Wike Speaks on Jonathan's 2027 Presidential Ambition, Washes Hands Off PDP Chairmanship Saga

• Nyesom Wike says former President Goodluck Jonathan has never discussed any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election with him
• The FCT Minister distances himself from claims linking him to the PDP leadership tussle and says he knows nothing about Kabiru Turaki’s emergence
• Wike describes the upcoming PDP national convention as illegal and says he will not attend the event slated for November in Ibadan

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not informed anyone of his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, according to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wike, who spoke during a media session with journalists in Abuja on Friday, dismissed growing speculation that Jonathan was being pressured to return to the presidential race.

He said the former president had neither discussed such ambition with him nor sought his opinion on the matter, Vanguard reported.

Jonathan has not discussed 2027 race

Wike said he has not been personally informed by former President Jonathan that he is considering running for a second tenure in 2027.

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He expressed displeasure over unverified reports suggesting that he was aware of Jonathan’s alleged plans or that he was involved in political arrangements surrounding the 2027 elections.

Wike distances self from PDP leadership deal

When asked about the emergence of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said he was not part of the process.

Northern PDP stakeholders had reportedly endorsed Turaki as their preferred choice ahead of the party’s national convention, scheduled to hold on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Wike, however, questioned the legitimacy of the exercise, describing the planned convention as unlawful and declaring that he would not participate in it.

“How do you want me to attend a convention that I know by law that there is no convention?” he asked.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Jonathan is facing growing pressure from influential figures in the Niger Delta to drop any presidential ambition and instead support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The group allegedly includes former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and some of Jonathan’s kinsmen who believe that backing Tinubu would better serve regional and political interests.

Jonathan's eligibility to contest for president resolved

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oba Maduabuchi, had faulted the recent lawsuit challenging former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing it as an abuse of court process.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise TV, Maduabuchi said the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had long been decided by a competent court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and questioned why another suit was being entertained on the same subject in Abuja.

Former president Jonathan told to step aside

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had called on former president Goodluck Jonathan to throw his weight behind Peter Obi’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Tanko said Jonathan owed Obi political support, recalling that the former Anambra State governor was the only state leader who stood firmly with him during moves to remove him from office while he was the president.

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