Wike-backed PDP rejects Turaki faction’s planned endorsement of Jonathan as presidential candidate

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected plans by the Tanimu Turaki-led group to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The group described the planned endorsement convention as illegal, misleading and capable of creating confusion within the political space.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction said no convention or meeting to affirm Jonathan as the party’s candidate had been approved by the recognised leadership of the PDP.

According to the statement, the PDP had already concluded all its primary elections, including governorship, state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and presidential primaries, in line with the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines and the party’s constitution.

“All such exercises across the country were peacefully conducted and properly monitored and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade,” the statement read in part.

The faction also called on security agencies to investigate those behind what it described as false reports aimed at creating political tension in the country.

Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction insisted that its special convention to ratify Jonathan’s candidacy would go ahead as scheduled on Saturday in Abuja.

In a statement signed by its Interim National Working Committee through Ini Ememobong, the group said it had fully paid for the venue, notified security agencies and would resist any attempt to stop the event from holding.