The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday unanimously affirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate and flag bearer for the 2027 general election following a motion moved and seconded by stakeholders at its Special National Convention in Abuja.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the convention and signed by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, who said the affirmation took place after an emergency meeting involving members of the Board of Trustees, the Interim National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, state chairmen, governorship and National Assembly candidates, as well as other key stakeholders.
The party said the formal presentation of Jonathan and the handing over of the party’s flag would be conducted at a later date.
PDP leaders also condemned what they described as the abuse of power by officials of the current administration, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, alleging that the actions enjoyed the backing of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the communiqué, stakeholders warned that “if left unchecked, a full-blown dictatorship will sprout within a democracy, which eventually may lead to the collapse of democracy.”
The party further claimed that attempts to frustrate its convention showed the ruling party’s apprehension over the PDP’s prospects ahead of the next general election.
“This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party. Whereas other parties with leadership issues similar to ours have conducted their conventions without threats from the ruling party, the PDP is too feared to be allowed the constitutionally guaranteed right to meet,” the communiqué stated.
The opposition party also called on President Tinubu to lower political tensions across the country.
“We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rein in his fear of impending loss and take practical steps to de-escalate the political tensions which have been an unwarranted addition to the already heightened political temperature in the country,” it said.
The communiqué disclosed that party leaders had initially considered resisting the security presence around the convention venue but abandoned the move following appeals from elder statesmen who urged restraint.
“Considering the very passionate appeal by elder statesmen, the party aborted the earlier plan to resist the security occupation of the event centre and forcefully use the venue for the ceremonies,” the statement noted.
The elders, it added, advised members to focus on electoral victory rather than confrontation, saying, “When a mad person runs away with your cloth, you do not chase the deranged person naked; otherwise, those who see the chase will simply conclude that two mad people are running.”
The PDP alleged that its planned convention at the A Class Event Centre in Abuja was disrupted after the management of the facility cancelled the booking, claiming it had been threatened with revocation of its Certificate of Occupancy and demolition if the event was allowed to hold.
The party also alleged that more than 20 truckloads of policemen were deployed to the area on the eve of the convention, restricting access to the venue.
Declaring itself united and prepared for the 2027 polls, the PDP charged its Interim National Working Committee to take steps toward full participation in the elections and to draw attention to what it described as the shrinking space for opposition politics in Nigeria.