Former Minister of Information and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Jerry Gana, has stated that Peter Obi—the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election—could secure significant support in Nigeria’s northern states if he returns to the PDP.
Gana, who has been a strong advocate for Obi’s return to the party, argued that the former Anambra State governor stands a better chance of electoral success under the PDP’s platform. He made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time, amid ongoing rumors about Obi’s possible realignment with the PDP, despite his recent interactions with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi left the PDP in May 2022 to pursue his presidential ambition under the Labour Party.
“The PDP is on the ground. I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi under the PDP will defeat any candidate because our people are very fair-minded and just,” Gana asserted.
He also disclosed that there were ongoing efforts to bring Obi back into the PDP.
“We are reaching out to Peter Obi. Because I’m leading a search team and there are many brilliant people. Peter may be good, but we have somebody better. So, we are searching,” he said.
Reflecting on the events leading up to the 2023 elections, Gana acknowledged the PDP’s missteps regarding Obi’s departure.
“We made a mistake in 2023. If I were Atiku, I would say, ‘Peter, it is now your turn; I would give you a vice-president,’ but he didn’t,” he noted.
Addressing the recent turbulence within the PDP, Gana downplayed its impact, suggesting that the issues were confined to a select group of political elites in the capital.
“I must confess that many people have forgotten that the PDP was created as a grassroots organization.
“In 1998, we were formed and then moving to the elections in 1999 we were in every polling unit, because we are the ones who really won the first election.
“Many people have forgotten the PDP won most of the local governments, when it came to the presidential elections, we won the presidency, we won the Senate, we won the House.
“We were totally in control, and that is why we were very delighted that we restored democracy to Nigeria and re-established civil rule.
“Because for a number of years, there was military rule but we successfully terminated that in a very democratic way, so the PDP was really as it were, a grassroots party.
“That’s why when we said ‘power to the people,’ we meant it because that was what it was, and it has been like that. So when this recent problem happened, it was really among a few elites here in Abuja. It didn’t even go beyond.”
Gana’s remarks appear to signal not only an open invitation for Obi’s return but also a broader call for party unity as the PDP looks ahead to the 2027 elections.
