IN a move that has reignited political speculation, former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, attended the public presentation of two political books in Abuja, one of which focused extensively on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its internal workings.
News Point Nigeria reports that Obi’s appearance at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, where PDP stalwarts gathered for the literary unveiling, comes on the heels of confirmed efforts by the PDP to woo the former Vice-Presidential candidate back into the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event showcased the launch of two books authored by veteran journalist and political strategist, Ike Abonyi, titled “Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a Partisan Journalist” and “PDP and the Resilience of a Political Party”.
The first title refers directly to Wadata Plaza, the headquarters of the PDP in Abuja, a symbolic nod to the party’s enduring role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
Though Obi declined to comment publicly on his political future or the PDP’s overtures, his presence did not go unnoticed in a room filled with the party’s top leaders and former allies.
The book launch was chaired by respected economist and former PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, while Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum was represented by the forum’s Director General, Emmanuel Agbo.
Former Minister of Information and ex-President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, delivered a penetrating keynote address titled: “How Did We Get Here?”, offering a critical look at Nigeria’s political journey, governance challenges, and democratic resilience.
Author Ike Abonyi, who served as media adviser to two PDP national chairmen and has held key editorial positions in ThisDay and New Telegraph, said the books were a reflection of his years “inside the engine room of Nigeria’s most enduring political institution.”
Peter Obi’s attendance comes barely a week after the PDP officially confirmed that it was reaching out to the former governor, describing him as a leader whose statesmanship and calm disposition remain assets to the opposition and the nation.
Sources within the PDP have hinted that the party is considering offering Obi a presidential ticket, or a unity candidacy arrangement if he agrees to return, a scenario reportedly being explored due to the internal struggles of the Labour Party and questions surrounding Obi’s political base and direction post-2023.
“Obi’s Labour Party has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership crisis, with rival factions vying for control.
In the meantime, the former Anambra State governor has aligned himself with the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aimed at challenging Tinubu’s APC in 2027, although he has yet to formally decamp to the ADC.”
