Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been officially adopted as the presidential candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The decision was reached on Saturday during a special national convention organised by the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction in Abuja.
Although Jonathan did not attend the convention, delegates at the gathering unanimously ratified his nomination and endorsed him as the faction’s flag bearer.
His certificate of return was received on his behalf by Fred Agbedi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bayelsa State.
The development comes amid ongoing leadership disputes within the PDP, with different factions laying claim to the party’s structure and future direction ahead of the next election cycle.
The convention itself was not without drama.
Organisers had originally planned to hold the event at A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja. However, the venue became unavailable after authorities reportedly enforced a directive requiring event centres to engage only with political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The faction aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike currently enjoys INEC recognition, creating another hurdle for the Turaki-led group.
Earlier in the day, security operatives reportedly blocked access roads leading to the initial venue, forcing organisers to quickly relocate the event.
Party officials later moved proceedings to the faction’s office in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, where delegates eventually completed the ratification process.
Addressing supporters, leaders of the faction insisted they would not be deterred by what they described as attempts to frustrate opposition politics.
While Jonathan has not publicly accepted the nomination or declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, Saturday’s development has once again placed him at the centre of Nigeria’s political conversation.
The faction also disclosed that a date for the formal presentation of the party’s flag to the former president would be announced in the coming weeks.
With the PDP still battling internal divisions and competing leadership claims, the latest move is expected to generate fresh debate over the party’s future and the shape of opposition politics ahead of 2027.
Source: Daily Post Nigeria
