…says “We are courting Jonathan, but he is not the only person”.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | As Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race quietly begins to take shape, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed ongoing behind-the-scenes efforts to bring back two of the country’s most prominent political figures, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi into the party fold ahead of the next general election.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who currently chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, disclosed the party’s internal deliberations during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.
“We are courting Jonathan, but he is not the only person,” Mohammed said, hinting at broader consultations within the opposition party to reposition itself for 2027. When asked specifically about Peter Obi, the governor was even more emphatic.
“Have you not seen him in Bauchi several times? Have you not seen him with me? He is my brother and my friend and one of the most celebrated politicians,” he said. “You have also seen him within the coalition. Definitely, we are not sleeping, it is just that we don’t make noise about it.”
Mohammed’s remarks mark the clearest indication yet that the PDP is rethinking its internal strategy and possibly returning to a southern-focused zoning arrangement, especially after the backlash and poor showing that followed the party’s decision to throw its 2023 ticket open.
“Life is always a learning process,” he said. “When we did it [throwing the ticket open] in 2023, it was not a pleasant experience, and that was why we lost. I discovered, to my surprise, that the presidency is a consensus phenomenon. You cannot impose yourself on anybody or any group.”
The PDP has struggled to reclaim political dominance since its loss in 2015. The return of either Jonathan – a former president still commanding influence in parts of the South-South or Obi, a rising figure with strong youth and urban support could significantly reshape the party’s fortunes.
Reinforcing the internal movement, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro also revealed on the same programme that discussions are ongoing within the party.
“In the run-up to 2027, I am aware certain individuals have been talking to Peter Obi, saying, ‘Hey, come back home, this is what we are likely to do, and if you come, you stand a chance of being the candidate,’” Moro stated. “Some people are also talking to the former president to come and run. It is a possibility.”
While neither Jonathan nor Obi has publicly commented on the latest outreach, political analysts say the next few months will be critical for the PDP if it hopes to mount a credible challenge against the ruling APC in 2027.
