The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started discussions with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Monday. Abdullahi pointed to the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the PDP shortly before the 2023 presidential elections as one of the reasons for the party’s electoral loss. He suggested that their departures significantly impacted the PDP’s performance.
Abdullahi stated, “We have lost Kwankwaso, we have lost Peter Obi — all of these people — imagine if they are in the party, we will have gone to win the elections.” He further emphasized that just having one of these influential figures could have closed the gap that allowed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win by over one million votes. Abdullahi added, “Certainly Nigerians would not have been confronted with this despair and despondency in the land.”
According to Abdullahi, ongoing talks aim to bring Peter Obi and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who represented the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, back to the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP hopes that reuniting with these political heavyweights, who were once key members of the party, will strengthen their position and improve their chances in future elections.
