By James Adamu, Abuja
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has predicted a bleak future for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 general elections, warning that the party could slump to a dismal fourth-place finish if it fails to address its internal crises.
The outspoken PDP member and member of the party’s rebellious G5 governors made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he expressed concerns over the party’s direction.
Fayose remarks come amid ongoing speculatons about negotiations between the PDP and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, aimed at convincing him to return to the party where he once served as vice presidential candidate in 2019.
The disclosure about the PDP’s efforts to woo Obi back was made by Prof. Jerry Gana, a founding member of the party and former minister of information, during an interview on AIT’s Focus Nigeria.
Fayose’s grim prediction reflects deeper tensions within the PDP, which has struggled with factional disputes since its loss at the 2023 general elections.
“It is my prayer that the PDP will come fourth. Today, I am telling you the PDP will come fourth in the general elections,” he said.
According to Fayose, the party’s internal crisis and the sidelining of its old members have weakened its electoral strength.
“In most states, they are already compromised. They have eased out so many leaders. It’s good for them, but let me remind you, I was part of the G5.”
He criticised the party’s leadership for what he described as “repeated acts of disrespect” and “sabotage” against loyal members like himself.
“I have paid my dues in PDP. You cannot continue to match a man like me. I don’t have friends in PDP. I came to PDP alone.
“How will a party undermine you—a two-term governor—you have done everything humanly possible to sustain, and they undermine you—I should be clapping for them? Forget that,” Fayose said.
Describing the current state of the PDP as a shadow of its former self, Fayose said: “Associating with PDP today is shameful enough. The party is too weak to take a grab of anything lately. PDP is not an issue for now. With more prayers, PDP will end up in the fourth position.”
He also took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alleging that Atiku knew he would secure the PDP ticket and therefore blocked other options.
“Atiku knew he was going to get the ticket of PDP, that was why he moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” Fayose claimed.
Asked whether he would support Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde if he emerged as the PDP presidential candidate, Fayose said, “If Governor Makinde becomes the flag bearer, Nigerians will decide. I have no issue with that.”
Reflecting on his political loyalties, Fayose said he had always been transparent about his leanings, even while in office.
“Nigerians know where I belong every time when it comes to issues about politics and our country. When I was a sitting governor, I did not hide my support for Tinubu. I visited him severally as a sitting governor,” he said.
The ex-governor also spoke on zoning, expressing support for the PDP’s decision to zone the presidency to the South, though he maintained a grim outlook for the party.
“The zoning to the South by PDP is good for them because today, President Bola Tinubu is the shortest distance for power to return to the North. On whether I am to be trusted or not—I don’t have to be trusted. We know the situation of my party today—and it’s in my prayers that the PDP does not come fourth in the coming elections.
“Pretenders can pretend, but you know that the PDP has messed up. Managing the party has become an issue. Everybody in that party today has become, ‘to your tents, O Israel!’” he said.
Meanwhile, the political climate within Fayose’s party, the PDP, has faced a growing crisis in recent weeks.
On 6 June, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Similarly, on 23 April, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and several political allies—including commissioners and local government chairmen—also joined the APC. Former Governor of Delta and PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, followed suit.
Also, on 16 July, former Vice President and ex-PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar resigned from his membership of the PDP with immediate effect, citing irreconcilable differences that have emerged within the former ruling party.
Meanwhile, Prof Jerry Gana has a different view about the PDP, saying that the party is grammatically gaining back its groove.
Gana confirmed that the PDP had reached out to Peter Obi to fly the ticket of the party in an interview on AIT on Friday.
This is coming just less than a day when the party zoned its presidential ticket to the South to provide the platform for viable candidate like Obi to contest under.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra, resigned from the PDP on May 25, 2022, ahead of the 2023 elections. He left the PDP days before its presidential primary, stating that “recent developments in the party do not support constructive contributions”.
When asked during the programme if the party had contacted Obi about returning, Gana responded, “Why not?”
Jerry Gana stated that if he were in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s position, he would have stepped aside from the 2023 presidential race to support Peter Obi instead.
Atiku, who ran as the PDP’s candidate, ultimately secured the party’s ticket, while Obi—who later contested under the Labour Party—finished ahead of him in the election.
Gana also revealed that he heads a PDP delegation tasked with reaching out to former party members, including Obi, in an effort to persuade them to return to the fold.
“He [Obi] is not the only person. We are also moving to other persons. But I don’t want to announce until we really get there,” he said.
Gana said the PDP crisis is over, adding that the party is now a “credible alternative” for the 2027 elections.
“I have a very solid platform. I can now go back to these people and say the platform you were complaining about is now set, proper, and ready to move. I know many of them would respond,” he said.
Gana described the nation’s economy under the All Progressives Congress (APC) as chaotic, with soaring commodity prices and many Nigerians struggling to afford necessities.
The former minister added that the opposition party is ready to take power in 2027.
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