A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Tanimu Turaki on Saturday declared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The decision was taken at a special national convention held at the faction’s national secretariat in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
Jonathan was not present at the event where his nomination was formally ratified, but his Certificate of Return was received on his behalf by Bayelsa lawmaker, Fred Agbedi.
The Turaki-led faction had scheduled the convention to take place at the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja. However, the venue was changed following a directive by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which warned hotel and event centre operators against hosting activities of political groups not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Earlier on Saturday, security operatives blocked access roads leading to the A-Class Park and Event Centre, prompting organisers to relocate the convention to the party’s office in Area 10.
Party officials later confirmed that the event was successfully concluded at the new venue, noting that a date for the formal presentation of the party’s presidential flag to Jonathan would be announced in the coming weeks.
INEC currently recognises the PDP leadership backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The former president has yet to publicly respond to the nomination or indicate whether he will accept the candidature. Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has repeatedly been linked with various presidential comeback efforts since leaving office but has largely avoided making definitive public declarations about future electoral ambitions.
Should he contest, he would face several contenders, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress.
