PDP faction waives screening, declares Jonathan 2027 presidential candidate

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Kabiru Turaki led faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared former President Goodluck Jonathan its candidate for the 2027 president election.

Former Niger State Governor and chairman of the screening committee of the faction, Babangida Aliyu made the declaration on Tuesday.

He made the declaration despite the fact that the former President refused to show up for screening before the committee on Monday.

Members of the Committee departed the venue of the screening around 4 p.m. on Monday after waiting for hours for Jonathan to show up.

Some reports had also indicated that the former President did not obtain forms to contest for the presidency, contrary to the claim of the PDP faction.

But Aliyu told journalists that the party has waived screening for Jonathan as a former deputy governor, governor, vice president and president. He therefore declared that Jonathan would fly the flag of the party in the 2027 presidential election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP faction, Ini Ememobong had claimed last week that the former president successfully completed his membership registration in the party’s digital registration in line with the directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The PDP also said he will be screened as the sole presidential candidate alongside 748 aspirants contesting for seats in the House of Representatives, 198 senatorial aspirants and 112 governorship aspirants who have bought forms to contest for the positions on the platform of the party.

PDP, in a statement on its Facebook page listed the panel that will screen Jonathan to include former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi.

The other members of the committee were Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium and Chief Anicho Okoro, who would serve as administrative secretary of the committee.