Nigerian opposition politics faces potential realignment as Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, considers rejoining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This follows the PDP’s recent decision to zone its 2027 presidential nomination to southern Nigeria, a move reportedly aimed at mending internal rifts and attracting former allies like Obi.
Obi, who served as PDP vice-presidential candidate under Atiku Abubakar in 2019, left the party in 2022 amid disputes over power-sharing norms. His subsequent third-place finish in the 2023 election galvanized youth-led support through the “Obidient Movement,” reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape. Despite briefly aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) last month, Obi has not formally exited the Labour Party, leaving his next steps open to speculation.
The PDP’s push for reconciliation, led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, seeks to address years of infighting rooted in its failure to honor a regional rotation policy for presidential candidates. Party guidelines had historically alternated nominations between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian-majority south, but the PDP’s 2022 decision to nominate northerner Atiku Abubakar—despite its northern national chairman—sparked a prolonged crisis.
Katchy Ononuju, Obi’s former campaign adviser, confirmed to Media Talk Africa that renewed zoning commitments are driving negotiations. “The foundational reason we left was the refusal to zone,” Ononuju stated, referencing the PDP’s recent pledge to prioritize southern candidates. He revealed that Obi’s camp seeks guarantees against backtracking, noting, “If they zone, there’s nothing wrong with rejoining.” The discussions gained momentum after Obi met with PDP elder Babangida Aliyu over the weekend.
The potential shift carries broader implications. Ononuju predicts Obi’s return could weaken the ADC, an opposition coalition he claims lacks structural coherence: “If we choose PDP, the ADC collapses.” He also suggested southern zoning by the PDP might pressure other parties to follow suit, fostering broader opposition unity. Meanwhile, unresolved tensions persist within the PDP, including questions about Atiku’s role and lingering factionalism exacerbated by figures like ex-governor Nyesom Wike.
As Nigeria looks toward 2027, Obi’s decision hinges on formalizing the PDP’s zoning agreement—a step supporters view as critical to ensuring equitable political representation. With Saraki’s committee actively mediating, the coming months will test whether decades-old divisions can yield to realignment or deepen the fractures shaping the country’s opposition.
