A combined photo of Goodluck Jonathan and Bode George
By Victory Oghene
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emerged the presidential candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 general election
Jonathan’s candidacy was ratified on Saturday at a special national convention organised by the faction led by Kabiru Turaki in Abuja.
Although the former president was not present at the event, his certificate of return was received on his behalf by Fred Agbedi, a member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State.
The Turaki-led faction had initially planned to hold its convention at the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had directed owners of hotels and event centres to engage only with political party leaderships recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is currently recognised by INEC.
Recall that on Saturday, police officers blocked access roads leading to the A-Class Park and Event Centre, forcing organisers to relocate the convention.
Party officials later announced that the event would hold at the faction’s office in Area 10, Garki District, where delegates eventually ratified Jonathan’s nomination.
In yet another development, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has suspended a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, and 23 other prominent stakeholders.
The suspension, was contained in an official statement released on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The document, was signed by the Chairman of the factional Lagos PDP Disciplinary Committee, Kayode Ogunbiyi, and the committee’s secretary, Desmond Agbo.
The affected politicians, including former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, and several ex-lawmakers—have been barred from participating in any official or unofficial party activities or representing the PDP in any capacity across the state.
According to the pro-Wike faction, the drastic purge became inevitable to stop an existential slide into chaos and to punish top elders who have allegedly been cutting backroom deals with rival political parties.
The committee stated that the hammer fell on the political heavyweights during an emergency tribunal held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, where a mountain of petitions alleging constitutional infractions was reviewed.
“The decision to suspend George and other erring members was contained in the resolution of the meeting held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, where various petitions were presented against certain notable personalities and other members bordering on issues of anti-party activities and deliberate infractions of the PDP Constitution,” the factional statement read.
