PDP’s Alleged Shortlisting of Jonathan, Obi, Makinde for 2027 Ticket Sparks Debate

Reports of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly shortlisting former President Goodluck Jonathan, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as possible contenders for its 2027 presidential ticket have stirred controversy within the party.

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, was quoted as saying the PDP had identified the three Southern politicians as potential flagbearers, following the party’s decision to zone the ticket to the South.

However, one Northern aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warned against using Jonathan as a “spoiler” in the build-up to the primaries, insisting the former president had the constitutional right to contest but should not be deployed to undermine party unity.

PDP: Search Still Ongoing
Reacting, PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, dismissed reports of an official shortlist, describing them as “speculations.”

“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,” Osuoha told Vanguard.

He explained that while Jonathan, Obi, and Makinde were receiving public attention, several other Southern leaders were also in talks with stakeholders. According to him, the immediate priority is the party’s national convention, where new officers will be elected before narrowing the field of aspirants ahead of the primaries.

“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 added.

Northern Concerns
The North West arm of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard, in a statement signed by coordinator Aminu Bala Wudilawa, cautioned against reducing the presidential ticket to what it called a “provincial and dangerous” process.

“The PDP cannot afford to repeat the mistake of 2015 when President Jonathan was misled into a provincialist approach that weakened the party and cost us power,” Wudilawa said.

He argued that zoning the ticket exclusively to the South could be an attempt to edge out competent Northern aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Hashim, whom he described as a democrat with “the cleanest hands in Nigerian politics.”

“Dr. Hashim represents the forward-looking leadership Nigerians desire, not a return to corruption, ineptitude and provincialism,” he declared.

The group reaffirmed support for Hashim’s ambition, stressing:

“Insha Allah, that leader is Dr. Gbenga Hashim. No spoiler tactic will be allowed to shut the door against his aspiration.”