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A member of the Founder of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, had revealed that the party was involved in a strategic consultation with 2023 presidential candidates from the Labor Party, Peter Obi, and other leading southern political figures in front of the 2027 General Election.
Prof. Gana made disclosure during an interview at African Independent Television (AIT) on Friday, where he spoke at length about the past’s PDP decisions and his future prospects.
His comments came in the midst of increasing speculation that the party got the 2027 presidential ticket zone to the south, a step that had triggered a discussion about the potential of the alliance with Obi, the former vice presidential candidate for PDP and former Governor of the State Anambra.
Speculation increased last week after the Deputy Secretary of the PDP National Publicity, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described Obi as “our product,” which stated, “We want to get it back, indeed, because he is a very capital, very great for every political party.”
When asked to confirm whether the discussion was taking place with Obi, Prof. Gana answered firmly, “Yes, why not? She is our member. In fact, if I am a former vice president, I will have in 2023 saying, ‘No, Peter, you are my vice presidential candidate in 2019. Now, I will support you.’ It will be a strong statement.
Although he noted that formal negotiations with Obi had not yet begun, Gana said the initial talks were ongoing with the key people in the former governor’s circle.
“I have met people. I have met him, and I have met the people he will refer, and I have sat with them for hours. We moved step by step,” he said.
Gana, which is part of the PDP consultation delegation assigned to rebuild the political alliance, emphasized that the involvement was not limited to Obi.
“We not only see one person. One, two, three, even more. You know, the south is full of talent,” he said, suggested that the party threw a large net because it positioned itself in front of the next election cycle.
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Prof. Gana also reflects on events that lead to the 2023 presidential election, where PDP deployed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate. He acknowledged that the decision to support Atiku was debated in the party but was finally accepted in the spirit of unity.
“If you ask many of our members, they will say we are a prayer that is answered calmly, because really, there is absolutely nothing else we have not done to show that we are a brother with the Vice President Atiku Abubakar,” he said.
Gana remembers the history of Atiku with PDP, noted her departure in 2014 to join the Congress of All Progressive (APC) which later appeared, and his return before the 2019 election where he once again won the PDP President’s ticket.
“In 2019, he did not get it at first, but we gave him another opportunity in 2023 based on his previous candidacy,” said Gana.
He further revealed that he hosted a critical meeting at his residence in Abuja in 2023 to reconcile Atiku and the Governor of the State of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, in an effort to unite the party before the general election.
“To be fair to both of them, they respect me. They come to my little house, and I say, ‘Look, Nigerians hope that PDP will win this election.’ So let’s solve this problem, so we win and form government, “he said.
Gana said there was an understanding that the results of the president of the party would be respected, though, in his view, the ideal ticket should be categorized to the south.
“Sincerely, this should initially go south. But now you have won preliminary elections, you have been elected. We will respect the will of the people,” he said.
He added that Wike, which was ignored to the Vice President’s slot, demanded that the National Party Chairperson be handed over to the south as compensation.
