By Gideon Maxwell
May 30, 2026
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Kabiru Turaki has formally adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election following a tense and highly disrupted convention in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ratification was announced on Saturday during a special factional convention held in Abuja, where party leaders confirmed Jonathan as their sole candidate despite his absence from the gathering.
Organisers said the event was initially scheduled to hold at A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2 but was relocated after security operatives reportedly restricted access to the venue, forcing delegates to reconvene at the party’s office in Area 10.
Security presence around the original venue had earlier blocked entry routes, escalating tensions and prompting accusations of political interference from organisers.
During the convention, the faction proceeded with Jonathan’s adoption and issued a Certificate of Return, which was formally received on Jonathan’s behalf by former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana.
The development deepens internal divisions within the PDP, as rival factions continue to dispute authority over party structures and electoral direction ahead of 2027.
A separate bloc aligned with the party leadership backed by Nyesom Wike has dismissed the exercise as illegitimate and urged Jonathan to distance himself from the process, arguing that no recognised national convention authorised such a nomination.
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Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 after earlier becoming vice president in 2007, has not declared any intention to return to electoral politics, though he has remained active in regional diplomacy and mediation roles across West Africa.
Political observers say the latest move is likely to intensify contestation within opposition politics, especially as preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace and questions over party unity deepen.
