won.
His popularity among youths and urban voters has made him a formidable figure in Nigeria’s opposition space.
Abdullahi admitted that Obi’s exit was a blow to the PDP but insisted that his influence and legacy remain deeply respected within the party.
“Every political party that gets the opportunity to have him will be at an advantage. And certainly, PDP is not giving up on that effort,” he added.
He also revealed that the party is currently engaged in internal consultations and long-term planning to unify opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections, with Obi’s return seen as a strategic pillar in that plan.
“In the fullness of time, we believe we might get him back. It will be a big boost to the PDP,” he said.
The PDP’s renewed push to woo Obi comes amid increasing calls for Nigeria’s opposition parties to form a united front against the ruling APC, which has remained in power since 2015.
Political observers argue that only a grand coalition can offer a serious challenge in the next presidential election cycle.
