• A PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate
• The faction relocated its convention to its Garki secretariat after security operatives sealed its original venue in Abuja
• Jonathan was absent from the convention, but his Certificate of Return was received by Bayelsa lawmaker Fred Agbedi

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister of State for Defence, Tanimu Turaki, has formally declared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The endorsement was ratified on Saturday, May 30, during a special national convention held at the faction’s national secretariat in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, after security operatives sealed off the group’s initial venue, the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2.

Although Jonathan was absent from the event, delegates proceeded with the nomination process and presented his Certificate of Return to Bayelsa lawmaker Fred Agbedi, who received it on his behalf.

The convention attracted party stakeholders and delegates loyal to the Turaki-led faction, who insisted on moving ahead with the exercise despite the disruption.

Speaking to supporters outside the sealed venue, Turaki accused unnamed political actors of attempting to stifle democratic processes through intimidation.

“No matter how highly opinionated they may be about themselves, or no matter how they think that they can use their positions to thwart democracy, we want to tell them that Nigeria is bigger than anybody and any group of persons,” he said.

He urged members to remain calm and avoid violence, stressing that political contests should be settled through the ballot box.

“We will not fight. The time of fighting will come when we meet at the polls. We will meet you there, we’ll fight you there, we’ll defeat you there, and then we will pin you down on the ground,” Turaki declared.

Defending the legitimacy of the convention, the factional leader maintained that the gathering was backed by judicial pronouncements and the party’s constitution.

“What we are doing today is in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division,” he stated.

Turaki further revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been informed about the convention and expressed optimism that the electoral body would eventually recognise the process.

Also addressing delegates, PDP founding member and convention chairman Jerry Gana described the sealing of the original venue as an unfortunate development that undermined democratic participation.

The convention later approved Jonathan’s candidacy through a voice vote after a motion moved by the Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen Forum and Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by former Aviation Minister Mohammed Sanusi Dagash.

The endorsement comes days after the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee announced plans to convene a convention aimed at adopting Jonathan as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.

However, the move has deepened the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP.

A rival faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, distanced itself from the convention and insisted that Sandy Onor remain the party’s recognised presidential candidate.

Prior to the event, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, had warned event centres against hosting political gatherings that lacked recognition from INEC, setting the stage for the latest confrontation within the opposition party.

2027 election: NRM picks actress Esther Okereke as presidential candidate

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Esther Okereke emerged as the presidential candidate of NRM (National Rescue Movement) ahead of the 2027 general election, joining the growing list of opposition figures preparing to challenge President Bola Tinubu.

Okereke clinched the party’s ticket during the NRM presidential primary held in Abuja, defeating former Labour Party presidential aspirant Joseph Faduri and UK-based businessman Ademola Onigbokun.