Rival factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a fresh dispute over a planned convention to ratify former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Wike-Backed Faction Denies Convention Plans
The faction led by Nyesom Wike and headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed has distanced itself from reports of a special convention to affirm Jonathan. In a statement released on Friday, the faction's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, declared that no such convention, meeting, or process had been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by its leadership or any recognized organ of the party.
“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 PDP,” the statement read. It urged members, supporters, and the public to disregard the reports, labeling them as false and misleading.
The faction maintained that all primary elections—including governorship, state assembly, National Assembly, and presidential primaries—had already been concluded in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Electoral Act, and the party’s constitution. It noted that these exercises were conducted peacefully across the country under INEC supervision.
The Wike-backed faction called on former President Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from what it described as a “charade” to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve his credibility. It also urged security agencies to investigate the source of the alleged false reports and prosecute those responsible, accusing them of attempting to create political tension.
“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,” Mohammed stated. The faction reaffirmed its commitment to due process, internal democracy, and the rule of law, advising the public to rely only on official communications from duly authorized PDP officials.
Turaki-Led Faction Insists Convention Will Hold
In contrast, the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, has insisted that its planned special convention to ratify Jonathan’s presidential candidature will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Abuja. The faction alleged that the management of A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, had been threatened by the FCT Minister to shut down the facility if it hosted the convention.
In a statement issued on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, the Turaki-led faction claimed it had fulfilled all contractual and legal obligations, including full payment for the venue and notification of relevant security agencies. The group disclosed that its lawyers had been directed to remind the event centre of the binding agreement already entered into.
The faction described any attempt to stop the gathering as political intimidation and a threat to democratic freedoms. “Any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration, which must be resisted by all people of good conscience,” the statement added.
It argued that there is no provision in the nation’s laws empowering the FCT Minister to determine which events can be held in the territory or where such events should take place. “Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic,” the statement noted.
The group declared that the ratification convention for Jonathan’s presidential candidacy would proceed at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m. on Saturday. It invited party leaders from across the states, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other stakeholders to attend.
This development represents the latest twist in the deepening crisis within the PDP ahead of the 2027 general election, as rival factions continue to vie for control and direction of the main opposition party.
