Professor Jerry Gana, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Information, has disclosed that the party is actively working to bring back Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a wide-ranging interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday night, Gana highlighted the PDP’s historical role in Nigerian democracy, its grassroots strength, and its strategic efforts to reposition for electoral victory. He asserted that if Obi rejoined the PDP, he would defeat any candidate in Nigeria’s northern states due to the region’s “fair-minded” voters and the party’s solid platform.
Gana, one of the 38 founding fathers of the PDP alongside the late Chief Alex Ekwueme, emphasized the party’s pivotal role in transitioning Nigeria from military to democratic rule in 1999. “We were in every polling unit by 1998, winning most local governments, the presidency, the Senate, and the House,” he said, stressing the PDP’s grassroots foundation. He noted that the party’s slogan, “Power to the People,” reflected its commitment to democratic governance, which saw it rule for 16 years and establish key institutions like the National Communications Commission.
Reflecting on past challenges, Gana admitted the PDP made critical errors, especially in 2015, when it failed to honor an agreement to zone the presidency to the North after President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure. “It was morally the turn of the North,” he said, explaining that this misstep allowed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to exploit regional sentiments. He also acknowledged a mistake in 2023, when the PDP did not support Obi—its former vice-presidential candidate in 2019—for the presidential ticket. “If I were the former Vice President [Atiku Abubakar], I would have said, ‘Peter, you were my vice-presidential candidate in 2019. Now, I’ll support you,’” Gana remarked, suggesting that Atiku’s decision to run instead fractured the opposition vote and handed victory to the APC’s Bola Tinubu.
Gana disclosed that he personally hosted a reconciliation meeting in 2023 at his Abuja residence, attended by Atiku and then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, to unify the party before the election. “They honored me and came to my house. We agreed to resolve issues so the PDP could win,” he said. A 14-member committee comprising seven representatives each from Atiku and Wike—reached “excellent conclusions,” but the agreements fell apart upon Atiku’s return from the UK. Gana suggested Wike felt sidelined, especially concerning the PDP national chairmanship, which Wike wanted ceded to the South as compensation for losing both the presidential and vice-presidential tickets.
Despite the internal tensions, Gana downplayed the PDP’s troubles as “elite issues” limited to Abuja, asserting that the grassroots remain loyal. He cited a recent PDP conference where the National Executive Committee resolved disputes, positioning the party to move forward. “The PDP is now moving, and soon the nation will feel the impact,” he declared, noting that the party’s 19 state chairmen and three governors in the Northeast—Adamawa, Taraba, and Bauchi signal its enduring strength.
Confirming ongoing efforts to bring Obi back, Gana described him as a valuable political asset. “Yes, why not? He was our member,” Gana said when asked about discussions with Obi. He explained that while formal negotiations are pending, he has met with Obi and his close associates for hours, describing the process as “step by step.” The PDP is also engaging other prominent southern politicians, as Gana leads a “search team” to identify an “excellent presidential candidate” for 2027, given the party’s likely decision to zone the ticket to the South. “Peter may be good, but we have somebody better,” he added, without naming other contenders.
Addressing speculation about Obi’s meetings with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gana argued that the PDP’s platform remains superior. “The PDP is on the ground. I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi under the PDP will defeat any candidate because our people are very fair-minded,” he said, referencing the North’s support for power rotation to the South until 2031, when it would be the North’s turn again. He dismissed the ADC’s viability, echoing former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s claim that the party would “die down” within months.
Gana also criticized the APC’s handling of Nigeria’s economy and security, citing a 760% rise in the exchange rate from ₦197 to over ₦1,500 and persistent insecurity in states like Benue, Kebbi, and Zamfara. “People are going through tough times. The economy and security issues are real,” he said, arguing that the PDP’s 16-year record in government demonstrates its capacity to address such challenges. He pointed to the growth of the telecom sector from 500,000 lines to over 200 million as a direct result of PDP policies, including his own efforts to attract MTN to Nigeria. He also accused the APC of frustrating investors, contrasting this with the PDP’s success in securing $18 billion in debt forgiveness.
On Wike’s endorsement of Tinubu for 2027, Gana expressed respect but predicted a change of heart. “Wike loves the PDP and has invested in it more than most. He was terribly maltreated in 2023, but he’ll change,” he said, suggesting that Wike and others may return as the PDP’s platform gains momentum and Nigeria’s economic and security challenges further expose the APC’s shortcomings. Gana recalled that even past defectors like Atiku eventually returned to the PDP and expects more to follow. “Some are nomadic politicians, but the grassroots keep sending us messages: the people are with you,” he concluded.
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