The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed reports claiming it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, refuted the claims, clarifying that the party has neither issued its presidential ticket to Jonathan nor urged him to run.
“The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true,” Abdullahi stated.
He explained that the confusion arose from a recent interview where a journalist asked about Jonathan’s potential candidacy. Abdullahi responded by affirming Jonathan’s eligibility under the law, as the former president has one term left to serve if he chooses to run.
“I said he is eligible to contest the election because he is a Nigerian and has the legal right to do so. However, this does not mean the party has invited or endorsed him,” Abdullahi clarified.
PDP Has Qualified Candidates
Abdullahi emphasized that the PDP has a robust pool of qualified candidates, including 12 sitting governors and other prominent politicians, who are capable of contesting the presidential election.
He also referenced comments made by Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, who previously stated that her husband had no intention of returning to the presidency, as he had left nothing behind at the Aso Villa to warrant a comeback.
“The ticket is given to someone who has shown interest. We cannot consider someone who has not indicated a desire to run,” Abdullahi noted.
The PDP official stressed that the party remains focused on strengthening its internal structures and fielding competent candidates for future elections, reaffirming that no discussions have been held with Jonathan regarding a potential 2027 candidacy.
The clarification puts to rest the speculation surrounding the former president’s alleged involvement in the next presidential race under the PDP banner.
