The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked former President, Goodluck Jonathan, to run for president in the 2027 presidential election on its platform.
News reports, not Trustbase News has it that this follows the recent sighting of Jonathan’s presidential posters for the 2027 elections across major streets in Kano, which sparked speculation about his possible return to the political arena.
Some political elites said that the move is based on the belief that Jonathan is eligible to serve another four-year term, having already served as president from 2011 to 2015.
In an interview with Punch, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the party had eagerly awaited Jonathan’s return for a second term due to his political rise.
Abdullahi urged Jonathan to heed the call to finish what he started within the party, emphasizing that it would be regrettable if the former president chose another party for his presidential bid.
The PDP chieftain also highlighted the party’s historical role in shaping Nigeria’s leadership, citing several notable figures who had emerged from the party.
He said, “We’ve said this about Jonathan and our governors. Even the FCT minister, is arguably the best performer in his role and he is a product of PDP. El-Rufai, Okonjo-Iweala, Dora Akunyili, Obi Ezekwesili, Akinwunmi Adesina, Amina Mohammed… these are the pride of this country, and they are all products of the PDP.
“If Goodluck Jonathan is seriously considering running, we have been calling him to come back and complete his term. It will not be out of place, but if he runs with another political party, it will expose the hypocrisy within the APC.
“It’s crucial for him to remember how he was derided, criticised and reduced to nothing by these same people. Now that they are suddenly calling him the messiah, he must not be swayed by their sudden affection. That would be unfortunate.”
However, sources within the PDP have predicted that the party’s future will be determined at its upcoming National Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for February 2025.
Also the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, have stated that the delay in the NEC meeting was due to deeper reasons within the party.
He suggested that if the ultimate goal was to remove Damagum, he would do everything possible to prevent the meeting where such a move could be made.
Odeyemi argued that if the PDP intended to seek peace, it must align with Damagum and his supporters and allow the situation to settle before pushing for further changes.
He said, “Damagum, being a shrewd politician, is not ready to leave his post.”
Odeyemi also cautioned that rushing into the NEC meeting could lead to more crises for the party, adding, “If you cannot manage yourselves as a political party, how can you manage the country?”
