Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emerged as the sole presidential aspirant of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The faction disclosed that Jonathan would be screened on Tuesday as part of the party’s nationwide screening exercise for aspirants seeking various elective positions.
According to a statement issued by the faction, the screening exercise will begin at 10 a.m. and involve thousands of aspirants contesting for different offices, including governorship, senate, House of Representatives and state assembly positions.
Although the statement did not initially reveal the identity of the lone presidential aspirant, party sources later confirmed that Jonathan is the only contender cleared for the presidential screening.
The development has sparked fresh political conversations within the opposition party as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The 14-member presidential screening committee reportedly includes several prominent PDP figures such as former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi, and PDP chieftain Bode George.
Other members listed include Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenih, Abdul Bulama, Esther Uduehi, Tony Aziegbemi, Sunday Solari and Anicho Okoro, who will serve as administrative secretary.
The faction said the committee was approved during a recent National Executive Committee meeting and that the screening process aligns with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the 2027 elections.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015, remains one of the most influential figures within the PDP and Nigeria’s political landscape. His possible return to presidential politics is expected to shape political alignments ahead of the next general election.
