from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – THE return to active politics by former president Goodluck Jonathan, who is again set to contend for the top job, is causing ructions in Nigeria ahead of the general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formerly the ruling party he led until his defeat in 2015, has selected him as its frontrunner for the 2027 polls.
Tempers flared between the PDP and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which houses the capital, Abuja, where the party confirmed its decision.
In a twist of events, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who personally sought to frustrate the process, is a rebellious member of the PDP, who was a surprise choice to lead the territory by current President Bola Tinubu.
Former Rivers State governor Wike has been at loggerheads with the party after he failed in his bid to be the organisation’s candidate for the presidential elections in 2022. The party instead opted for Atiku Abubakar, who eventually finished second behind Tinubu.
The management of the event centre where Jonathan was to be unveiled cancelled the PDP’s booking, reportedly citing a threat from Wike that their certificate of occupancy would be revoked and their event centre demolished if the PDP event was allowed.
Jonathan’s party eventually cancelled the event and revealed that more than 20 truckloads of policemen were deployed later on the day of the planned unveiling.
The PDP is factionalised between structures led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, which considers itself the “true” opposition, and another heavily influenced by Wike. Because Wike is a key minister in President Tinubu’s APC-led government while remaining a dominant force in the PDP, this faction is widely viewed by critics as an attempt to neutralise the PDP as an aggressive opposition force.
The formal affirmation of Jonathan by the Turaki-led faction, combined with the direct confrontation with Wike over the venue blockade, underlines the severe internal fracturing of the PDP.
“What we are seeing play out in that document is a high-stakes battle for the very soul – and legal ownership – of the PDP,” said an analyst.
The commentator noted that when the FCT administration warned property owners against hosting “unrecognised party factions” and subsequently deployed truckloads of police, it was not merely a local zoning dispute.
“It was a direct state-backed intervention in an internal party feud,” the analyst added in an interview with CAJ News.
Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the PDP faction that has affirmed Jonathan as presidential candidate, said with the pronouncement they were ready for the general polls.
“The Special National Convention hereby declares the PDP united, prepared, and fully mobilised for the task of rescuing Nigeria through democratic means in the 2027 general elections.”
Ememobong said the party called on Tinubu “to rein in his fear of impending loss” and take practical steps to de-escalate the heightened political temperature in the country.
“We call on all our party members to remain steadfast and committed to the ideals of our party, conscious that very soon this battle will be over, and we will be more than conquerors.”
With both factions claiming they represent the PDP, the spotlight now falls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary to determine the legitimacy of either ahead of the polls.
By unanimously affirming Jonathan anyway, even in an emergency off-site meeting after being locked out, the Turaki faction appears to have forced a huge legal and political dilemma.
INEC will eventually have to decide whose candidate gets on the ballot for 2027, the analyst said in an interview.
“If they (INEC) accept Wike’s faction, the Turaki/Jonathan camp will cry state-sponsored suppression. If they recognise Jonathan, it completely disrupts the ruling party’s calculations.”
INEC operates a centralised digital candidate-upload portal and thus can only issue access credentials to one recognised national leadership structure per party.
Between now and July 14, when its portal opens, INEC or the courts must make a major call on who holds the legitimate “keys” to the PDP’s portal login.
“Whoever successfully uploads their candidate list by July 28 holds the official ticket, leaving the locked-out faction with no choice but to pursue months of intense pre-election litigation,” said the analyst.
Recently, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit contesting Jonathan’s eligibility.
Jonathan’s critics argue he has already served the two terms permitted under the constitution.
Now a respected statesman across Africa, Jonathan (68) served as president from 2010 to 2015.
His first stint was to complete the term of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who passed away before his term ended in 2011.
Jonathan lost power to Muhammadu Buhari, who is also now deceased.
The APC has previously downplayed Jonathan’s potential run and the emergence of a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner as a distraction by a desperate opposition lacking a clear strategy to challenge the incumbent, who is aged 74.
Peter Obi (64), who finished third in the last election, was this past weekend chosen as the ADC candidate for 2027.
He is a former governor of Anambra State and contested that election on the ticket of the Labour Party (LP).
In his acceptance speech, he asserted, “A new Nigeria is possible. This conviction has united us. It must serve as our compass on the challenging road ahead and sustain us through all trials we may face.”
He said the campaign was premised on rekindling hope for millions who had faced adversity yet remained committed to Nigeria.
– CAJ News