A two-time member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Abduljabbar Rufai, has said that the party is currently in active talks with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to bring him back ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He recently revealed that the move aligns with the PDP’s wider strategy to unite its members and strengthen its position against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, he described Peter Obi’s potential return as a strategic step that could improve the party’s chances in 2027, particularly in the Southeast and South-South regions where the Labour Party man enjoys strong support.
According to him, PDP leaders paid Obi a visit days ago, and it’ll be great to see him return to a party he once referred to his as his home.
“Leaders of the PDP recently visited Peter Obi, and we believe his return to the PDP, a party he once called home, would be highly strategic and impactful.
Looking at the 2023 polls, it’s clear that Peter Obi garnered the majority of his votes from the Southeast, which has traditionally been a stronghold of the PDP. If we can bring him back, it would be a game-changer for the party and a boost to our electoral prospects,” he said.
Admitting that the PDP is currently battling internal issues, he noted that everything will be resolved in no time.
Rufai concluded by saying that even though President Tinubu is a strategic politician, replacing Shettima could be his undoing in 2017.
“We are now 16 or 17 months away from the general election, and before the end of this year, Insha’Allah, we aim to reconcile with every aggrieved member of the party. Efforts are being made to align the party and appease those with grievances.
The PDP, as the most structured party in Nigeria since 1999, and arguably in West Africa, has a legacy, history, and presence in every local government, ward, and state across the country.
This cannot be said for the APC or any other political party. We remain hopeful as we approach the November 2025 convention, where we will elect a new National Working Committee to steer the party towards victory in the 2027 elections.
President Tinubu is undoubtedly a strategic politician, but there are speculations that he might replace Shettima. If he does, he risks losing the entire Northeast.
In the 2023 elections, the APC won only one state in the Northeast, Borno, the home state of Vice President Shettima. Removing him from the ticket would effectively cede the region. This would present a significant opportunity for the PDP to capitalize on those regions,” he added.
