Veteran political strategist and former presidential campaign coordinator, Chief Dan Ulasi, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can only regain its footing and effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 if Peter Obi returns to the party.
In an exclusive interview on Symfoni, Ulasi argued that the opposition has been fatally weakened by internal betrayal, lack of strategy, and compromised leadership, insisting that only a charismatic figure like Obi can rally Nigerians behind a credible alternative movement.
“The PDP of today can only be revived if Peter Obi returns. Without him, the opposition is scattered — there’s no figure that can rally Nigerians the way he did in 2023,” Ulasi said.
The political analyst, who played a key role in earlier PDP campaigns, recalled that Nigeria’s opposition history has shown that political rebuilding takes time and strategic endurance, noting that Buhari lost three elections before winning through APC in 2015.
“People forget that Buhari contested three times before victory. What made the difference was strategy and coalition. If the PDP and Labour Party remain divided, Tinubu will win again hands down,” he warned.
Ulasi said that while Peter Obi’s 2023 performance shook Nigeria’s political order, his current isolation in the Labour Party may not be sustainable if he intends to take power.
“Peter Obi must understand that a one-man crusade can only go so far. He has the goodwill, he has the youth, but he needs a national platform. If he wants 2027 to be different, he must build alliances — and the PDP remains the best base for that.”
According to Ulasi, the ruling APC under President Bola Tinubu has already started working toward a 2027 consolidation, while the opposition is “still sleeping and quarrelling over crumbs.”
“Tinubu is not sleeping. He has started preparing for 2027 already. He is a strategist. Anyone who underestimates him will wake up too late.”
He lamented the lack of coordination among PDP governors and national officers, saying most of them “are busy pursuing personal interests instead of defending democracy.”
“The PDP governors are unstrategic. Some are compromised, some are afraid. They don’t understand that opposition is the soul of democracy,” Ulasi said. “You can’t have a strong opposition when everyone is chasing their stomach.”
The elder statesman called for a reunion of progressive forces across the political spectrum to check the growing dominance of the APC.
“We must return to the era of true alliances — where political parties work for the people, not just for elections,” he added.
Ulasi urged Obi and other credible leaders to focus on nation-building rather than personal ambition, stressing that Nigerians are yearning for integrity, competence, and hope.
“People are tired of excuses. Hunger is everywhere. If we don’t fix leadership in 2027, this country will sink deeper. Peter Obi has a moral duty to rise above ego and lead the rebuilding process,” he concluded
