Distance yourself from 2027 convention, PDP faction tells Jonathan

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly distance himself from moves linking his name to the party’s 2027 presidential race.

The Mohammed-led NWC described the development as a “charade” and said Jonathan should dissociate himself from what it called unauthorised attempts to project him as a candidate, insisting such actions could undermine both his legacy and the democratic process.

The call came as a rival Interim National Working Committee (INWC), led by Tanimu Turaki, prepared to hold a special convention in Abuja on Saturday to ratify Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The faction also claimed that Jonathan had already been granted a waiver and cleared as its sole presidential aspirant during its screening exercise, despite no public indication that the former president had formally entered the race or submitted nomination forms.

In contrast, the Mohammed-led camp maintained that the PDP had already concluded its primaries across all levels of elective offices in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, insisting that the Turaki-led activities were illegitimate and misleading.

Amid the dispute, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly warned hotels and event centres in Abuja against hosting political activities not recognised by INEC, a move the Turaki-led faction interpreted as intimidation.

Despite the warning, the Turaki-led group insisted it would proceed with the planned convention at an Abuja event centre, saying it had fulfilled all contractual and legal requirements and duly notified security agencies.

The faction also invited party stakeholders, including state leaders and members of the National Executive Committee, to attend the event where Jonathan’s candidacy is expected to be ratified.

Meanwhile, the Mohammed-led NWC urged security agencies, party members and the public to disregard what it described as unauthorised political gatherings, stressing that the party’s recognised leadership remains the only legitimate structure.

The ongoing dispute highlights the deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, with both factions claiming legitimacy despite judicial interventions and continued recognition disputes within the party’s national framework.