The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from comments by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, suggesting that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan would emerge as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) stressed that Gana was speaking in his personal capacity and had no mandate to speak for the PDP or to announce its presidential flag bearer.
The opposition party maintained that it was not short of credible presidential aspirants, noting that several of its governors from the South had proven themselves capable of leading the country if they chose to contest.
Professor Gana, speaking in Minna over the weekend after the election of new officials by the Niger State chapter of the PDP, had claimed that Nigerians, disillusioned by eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s rule and two years of Bola Tinubu’s presidency, were yearning for Jonathan’s return. He also asserted that Jonathan would contest under the PDP platform in 2027.
However, a PDP official dismissed the claims:
“Professor Jerry Gana doesn’t speak for the PDP. People are free to express their opinions, but the party has many eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly among our governors, whose performances have shown their capacity. When the time comes, the party will decide its candidate.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency reacted to the reports, saying Jonathan is free to contest but warning that his “dismal record in office” remains fresh in Nigerians’ memory.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, in a statement titled “Former President Jonathan is welcome to the race. Nigerians will remember his dismal record in office,” said Jonathan had both constitutional and political hurdles to overcome.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. But he will also have his day in court and with Nigerians, who will judge whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015,” Onanuga said.
