By A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated ex-president Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election following a disputed special national convention held in Abuja.
The endorsement was announced by a bloc led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), during a gathering that was disrupted at its original venue by heavy security deployment and reports of attacks involving suspected thugs, forcing organisers to relocate proceedings within the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite the disruption, the faction proceeded with the exercise and issued a Certificate of Return to Jonathan in absentia. The document was received on his behalf by a former member of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi.
Following the ratification, party leaders briefly returned to the original venue for an engagement with police officers stationed in the area. However, tension escalated shortly after as suspected hoodlums reportedly arrived in buses and attacked participants as they were leaving the premises. The incident triggered panic, with journalists and party officials fleeing the scene. A reporter’s mobile phone was reportedly stolen during the chaos. Security operatives later restored calm.
The convention took place against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections. While the Turaki-led group maintained that its actions were consistent with court rulings and internal party provisions, another faction aligned with the Nyesom Wike bloc rejected the exercise, insisting that former Cross River senator Sandy Onor remains the party’s recognised presidential candidate.
Addressing supporters, Turaki accused unnamed political interests of attempting to undermine democratic processes through intimidation, while urging members to remain peaceful and resolve disputes through electoral means.
Elder statesman and PDP founding member, Prof. Jerry Gana, criticised the security situation around the venue, describing it as a threat to democratic freedoms. He questioned the level of police deployment and warned against restrictions on political gatherings.
The convention later ratified Jonathan’s nomination through a voice vote moved by the Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen Forum and Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by former Minister of Aviation, Mohammed Dagash.
In a separate development, Peter Obi accepted his nomination as presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition (NDC), where he outlined a reform agenda focused on security, economic recovery, and governance reform.
Obi said Nigeria was facing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust in government, pledging intelligence-driven security reforms, expanded healthcare coverage, and increased electricity generation if elected.
He also proposed measures to address unemployment and poverty, while warning that insecurity had reached critical levels based on global terrorism impact assessments.
Similarly, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde emerged as presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), unveiling a “Reset Nigeria Agenda” centred on economic restructuring, petroleum sector reform, and decentralised security.
Makinde said Nigeria required a fundamental shift in governance, promising reforms in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, fair pricing mechanisms for petroleum products, and restructuring of refineries to improve efficiency.
He also pledged to push for decentralised security architecture to allow states respond more effectively to threats, citing ongoing kidnappings and insecurity across the country.
The APM leadership said Makinde’s emergence followed broad consultations with stakeholders and described his candidacy as the beginning of a wider reform movement ahead of the 2027 elections.
