The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that ongoing conversations about the potential return of Peter Obi to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) pose a serious threat to the party’s survival.
Reports indicate that some PDP stakeholders have begun reaching out to the former Governor of Anambra State, urging him to rejoin the party ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the possibility of adopting him as the party’s flagbearer.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party’s candidate, has recently reiterated his commitment to serving just one term if elected president, insisting that four years would be sufficient for him to implement reforms and reshape the country’s fortunes.
Confirming efforts to bring Obi back, prominent PDP leaders, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, admitted in separate interviews that the party is actively seeking Obi’s return.
However, during a media interaction on Monday, Wike dismissed the notion, describing the move as hypocritical and damaging to the PDP’s already fragile credibility.
When asked about the possibility of Obi returning, Wike retorted, “To what? Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party? Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten , so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house.”
The minister argued that allowing Obi back into the PDP would undermine what remains of the party’s ideological base and further diminish its principles.
“If you want to destroy this party, dare it—bring Obi. There’s no way he will come back just because of ambition. No more ideology, no longer principle,” Wike stated.
What you should know
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, ran as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, finishing third.
Before his defection, he was a PDP member and even contested for the party’s presidential ticket in 2019.
His rising political influence, particularly among young Nigerians, has kept him a focal point in national political debates, with ongoing discussions about his potential return to the PDP sparking mixed reactions.
