(DDM) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already weighing southern heavyweights as potential contenders for the 2027 presidential election, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has revealed.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Moro, speaking during a programme on African Independent Television (AIT), named former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as leading figures being considered.
He explained that the PDP had officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move that has re-energised debates about potential aspirants.
According to Moro, each of the three individuals has deep connections with the PDP.
Jonathan remains a party elder whose return to national politics has long been speculated.
Makinde, serving his second term as Oyo governor, has grown into one of the PDP’s most prominent southern leaders.
Obi, though he left the PDP in 2022 over disagreements on zoning, has a history within the party that could pave the way for his return.
“Now that the position has been zoned to the South, Peter Obi is welcome to return and join the race,” Moro declared.
He stressed that Jonathan and Makinde also remain viable choices given their influence and established political networks.
Moro, however, clarified that the list is not exhaustive, noting that more names may emerge as the political season unfolds.
The Minority Leader also addressed recent defections of PDP members to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He linked the exodus to dissatisfaction with the party’s decision to throw its 2022 presidential ticket open, a controversial move that deepened internal rifts.
According to him, the fallout from that decision is still being managed, but the PDP remains confident in its grassroots strength.
“The PDP remains a grassroots political party with many qualified Nigerians in the South,” Moro said.
“At the end of the process, we will put forward a candidate that will give the ruling party a run for its money.”
Analysts view Moro’s statement as an early attempt to position the PDP in the 2027 conversation.
By floating Jonathan, Obi, and Makinde, the party is testing public reaction while signaling readiness for an intense southern contest.
Jonathan, who served as President between 2010 and 2015, remains a figure of national recognition.
His administration was marked by economic reforms and security challenges, including the rise of Boko Haram insurgency.
Though he lost re-election to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, his peaceful concession earned him international respect.
Speculation about his political comeback has circulated for years, with different parties rumored to court him.
Peter Obi, on the other hand, shook Nigeria’s political landscape in 2023.
As Labour Party’s candidate, he mobilised millions of young Nigerians and created the so-called “Obidient Movement.”
Though he came third in the presidential election, his performance shifted the country’s political dynamics, making him a force no party can ignore.
If Obi returns to the PDP, he could reignite the battle between established party structures and grassroots youth mobilisation.
Seyi Makinde, at 57, represents a younger generation within the PDP.
As Oyo governor since 2019, he has cultivated a reputation for reformist governance and strong grassroots presence in the South-West.
Makinde’s emergence on the PDP shortlist could broaden the party’s appeal across regional divides.
Political watchers say the three names reflect different strengths—Jonathan’s elder statesmanship, Obi’s populist energy, and Makinde’s generational appeal.
The PDP’s decision to zone the ticket southward is already shaping the 2027 contest, with expectations that the ruling party will also weigh its southern candidates.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently holds power, the PDP is keen to reclaim national leadership by capitalising on divisions within the opposition.
Analysts caution that the PDP must resolve lingering internal disputes and avoid repeating the mistakes of 2022, when zoning controversies weakened its cohesion.
For now, the party’s strategy appears to be projecting unity while floating credible names that resonate with different sections of the electorate.
With nearly two years to go, the race for 2027 is already taking shape, and Moro’s revelation ensures that Jonathan, Obi, and Makinde will remain central figures in Nigeria’s political discourse.