With about two years remain for 2027 presidential election, PDP National Executive Committee people don dey divided over some people wey dey try bring back former President Goodluck Jonathan and 2023 Labour Party candidate Peter Obi into the party.
This one dey happen as PDP dey prepare to launch their National Working Committee Zoning Committee and 2027 Election Zoning Committee for Abuja today.
Some top PDP members wey no wan make their name show talk say dem no understand why Jonathan wey waka comot from PDP when e matter pass, and Obi wey leave PDP go Labour Party wey affect PDP chance for 2023, now wan come back.
But other PDP NEC members talk say dem no get wahala with the idea, but PDP already get strong and capable people like Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and others wey fit carry the party flag for 2027.
Sources from PDP leadership talk say the party never officially reach out to Jonathan and Obi, say na some individuals dey do am on their own, no be PDP send them.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, talk say the Zoning Committee go launch today, and PDP get plenty correct people wey fit contest for president.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, come talk say no matter who PDP bring out for 2027, APC candidate wey be President Bola Tinubu go still win.
PDP just come out from serious internal wahala wey last for months.
During that time, big names like their 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, him running mate and former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, current Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno and other top people waka go APC and the new African Democratic Congress.
To fix things and arrange better, PDP for their 101st NEC meeting on July 24 talk say dem go do National Elective Convention for November 15 and 16 for Ibadan, Oyo State, to choose 19 new people wey go enter their National Working Committee.
Recently, to gather more people, Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed wey be PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman don meet Jonathan for Bayelsa and Peter Obi for Bauchi. Dem talk say the meeting na to discuss how dem fit come back PDP before 2027 election.
Other PDP leaders like former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido and ex-Minister Jerry Gana don also beg Jonathan and Obi make dem return to PDP.
But for outside PDP matter, Nigerians still dey argue whether Jonathan fit contest again, because of one 2018 law wey talk say anybody wey don swear in two times before no fit run for president or governor again.
Section 137(3) and 182(3) for Constitution talk say if person don swear in to finish another person term as President or Governor, e fit only contest one more time.
Section 137(3) talk say anybody wey don swear in to finish another person term as President no fit contest for that office more than one time again.
Section 182(3) talk the same thing for Governors, say person wey don swear in to complete another Governor term fit only contest for that office one more time.
Obi don still dey hold Labour Party tight, say him dey with them and ADC as coalition. But Jonathan never talk anything clear whether him go come back PDP to run for 2027 presidency.
One PDP National Working Committee member talk say PDP never dey discuss with Jonathan or Obi officially. Say na some people dey talk to them on their own, no be PDP send them.
The person talk say, “PDP never reach out to them officially. But some individuals dey talk with them, no be on behalf of the party.
PDP na the only correct party wey put people first. Those wey think say PDP don finish go soon see say PDP na the party wey go lead for 2027. The party get structure everywhere, from ward level to local government, zones and states.
Na why plenty Nigerians dey rush enter PDP. The party open to anybody wey ready to follow PDP rules. This include Jonathan and Obi. But PDP go welcome them with mixed feelings, because dem leave the party when PDP need them most, and wetin dem do before affect PDP chance.”
Jonathan leave PDP after the 2015 election, when e suppose stand gidigba to lead and arrange the party. Obi too waka comot during the hot period of 2019 election, and him move affect PDP performance that year.
So, even though PDP dey open to welcome Nigerians, Jonathan and Obi go enter based on wetin dem do before. Dem must ready to follow PDP rules and no come dey control the party. Anything wey dem wan achieve fit happen inside PDP, but dem must ready to play fair like everybody, because na wetin PDP stand for.
Another PDP NWC member yarn say people wey dey push Jonathan to run dey do am for their own selfish reason. Him talk say Obi too must ready to come back and follow PDP way.
Him talk say, “I dey inside this party. We dey hear say PDP dey talk with Jonathan and Obi, but me I never see any official talk from the party to them.
Jonathan suppose ask the people wey dey push am to run one serious question: dem dey support am because dem believe in am, or na because of their own interest?
As for Obi, e go submit to PDP rules? For PDP, we dey follow due process and treat everybody the same.
If dem wan come back, PDP go welcome them. But dem must ready to follow party process, because PDP go dey fair to everybody. No special treatment for anybody.”
