The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly rejected reports claiming it plans to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election, describing the claims as false, misleading, and unauthorised.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Abdulrahman-led PDP faction, which is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said no such convention or process has been scheduled or endorsed by the party’s leadership.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Jungudo Mohammed, urged security agencies to investigate the source of the reports and prosecute those responsible for what the party termed an attempt to create political tension and disrepute.
The denial follows an announcement on Thursday by the Interim National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki, which said it would hold a convention in Abuja on Saturday to formally endorse Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.
Separately, Senator Sandy Onor was last week screened and presented as the presidential candidate for the faction of the party associated with Nyesom Wike.
Reacting to the developments, the recognised PDP leadership called on Jonathan to publicly distance himself from the move in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and his personal reputation.
“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 Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the presidential candidate of the PDP,” the statement read.
“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.
“We therefore urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the general public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity.”
The party added that it has already successfully concluded all its primary elections for governorship, state houses of assembly, National Assembly, and presidential primaries in line with INEC guidelines, the Electoral Act, and the PDP Constitution.
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