The Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike-led faction and the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party have traded accusations over the plan to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
While the Wike-backed PDP questioned the legitimacy and authority of the Turaki-led faction, the latter accused the minister of attempting to shut down the venue for the planned event.
On Thursday, the Turaki-led faction announced plans to convene a convention in Abuja on Saturday (today) to formally endorse Jonathan as its candidate.
The move came a week after Senator Sandy Onor was screened, cleared and officially presented as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In a statement on Friday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, called on security agencies to investigate the source of the reports and prosecute those behind what it described as an attempt to create political tension and disrepute within the polity.
Mohammed also urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly distance himself from the development, saying it was necessary to protect the “integrity of the democratic process and his reputation.”
“The attention of the PDP has been drawn to misleading information and unfounded reports circulating in certain quarters regarding an alleged planned convention aimed at affirming former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, as the presidential candidate of the PDP.
“The party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We therefore urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the general public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity,” he said.
Mohammed added that the party had concluded primaries for all elective positions in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
“In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation.
“We also call on relevant security agencies to swiftly investigate the source of these false reports and take appropriate action against the perpetrators whose motive is nothing but to create political tension in the country.
“The PDP will henceforth not fold its arms and allow the party to be dragged into disrepute through falsehood, misinformation and unauthorised political activities aimed at undermining its integrity and democratic structures.
“The party remains totally committed to due process, internal democracy and the rule of law in all its political activities and engagements, and will continue to protect the sanctity of its constitutional processes and decisions,” it added.
