Abuja, Nigeria – April 22, 2025
As political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, Segun Sowunmi, a senior figure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the PDP to strengthen his presidential prospects.
Speaking during an appearance on Seun Okinbaloye’s Mic On Podcast over the weekend, Sowunmi—who served as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign—said the PDP would be opening its nomination process in due course and that all eligible aspirants, including Obi, would be free to contest.
“If I were Peter Obi, I would return to the PDP and make a strong case for the presidential ticket,” Sowunmi said. “This party was originally conceived in the bedroom of the late Alex Ekwueme; so, I don’t understand why the Igbo, along with southern leaders and other influential figures within the PDP, can’t come together and say, ‘Alright, we recognise this—here’s the ticket.’”
Sowunmi emphasized that Obi’s 2023 performance—where he garnered over six million votes without the backing of state governors or a well-oiled party structure—was evidence of his widespread popularity and potential. However, he argued that such political energy would be better harnessed through a platform like the PDP.
“We’ve covered every region, but we have not gone to the South-East yet,” he said, referring to PDP’s presidential candidate rotation. “If the numbers and the animated energy following Obi were to follow him into the PDP and he became the presidential candidate, I can guarantee you he would take the South East, South-South, the Christian North, and North Central.”
Sowunmi noted that his comments were personal reflections and not tied to any formal negotiations between Obi and the PDP leadership.
Background and Implications
Peter Obi left the PDP in 2022 to pursue his presidential ambition under the Labour Party, emerging as a third-force candidate who significantly reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape. His campaign attracted millions of young voters and urban professionals, sparking a political movement often referred to as the “Obidient” wave.
While Obi has not indicated any intention to leave the Labour Party, political observers have continued to speculate about potential alliances and realignments ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Sowunmi’s remarks come at a time when opposition parties are reevaluating strategies following their loss to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023. His comments are likely to fuel debate about the viability of a consolidated opposition ticket and the PDP’s openness to returning former members.
As the countdown to 2027 begins, the question of whether Obi will remain in the Labour Party or rejoin the PDP could become a defining issue in the race to reshape Nigeria’s political power structure.