2027: Turaki-led PDP to ratify Jonathan as presidential candidate

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Kabiru Turaki faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has announced that it will hold a special convention on Saturday to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The PDP faction said this in an invitation to the event signed by Comrade Ini Emebong, its National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, its National Organising Secretary late Thursday.

The invitation published on the social media platforms of the party indicated that ratification of Jonathan as the 2027 presidential candidate of the party will hold at A Class event centre in Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

The event was scheduled for 10 a.m.

The Ratification notice followed recent court judgement affirming that Jonathann is eligible to contest in the 2027 presidential election.

The Turaki faction of PDP has been wooing Jonathan to join the presidential race.

Indeed, the faction had on 19 May 2026 announced Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate for 2027 election.

This was after the former President failed to appear before a presidential screening committee set up by the party to screen him for two days.

Babangida Aliyu, a member of the Presidential Screening Committee told journalists at the end of the sitting of the Committee for the second day that Jonathan has been cleared as the party’s sole presidential aspirant for the 2027 election.

He said the party’s national leadership had already granted Jonathan necessary waiver to contest in the primary election.

“As you know, the party had already given a presidential aspirant the waiver. Like I said in the beginning, he was a deputy governor, became governor, became vice-president and became president.

“So, we didn’t see anything that needed screening. Therefore, the party had given him a waiver.

“In other words, he had been declared as the candidate of PDP for the presidential election,” he said.

Meanwhile, the former President has not confirmed whether he will attempt a return to Aso Rock presidential villa in the 2027 election, despite repeated claims of the PDP faction that he would fly the flag of the party.

So, it’s still doubtful if the former President will attend the ratification event planned by the PDP faction for Saturday.

Meanwhile, a faction of PDP recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and backed by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had earlier this week chosen a former national lawmaker, Sandy Onor, as its 2027 presidential candidate.