PDP Faction Adopts Jonathan as 2027 Presidential Candidate
Taminu Turaki faction of PDP adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as presidential candidate on May 19, with Screening Committee chairman Babangida Aliyu stating Jonathan received waiver and was declared cleared. The candidacy was ratified on May 30, with House member Fred Agbedi receiving flag on Jonathan's behalf. Jonathan has neither accepted nor rejected the nomination publicly, leaving political circles speculating about his intentions. His candidacy faces constitutional challenges, though Federal High Courts in Yenagoa and Abuja ruled in his favor regarding Section 137(3) limits on presidential terms, stating the 2018 amendment cannot be applied retroactively. The move reflects deep divisions within PDP, which now has multiple factions: Turaki (Jonathan), Wike (Sandy Onor), and Makinde (APM alliance). Constitutional concerns persist as the case moves to Appeal Court, and analysts question whether Jonathan can rebuild grassroots structures or connect with younger voters. Will this nomination unite the fractured opposition or further divide southern votes among multiple candidates (Jonathan, Tinubu, Obi, Makinde, etc.)? And with the constitutional eligibility still uncertain, is Jonathan's candidacy a strategic move or political nostalgia in a country demanding fresh solutions?