Peter Obi shortlisted for PDP 2027 as party leaders weigh Southern candidates, sparking internal debate on zoning, unity, and potential spoilers.
Party divisions deepen over Southern zoning and aspirants`peter-obi-shortlisted-for-pdp-2027-presidency`Peter Obi shortlisted for PDP 2027 as party leaders weigh Southern candidates, sparking internal debate on zoning, unity, and potential spoiler.
Also read:Peter Obi urges unity, calls for national love
Peter Obi shortlisted for PDP 2027 has sparked political tremors within the Peoples Democratic Party, as reports surfaced of his and other Southern leaders’ names being considered for the party’s presidential ticket.
The surprise inclusion of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate — who left the PDP in 2022 — alongside former President Goodluck Jonathan and Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has led to mounting speculation, internal debates, and warnings of party disunity.
While the PDP leadership insists the names remain speculative, a statement by Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, confirmed that the party had begun informal consultations and internal negotiations, hinting at serious consideration of the three southern figures.
Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, said party leaders are currently focused on selecting a credible candidate through broad discussions rather than endorsements.
“Those names are still speculations. What is going on now is intense negotiation.
The convention will be the first real step,” he clarified.
Still, the phrase Peter Obi shortlisted for PDP 2027 gained traction as party insiders and the media interpreted the talks as a potential reconciliation move aimed at consolidating the party’s southern base.
Osuoha further explained that although the PDP had zoned the presidency to the South, the selection process was far from concluded.
He stressed that regional balance, credibility, and unity would ultimately guide the final decision, noting that the convention would also usher in new national officers.
Meanwhile, tension rose from the North, as PDP presidential hopeful Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned against using Jonathan as a “spoiler” candidate.
His North West campaign arm accused party elites of promoting a provincial agenda, recalling the fallout from Jonathan’s 2015 run, which they say contributed to the PDP’s loss of power.
“The party is not sectional,” said campaign coordinator Aminu Bala Wudilawa.
“Only delegates can decide the flagbearer. Any ethnic-based strategy will be resisted.”
The group argued that zoning the ticket exclusively to the South could be a calculated effort to edge out Northern aspirants like Hashim, a founding PDP member and businessman. They claimed he represents a “clean break” from past leadership styles.
Despite denials from PDP officials, the notion that Peter Obi is shortlisted for PDP 2027 has gripped the public imagination — a twist that could reshape the dynamics of the upcoming general elections.
Political watchers now wait to see whether Obi, Jonathan, or Makinde will formally respond or enter the race.
Also read:Peter Obi Slams Tinubu Over Power Grid Collapse, Recalls Electricity Promise
But for now, the conversation around unity, zoning, and credibility has become the core of PDP’s unfolding 2027 strategy.
