PDP Chieftain Tells Jonathan to Forget 2027, Says Tinubu Can Only Be Defeated by a United Opposition

People's Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former House of Representatives candidate, Austin Okai, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to drop any ambition of contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview, Okai argued that the PDP currently lacks the structure and unity to deliver a victory for Jonathan — or any candidate — in its present state.

“Jonathan should maintain his integrity and forget about 2027. The party is infiltrated, and many big names in the PDP are on the APC payroll,” he said.

Okai stressed that President Bola Tinubu can only be defeated if all opposition figures — including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Amaechi, and Jonathan — come together to back a single candidate, similar to the strategy the APC used in 2014 to unseat the PDP.

He dismissed the idea that the North solely determines Nigeria’s president, pointing out that the region is deeply divided and that political elites no longer hold sway over the masses.

On the current state of the PDP, Okai criticized some members for engaging in anti-party activities and accused others of neglecting their constituencies. He maintained that without unity and a strong, coordinated strategy, Tinubu’s incumbency advantage will be difficult to overcome in 2027.

Away from politics, Okai also called on the government to respect the Freedom of Information Act and stop using the Cybercrime Act to intimidate journalists and activists, while urging the media to uphold accuracy and verification in their reporting.