Indications emerged recently that former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, may be considering a return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

There are fears that Obi’s defection to the PDP could destabilize the emerging opposition coalition, which is gaining momentum under the African Democratic Congress, ADC’s platform.

Some watchers now believe that the development poses a major threat to the unity and strength of the opposition bloc.

The speculation gained weight on Monday after former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, said that credible intelligence suggested that Obi was weighing a political comeback to the PDP to contest the party’s presidential ticket in 2027.

Sheriff disclosed this while fielding questions on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme.

“Peter Obi wants to be President. Atiku has been Vice President, and for him, it’s President or nothing,” Sheriff remarked.

Recall that Obi, who was Atiku’s running mate under the PDP in 2019, left the party in 2022 to contest the 2023 presidency under the Labour Party.

Ekwutosblog reported that a day before Sheriff’s disclosure, a PDP founding member and elder statesman, Prof. Jerry Gana, confirmed that the party was actively reaching out to Obi and other aggrieved former members.

Gana disclosed that although formal negotiations with Obi have not commenced, conversations have begun with individuals close to the former Anambra State governor.

“Yes, why not?” Gana said when asked if the PDP was courting Obi. “He was our member. In fact, if I were the former Vice President, I would have in 2023 said, ‘No, Peter, you were my vice-presidential candidate in 2019. Now, I’ll support you.’ It would have been a strong statement.”

Gana, who leads the PDP delegation tasked with lobbying returnees, said he had personally met with Obi and key figures within his circle. “We are moving step by step,” he noted, suggesting that Obi’s reintegration into the PDP is being carefully planned.

Ekwutosblog reports that the PDP has already zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a strategic move interpreted by many as an invitation to Obi and other influential southern politicians.

The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, recently described Obi as “a very, very great capital for any political party,” affirming that “Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back.”

Ekwutosblog findings indicate that should Obi rejoin the PDP, the opposition front might fracture, weakening its collective ability to challenge the APC’s dominance.

The ADC-led coalition hinges much of its credibility and voter appeal on Obi’s participation, with the aim of unseating the All Progressives Congress, APC, government.

You cannot risk going back to PDP – ADC warns Obi

Amid the ensuing confusion, Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesman for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said that Peter Obi cannot “take the risk” of returning to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Abdullahi while fielding questions on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme insisted that Obi is part of the ADC coalition.

“Regardless of what anybody is saying, it is good to see that it has taken the coming on board of ADC, to get PDP to begin to make some movements.

“Peter Obi, more than anyone else, knows that he cannot take the risk of going to the PDP,” Abdullahi said.

I’ve said nothing about PDP, ADC – Obi

On Tuesday, Obi disowned a statement purportedly issued by him denying joining the PDP and reaffirming his allegiance to the ADC.

In a statement signed by Ibrahim Umar, of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), in Abuja said Obi had been unequivocal in his position in the ongoing coalition and didn’t need anyone to put words into his mouth

“Peter Obi has been unequivocal in his position in the ongoing coalition and didn’t need anyone to put words into his mouth.

“He has remained focused on his mission but would not accept anybody attributing a statement to him just to satisfy their devious agenda.

“The media office wishes, therefore, to urge the public to disregard any statement purported to come from him outside his media office or his official handle,” part of the statement read.

DAILY POST on Tuesday put phone calls and sent text messages across to the National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, to provide clarification on Obi’s position on ADC ahead of the 2027 election.

However, Tanko neither picked calls nor replied to the text messages as he earlier demanded.

Speaking to Ekwutosblog in an interview, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said that Obi’s unpredictable moves were rattling both the ADC coalition and the ruling party.

Odo advised Obi not to return to the PDP, saying the party has been left as a carcass.

According to him, it is not yet clear which platform Obi will adopt even though he had indicated interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Odo said: “The recent statement by Ali Modu Sheriff that he was informed that Peter Obi will move to PDP is begging for questions.

“Is Sheriff an ally of Obi? How did he get the information? What was his motivation for such insinuation? Who is Sheriff working for?

“Addressing the question will surely tell you one thing that has become common today: name-dropping Peter Obi sells media space and increases ratings.

“Look at it properly, that’s exactly what Sheriff did.

“It’s interesting that Obi has issued a statement that he hasn’t said anything about PDP or ADC. Obi’s unpredictable moves are rattling not only those he attended ADC coalition meetings with. It confuses the ruling party.

“You know, you cannot hold down someone who you don’t know where he stands. They’re out to predict his next moves.

“The only clear thing Obi has said so far is that he is contesting as a presidential candidate in 2027. It’s yet unclear which platform. Is it the Labour Party? Is it ADC? Will he answer the wooing of PDP leaders?

“Obi has also said that he remains in the LP. We all know he’s shown interest in working with the coalition.”

Speaking on the speculation that Obi might return to the PDP, Odo said: “The PDP question remains the most illusive. I would not advise Obi to return to the PDP after the party has been left as a carcass.

“The former ruling party, at the national level, is left with nothing but a lost glory wound round the finger tip of Wike for him to toy with.

“Wike has the party on hold. And he’s holding PDP down on a trust for Tinubu. Obi shouldn’t think about going there, except he wants to be a caricature of the President and FCT minister.

“If PDP thinks that zoning the ticket to the south at a time the party is in a coma, is a great act, then, Wike should clinch the ticket since he said Atiku destabilised the zoning formula in 2023.

“I have some advice for Obi, ADC, and Nigerians. Well, Obi already knows that the reason they try to predict his next move is so that they instantly frustrate him there. He studied philosophy, and the staccato strategy he employs is the only thing that will keep him going.

“For ADC, I think the team has a lot of work to do. Currently, Atiku’s supporters are on the neck of Obi. The Obidients are also on the neck of Atiku. Tinubu and government machinery are all channelled on Obi.

“It isn’t surprising that the Tinubu team takes it easy on Atiku. There must be some access to a top secret that prompted Obi to become the main target. I see that as the unprecedented followership he commands.

“To Nigerians, I will say that we must be smart enough to understand that these are politicians. We should know what we need as a nation.

“We should objectively compare the personalities, humanness, and records of these candidates, and choose the right one.

“That’s the only way we can move from having 133 million extremely poor Nigerians as of today to having a Nigeria nobody sleeps hungry.”