In a dramatic move to deepen the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a section of the opposition party on Saturday endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 election for the presidential office at a short national convention convened under tight political and logistical conditions in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The affirmation was made by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the party in a voice vote following a motion by the Chairman of the PDP Chairmen Forum, Tony Aziegbemi.
The development is the latest in the growing fight for the soul of the nation’s major opposition party as it seeks to refocus its agenda in preparation for the next presidential election.
Although Jonathan has emerged as the preferred candidate of the faction, he did not attend the convention which lasted less than 10 minutes and was held in a private home at No. 11 Owo Close, Garki, Abuja.
The unusual location was needed because plans to use a normal event centre were thwarted by allegedly government-imposed restrictions in the Federal Capital Territory, according to sources within the faction.
Party sources said property owners refused to provide facilities for the event after being informed by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to do so.
The situation reportedly worsened in the early hours Saturday, as the security operatives cordoned off the venue that was supposed to host the convention, which meant the organisers had to move at short notice.
Despite these hurdles, delegates and party leaders went ahead and held the meeting, and Jonathan’s ratification was quickly finalized by a voice vote.
The endorsement will likely trigger more debate in the PDP as doubts persist about the legitimacy of parallelism and leadership claims which have plagued the party from the outset.
The move may only further complicate the current reconciliation process in the opposition, it may also raise questions on Jonathan’s political intentions since the endorsement is unlikely to gain wide acceptance and what if he decides to accept any formal nomination should it gain wider acceptance?
President Jonathan (2010-15) is one of the most familiar political faces in Nigeria with the possibility of him once again making the front page news for politics.
The development on Saturday falls at a critical time for the PDP as it attempts to address the factionalism, restore public trust, and put up a major fight to contest the presidential race in 2027.
The ratification could galvanise those who supported the former President but it highlights the divisions within a party that once held the levers of power in Nigeria and is still looking for a road back to power.
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