The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is officially moving forward with its primary election timetable.
This is as the faction announced in a statement on Sunday, that the screening of all aspirants would begin on Monday at 10 am ahead of its forthcoming primaries.
Reports also emerging on Tuesday from political insiders and party delegates have revealed that the Turaki-led PDP has scheduled its high-stakes PDP presidential ticket screening for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, with former President Goodluck Jonathan emerging as the sole aspirant.
This comes after the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party approved a 14-member screening committee during its 104th meeting.
Listed among the 14-member screening committee are former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; and Tom Ikimi, former minister of foreign affairs.
Other members of the committee are Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenih, Abdul Bulama, Esther Uduehi, Tony Aziegbemi, Edo PDP chairman, Sunday Solari, and Anicho Okoro, who will serve as the administrative secretary of the committee.
According to the statement, about 2,122 state house of assembly aspirants, 748 house of representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants, and one presidential hopeful are expected to be screened.
However, the party failed to disclose the identity of the lone presidential aspirant.
Meanwhile, a source within the party confirmed to the press that Jonathan is the sole presidential aspirant to be screened by the Turaki-led PDP.
“This publication is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general election,” the statement added.
The clamour for Jonathan’s return to the presidency reached another dimension on May 7 when a group of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan converged on his residence in Abuja in a solidarity rally, urging him to run for president again in 2027.
However, the ex-president said he would consult widely before deciding on his next move.
This development also comes amid the internal crisis facing the PDP.
The faction’s Interim National Working Committee (NWC) is chaired by Kabiru Turaki. The interim leadership was constituted on 4 May, days after the Supreme Court invalidated the factional leadership that emerged from the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November last year.
Following the judgment, the faction’s Board of Trustees (BoT) assumed leadership, arguing that the ruling created a vacuum in the party’s structure. The BoT subsequently convened an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where a 13-member interim NWC was inaugurated.
However, the rival PDP faction backed by Nyesom Wike insisted it remains the authentic leadership of the party and continues to occupy the party’s national headquarters. The Wike-backed faction is also recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
