The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is engulfed in a fresh and dangerous internal crisis as rival factions clash openly over a planned convention to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee announced plans to convene a convention in Abuja today — Saturday, May 30, 2026 — to formally endorse Jonathan as its presidential candidate, a move that came just one week after Senator Sandy Onor was screened, cleared, and officially presented as the PDP’s presidential candidate by a rival faction.
The Turaki-led PDP insisted the convention would hold at the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja despite opposition from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which issued a directive warning hotels and event centres against hosting gatherings organised by political groups not recognised by INEC, and threatened to revoke the titles of facilities used by what it described as “illegal organisations.”
The Turaki faction fired back defiantly, declaring: “We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience.” The faction also stated that the FCT Minister had no legal powers to determine where political events should be held.
The Wike-backed PDP wing, through National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, called on Jonathan to publicly distance himself from the planned endorsement, describing the proposed convention as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary political tension. The faction maintained that all PDP primary elections, including the presidential primary, had already been conducted in line with electoral laws and under the supervision of INEC.
The crisis has intensified debates about the future of the PDP, the legality of parallel party structures, and the constitutional implications surrounding Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race. Critics argue that relying on Jonathan exposes the PDP’s deeper structural weakness, while supporters insist the former president remains the most nationally acceptable consensus figure the party has.
Jonathan has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge a lawyer who asked the court to bar him from running again, claiming he had since served two terms — a development seen as a strong signal of his serious intent to contest in 2027.
As the PDP tears itself apart, political analysts warn that the ongoing crisis hands the ruling APC a significant advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections if the opposition fails to unite behind a single credible candidate.
CDA News Nigeria will provide live updates from today’s convention.
All rights reserved ©2026 CDA News Nigeria.
Privacy Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to protecting your privacy. We collect and use personal information solely for delivering news updates and improving your experience. Your data is never shared with third parties without explicit consent. For full details, visit our website.
Contact: info@cdanews.ng | 348 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
