Turaki-led PDP faction grants Jonathan waiver, clears him for presidential race

The screening committee of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the faction, which is backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Jonathan emerged as its presidential hopeful after the screening committee granted him a waiver.

The decision was announced by former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the screening committee at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where the screening for other aspirants was conducted.

Speaking in a video shared by AIT on Tuesday, Aliyu explained that the party decided to grant Jonathan a waiver based on his political record from deputy governor to president.

“As you know, the party has already given the presidential aspirant a waiver. Like I said, he was deputy governor, became governor, became vice president, and became president. We didn’t see anything that needed screening and, therefore, the party has given him a waiver.

“In other words, he has been declared and cleared as a candidate of the PDP for the presidential election. And that is President Jonathan.

“The other waiver is also for the former deputy governor and ambassador, Taofeek Arapaja, who for many reasons has to be in Ibadan, Oyo State. We also declared he has been given a waiver by the party,” he said.

PidomNigeria Online reports that the PDP faction on Tuesday commenced its nationwide screening of aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement shared via its official X handle, the party said the screening of senatorial, House of Representatives, and state assembly aspirants was taking place at designated centres across the country.

It added that the screening of presidential and governorship aspirants was being conducted at the national level in Abuja.