The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing fresh internal divisions as its leaders remain split over whether to field former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, or Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Daily Trust gathered from multiple party sources that some leaders, allegedly aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, are pushing for Obi, while another bloc is rooting for Jonathan, arguing that he is the only figure within the party capable of giving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a serious challenge. A third group has also thrown Makinde’s name into the mix.

Amid the rift, the party inaugurated a 110-member organising committee on Monday, ahead of its 2025 elective national convention.

The National Executive Committee had earlier fixed the convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, a meeting widely expected to shape the opposition party’s future and determine its flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the committee would oversee preparations and ensure a smooth exercise.

The committee is chaired by Adamawa State governor Ahmadu Fintiri, with Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke as deputy chairman, former minister Kabir Turaki (SAN) as deputy chairman 2, and Enugu State governor Peter Mbah as secretary. Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, will serve as the BOT representative.

Party insiders say the composition of the committee reflects efforts to balance interests amid intensifying debates over Jonathan, Obi and other aspirants.

Speculation has been rife in recent months that key PDP stakeholders are making moves to woo Jonathan and Obi back to the party ahead of 2027.

However, Ologunagba earlier dismissed such claims, stressing that the party already has sitting governors and other influential figures capable of leading the country.

“In our party today, we have many qualified, performing governors who can be president,” Ologunagba said in a chat with journalists.

“On Jonathan, I don’t speak for him. Ask him yourself. The same with Obi. I don’t know why you are asking me that question; go ask Obi. It’s not for me to speculate.”

One-term calculations

Despite the denials, Daily Trust understands the attraction behind Jonathan and Obi lies in a strategic calculation: both men are widely seen as potential one-term presidents who could hand over power to the North in 2031.

Jonathan, who lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 after about six years in office, is constitutionally limited to a single four-year term if he returns, which is still debatable by many. Similarly, Obi, who contested the 2023 election on the Labour Party ticket, has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected, saying four years would be enough to turn the country around.

A top PDP chieftain, who asked not to be named, said the push for Jonathan or Obi reflects the personal interests of different party factions.

“Many want Jonathan because he is easy to sell nationwide and has only one term left, which the North will find acceptable,” the source explained. “But Wike’s men are against him. They are pushing Obi instead, to block Jonathan. They know if Jonathan joins, even Obi will realise the game is over.”

Signs of a deeper struggle

Another zonal party leader told Daily Trust that the divisions reflect a deeper battle over control of the party.

“You saw the statement about cracking down on anti-party activities? That’s part of this ongoing struggle,” the leader said. “The party cannot be wooing Jonathan and Obi while allowing one man to dictate everything. They need to prove they are serious; otherwise, these figures won’t take them seriously.”

Former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, on his part, however, openly endorsed Jonathan as the PDP’s best option, urging the party to woo him back.

“I do not see a better alternative than Jonathan if he comes to the PDP,” Lamido told Channels TV. “He is welcome, competent and very qualified. No other southern PDP member matches his experience.”

PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi echoed that view, saying Jonathan enjoys strong backing in the North.

“Jonathan remains a reference point, a measured statesman respected globally,” Abdullahi said. “Even the North is more determined than the South to get him back. He can influence the outcome of the election, as we saw in 2019 and 2023.”

Abdullahi also described Obi as a valuable political asset who proved his strength in 2023. “He would be an important mileage for the PDP to have back. In any case, he was with us until 2023. Returning to the PDP would simply be coming back home,” he said.

Showunmi: PDP must hold primaries

But another PDP chieftain, Segun Showunmi, argued that regardless of personalities, the party must subject every aspirant to a primary.

“Jonathan may have an edge because he has never left the PDP, unlike Obi, who keeps moving around,” Showunmi said. “But nobody should deceive themselves, the PDP will conduct primaries, and anyone qualified can contest.”

He added that Jonathan’s one-term advantage gives him an upper hand but cautioned that the former president also has limitations. “Every leader has challenges, but Jonathan has experience, and that cannot be ignored,” he said.

Analyst urges reconciliation first

Political analyst Dr Jide Ojo warned that PDP risks looking desperate by chasing Jonathan and Obi while internal divisions persist.

“They should reconcile first. Right now, no matter who they present, they will fail,” Ojo said. “Even if Atiku Abubakar leaves, the PDP house is still leaking.”

Ojo questioned Jonathan’s viability, noting that he has been politically dormant since 2015.

“He hasn’t been attending PDP caucus or NEC meetings. He has been aloof. Elections are not won in Nigeria when you have no political base,” he said.

On Obi, Ojo argued that his momentum from 2023 has waned. “He has no pathway in the North, and even his strongholds in the South-East and South-South are now dominated by APC,” Ojo said. “The Labour Party is in crisis, and if he joins PDP, the infighting may still frustrate him.”

Ojo also pointed to incumbency as a major hurdle. “Towards the end of 2026, this government will scale up social programmes, conditional cash transfers, essentially vote buying. It will be very tough for any opposition to unseat the incumbent,” he said. (Daily Trust)