PDP faction moves to confirm Jonathan for 2027 race
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party is set to hold a special convention in Abuja on Saturday to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The event, scheduled for the ‘A’ Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, is expected to formally endorse Jonathan following his emergence as the sole aspirant cleared by the faction’s screening committee.
According to an invitation signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan, the gathering is aimed at confirming Jonathan’s nomination as the party’s flag-bearer ahead of the next presidential election.
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The move follows a series of political steps taken by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the party to position the former president for a return to the ballot. Earlier this month, the faction granted Jonathan a waiver and cleared him to participate in its presidential process.
Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who chaired the screening committee, said the decision was based on Jonathan’s experience in public office, having served as deputy governor, governor, vice president and president.
The faction also held its presidential primary on Wednesday ahead of the planned ratification convention.
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The development came days after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Jonathan remained eligible to contest the presidency in 2027. Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit seeking to stop the former president from participating in the election, describing the case as an abuse of court process.
The court held that previous judgments delivered by courts in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility to contest.
Despite the moves by the faction, Jonathan has yet to publicly confirm whether he will join the race. Speaking during a recent meeting with youth groups in Abuja, the former president said he was still consulting and would not rush into declaring his ambition.
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Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, said the presidential contest was not something to approach lightly, adding that any decision would come after wider consultations.