The Kabiru Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will hold a special convention on Saturday to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate.
The invitation, signed by Comrade Ini Emebong, its National Publicity Secretary, and Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, its National Organising Secretary, was posted on the faction’s social media pages. It says the ratification will take place at A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, at 10 a.m.
The notice follows a recent court judgment saying President Jonathan can run in 2027. The Turaki faction has been courting him for the race and on May 19 announced Jonathan as its sole candidate after he failed to show up for a two-day screening by the party committee.
Babangida Aliyu, a member of the Presidential Screening Committee, told journalists the committee cleared Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential aspirant after the second day. He said the party’s leadership had already given Jonathan the needed waiver.
“As you know, the party had already given a presidential aspirant the waiver. Like I said in the beginning, he was a deputy governor, became governor, became vice-president and became president.
“So, we didn’t see anything that needed screening. Therefore, the party had given him a waiver.
“In other words, he had been declared as the candidate of PDP for the presidential election,” he said.
Jonathan has not confirmed whether he will seek a return to Aso Rock or attend Saturday’s ratification. Meanwhile, an INEC-recognised PDP faction backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike this week chose former lawmaker Sandy Onor as its 2027 candidate.
