Jonathan, Obi endorse candidate for PDP national chairman
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have thrown their weight behind Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, as the preferred choice for the next national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The development comes as the PDP prepares for its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ahead of the gathering, the PDP Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, had earlier agreed to present Shekarau as the consensus candidate for the position.
Jonathan and Obi reportedly discussed the political build-up to the 2027 general elections during a recent meeting in Abuja, where they expressed support for Mohammed’s efforts to strengthen the party.
Both leaders were said to have viewed Shekarau’s emergence as a step towards stabilizing the PDP and addressing challenges that have troubled the party in recent years.
Shekarau, who previously served as governor of Kano State, remains a PDP member despite speculations linking him to other opposition platforms.
His associates maintained that while he welcomes broader political collaboration, he has not joined any coalition outside the party.
“The former president re-echoed his concerns about betrayals. He was not happy that some politicians derive pleasure in creating false narratives just to feather their political caps.
“He expressed relief that a former Kano state governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, is being approached to preside over the affairs of the PDP,” the source told Guardian.
The move to position Shekarau as chairman comes at a time when opposition parties are exploring new alliances, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clearing the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and 13 other groups to proceed in the registration process.
