Former Minister of Information and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Jerry Gana, has declared that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, would defeat any opponent in Nigeria’s northern region if he returns to the PDP and contests future elections.
Speaking on Prime Time with Arise TV on Wednesday, Gana said Obi remains widely accepted in the North and could secure a decisive victory under the PDP banner.
“I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi under the PDP will defeat any candidate, because our people are very fair-minded,” Gana said.
Obi left the PDP in May 2022 to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party. Despite running on a lesser-known platform, he gained significant nationwide support, particularly among young voters.
PDP’s democratic legacy
Professor Gana also used the interview to reflect on the PDP’s history and its pivotal role in Nigeria’s return to democracy.
He recalled the party’s strong grassroots structure when it was formed in 1998, leading to sweeping victories in the 1999 elections.
“The PDP was built from the grassroots. By 1999, we had structures in every polling unit. We won the presidency, the National Assembly, and most local governments,” he said. “We were the party that peacefully ended military rule and brought back democracy. When we said ‘power to the people,’ we truly meant it.”
Internal rifts ‘exaggerated’
Gana dismissed concerns about divisions within the PDP, describing recent disagreements as limited to elite circles in Abuja.
“The recent issues within the party were not widespread. They involved a few elites in Abuja. At the grassroots, the party remains solid,” he said.
Zoning and future leadership
Looking ahead, Gana reiterated the PDP’s commitment to its zoning arrangement, saying the party remains committed to fairness and unity.
“In 2031, it will be the North’s turn. Our people are just and equitable. We are building a nation together,” he added.
Professor Gana, who played a key role during Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule, served as Minister of Information under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
His comments have renewed conversations about Peter Obi’s political future and the possibility of his return to the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
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