The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again embroiled in internal wrangling as leaders of the opposition remain sharply divided over who should fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential election.
At the centre of the storm are three names—former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, and Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde—all emerging as potential candidates.
Sources within the party told Daily Trust that Jonathan enjoys strong lobbying from a powerful bloc of PDP elders who believe his return would stabilize the party and unite Southern interests. They argue that his constitutional limit of a single term makes him a “safe bridge” candidate. However, critics within the PDP warn that Jonathan abandoned the party after his 2015 defeat and question the wisdom of welcoming him back with an automatic ticket.
Peter Obi, who carried the Labour Party’s banner in 2023, is also in the mix. Admirers point to his wide youth appeal and strong 2023 campaign performance. Yet, doubts persist over his loyalty, with some PDP leaders recalling his defection history and branding him a “nomadic politician” whose return might come at the expense of committed members.
Governor Seyi Makinde represents the third option, touted by those who believe the South-West deserves a shot at the ticket. As one of the few PDP governors still holding firm in the South, Makinde is seen as a loyal party man who could balance regional equity with political stability. His advocates argue that he is both young and experienced, capable of repositioning the party in the South-West where the ruling APC currently dominates.
The divisions also reflect a deeper debate on zoning. Many PDP stakeholders maintain that the next presidential candidate must come from the South, after years of Northern dominance. While this strengthens the argument for Jonathan, Obi, or Makinde, it has also reignited rivalries within the Southern blocs—South-South, South-East, and South-West—all pushing their own candidates.
Party insiders caution that if unresolved, the disagreements could weaken the PDP’s cohesion and hand an advantage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
For now, the party’s National Working Committee has refrained from making any official pronouncements, urging unity and patience. But with powerful lobbies pulling in different directions, the battle lines over the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket appear firmly drawn.
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