Peter Obi Likely to Rejoin PDP as Party Moves to Zone Presidency to South

Fresh indications suggest that former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi may return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.

This development follows the efforts of a reconciliation committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, aimed at resolving internal party disputes and bringing back aggrieved members. If successful, Obi’s return would be one of the committee’s most significant achievements.

Obi, who previously ran as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate under the PDP in 2019, left the party in 2022 to contest the 2023 presidential election under the LP, where he finished third behind Atiku and eventual winner President Bola Tinubu of the APC.

During the 2023 campaign, Obi energized a massive youth-driven movement dubbed the Obidient Movement, which made significant national impact.

Although Obi recently joined a coalition of opposition leaders endorsing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform for unity, he has not officially left the LP, maintaining that he remains a member.

Meanwhile, the PDP continues to grapple with a leadership crisis stemming from its 2022 primaries, which saw Atiku secure the presidential ticket — a move that violated the party’s zoning agreement. The PDP was originally expected to zone the presidency to the South, since the then party chairman was from the North, but failed to do so — triggering long-term discontent.

The party now appears poised to correct that, with signs pointing to a southern candidate in 2027 — potentially paving the way for Obi’s comeback.