A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has unanimously affirmed the former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
This affirmation occurred during a Special National Convention held in Abuja on May 30, 2026, amidst alleged attempts by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration and security forces to disrupt the event, actions that are now being viewed through the lens of the party’s deep-seated internal divisions.
Deepening Factional Divide and Venue Controversy
The PDP has been embroiled in a significant internal crisis, primarily pitting the faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki against another group associated with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
This power struggle has manifested in various forms, including legal battles
over party leadership and control of the national secretariat.
According to a statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP Interim National Working Committee, the party had duly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of its convention.
The faction had also secured and paid for the A Class Event Centre in Abuja.
However, the event center’s management abruptly canceled the booking.
The Turaki faction alleges this cancellation was prompted by direct threats from the FCT Minister, who reportedly warned that the center’s certificate of occupancy would be revoked and the premises demolished if the PDP event was allowed to hold.
The FCT Administration further issued a statement threatening to revoke the titles of business premises hosting events they considered “unlawful.”
This intervention by the FCT Minister, a prominent figure in a rival PDP faction, adds a complex layer to the narrative, suggesting that the blockade was not merely an external political maneuver by the ruling party but also an extension of the internal struggle for control
within the PDP itself.
The situation escalated on the eve of the convention. By 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, over 20 truckloads of police were reportedly deployed to block the entire road leading to the event center, forcing motorists to drive against traffic.
Peaceful Affirmation Amidst Provocation
Faced with the heavy security presence and the backdrop of internal party strife, the leaders of Turaki faction summoned an emergency meeting involving the Board of Trustees, the Interim National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, and other critical stakeholders.
Heeding the passionate appeals of elder statesmen who advised against physical confrontation, the party aborted its initial plan to forcefully use the venue.
The elders urged the faction to “show maturity in the face of provocation and rather defeat our adversaries at
the polls.”
With the primary agenda being the affirmation of their candidate, the stakeholders proceeded with the plan.
A motion was duly moved and seconded, resulting in the unanimous affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate and flag bearer of the PDP for the 2027 elections.
The faction noted that the formal presentation and flag-giving ceremonies will be scheduled at a later date.
Condemnation and Call for Unity
The Turaki faction strongly condemned the actions of the FCT Minister and the ruling party, describing the blockade as a “brazen use of unmitigated power” with the obvious support of the President.
The faction warned that such actions, if left unchecked, could lead to a “full-blown dictatorship” and the eventual collapse of democracy in Nigeria.
While interpreting the oppression as a validation of the ruling party’s fear of the PDP, the statement implicitly highlighted the internal disunity, noting that “other parties with leadership issues similar to ours have conducted their conventions without threats from the ruling party,” suggesting that the PDP’s fractured state might have made it more vulnerable .
In its resolution, the Turaki faction called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “rein in his fear of impending loss and take practical steps to deescalate the political tensions.”
The faction also charged its Interim National Working Committee to sensitize both the local and international public on the alleged “asphyxiation of opposition and the promotion of a one-party state in Nigeria.”
Declaring the party united, prepared, and fully mobilized, the PDP Turaki faction concluded that it is ready for the task of rescuing Nigeria through democratic means in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
