BREAKING: PDP Names Jonathan, Peter Obi Among 2027 Presidential Contenders

PDP has named Jonathan and Peter Obi among 2027 Presidential Contenders.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are among southern politicians being considered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 presidential election.

Mohammed made the disclosure on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, noting that Jonathan, whom he described as the “most celebrated politician today,” had been a victim of political blackmail ahead of the 2015 election but was later vindicated by the courts.

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“Certainly, (former) President Jonathan is one of the candidates we are thinking of, if he joins us and opens his mind to run. And even other people like (former) Governor Obi, because if he decides to come to a better platform where there are no encumbrances, he will be given the opportunity too,” Mohammed said.

On whether PDP governors were actively courting Obi, the governor responded:

“Have you not seen him with me? He’s my brother, my friend. He’s one of the most celebrated politicians, too. You see him within the coalition or no coalition — definitely, we are not sleeping, only that we don’t make noise.”

Mohammed also mentioned other southern PDP politicians who could vie for the ticket, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and disclosed that he had held talks with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi about a possible return to the party.

“I have not been sleeping. I have to make sure I create a closing-of-rank drive for people to come and help. Amaechi is free to come back if he wants,” he added.

The revelations come days after the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship in the North. The NEC also confirmed Ambassador Umar Damagum as the party’s substantive National Chairman.