PDP NWC Urges Jonathan to Reject 2027 Presidential Endorsement Amid Party Crisis

The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Saturday as the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly distance himself from efforts linking him to the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The Mohammed-led NWC described the move as a “charade,” urging Jonathan to dissociate himself from what it termed unauthorised attempts to project him as a presidential candidate. According to the committee, such actions could undermine both the former president’s legacy and the integrity of the democratic process.
The appeal came ahead of a special convention planned in Abuja by a rival Interim National Working Committee (INWC) headed by Tanimu Turaki. The faction is seeking to ratify Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The Turaki-led group claimed that Jonathan had already been granted a waiver and cleared as its sole presidential aspirant during its screening exercise, despite no public indication that the former president had formally declared interest in the race or submitted nomination forms.
However, the Mohammed-led NWC rejected the move, insisting that the PDP had already conducted its primaries for all elective offices in accordance with the Electoral Act and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The committee described the rival faction’s activities as illegitimate and misleading.
Amid the controversy, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was reported to have warned hotels and event centres in Abuja against hosting political gatherings not recognised by INEC. The Turaki-led faction interpreted the warning as an attempt at intimidation.
Despite the development, the faction maintained that it would proceed with the planned convention, stating that it had met all contractual and legal obligations and had duly notified security agencies of the event.
The group also extended invitations to party stakeholders, including state leaders and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), to attend the convention where Jonathan’s candidacy is expected to be formally endorsed.
Meanwhile, the Mohammed-led NWC urged security agencies, party members and the general public to disregard what it described as unauthorised political gatherings, stressing that the party’s recognised leadership remains the only legitimate structure.
The dispute underscores the deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, with rival factions continuing to lay claim to the party’s leadership despite judicial interventions and lingering disagreements over the party’s national structure.