LAGOS: Moves to build a formidable opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election are gathering steam, with allies of former resident Goodluck Jonathan and influential people’s democratic party (PDP) figures intensifying efforts to woo Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
With the APC hierarchy already backing President Bola Tinubu for a second term and the PDP zoning its ticket to the South, the 2027 contest is shaping up as a Southern showdown.
For weeks, PDP powerbrokers especially from the North have mounted pressure on Jonathan to return to the race. Parallel efforts are also underway to lure Obi back into the PDP fold, three years after he left the party to secure the Labour Party’s ticket.
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Obi, who has consistently criticized the Tinubu administration, is regarded as a key player in the broader opposition coalition being championed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
That front includes former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola, and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai.
When asked about a possible return to the PDP or alignment with the ADC, Obi has maintained that he supports any credible platform capable of rescuing Nigeria from APC dominance.
Multiple sources confirmed that Jonathan’s associates have approached Obi with appeals to step down and support the former president.
While speculations swirled that the two leaders had already met, close aides to Obi denied such a meeting, insisting the former Anambra governor remains committed to his cause.
Jonathan’s people want Obi to step down for him, but there has been no direct meeting yet,” a source disclosed. “Obi is focused on his mission to help rescue Nigeria.
Alongside Obi, other Southern politicians reportedly eyeing the 2027 contest include Rotimi Amaechi and Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.
Jonathan’s backers argue that he is the strongest Southern candidate capable of defeating Tinubu at the polls. They emphasize that if elected, Jonathan could serve only one term four years thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s North-South power rotation principle.
Tinubu, if re-elected, would also be eligible for only one more term. Similarly, Obi has publicly pledged to serve a single four-year term if elected, though many Nigerians remain skeptical of such promises, recalling that past leaders made similar commitments but later reversed course.
Notably, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who defected from PDP to ADC, has also promised a single term.
Despite the momentum, Jonathan’s eligibility remains a contentious legal issue. An amendment to the 1999 Constitution signed into law in June 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari bars anyone sworn in as president twice from seeking the office again.
Jonathan first assumed office in 2010 following President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s death and won election in 2011 before losing his 2015 re-election bid to Buhari.
Legal opinions are sharply divided: some argue the 2018 amendment cannot be applied retroactively, since Jonathan left office before it was enacted. Others insist the constitutional provision is categorical, disqualifying him outright.
Critics warn that if Jonathan secures the PDP ticket and wins, the matter will almost certainly end up in court risking the party’s chances and potentially nullifying the efforts of politicians who step aside for him.
