A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to distance himself from what it described as a “charade” convention.
The group said the planned event being organised by the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction is illegitimate and not recognised by the party’s leadership or any of its authorised structures.
The convention is reportedly scheduled for Saturday, May 30, in Abuja, where Jonathan was expected to be endorsed ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
However, in a statement signed by Jungudo Haruna, the faction’s national publicity secretary, the Wike-backed PDP dismissed the proposed gathering, insisting that no such convention had been approved.
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to misleading information and unfounded reports circulating in certain quarters regarding an alleged planned convention aimed at affirming former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the presidential candidate of the PDP,” the statement said.
“The party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
It urged party members, stakeholders, and the public to disregard the reports, describing them as false and capable of creating confusion within the political space.
The faction also claimed that it had already concluded its internal primaries and selected its candidates for various elective positions, including the presidency, in line with INEC guidelines and the party’s constitution.
“It is important for the avoidance of doubt to state that the Peoples Democratic Party has successfully concluded all its primary elections, including those for governorship, State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, and the presidential primaries in accordance with INEC guidelines, the provisions of the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the party,” the statement added.
The group further warned against what it described as attempts to drag the party into illegitimacy, urging security agencies to investigate the source of the alleged false reports surrounding Jonathan’s purported endorsement.
“In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation,” it said.
The faction maintained that it would not tolerate misinformation or unauthorised political activities capable of undermining its internal processes, insisting that it remained committed to due process, internal democracy, and the rule of law.
