Ex-President Emerges PDP Candidate for 2027 Polls, Gets Certificate of Return

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, as reported by POLITICS NIGERIA.

The ratification was successfully carried out despite a heavy security clampdown on the original venue. Presidential candidate profiles

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the PDP faction changed the venue of the event on Saturday morning.

The ceremony, which lasted less than 20 minutes, saw a close ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Fred Agbedi, receive the certificate on his behalf. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Prof. Jerry Gana, Adolphus Wabara, and several other party stakeholders aligned with the Turaki-led faction.

Security operatives had sealed off the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, with police vans deployed since Friday night to block access to the facility completely.

The police lockdown followed an order from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who had warned hotel and event center owners to only host political groups officially recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The minister defended the move as a security measure to prevent public disturbance, threatening to revoke the land titles of any property that violated the directive.

In response, the PDP faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde accused Wike of using state power to suppress the opposition and threatening the venue’s management with a total business shutdown.

While the Wike-led faction holds current INEC recognition, the Makinde-backed group pushed forward with Jonathan’s endorsement, asserting their legitimacy by citing a recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the suspension of leaders within Wike’s camp.

The PDP statement on the event reads:

EXCERPTS FROM THE SPECIAL NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY HELD ON MAY 30, 2026, IN ABUJA

INTRODUCTION

The Peoples Democratic Party, @OfficialPDPNig under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, had duly
served the Independent National Electoral Commission with the statutory notices
concerning our activities to select candidates for all offices. Security agencies were also notified. The venue, A Class Event Centre, for the Special National Convention in Abuja was fully paid for, and the owners accepted the payment and granted access for preparatory activities.

Surprisingly, the management of the event centre called to cancel the booking, citing an invitation
and threat from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that their certificate
of occupancy would be revoked and their event centre demolished if the PDP event was allowed
to hold there. We reminded them of the subsisting contract with us and insisted that the event must go on as planned. The Federal Capital Territory Administration doubled down by issuing a statement conveying the threats of revocation of the titles of business premises hosting events considered by them as unlawful.

As if that was not enough, by 7 p.m. on Friday, 29th May, more than 20 truckloads of policemen were deployed to block the entire road where the event centre is located, forcing motorists to drive against traffic.

DECISION
Following this situation, the leaders of the party summoned an emergency meeting of all the organs of the party- the Board of Trustees, Members of the Interim National Working Committee, members of the National Executive Committee, State Chairmen, Gubernatorial and National Assembly Candidates of the party, and other critical stakeholders, where the
situation was assessed and it was decided as follows:
1. Considering the very passionate appeal by elder statesmen, the party aborted the earlier plan to resist the security occupation of the event centre and forcefully use the venue for the ceremonies. The elders preferred that we show maturity in the face of provocation and defeat our adversaries at the polls instead of engaging in unnecessary physical
struggle. They admonished that when a mad person runs away with your clothes, you do not chase the deranged person naked; otherwise, those who see the chase will simply conclude that two mad people are running.

2. Since the main activity of the day is the affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders continued with the plan and President Goodluck Jonathan was unanimously affirmed, after a motion was duly moved and seconded, as the presidential candidate and flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 presidential election. Furthermore, the formal presentation and flag-giving ceremonies will be slated subsequently.

3. The party strongly condemned the brazen use of unmitigated power by officials of this administration, especially the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, with the obvious support of the President. They opined that if left unchecked, full blown dictatorship will sprout within a democracy, which eventually may lead to the collapse of democracy.

4. This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party. Whereas other parties with leadership issues similar to ours have conducted their conventions without threats from the ruling party, the PDP is too feared to be allowed the constitutionally guaranteed right to meet.

5. The party calls on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rein in his fear of impending loss and take practical steps to de-escalate the political tensions which have been an unwarranted addition to the already heightened political temperature in the country.

6. We call on all our party members to remain steadfast and committed to the ideals of our party, conscious that very soon this battle will be over, and we will be more than conquerors.

Conclusion
With the affirmation of our presidential candidate, we are now ready for the 2027 general elections, and we charge the Interim National Working Committee to take necessary steps to ensure the party’s full and effective participation in the next polls. Furthermore, we charge them to adequately sensitize the public (local and international) on the asphyxiation of the opposition and the promotion of a one-party state in Nigeria.

The Special National Convention hereby declares the Peoples Democratic Party united, prepared, and fully mobilized for the task of rescuing Nigeria through democratic means in the 2027 general elections.

Signed:
Comrade Ini Ememobong, mnipr
National Publicity Secretary
Interim National Working Committee
Peoples Democratic Party
30052026