The political calculation of Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has hit another rock with fresh facts of dumping African Democratic Congress (ADC) for People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to become the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2027.
Obi’s presidential ambition could be stalled by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has been adamant about forcing his way to become ADC presidential candidate even though some members want the ticket to go to the South.
Atiku’s presence in ADC has obviously blocked the chances of Peter Obi to favourably emerge as presidential candidate. This has led to serious speculations of dumping ADC for PDP, a party he once contested as Vice President candidate in 2019 along with Atiku as Presidential candidate.
ADC is currently going through serious factional crisis yet Obi’s presidential ticket chance is very low.
PDP’s Option
Peter Obi’s PDP dream could be a dead before arrival dream. The reason being that PDP is currently being controlled by FCT minister Nyesom Wike, one of the machineries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2027 election. Wike who allegedly worked for the victory of Tinubu in 2023 has consistently declared another four year support for the Renewed Hope President. Even though, the FCT minister is not a member of the ruling party APC, Wike would prefers a weaker candidate for PDP against Tinubu in 2027 election.
The body language of the FCT minister is too obvious for any desperate candidate to be thinking of having PDP ticket for Presidential election.
Another factor is the fact that Wike has consistently criticised Peter Obi for many reasons, he has openly called out Obi against Tinubu, so the chances of Peter Obi to move to PDP where Wike is currently in control of the party would describe Obi has a desperate politician.
Some PDP members are backing Obi’s return to the party to enforce their chances of fielding Southern candidate against Tinubu but fielding Obi against Tinubu in PDP would not happen as long as Wike is alive and controlling the party.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress has ruled out the possibility of Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, returning to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The coalition party stated that such a move would be too risky for the former Governor of Anambra State politically.
Spokesman for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the assertion on Monday during an appearance on Prime Time, a current affairs programme on Arise Television.
Abdullahi, a former PDP chieftain and ex-Minister of Youth and Sports, dismissed reports suggesting the PDP was trying to woo Obi back to the party.
