PDP Did Not Reject Peter Obi’s Presidential Ambition – Former Legal Adviser, Jacob Mark Clarifies

Jacob Mark, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has firmly stated that Peter Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra State, was never denied the party’s presidential ticket. According to Mark, Obi made the personal decision to exit PDP and join the Labour Party (LP) before the 2022 presidential primaries even took place.

Mark’s revelation comes amidst comments made by Ali Modu Sheriff, a former acting National Chairman of the PDP, who recently suggested that Obi’s return to the PDP is imminent.

Adding fuel to the speculation, Katchy Ononuju, a political ally close to Obi, confirmed that there’s a strong possibility of Obi’s return. He pointed out that the PDP has now agreed to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, which aligns with Obi’s regional background.

Despite these assertions, Jacob Mark has voiced his doubts regarding any concrete agreement within PDP to hand over the 2027 presidential ticket to Obi.

Speaking during a live interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Mark emphasized:

“To the best of my knowledge, Peter Obi was not denied the PDP presidential ticket during the 2023 cycle. He made the voluntary decision to exit the party before the primaries began. No one pushed him out; he had a free choice and chose to align with the Labour Party instead.”

Mark acknowledged the ongoing speculation about Obi’s potential return to PDP, but he insisted that such a move would be based solely on Obi’s personal discretion and not on any official resolution by the PDP leadership.

“Many people are speculating that he may return, and while that’s their opinion based on valid political reasoning, there is no official decision by the PDP to offer Obi the party’s ticket. Those speculations are just individual projections.”

He further added that Peter Obi emerged as a powerful political brand during the 2023 presidential race. Likewise, the PDP remains a dominant and recognized political brand in Nigeria.

“If these two brands were to unite, it could create significant momentum. However, we are not at that stage yet where the PDP has formally resolved to present Obi as its presidential flagbearer.”

Mark described Obi as a marketable and highly respected figure, with a significant following and public trust.

“He is a strong political brand that resonates with millions of Nigerians. If he does return to PDP, he would certainly be a valuable candidate. And in politics, if there’s a candidate that resonates with the people and is widely acceptable, any strategic political party would logically want that individual to represent them at the national level.”