Ulasi Backs Possible PDP-Obi Alliance Ahead of 2027 Elections

A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Chief Dan Ulasi is a prominent member of the party. He discusses the party’s ongoing restructuring in this interview, as well as the reasons it is appropriate to back efforts to persuade Peter Obi to rejoin the main opposition party. Among other things, the PDP leader chastises people who have switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Joy Anigogu provides the following excerpts:

Mr. Peter has stated that he will only do this once, which many Nigerians have viewed with skepticism because such promises are flimsy. Mr. Peter will then return to the PDP. The reality is different when you see the other side. Second, I would like you to respond to Minister Nyesom Wike’s conditions to the PDP regarding whether Chief Dan Orbih remains the National Vice Chairman, South-South, and whether or not another event involving another person in the South-South can go forward. He also stated that the November convention will not take place if no one pays attention. Is this not unmistakable proof that the PDP we are discussing is in the intensive care unit, as Senator Suswan once declared?

The constitution of this nation guarantees what is known as free expression. As long as you don’t mistreat or extort others, you are free to say what and how you want to. However, I must begin by stating that democracy depends on a number of doses of civility. They emphasize the definition of civility, which is something that most people, including those in politics, do not comprehend, and as a result, they display a self-preservation instinct of some kind. And this introspective inclination leads to self-preservation, which might lead to paranoia, which is really harmful. The nation hasn’t changed because of those who swear allegiance to exceptional duty when, in reality, they mean to have pledged allegiance to stealing money. Returning to your original question, the majority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s elites and so-called educated people prefer to overlook the constitution’s mention of a four-year term. According to the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution, you have a four-year term. According to that constitution, you should be able to leave a lasting mark on your society in four years. It indicates your strong points, and if you request a second term, it will grant it. It states that it will only last for four years, but if you have a decent idea and someone else steps in, it will complete it. We have one of the best governors in the Federal Republic of Nigeria if you visit Enugu right now. The majority of the unfinished projects over the previous 16 to 20 years have been finished. Arriving in Enugu is similar to entering London. You may observe how the governor is completing all of the projects and restoring the area. Therefore, I believe that Peter’s statement that he will serve four years is infallible. By all accounts, he is a good Christian and a highly honest person in Nigerian politics. I trust him that he will do it in four years since he doesn’t speak from both sides of his mouth. He may not do everything he wants to do in four years, but if you listen to him, you’ll see and think that he will. The constitution makes that assumption. Since you promised to do it in four years, they would have claimed they were giving it five or six years if they thought you could do it. Nothing Peter said was off topic. He believes that you should be able to perform adequate research within a year, even before you take office. Do a thorough review of your vision and how you plan to realize it. The main issue is that people constantly consider ways to steal money because they have a vision of doing so.

Nothing that will have an effect on the average person.

What about Wike’s PDP and the suggestion that Mr. Peter Obi rejoin it?

The issue with Wike is that I don’t think it’s appropriate to reach the conclusion without first examining the beginning of the experiment. At a meeting in Asaba a few years ago, the 17 southern governors—including those from the PDP and APC—decided that all presidential candidates from the two major parties had to be from the south. The APC followed suit. It wasn’t done by PDP. The committee for zoning party offices was led by former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who allocated chairmanship to the north and secretary to the south, as was customary. It was considered sabotage when Ortom, who was intended to zone elective offices, remained silent after becoming president. Because his party didn’t zone anything to anywhere, Atiku Abubakar was able to run thanks to that silence. Regretfully, he lost while he ran. The crisis has been ongoing ever since. Wike took advantage of that crisis since he and a few other candidates ran in that race with the belief that he would have won and might have been Nigeria’s president today if he hadn’t had Atiku Abubakar’s meddling. Thus, the relationship between Wike and the PDP has not been regular since. Actually, two months prior to the 2023 election, I traveled to Port Harcourt and spent hours meeting with him before returning to Enugu to make the case that our party is superior and that we should attempt to win the election. However, he didn’t fully agree with my request. As I mentioned earlier, he is entitled to free expression, free association, and free behavior patterns under the constitution. He concluded that there was no longer any foundation for trust as a result of what the PDP had done.

How about the idea of enticing Peter Obi to rejoin the PDP? This discussion is becoming more and more popular. But I wish to ignore a few remarks made by Senator Olujimi, who recently switched from the PDP to the APC. She claimed that the PDP had nothing to offer anyone, which is why she quit. Therefore, it’s interesting that there is discussion about enticing Peter Obi to join the PDP in public. Do you believe he would be a suitable PDP flag bearer? And will the PDP help or hurt his chances as he moves near 2027, in your opinion?

I’m glad you brought up Olujimi. What has he promised the PDP, you would have asked her? People are always searching for places to distribute money because the federal government no longer exists and there is no money to share. Isn’t it regrettable that a prominent figure in Nigerian politics is abandoning the PDP since they have nothing to offer? What has she contributed to improving PDP? We met with the founders and stakeholders two weeks ago. I was present. Almost all of our governors attended the NEC meeting the following day, where they formed committees to try to increase the party’s productivity in order to prepare for the upcoming 2027 election. A single interest, whether financial or otherwise, may cause some people to depart. So many years ago, when we were founding the PDP, I supported the Ekwueme? Additionally, if I must leave PDP today, I must have a strong argument for why my new location is preferable to my old one. Does anyone in this country know if the APC is superior to the PDP, even when they are in opposition? Even their speech sounds like that of an opposition group that is aware of their position in power. What will entice me to visit APC, then? Nothing. The party lacks excitement because of all its governors. Therefore, if someone is leaving the PDP to go there, there must be a reason for their departure besides political pressure. As I already stated, Wike’s remark stems from the issue that arose in 2023, and the party as a whole has not been happy ever then.

What about Peter Obi’s problem?

Peter has essentially become a national political personality, if the party wishes to run a meaningful campaign in this election. The party is organizing a committee that will investigate this subject. This is 2025, so we still have plenty of time. The party will begin considering options and making decisions between now and the end of the year. In one way or another, we are attempting to rehabilitate our issues. The next big step will be our convention, which is scheduled for November and of which I am a member of the organizing committee. We will then begin as soon as we have new chairman, secretary, permanent party officers, and everyone else. The next step is to begin discussing 2027. Therefore, before we discuss public officials, we want to reconstruct the party, the National Working Committee, and the NEC. Before we count one, we don’t want to count two. As a result, Peter Obi is a marketable product that will benefit any entity that owns him. Without a doubt, it serves as a benchmark in this nation. If the PDP wishes to approach him, I will support that.

Do you believe Peter Obi should be included in the debate since Wike currently controls the PDP? What about the fact that certain PDP members have also brought up Goodluck Jonathan’s remarks? And, to put myself in the shoes of the devil, why are people attending the APC? Since the APC is in power, they are going there. It has been more than ten years since your party last held the reins of power. APC provides them with stability, which is why they are moving. Your party is not owned by anyone. Despite the obstacles, APC has managed to overcome them. Because the APC has the president and they believe they are in a stronger position right now, they are joining the party. As we talk now, they are therefore pursuing a better solution. Compared to your chaotic party, the APC is far superior. that you have no idea what the future holds or what the next thing will be. You would probably want to go to certainty as well if the APC addressed folks like you today.

Is APC not a given? What do you think about PDP not being uncertain?

I really like your analysis. However, human conduct is not determined by numbers. One plus one is rarely two in politics. It may actually be 100, and once it is accepted by the public, it becomes the official number. The fact that people are switching from the PDP to the APC does not imply that the APC is superior to the PDP. It demonstrates the lack of values in people. The nation is not moving because of this. For example, consider the Senate president. He was Akwa Ibun State’s eighth-year governor. The entire Delta State recently switched to APC. Akwa Ibom just joined the APC. As a journalist, could you explain to me what they will discover in the APC that they were unable to accomplish in Delta State or Akwa Ibom State, when they were performing admirably as governors of the PDP? People are therefore prone to accepting whatever that comes before them since they lack values. I have been a member of the PDP since its founding. I have never served as a director or commissioner. However, they invite me to most of their delicate activities. In 2003, I chaired the Northeast screening panel. I screened the entire Northeast in 2010. I was the conduit for the majority of our governors today. As a party member, you have this kind of determination to contribute. Many people enter this industry with the intention of making money. And for that reason, the nation is not progressing. We must possess the honor and ideals you hold dear. In my opinion, there was no government for eight years starting with Buhari’s tenure. Nothing took place. President Tinubu then appeared. Anybody who entered that post after Buhari would have faced the same issue Tinubu is, I remarked. The only thing is that he could be able to resolve the issue using a different approach. There is no magic since the nation has fallen so far. To do anything, you simply need a certain amount of willpower. And it’s fine if people want to support Peter Obi because of his track record as governor of Anambra State, his honesty, and his integrity. He is the only governor to whom no one has ever made a negative accusation against him. Every mention of Peter Obi is favorable. And at the very least, this nation needs someone like him to inspire optimism. Road construction is only one aspect of governance. You instill hope. Because stability is essential to politics. And we haven’t observed this stability.

As of 2017, you claimed that Peter Obi had split Anambra.

Why don’t you give me some context? In that interview, I mentioned that we were meeting with him. We traveled to Awka after our meeting in Enugu. He also expressed to her his desire to run for president. He then joined the Labour Party after leaving the PDP. I also denounced it. That behavior didn’t sit well with me. He arrived to my house, and I informed him that what he had done was regrettable. He had the right to do it, despite the fact that I didn’t like what he did. He was allowed to do so by the constitution. He intended to demonstrate his interest in political leadership in this way. However, I didn’t endorse that. Therefore, my current statement does not contradict my previous statements. Have I left PDP myself since then? We have ten governors. Additionally, these ten governors can come together in good faith to form a committee that can restructure this party. And our limit will be the sky. We are successfully opposing the government.

Regarding Obi’s time in Anambra, you had denounced that you were at odds with him all the time. What was different?

You are committing the mistake of generalization. I have never opposed Peter Obi’s tenure as Anambra’s governor. Peter Obi has never been criticized by me.

According to Professor Jerry Gana, Peter Obi will be gladly welcomed back into the PDP. Nyesom Wike is doing really well now. Will Wike, the PDP’s conditional leader, agree to accept Obi back into the party? You’re also referring to the November Convention. According to Wike, the convention may be upheld under certain circumstances. What makes you so certain?

Speaking from both sides of my mouth is not my style. I express what I think and I stand by it. I’ve never been the supporting role. I explained to you why I find it hard to criticize Wike. due to the circumstances that preceded the events of 2023. I have stated this, and I fail to understand why anyone might find it confusing. He had to behave the way he did because he felt undervalued. Perhaps I wouldn’t have responded in the same manner thus far. The party also lost.

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We established a committee in the PDP in Abuja to determine how the majority of our governors will handle particular tasks. A magician is not what Wike is. Magic does not exist in politics. Without consulting Wike, the party made decisions on a number of issues. The meeting did not include him. Seven of our ten governors were present as well. debating this party’s future in an effective manner. Unfortunately, people in our country only attend parties during election seasons. However, there are many who pay the bills on a regular basis. In particular, we currently only have ten states. In every state, we pay staff salaries. That must be done by someone. Someone must help. And until the election, no one is interested. To run for president or governor, they will pay between $50 million and $30 million. Party management is not that.

Because of this, the nation is not progressing. Loyal party members must be evidently working to ensure the party’s continued existence. It’s not just about the election.

In the end, the party will prevail if the election is held and they are well-prepared. However, there is no secret to their success if the party is not well-organized. The reasons behind Wike’s actions. I’m not defending it. However, he was justified in what he did. Because perhaps we would have had a Wike or someone from the South as president if Atiku hadn’t run and someone else—like Tinubu—had emerged in the South. Sadly, Tinubu had a shot and won the presidency. He is also vying for a second term. Therefore, I don’t think anything I’ve said contradicts itself.