PDP Factions Clash Over Jonathan’s Possible 2027 Presidential Bid

Fresh tensions have emerged within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan may contest the 2027 presidential election.

The controversy has exposed deep divisions between the rival PDP factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC), both of which are laying claim to the party’s structure.

The disagreement intensified after reports surfaced that nine groups backing Jonathan’s return to power were mobilising funds to purchase the PDP’s N100 million expression of interest and nomination forms for the former president.

While the Wike-backed faction is expected to conclude the sale of forms today, the Turaki-led camp fixed May 13 as the deadline for sales and May 14 for submission of completed forms.

At the centre of the dispute is the question of legitimacy, with INEC reportedly recognising the Wike-aligned leadership, while the Turaki faction insists it controls the authentic PDP membership register already submitted to the electoral body.

As of Monday night, Jonathan had not obtained nomination forms from either faction.

Speaking on the development, Mohammed Haruna Jungudo, spokesperson of the Wike-backed PDP leadership, dismissed speculation linking Jonathan to his camp.

“Goodluck has not purchased our form yet and he has not been romancing with us, so we are not expecting him to come,” he said.

However, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the Turaki-led faction, said Jonathan remained free to pursue his political ambition within the party.

“Well, that is for him (Jonathan) to determine. It is not for us. The choice of buying nomination form, when to buy, and where to buy from, is entirely his.

“What we can say is that his name is on our register and which is what we can answer to,” Ememobong stated.

The leadership dispute followed the Supreme Court ruling that voided the PDP’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, which produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman.

While the Wike-backed camp moved swiftly to take control of the party and gained recognition from INEC, the PDP Board of Trustees led by Adolphus Wabara argued that the party became leaderless after the judgment because some individuals who constituted the caretaker committee had earlier been expelled.

Meanwhile, the legal challenge against Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the presidency in 2027 also took a fresh turn at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The plaintiff in the case, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, filed a motion asking Justice Peter Lifu to recuse himself over alleged bias and also petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the matter to be reassigned.

The petitioner alleged that the judge unfairly reduced the statutory period allowed for him to respond to court processes.

“Section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees me adequate time and facilities to prepare my case,” he argued in the petition.

The suit seeks to prevent Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election on the grounds that another term would exceed the constitutional limit for a Nigerian president.

Jonathan has asked the court to dismiss the suit, insisting that the issues raised had already been settled by previous court decisions.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 15 after noting that some parties had not been served hearing notices.

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