A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to deepen internal preparations for the 2027 general elections as it moves to formally ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate at a Special National Convention slated for Saturday.
The event is scheduled to hold at the ‘A’ Class Event Centre along Kassim Ibrahim Way in Wuse 2, Abuja, beginning at 10 a.m., according to an invitation signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan.
The invitation described the gathering as a “Special National Convention for the Ratification of the Nomination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,” signaling a decisive push by the faction to consolidate its position ahead of the 2027 polls.
The development follows a series of political moves by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction, which has steadily positioned Jonathan as its preferred candidate in the unfolding internal realignment within the party.
As part of that process, the faction’s screening committee had earlier granted Jonathan a waiver and cleared him as the sole presidential aspirant on May 19, a decision that effectively set the stage for his emergence.
Former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who chaired the screening committee, explained that the waiver was granted in recognition of Jonathan’s extensive political experience, including his roles as deputy governor, governor, vice president, and president of Nigeria.
The faction further conducted its presidential primary earlier on Wednesday, May 28, as part of preparatory steps leading to Saturday’s ratification exercise.
Meanwhile, a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja added legal momentum to Jonathan’s eligibility debate, after the court held that he is constitutionally qualified to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the plaintiff in the suit lacked the legal standing to challenge Jonathan’s eligibility, adding that earlier judgments by both the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already affirmed his qualification.
The court further described the case as an abuse of judicial process, reinforcing the legal position that Jonathan remains eligible should he choose to contest.
Reacting to the ruling, the faction maintained that existing legal interpretations, combined with the screening waiver, had cleared the way for Jonathan’s participation in its internal processes.
However, as of the time of filing this report, Goodluck Jonathan has not publicly accepted the nomination or formally declared his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election.
The former president, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and famously conceded defeat in the 2015 election, has consistently maintained that he is still consulting widely before making any political decision.
When a delegation of youth groups visited his Abuja office earlier in the month to urge him to contest, Jonathan reiterated that the presidential race required careful consideration and could not be approached hastily.
“The presidential race is not a computer game,” he said, adding that he would consult broadly before taking any final position on the matter.
Despite mounting political pressure and renewed calls for his return, Jonathan has yet to issue a definitive statement confirming participation in the 2027 race, leaving the PDP faction’s move hanging on his eventual decision.
