Founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, has confirmed that the party is engaging in strategic discussions with former members including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi as part of its efforts to rebuild a strong coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on AIT’s Focus Nigeria on Friday, Gana disclosed that the PDP has launched a high-level reconciliation and re-engagement campaign aimed at bringing back political heavyweights who previously exited the party.

“He [Obi] is not the only person. We are also reaching out to others. But I don’t want to announce until we really get there,” Gana stated.

Obi, who served as Governor of Anambra State, resigned from the PDP on May 25, 2022, citing unresolved internal conflicts that obstructed fair political participation. Just two days later, he joined the Labour Party, where he secured the party’s presidential ticket and placed third in the February 2023 election, behind Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.

When asked directly whether the PDP had approached Obi for a return, Gana responded unequivocally:

“Why not?”

Reflecting on the 2023 contest, Gana suggested that Atiku Abubakar missed a golden opportunity to elevate his legacy.

“If I were Atiku, I would have supported Obi and played a fatherly role. That would have earned him immense respect,” he said.

Gana stressed that the PDP has since resolved the internal issues that once hampered its unity, declaring the party now more poised than ever to lead a national turnaround.

“I now have a very solid platform. I can go back to these people [former members] and say, the platform you were complaining about is now set, proper, and ready to move. I know many of them will respond,” he added.

Criticising the current administration, Gana accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of overseeing a “chaotic economy,” marked by rising inflation, deteriorating living conditions, and policy missteps.

He affirmed that the PDP is positioning itself as a “solid and credible alternative” and is working quietly but strategically to unify the opposition and present Nigerians with a compelling, reform-driven vision.

“We are building momentum. The PDP is now the party to beat in 2027,” he concluded.

As Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle, the political realignment signals a growing urgency among opposition leaders to consolidate forces in a bid to reclaim national leadership.