The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly distance himself from plans by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction to endorse him as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
The group described the planned convention to affirm Jonathan’s candidacy as misleading, baseless and “intended to create confusion within the polity,” urging party members and the public to disregard it.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction said no such convention, meeting or process had been scheduled, approved or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the PDP.
According to the statement, the PDP had already concluded all its primary elections, including those for governorship, state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and the presidential election, in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
“All such exercises across the country were peacefully conducted and properly monitored and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the statement said.
“In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation.”
The faction also urged security agencies to investigate the source of the “false reports” and take appropriate action against those responsible, accusing them of attempting to create political tension in the country.
It added that the party would no longer tolerate actions capable of dragging the PDP into disrepute through misinformation, falsehood and unauthorised political activities aimed at undermining its integrity and democratic structures.
Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction insisted that it would proceed with plans to ratify Jonathan’s nomination as the PDP presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The group announced on Thursday that the ratification convention would hold in Abuja on Saturday.
In a statement signed by its Interim National Working Committee member, Ini Ememobong, the faction said it would resist any attempt to intimidate party members or stop the event from taking place.
“We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event,” the statement read.
“We have directed our lawyers to write, reminding A Class Event Centre of these facts.
“Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.
“We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience.”
