Wike Speaks on Moves to Make Jonathan PDP Candidate for 2027 Election

• FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has criticised the PDP faction's plan to endorse Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate for the 2027 elections
• The PDP remains divided between Wike's and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki's factions over presidential nomination controversies
• Wike asserted that Jonathan's lack of open interest undermines the Turaki faction's adoption of him as a candidate

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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.

FCT, Abuja - Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, June 1, criticised the plan by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

Speaking in Abuja during his monthly media chat, monitored by Legit.ng, Wike said the PDP faction cannot drag Jonathan into the 2027 elections or act through proxies.

Friction persists in PDP

It would be recalled that a faction of the PDP led by Turaki had announced plans to present ex-President Jonathan as the party's flag-bearer for the 2027 presidential election. Jonathan, 68, served as the president from 2010 to 2015.

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The faction, in a statement by its national spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, said the flag presentation ceremony would take place on a date to be announced later.

The PDP official stated that despite the alleged intimidation, the faction proceeded with the ratification exercise, during which delegates unanimously endorsed Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.

The former ruling party is currently split into two factions, with one led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by Wike and the other led by Turaki, who served as minister in the Jonathan administration.

The Wike-backed faction, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises, has nominated Sandy Onor, a former senator, as its presidential candidate, while the Turaki faction adopted Jonathan as its candidate.

While Onor has accepted the nomination and urged party members to support his candidacy, Jonathan has remained silent on his adoption by the rival faction.

Earlier, the Turaki-led faction ratified Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Wike rejects PDP faction’s Jonathan plan

Reacting to the controversy, Wike, recognised by some PDP chieftains as the party's national leader, insisted that there is no faction in the party.

He said:

"Do you think somebody who has not told you that he wants to run for an election will run?

"You don't go and bring somebody to run. Someone will say I want to run and come and talk to you. It is either you have shown signal that you are interested or you are not."

Read more on Goodluck Jonathan:

• 2027 election: New twist as Goodluck Jonathan, Rabu Kwankwaso reportedly deepen negotiations
• 2027 presidency battle: South-South PDP divided as ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's plot to return deepens
• Wike speaks on return of Goodluck Jonathan in 2027 election: “For Christ’s sake"

Kenneth Okonkwo warns Jonathan

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), advised the PDP to allow Jonathan to enjoy his 'retirement from public office' in peace, rather than luring him into the 2027 race.

Okonkwo explained that rather than luring Jonathan into the 2027 election race, the cheerleaders should allow the former Nigerian leader to enjoy his credibility.

The former LP chieftain asked Jonathan to maintain his status as an “international statesman.”