Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was officially affirmed as the 2027 presidential candidate of a factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Despite heavy police presence and unexpected venue closures, Jonathan emerged as the 2027 presidential candidate under the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the PDP.
This comes after a recent court ruling cleared Jonathan to contest for the presidency again.
The special national convention, which lasted less than 20 minutes, was forced to relocate to the party’s Area 10, Garki secretariat after security operatives blocked access to the initial venue.
Security forces used multiple vans to barricade the two main access roads leading to the “A-Class” Event Centre in Wuse, following a directive from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration warning hospitality businesses against hosting unrecognized political factions.
Despite the logistical hurdles and the former president’s physical absence from the venue, the internal realignment went ahead.
Representative Fred Agbedi (Bayelsa State) accepted the certificate of return on behalf of the ex-president.
Prominent party stalwarts loyal to the Turaki faction, including Professor Jerry Gana and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, were present to witness the ratification.
Following the conclusion of the special national convention, the PDP, in a statement, accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of attempting to halt its planned event.
According to the statement, the party said the management of A Class Event Centre informed it that pressure was being mounted on the venue to stop the gathering from taking place.
The PDP said it had already paid for the venue and fulfilled all conditions required for the programme.
The party also said security agencies had been notified of the convention scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Wuse 2, Abuja.
The statement reads: “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 rather defeat our adversaries at the polls instead of engaging in unnecessary physical
struggle. They admonished that when a mad person runs away with your cloth, 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 deescalate 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.”
