Turaki-led PDP ratifies Jonathan as presidential candidate

The Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday ratified former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The faction took the decision during a special national convention held at its office in Area 10, Abuja.

This followed the barricading of the venue earlier scheduled for the event, A-Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

The motion for Jonathan’s ratification was moved by the Chairman of the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by Senator Sani Dagash.

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Following a unanimous “yes” vote by the delegates present, the certificate of return for the former President was presented to Fred Agbedi, the Leader of the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives.

Speaking earlier as the Chairman of the Special Convention, a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, expressed sadness over the heavy deployment of security forces to the venue initially fixed for the convention.

Gana recalled how he, the late Elder Statesman, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Senator Abraham Adesanya, during the 1998 transition to democracy, negotiated with the military government to ensure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) independence.

He said the negotiation was mediated by the then United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan.

“I am sad that after so many years of development in Nigeria, we are still being reduced to this under democracy.

“The first thing we said then was that we were not going to be part of the transition programme unless the electoral commission became independent.

“Unfortunately, is today’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) independent?” Gana stated.

He praised the delegates for their courage in defying intimidation to attend the convention, stating that their presence was a defence of democracy and good governance.

“We were supposed to be having a special convention in a well-organised place, but now the police have taken over the whole area. Are we back under military rule? No!

“They don’t want us to have a presidential candidate, but fortunately, this chairman is wise and dogged,” the former minister added.

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