FORMER Borno State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has sparked political speculation following his revelation that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may soon return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition.
Sheriff made the comment during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Monday, in a session monitored by News Point Nigeria.
According to the former senator, credible information reaching him suggests that Obi, who recently joined a coalition of opposition figures under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may dump the alliance and stage a political comeback in the PDP, the party he left in 2022.
Sheriff explained that Obi, like other top politicians, remains focused on the presidency, and that his path may realign with the PDP due to the party’s national structure and electoral strength.
“Atiku has been the vice president of Nigeria. So for him, it’s president or nothing. Peter Obi ran under the Labour Party. His ambition is to become President,” Sheriff stated.
“Information available to me is that any moment from now, Obi would go back to the PDP and run as a presidential candidate under the PDP,” he added.
The revelation adds a new twist to Nigeria’s evolving political narrative ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly within the PDP where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also widely expected to contest for the ticket one last time.
Sheriff, a long-time political ally of Atiku, alluded to the intensifying race for control of the PDP, particularly if both Obi and Atiku throw their hats into the ring.
“That leaves Vice President Atiku and (Rotimi) Amaechi. So tell me, which states do they control?” he asked rhetorically, suggesting that electoral support, not just ambition, would determine the 2027 race.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, left the PDP in May 2022, just days before the party’s presidential primaries, citing internal party inconsistencies.
He joined the Labour Party and ran a historic campaign in the 2023 election, coming third behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, but finishing first in major urban centers and parts of southern Nigeria.
In 2025, Obi joined other opposition leaders in forming a new political “coalition of progressive forces” under the ADC banner, signaling a plan to form a united front against the ruling APC in the next presidential election.
However, Sheriff’s latest remarks suggest the coalition may not be as cohesive as believed, and that individual ambitions may soon override collective interests.
Dr. Hadiza Bello, a political scientist at Ahmadu Bello University, told News Point Nigeria that the PDP remains a “viable option” for Obi if the ADC-led coalition falters.
“Peter Obi already has strong followership and national appeal. But running under a coalition with no clear structure could be risky. If the PDP offers him the ticket, he might take it,” she said.
As of now, Peter Obi has not officially responded to Sheriff’s claim, and neither has the PDP confirmed any discussions with him regarding 2027.