Former Minister of Information and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Jerry Gana, has asserted that Peter Obi holds the key to victory in the 2027 presidential election, if he returns to the PDP. Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday, Gana confidently stated that Obi would defeat any Northern candidate under the PDP umbrella, citing the party’s strong grassroots appeal and the fairness of voters in the North.
Gana’s comments come amid swirling speculations about Obi’s potential comeback to the PDP, even as the former Anambra governor maintains visible ties with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Obi had exited the PDP in May 2022 to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, where he gained significant momentum, especially among Nigeria’s youth and urban voters.
“The PDP is deeply rooted in the country. I conduct regular research and public opinion studies. If Peter Obi contests under the PDP, he will defeat any candidate from the North because the people are fair-minded and seek justice,” Gana said.
He revealed that talks are ongoing to bring Obi back to the PDP, stating, “We are reaching out to Peter Obi. I’m leading a search team that includes many brilliant minds. Peter is good, no doubt, but we are also exploring other outstanding options.”
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Prof. Gana didn’t shy away from admitting that the party mishandled Obi’s departure. “We made a strategic blunder in 2023. If I were Atiku Abubakar, I would have told Peter, ‘It’s your turn; let me offer you the vice-presidential slot,’ but that didn’t happen,” he lamented.
Addressing the internal rifts currently plaguing the PDP, Gana dismissed them as isolated conflicts among elites in Abuja, far removed from the sentiments of the party’s base across the country. “Many people forget that the PDP was formed as a grassroots movement. In 1999, we were in every polling unit. We won the presidency, the Senate, the House, and most local governments. That’s how we restored democracy to Nigeria and ended military rule in a democratic fashion.”
Gana emphasized that the slogan “Power to the People” was not just a catchphrase but a reflection of the PDP’s foundation. “When we said ‘power to the people,’ we meant it. The recent issues in the party are confined to a few power players in Abuja. It hasn’t affected our strength across the states.”
