By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election after what it described as the disruption of its Special National Convention in Abuja.
The exercise coordinated by for Information Minister and founding member of the PDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, also issued a certificate of return for the ex – President Jonathan through a proxy ahead of official presentation of it to him at a later date.
The Jonathan’s return could rattle President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Southern stronghold ahead of 2027 who has secured his All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket with over 10 million votes from party’s recently concluded presidential primary election.
And as political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, this latest development in the camp of PDP may raise concerns within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the potential impact on President Bola Tinubu’s southern support base.
The Daily Crucible reports that Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election was anchored largely on his dominance in the South-West and substantial support from other parts of Southern Nigeria.
However, many believe Jonathan’s emergence could alter the equation by attracting voters in the South-South and South-East who may prefer another southern candidate to challenge the incumbent president.
This could significantly complicate Tinubu’s re-election calculations, particularly if opposition figures from the South, especially Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) remain active in the race.
The presence of Jonathan, alongside other prominent southern politicians such as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Hashim Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (ADP) could divide the southern political landscape and weaken Tinubu’s influence across the region.
Jonathan, who served as president between 2010 and 2015, remains one of the most recognisable political figures from the oil – bearing Niger Delta region and he of Ijaw extraction. His supporters insist that he still enjoys considerable goodwill in parts of the South-South and among Nigerians who look back favourably on the economic conditions during his administration.
Within the PDP, Jonathan is widely regarded as a formidable contender owing to his national appeal, political experience, southern roots and one term limit that may entice the North. Party stakeholders believe his profile could help galvanise support beyond the party’s traditional base.
Unlike some opposition politicians who are perceived as regionally divisive, Jonathan is often viewed as a consensus figure capable of attracting support across political and ethnic lines. Some say his moderate disposition and statesman image could resonate with voters grappling with economic hardship, inflation and insecurity.
His potential entry into the race is also expected to place additional pressure on the APC’s strategy of maintaining overwhelming dominance in the South-West.
While Tinubu is expected to retain significant influence in his home region, there is fear that a strong Jonathan showing in the South-South and parts of the South-East, particularly if Peter Obi remains a key political force, could fragment the southern voting bloc and make the 2027 contest more tasking for Tinubu.
Although the political climate remains fluid, it is believed that Jonathan’s candidacy, if eventually confirmed, would introduce a new dynamic into the race and present one of the most significant southern challenges to Tinubu’s bid for a second term but the same factionalized and crisis – ridden PDP offering him its ticket may prove to be Jonathan’s next Achilles heel if he enters the presidential race
However, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Interim National Working Committee through the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party alleged that security operatives and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) obstructed the convention, forcing stakeholders to adopt an alternative process for ratifying Jonathan’s candidacy.
According to the PDP, the convention had been scheduled to hold at the A Class Event Centre in Abuja after the party formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies.
The party, however, claimed that the venue’s management withdrew from the arrangement after allegedly receiving threats from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the facility’s Certificate of Occupancy could be revoked if it hosted the gathering.
The PDP further alleged that the FCTA issued warnings to business premises against hosting events it considered unlawful and that more than 20 truckloads of police personnel were deployed around the venue on the eve of the convention, effectively preventing access.
Faced with the situation, the party said it convened an emergency meeting involving members of its Board of Trustees, Interim National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, state chairmen, governorship and National Assembly candidates, and other stakeholders.
Following deliberations, the PDP said party elders advised members against confronting security operatives, urging restraint and a focus on electoral victory rather than physical resistance.
The meeting subsequently resolved to affirm Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The party said a formal presentation and flag-off ceremony for the former president would be conducted at a later date.
The PDP condemned what it described as the misuse of state institutions to frustrate opposition activities, warning that such actions could pose a threat to Nigeria’s democratic development if left unchecked.
It argued that the alleged disruption of its convention reflected a growing effort to narrow the political space for opposition parties and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to suppress political competition.
The opposition party also called on President Bola Tinubu to take steps to ease political tensions and ensure a level playing field for all political parties operating within the law.
Reaffirming its readiness for the 2027 elections, the PDP urged its members to remain united and committed to the party’s objectives. It also directed its Interim National Working Committee to intensify preparations for the polls and raise awareness locally and internationally about what it described as efforts to weaken opposition politics in Nigeria.
