A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Jerry Gana, has disclosed that the party is holding discussions with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and other prominent southern political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gana, a former Minister of Information and one of the party’s most respected elders, disclosed this during an interview on African Independent Television on Friday, as he reflected on the internal decisions that shaped the PDP’s past presidential primaries.
Following the report that PDP may zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, there had been insinuations that the party was wooing the former Anambra State governor to its camp.
The insinuations intensified last Friday when the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said, “Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a very, very great capital for any political party.”
When asked to confirm the discussion with Obi on the AIT interview, Gana said, “Yes, why not? 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 is leading one of the party’s consultative delegations, said although formal talks with Obi had not yet occurred, discussions were underway with people close to him.
“I have met people. I have met him (Obi), and I have met people he would refer to, and I have sat with them for hours. We are moving step by step,” he said.
Gana added that Obi was not the only figure being courted, as the PDP was exploring broader options across the southern region.
“We’re not just looking at one person. One, two, three, even more. You know, the South is full of talents,” he said.
The PDP chieftain also revisited the events leading up to the 2023 election, describing how the party rallied around Abubakar despite reservations from some quarters.
“If you ask many of our members, they’ll say we’re a quietly answered prayer, because really, there’s absolutely nothing else we’ve not done to show that we are brothers with Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“He left in 2014 to go and form the APC with other people. He only came back to us towards the end. He requested for the party’s ticket in 2019. Do you remember who was our candidate? He was still a candidate. He didn’t get it.”
Gana said that in 2023, PDP leaders gave Atiku another opportunity based on his 2019 candidacy.
He also recalled convening a crucial meeting at his home in 2023, which both Atiku and then-Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, attended in an effort to unite the party before the general election.
“To be fair to both of them, they honored me. They came to my small house, and I said, ‘Look, Nigerians expect the PDP to win this election.’ So let’s resolve this matter, so that we win and form government,” Gana said.
According to him, there was an agreement to respect the outcome of the party’s convention. “Sincerely, this thing should have initially gone to the South. But now you’ve won the primaries, you’ve been elected. We’ll respect the will of the people,” he said.
He disclosed that Wike, feeling sidelined after not being chosen as running mate, requested that the chairmanship be ceded to the South.
Gana emphasised that the PDP was focused on rebuilding its internal structure to serve as a credible alternative to the ruling APC, especially amid rising economic hardship.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to set up and lead campaign teams for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in the FCT and Rivers State.
It was reports that Wike made this known on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing Phase Two construction of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualization project in Chikuku, Abuja.
The minister said he would personally head the campaign structure in the nation’s capital and his home state, Rivers, as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He said political parties were already reorganizing ahead of the election, adding that supporters of Tinubu from different political platforms had also begun preparing their campaign structures.
He said: “The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign. For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kickstart. Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned. This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes. It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is. You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy. When the people are happy, those in authority are happy.”
President Bola Tinubu, speaking through House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete its programmes and reforms.
Tinubu delivered the appeal on Friday at a special Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Abbas said Tinubu assured Nigerians not to lose hope, promising peace and development would return as the government corrects past mistakes and missed opportunities.
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete the programmes and reforms it has embarked upon. NigeriaMarket Research
Tinubu made the appeal on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The President, represented by Abbas at the prayer, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, saying his administration was working to address what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, the President described the country as having reached maturity despite the challenges it had encountered over the years.
Abbas, conveying Tinubu’s message, said, “This anniversary, the 66th, by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age. A 66-year-old cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey.
“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today.”
The President urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, assuring them that peace and development would return as the country continued on its democratic path. NigeriaMarket Research
“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope.
“Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” he said.
Tinubu said his administration was focused on correcting what he described as accumulated mistakes and missed opportunities inherited from previous governments.
The President further said Nigerians should consider the direction of his administration as it implements its programmes and reforms. NigeriaMarket Research
He added, “More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past are being corrected in this particular administration.
“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”
Children of former presidents, governors and other political bigwigs are among those seeking Senate and House of Representatives seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, as parties intensify preparations for the election.
Named aspirants and incumbents include Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Iyabo Obasanjo, Yusuf Buhari, Bello El-Rufai, Adamu Atiku and Blessing Onuh across multiple states and constituencies.
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, the children of several former
Nigerian presidents, governors and other prominent political figures are featuring among those seeking seats in the National Assembly.
According to The Nation, a review of candidates and politicians identified in recent reports shows that some already serve in the Senate or House of Representatives, while others seek to enter the National Assembly in the next election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, according to its published timetable.
Among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly contests are:
1. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – Kogi
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, daughter of the late former House of Representatives member, Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, is the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central.
She is seeking another term in the Senate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
2. Iyabo Obasanjo – Ogun
Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is seeking the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Her proposed return to elective politics places another member of a former president’s family in the 2027 National Assembly contest.
3. Yusuf Buhari – Katsina
Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency contest in Katsina State.
His reported involvement adds another former presidential family to the list of political families featuring in the 2027 legislative elections.
4. Bello El-Rufai – Kaduna
Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, currently represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.
5. Chinedum Orji – Abia
Chinedum Orji, son of former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, is contesting the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
6. Adamu Atiku – Adamawa Government
Adamu Atiku, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.
Reports have also linked him to the Adamawa South senatorial contest.
7. Blessing Onuh – Benue
Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, currently represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
8. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu – Delta
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is also involved in the 2027 electoral contest.
9. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion – Edo
Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion, is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in Edo State.
She has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
10. Olumide Osoba – Ogun
Olumide Osoba, son of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the children of prominent political figures seeking National Assembly seats in 2027.
11. Adegboyega Adefarati – Ondo
Adegboyega Adefarati, son of the late former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
12. Olamiju Alao-Akala – Oyo
Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency contest in Oyo State.
His participation adds another child of a former governor to the list of politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.