Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s reported interest in the 2027 presidential race has intensified the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, as rival factions battle for control of the party ahead of the next general election.
The two blocs currently laying claim to the PDP structure — one loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the other led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki — openly disagreed yesterday over Jonathan’s possible participation in the party’s presidential primaries.
The development followed reports that groups backing Jonathan’s return to power were mobilising funds to purchase the PDP’s N100 million presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the former president before the close of sales.
While the Wike-backed National Working Committee announced that sales of forms would end today, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee fixed May 13 as its deadline, with submission of completed forms slated for May 14.
The internal division has further complicated the PDP’s preparations for 2027, especially as both camps continue to claim legitimacy following the Supreme Court judgment that nullified the party’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan.
Although the faction aligned with Wike currently enjoys recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Turaki-led camp insists it controls the authentic membership register of the party and has already submitted it to INEC.
Speaking on the controversy, the publicity secretary of the Wike-backed camp, Mohammed Haruna Jungudo, dismissed speculation linking Jonathan to their faction.
“Goodluck Jonathan has not purchased our form and he has not been romancing with us, so we are not expecting him,” Jungudo said.
On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Turaki-led faction, Ini Ememobong, maintained that Jonathan remains a bonafide PDP member and would be welcomed if he decides to contest.
“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,” Ememobong stated.
Despite the growing speculation, Jonathan had not obtained nomination forms from either faction as of last night, leaving uncertainty over his true political intentions.
The PDP crisis stems from the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling which invalidated the convention that produced Turaki as national chairman. Following the judgment, the Wike-aligned bloc assumed control of the party structure, citing INEC recognition.
However, the party’s Board of Trustees, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, argued that the PDP leadership vacuum persisted because several figures involved in setting up the caretaker structure had earlier been expelled from the party.
Amid the political uncertainty, Jonathan is also facing a legal challenge over his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, fresh controversy emerged after the plaintiff in the suit accused the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, of bias and requested that the case be reassigned.
The plaintiff, Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, alleging that Justice Lifu denied him adequate time to respond to court filings submitted by Jonathan’s legal team.
According to the petition, the judge reduced the statutory 14-day response period to just three days, including a weekend, despite objections raised by the plaintiff’s counsel.
The plaintiff argued that the decision violated his constitutional right to fair hearing and accused the judge of acting in a manner that suggested prejudice.
During proceedings yesterday, neither the plaintiff nor representatives of INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were present in court.
Jonathan’s legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of diligent prosecution or, alternatively, award N5 million costs against the plaintiff.
Justice Lifu, however, declined to strike out the matter, noting that there was no evidence that hearing notices had been served on all parties. He subsequently adjourned the case until May 15 and ordered that hearing notices be properly served.
In the suit, the plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether Jonathan is constitutionally eligible to seek the presidency again, having completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s unexpired tenure before winning a full four-year term in 2011.
The plaintiff contends that another victory in 2027 would amount to a third presidential oath of office and exceed the constitutional limit of eight years in power.
Jonathan, however, has urged the court to dismiss the case, insisting that the issues raised had already been settled by previous judicial decisions.
Comments