PDP knocks Bolaji Abdullahi over comments on Peter Obi’s possible return

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over his recent remarks suggesting that Peter Obi would not return to the main opposition party. 

On Monday, Abdullahi said Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, is not unaware of the risks involved in returning to the PDP because the party is still under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Everyone knows that the jugular of PDP is still in the hands of the ruling party. Peter Obi, more than anyone else, knows that he cannot take the risk of going to the PDP,” the ADC spokesperson had said.

Obi is a member of the opposition coalition that has adopted the ADC as the platform for the 2027 polls.

Since the start of the month, there has been growing speculation that the former governor of Anambra may return to the PDP amid doubts about his chances of securing the ADC’s presidential ticket for the 2027 elections.

Last week, Gerry Gana, a founding member of the PDP, said the party has reached out to Obi to return.

On Monday, Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno, predicted that Obi would return to the PDP before the 2027 elections.

‘YOU’RE UNHAPPY WITH OUR MOMENTUM AGAINST APC’

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, described Abdullahi’s comment as an “unprovoked public verbal assault”.

Ologunagba alleged that Abdullahi is “known for his roles as chief image maker and defender” of the APC, adding that his remark was “reckless and revealing”.

“It is rather unfortunate that the APC-indoctrinated Abdullahi is apparently unhappy that the PDP is building momentum against the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, hence this resort to attacking the PDP instead of confronting the APC,” the statement reads.

“In any case the PDP, as the leading opposition Party, commanding the respect, loyalty and solidarity of overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the country and which is also the broad-based platform driving the aspiration of Nigerians to oust the APC in 2027, will not descend to join issues with the ADC or any other opposition Party in the country for that matter.

“Instead, the PDP, with its track record of performance, which Nigerians still recall with nostalgia, will continue to vigorously challenge the failed APC on issues while shaping constructive national discourse and galvanising Nigerians towards voting out the APC and installing a people-oriented government on the platform of our Party, come 2027.”

Ologunagba said notwithstanding the defections recorded in the PDP, Nigerians are still standing by the party.

“The PDP, therefore, remains the Party that has the support base, connections, national spread and political muscle to unseat the APC,” he said.

He added that the PDP has “more than enough presidential personalities with clear records of achievement and capacity to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at any time”.