PDP crisis deepens as factions clash over planned ratification of Jonathan for 2027

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Friday as two warring factions drew battlelines over a planned special convention to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.

While the faction backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed the convention as an illegal “charade,” the rival interim leadership led by Tanimu Turaki vowed to resist intimidation and proceed with the event scheduled for Saturday in Abuja.

Wike-Backed Camp Dismisses Convention as “Falsehood”
The Abdulraman Mohammed-led NWC, which enjoys the backing of Minister Wike, strongly dissociated the party from the planned gathering. In a statement issued on Friday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described the convention as unauthorized, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to trigger unnecessary political tension.

According to Mohammed, the PDP has already concluded its statutory primary elections—including Presidency, National Assembly, Governorship, and State Houses of Assembly—in strict compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, the Electoral Act, and the party’s constitution.

“The party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognized organ of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Mohammed said. “We respectfully call on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process.”

The Mohammed-led camp, which had on Tuesday affirmed former lawmaker Sen. Sandy Onor as its consensus 2027 presidential candidate, called on security agencies to investigate and take decisive action against the organizers of the parallel event.

Turaki Faction Vows to Resist Wike’s “Suppression”
In a swift reaction, the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee declared that no amount of intimidation would stop them from ratifying Jonathan at the A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja.

The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ini Ememobong, alleged that the proprietors of the venue had been threatened by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike with a shutdown if they allowed the event to hold. Ememobong condemned the move as an illegal abuse of power aimed at using force to suppress political dissent.

“There is nowhere in the laws where the Minister of the FCT is empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held,” Ememobong stated. “Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic.”

Asserting that full payment had been made for the venue and relevant security agencies duly notified, Ememobong insisted the 10:00 a.m. special convention would proceed as planned, inviting state party leaders, National Executive Committee (NEC) members, and stakeholders to attend.

FCTA Threatens Venue Revocation Amid Security Directives
Compounding the tension, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a stern warning on Friday to owners of hotels, event centres, and public facilities against hosting “illegal organizations,” warning that non-compliance could lead to property title revocations.

A statement by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, framed the directive as a security measure ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, the statement explicitly warned operators to vet their clients carefully.

“In this political season, owners of event centres and hotels in particular must ensure that they only deal with INEC-recognized leadership of political parties in respect of the use of their facilities,” the FCTA directive stated.

As both factions stand their ground ahead of Saturday’s scheduled event, former President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to make an official comment regarding his purported 2027 presidential ambition.