Wike-Backed PDP Rejects Turaki Faction’s Planned Convention to Endorse Jonathan

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by Nyesom Wike has rejected reports of a planned convention by the Tanimu Turaki-led group to affirm former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The faction, led by Abdulraman Mohammed, described the planned convention as false, misleading and capable of creating unnecessary political tension in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, insisted that no recognised organ of the PDP had approved or scheduled such a convention.

“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 Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.

Mohammed maintained that the PDP had already completed all statutory primary elections for the presidency, governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly positions in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Electoral Act and the party constitution.

According to him, members of the public and party supporters should disregard any information suggesting otherwise.

“We, therefore, urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity,” he stated.

The faction also called on Jonathan to publicly distance himself from the planned convention in order to preserve what it described as the integrity of the democratic process.

“In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation,” Mohammed added.

The group further urged security agencies to investigate those behind the reports and warned against unauthorised political activities carried out in the party’s name.

Mohammed reiterated the faction’s commitment to internal democracy, due process and the rule of law, while advising Nigerians to rely only on official party communication channels.

The dispute follows reports that the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the PDP had fixed a convention in Abuja to affirm Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria also reported that the Mohammed-led faction had earlier endorsed former senator Sandy Onor as its consensus presidential candidate for 2027.

As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had not made any official public statement regarding a possible presidential ambition.