2027: Peter Obi should be begging to return to PDP – Mark

By Lateef Ibrahim

A former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Jacob Mark, has said that 2027 presidential aspirant, Peter Obi should be the begging to return to the party and not the other way round.

According to him, the PDP is well structured with 37 state chairmen, unlike other political parties that can boast of only a national chairman and has executives in all the local governments of this country and executives in all the wards.

He described the PDP as a very big machine that any politician should be interested in.

Peoples Daily reports that Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, left the PDP prior to the 2023 general election when it was clear to him he won’t be given the opportunity to contest for the party’s sole ticket.

He joined the Labour Party where he contested the presidential election and came third, behind the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidates, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

A founding member of the PDP, Professor Jerry Gana had on different occasions voiced his opinion and desire for the former Anambra State governor to return to the party and maybe, become its flag bearer for the next presidential election.

But speaking on Arise News yesterday and monitored in Abuja, Mark said that Obi’s return would be a welcome development but insisted that the party has not reached such a decision, not disputing the fact that Obi is a sellable candidate.

He said, “First of all, I am not sure anyone, in my opinion, denied Peter Obi when he showed interest to run for the presidency under the party in 2023.

“He left before the primaries of the PDP to join the Labour Party. And so he was not denied. He had a right of choice, and he elected to go to the Labor Party.

“Now, currently, while so many people may be of the opinion that he can come back to the PDP, I think the decision is entirely his, and I’m also not sure that the PDP as a party has sat down to say that he should come back and take the ticket of the party.

“These are generally personal opinions that are built sometimes on very cogent reasons. There is no doubt that Peter Obi, following his showing in 2023 is a brand that every political party would like to have. The same way, there is no doubt that the PDP has been a brand. So if two likable brands come together, it is easy to predict the result.

“But I don’t think we have gotten there yet where the party, I mean, the PDP has taken a decision to say it has to be Peter OBI, or it must be Peter Obi. He’s a very fine brand. Many people believe in him and are following him. So it’s not difficult to say yes, if he comes to PDP, it could be a good sell to the electorate.