Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emerged as the sole presidential aspirant cleared to contest under the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was confirmed after the faction’s 14-member presidential screening committee concluded its exercise on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The committee, approved during the party’s 104th National Executive Committee meeting, includes former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi, and PDP chieftain Bode George. Other members are Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenih, Abdul Bulama, Esther Uduehi, Tony Aziegbemi, Sunday Solari, and Anicho Okoro as administrative secretary.
Although the PDP statement initially referred to “one presidential aspirant,” party sources confirmed Jonathan was the only contender scheduled for screening. The exercise took place nationwide at 10 a.m., in line with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the 2027 polls.
The screening comes days after the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, disclosed that Jonathan had completed his membership registration during the party’s fresh digital registration exercise directed by INEC. The Turaki-led faction, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, also announced nationwide screening for 748 House of Representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants, and 2,122 state House of Assembly aspirants.
Jonathan’s emergence as the lone presidential aspirant signals a possible return to frontline politics for the former president, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015. He contested the 2015 election under the PDP but lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
The Turaki faction said the move aligns with its preparations to reposition the party ahead of the next election cycle. A top official in Jonathan’s team told Vanguard that the decision to use the PDP platform followed deliberations on where his chances of returning to power were brighter…See More
