Turaki-led PDP to ratify Jonathan as presidential candidate on Saturday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, has fixed Saturday for the ratification of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

In a statement jointly issued on Thursday, Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the Turaki PDP faction, and Theophilus Shan, national organising secretary, said Jonathan’s nomination would be ratified at a special national convention in Abuja.

On May 19, the PDP waived screening requirements for Jonathan, the sole presidential aspirant.

The party said Jonathan, being a former president, does not need to undergo screening.

On Tuesday, a federal high court in Abuja dismissed a suit challenging Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, held that JohnMary Jideobi, the plaintiff, lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having not suffered any loss from Jonathan’s perceived intention to vie in next year’s poll.

The judge awarded a N20 million fine against Jideobi and in favour of the ex-president.

The Turaki PDP faction commended the verdict, saying it aligns with the “law and common sense”, noting that legislation cannot have a retroactive effect.

The party said the ruling has “made the pathway” for Jonathan’s “presidential rescue mission totally unfettered”.

Jonathan was Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015.

The PDP is polarised into two factions.

On Wednesday, the faction backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), named Sandy Onor, a former senator, as its presidential candidate.