Peter Obi Should Be Seeking Return to PDP, Not the Other Way Around – Jacob Mark

A former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jacob Mark, has stated that 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi should be making efforts to return to the PDP rather than the party courting him.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, Mark emphasized that the PDP remains Nigeria’s most structured political party, boasting 37 state chairmen and functional executives at the local government and ward levels nationwide.

Mark acknowledged that Peter Obi remains a politically valuable figure following his performance in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, where he finished third behind the candidates of the APC and PDP. However, he argued that Obi left the PDP of his own accord before its primaries and was not denied a fair opportunity. “Obi made a choice to exit. No one chased him out,” Mark stated.

He described the PDP as a “political machine” with deep grassroots reach and insisted that any serious presidential candidate should naturally be drawn to such a platform.

While he welcomed the idea of Obi returning, he made it clear that there is no formal decision within the party to lobby or beg the former Anambra governor to rejoin. “It’s not our agenda to go all out and bring him back,” Mark asserted.

Mark also stressed the importance of party restructuring and internal unity ahead of 2027. He cited the recent return of several prominent defectors such as former governors of Jigawa and Niger states as evidence that the PDP remains open and attractive to both old and new members.

He concluded that while Peter Obi would be welcomed if he chooses to return, the PDP’s focus remains on strengthening its opposition role and reclaiming national relevance.