The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election after a dramatic standoff with security agencies and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) forced the party to abandon plans to hold its Special National Convention at a designated venue in Abuja.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of its key organs on Saturday, the opposition party alleged that the management of the A Class Event Centre in Abuja cancelled its booking under pressure from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who allegedly threatened to revoke the facility’s Certificate of Occupancy and demolish the premises if it hosted the PDP event.
The party said it had fulfilled all legal requirements ahead of the convention, including notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies of its activities. According to the PDP, the event centre had accepted payment and granted access for preparatory activities before allegedly reversing its position.
“Surprisingly, the management of the event centre called to cancel the booking, citing an invitation and threat from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that their certificate of occupancy would be revoked and their event centre demolished if the PDP event was allowed to hold there,” the communiqué stated.
The PDP further alleged that the FCTA reinforced the pressure by issuing a public statement warning that titles of business premises hosting events it considered unlawful could be revoked. The party also claimed that more than 20 truckloads of police personnel were deployed to block roads leading to the venue on the eve of the convention.
According to the statement, the situation prompted an emergency gathering involving members of the Board of Trustees, the Interim National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, state chairmen, governorship and National Assembly candidates, and other stakeholders to determine the party’s next steps.
Despite the disruption, the PDP announced that it had successfully completed what it described as the most important aspect of the convention by unanimously affirming former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate and flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
“The stakeholders continued with the plan and President Goodluck Jonathan was unanimously affirmed, after a motion was duly moved and seconded, as the presidential candidate and flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 presidential election,” the communiqué said.
The party disclosed that formal presentation and flag-giving ceremonies for Jonathan would be scheduled at a later date.
Explaining why it chose not to challenge the security presence at the venue, the PDP said senior party leaders and elder statesmen advised restraint. The communiqué quoted the elders as urging members to avoid confrontation and focus on defeating political opponents through democratic means.
“They admonished that 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 statement read.
The opposition party strongly condemned what it described as the “brazen use of unmitigated power” by officials of the current administration and accused Wike of acting with the backing of President Bola Tinubu. It warned that unchecked political intimidation could undermine Nigeria’s democratic system.
The PDP argued that the incident demonstrated the ruling party’s fear of the opposition, claiming that other political parties facing internal leadership disputes had conducted conventions without interference.
“This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party,” the communiqué stated, adding that the party was being denied its constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble and conduct internal affairs.
The party also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce political tensions in the country and ensure that democratic principles are respected by all arms of government.
“We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rein in his fear of impending loss and take practical steps to deescalate the political tensions which have been an unwarranted addition to the already heightened political temperature in the country,” the statement said.
