Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan and 2023 candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi were among southern politicians being considered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as potential candidates for the 2027 presidential election.
Mohammed made this disclosure on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, Jonathan, whom he described as the “most celebrated politician today,” had been a victim of political blackmail ahead of the 2015 presidential election but was later vindicated by the courts.
He added that Obi would be welcomed back to the PDP and given a fair chance if he chose to return.
“Certainly, (former) President Jonathan is one of the candidates we are thinking of, if he joins us and opens his mind to run. And even other people like (former) Governor Obi, because if he decides to come to a better platform where there are no encumbrances, he will be given the opportunity too,” Mohammed said.
When asked if PDP governors were actively courting Obi, Mohammed responded, “Have you not seen him with me? He’s my brother, my friend. He’s one of the most celebrated politicians, too. You see him within the coalition or no coalition — definitely, we are not sleeping, only that we don’t make noise.”
The governor also mentioned other southern politicians within the PDP who could vie for the ticket, including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
He disclosed that he had also held talks with former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, about possibly returning to the party.
“I have not been sleeping. I have to make sure I create a closing-of-rank drive for people to come and help. Amaechi is free to come back if he wants,” he added.
The revelations come just days after the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship in the North.
The NEC also confirmed Ambassador Umar Damagum as the party’s substantive National Chairman.
