By Abiola Olawale
As the 2027 Nigerian presidential election draws closer, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is said to intensifying its search for a formidable candidate to take on President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to seek re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The New Diplomat gathered that political heavyweights, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Labour Party’s 2023 candidate Peter Obi, outgoing African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, are among prospective top names being considered by the PDP.
The New Diplomat reports that PDP’s quest for a viable candidate comes amid growing concerns about the party’s ability to mount a unified challenge against Tinubu.
It would be recalled that the PDP’s path to 2027 is fraught with obstacles. Defections, such as Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have increasingly weakened the party.
The New Diplomat’s checks show that the ADC coalition, backed by Obi and Atiku, has further weakened the PDP’s position and has indeed outstaged the PDP as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.
However, The New Diplomat reports that amid all the obstacles, the leadership of the PDP says it is determined to field a strong candidate in 2027.
An insider source who spoke with The New Diplomat confirmed that the PDP’s presidential ticket will be zoned to the South.
The source said: “We have agreed to zone the presidential ticket to the South. We believe we have several candidates to challenge Tinubu from the south.
“We are in talks with former President Jonathan, Peter Obi, among others, to see if they are interested in vying for the presidential seat under the PDP.”
The source added that Jonathan’s potential comeback is gaining traction among members of the PDP.
The source added that Obi is on the list because of his huge supporters.
The New Diplomat further learnt that Obi still has a lot of friends in the PDP, many of whom are wooing him to return to the party.
Also, Akinwunmi Adesina, the outgoing AfDB chief, known for his transformative tenure as Jonathan’s Agriculture Minister, is said to be a wildcard also. His recent comments about serving Nigeria were said to have sparked the interest of some PDP bigwigs.
Also, Makinde is said to be emerging as a fresh face, backed by some young PDP leaders seeking a dynamic southern candidate.
Saraki, on the other hand, is on the list because some party members believe that he needs to be compensated for standing by the party, the source said.
He continued: “They believe that he is popular, having held his ground against the Buhari government during his time as the Senate President.
“They also cite his very rich friends who would not mind funding him. But those against him wonder which part of the country he would claim to belong to: North or South?”
