The consideration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the 2027 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket has caused a stir within the party.
Naija News reports that one of the presidential aspirants from the North, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, in a statement on Sunday, warned against a plot to use Jonathan ahead of the PDP presidential primary.
Olawepo-Hashim’s caution follows the statement of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, that the PDP had shortlisted three Southern aspirants, including Jonathan, as possible flagbearers.
Moro named Jonathan, Peter Obi, and Makinde among those being considered for the ticket, stressing that qualified candidates from the South could still join the race as consultations progressed.
However, in an interview with Vanguard, PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, described the names as mentioned earlier as mere speculations.
According to Osuoha, party leaders were holding intense behind-the-scenes negotiations and internal discussions to decide who would emerge as the party’s flagbearer for the next general elections.
He clarified that while public attention currently focuses on the three prominent figures, other potential contenders from across the South were actively engaging stakeholders in private talks aimed at selecting a candidate who could unite the PDP and challenge the ruling party in 2027.
Osuoha stressed that the national convention would mark the first major step in preparations for 2027 by electing new national officers to lead the party for the next four years.
He emphasised that after the convention, party leaders would shift focus to reducing the number of presidential aspirants, ahead of the primaries.
He said, “Those names (Jonathan, Obi, Makinde) you mentioned are still speculations. Right now, what is involved in the party is all about negotiations, and the discussions are going on, people trying to find out who will be the credible or the best candidate.
“For now, what I know is more paramount in the party is to put it in order, especially the national convention.
“It is during that period we will now be able to narrow it down to those who are going to contest. As far as I’m concerned, the party will want to conduct a free and fair primary to maintain transparency and show that when we talk about democracy, we are actually living by example.”
Osuoha further explained that although several people were expected to declare interest, the PDP’s zoning arrangement would determine who might eventually clinch the ticket.
He added, “Primarily, what will now guide their decision will be the fact that the party has zoned the presidency to the South. So, whoever will contest must come from the South-West, South-East, or South-South.”
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