Jonathan 2027: They failed him in 2023, now want him to revive dead PDP — Sani

ABUJA – Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised moves by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race, describing the effort as belated and politically motivated.

Sani made the remark in a post on his X platform on Monday while reacting to the adoption of Jonathan as the presidential candidate of a PDP faction ahead of the 2027 general election. According to the former lawmaker, those now promoting Jonathan’s candidacy failed to support him when the party was in a stronger position and more capable of mounting a serious electoral challenge. “If they actually wanted GEJ, they should have fielded him in 2023 when the party was relatively alive and in good shape,” Sani wrote. He argued that the current move appears less about giving Jonathan a realistic opportunity to lead the country again and more about using his political stature to revive a struggling political platform. “They just now want him to help them carry the coffin,” he added. Sani’s comments come amid growing reactions to the emergence of Jonathan as the presidential candidate of a PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki following a special convention held in Abuja on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

The Turaki-led faction of the PDP went ahead with its planned special convention on Saturday, where former President Goodluck Jonathan was symbolically ratified as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The event, which initially faced disruption, was relocated from the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Wuse 2 to a venue in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, following heightened security presence and reported roadblocks by police operatives. Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, received the Certificate of Return on behalf of Jonathan during the factional gathering, as the former president was not present at the convention. According to earlier reports, the faction had announced plans to hold the special convention after former President Jonathan was reportedly cleared as the party’s sole presidential aspirant following his failure to appear before the faction’s presidential screening committee for two consecutive days. A member of the Presidential Screening Committee, Babangida Aliyu, disclosed that Jonathan had been cleared as the party’s sole presidential aspirant, stating that the party’s leadership had granted Jonathan the necessary waiver to participate in the primary process. “As you know, the party had already given a presidential aspirant the waiver. Like I said in the beginning, he was a deputy governor, became governor, became vice-president and became president. So, we didn’t see anything that needed screening. Therefore, the party had given him a waiver,” Babangida Aliyu said.

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Despite the ratification by the Turaki faction, former President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to publicly confirm whether he intends to return to active presidential politics or contest the 2027 election. In early May 2026, when youth groups visited him urging him to contest, Jonathan responded that the presidency was “not a computer game” and that he would consult widely before making any decision. “You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” Jonathan said at the time. As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan has not publicly responded to the nomination announced by the Turaki-led PDP faction.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) , has also weighed in on the issue, urging former President Jonathan to publicly reject the presidential nomination extended to him by the PDP faction. Keyamo argued that the faction behind the nomination is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , questioning the legality and political weight of its actions. He described the move as “bizarre comedy taken too far” and criticised what he called the absurdity of offering “a whole Presidential ticket to an ex-president and statesman by proxy and by a bunch of people not even registered on INEC’s website.” “For the sake of his global image, President Goodluck Jonathan must IMMEDIATELY issue a strong ‘no, thank you’ statement,” Keyamo said.

The development has further exposed the deep divisions within the opposition PDP, which remains embroiled in an internal leadership crisis that has resulted in the emergence of rival factions. While the Turaki-led faction, backed by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed (who has since left the PDP for the Allied Peoples Movement, APM), lays claim to the party leadership on one side, the group aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike controls the other faction. The Wike-backed PDP faction has called on Jonathan to dissociate himself from the Turaki group’s endorsement, describing the planned convention and ratification as “misleading, unfounded, and intended to create confusion within the polity.” In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction stated that no such convention, meeting, or process had been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the PDP. “We respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation,” the statement read. INEC has recognised the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed as the legitimate leadership of the party, meaning the Turaki faction that nominated Jonathan may not be recognised by the electoral umpire for the 2027 elections.

Following the development, there were speculations that Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, could become Jonathan’s running mate under the factional arrangement. However, Mohammed has dismissed such reports. In a response on X, Mohammed said his focus remained on contesting the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat in 2027 under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) . “Thank you for your interest in my political aspirations. However, for the sake of clarity, my focus remains firmly on contesting for the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),” he wrote. “Any reports suggesting a different political course should be disregarded as speculative and inaccurate,” the governor added. Mohammed recently left the PDP for the APM following the crisis rocking the opposition party.

Despite the political uncertainty, a Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed a suit seeking to stop former President Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, describing the action as an abuse of court process. This ruling effectively clears any legal barriers that could have prevented Jonathan from running, should he decide to accept the nomination.

Jonathan 2027: They failed him in 2023, now want him to revive dead PDP — Sani

APC Picks Female Deputy Governor for Hamzat Ahead 2027 Poll

LAGOS – The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has taken a definitive step toward the 2027 gubernatorial election by officially announcing its deputy governorship candidate, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes political contest in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The party has chosen to occupy the joint ticket Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, a strategic decision made as part of early maneuvers to retain its dominant political grip on the state. She will contest alongside the party’s flagbearer and current Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who secured the governorship ticket in a landslide primary election victory.

Princess Damilola Sonayon-James is a politician, sustainability specialist, and business leader, widely recognised for her grassroots mobilisation and advocacy for women’s empowerment. She currently serves as the Deputy State Chairman of the APC in Lagos State, having risen through the party ranks after previously serving as the State Assistant Woman Leader. Her political career also includes experience as a Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Services in Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA). She hails from the royal family of the ancient Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Lagos State, adding geographical balance to the ticket and strengthening the party’s appeal in Lagos West Senatorial District. Beyond politics, Sonayon-James has established a career spanning human resources, logistics and sustainability management. She is the Chief Executive Officer of DGS Chauffeurs and Logistics and also serves as founder of the BSJ Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on women empowerment, youth development and community sanitation.

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Princess Damilola Sonayon-James1

Academically, Sonayon-James holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and a degree in Business and Human Resources Management from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. She is also a certified Sustainability Risk and Strategy Consultant with experience spanning both the public and private sectors.

Dr. Obafemi Hamzat secured the APC governorship ticket with a landslide victory, polling 657,917 votes out of 657,974 votes cast, while his sole challenger, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, received only one vote. The primary election was conducted across the state’s 245 wards in the 20 local government areas and was described by the APC national governorship primary election committee chairman, retired General Jonathan Temlong, as peaceful and transparent. This victory makes Hamzat the first Deputy Governor in Lagos State’s history to secure a governorship ticket while still serving as deputy. The primary saw the withdrawal of other aspirants, including Babajide Adeniran (popularly known as Jandor) and Samuel Mawuyon Ajose (SMA Gold), who stepped down in support of Hamzat ahead of the exercise.

The political pairing comes on the heels of major structural endorsements for the Hamzat ticket, which has already received crucial backing from the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) —the apex leadership body of the APC in Lagos State—outgoing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and regional party leadership. Significantly, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement of his deputy marks the first time since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999 that a sitting Lagos governor has openly backed his deputy to succeed him. This endorsement followed extensive consultations involving President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other key stakeholders. According to party sources, Sonayon-James’ nomination was reportedly backed by President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Committee (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos State. Reports indicate that Sonayon-James recently met with Tinubu at his Lagos residence prior to her nomination.

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The selection of Sonayon-James reportedly puts to rest speculation surrounding the choice of Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who was earlier linked to the position and also represents the Badagry division. Party sources confirmed that the decision followed extensive consultations among key stakeholders and was aimed at strengthening the APC’s campaign structure and grassroots appeal across the state. The governorship ambition of Hamzat has reportedly received further boost from various stakeholders, including the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), transport unions, and religious organisations, who have expressed support for his candidacy.

In his acceptance speech following the primary, Hamzat unveiled a development agenda tagged “My Lagos Dream,” centred on job creation, improved infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security for residents of the state. “First, service delivery: freeing up more money for services and maintaining the biggest infrastructure investment programme in West Africa. Second, job creation: policies to fast-track jobs for our youths and support for entrepreneurs and industrialisation,” Hamzat said.

Party leadership is expected to officially unveil the Hamzat–Sonayon-James ticket in a formal ceremony in the coming days, an event scheduled to flag off a more aggressive phase of grassroots mobilization and political sensitization across Lagos. The party is also expected to soon unveil its manifesto and programmes aimed at sustaining development in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The emergence of a female deputy governorship candidate is widely seen as a strategic move to consolidate support among women voters, who constitute a significant portion of the electorate in Lagos State. As political activities gather momentum, all eyes will be on how other political parties respond with their own ticket announcements in the coming weeks.

APC Picks Female Deputy Governor for Hamzat Ahead 2027 Poll

2027 Presidency: Jonathan Wins PDP Faction’s Ticket, Obi Unveils Reform Agenda

The battle for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 gathered momentum on Saturday as former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi emerged as presidential candidates on separate political platforms.

Jonathan was endorsed as the presidential candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party at a controversial special national convention in Abuja, despite opposition from the party’s mainstream leadership and heavy security presence around the venue.

The exercise was thrown into confusion after security operatives barricaded the A-Class Event Centre, forcing organisers led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), to relocate proceedings to their operational office in Area 10, Garki.

Undeterred, the faction proceeded with the convention and ratified Jonathan’s candidature through a voice vote.

A Certificate of Return was subsequently presented to the former president in absentia and received on his behalf by former lawmaker Fred Agbedi.

The event was later overshadowed by violence when suspected hoodlums reportedly stormed the venue and attacked party members, journalists and supporters, forcing many to flee before security personnel restored order.

Turaki accused unnamed political interests of attempting to frustrate the convention and undermine democratic rights, insisting that the faction’s actions were backed by court judgments and provisions of the PDP constitution.

The endorsement further exposed the deep divisions within the PDP, with the rival leadership loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike distancing itself from the exercise and insisting that former Senator Sandy Onor remained the party’s recognised presidential candidate.

While the PDP grappled with internal turmoil, Peter Obi formally accepted the presidential ticket of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition, presenting a broad reform agenda aimed at tackling insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in government.

Obi said Nigeria was facing one of its most challenging periods, marked by rising insecurity, struggling businesses and worsening living conditions, but maintained that the country could still chart a new course.

“A new Nigeria is possible,” he declared, pledging to rebuild trust in governance and place the country on the path of sustainable growth.

The former Anambra State governor promised intelligence-driven security reforms, stressing that the protection of lives and property would remain the primary responsibility of his administration.

He also pledged to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and unemployment, while deploying technology and modern intelligence tools to combat violent crimes.

On the economy, Obi promised measures to revive productivity, stimulate investment and create opportunities for millions of Nigerians struggling under current economic conditions.

He further outlined plans to strengthen the healthcare sector by expanding health insurance coverage and improving access to quality medical services across the country.

The former governor also identified electricity as a critical driver of development, promising to significantly increase power generation and distribution to support businesses and industrial growth.

With Jonathan’s controversial emergence under a factional PDP structure and Obi positioning himself as a reform-minded alternative, the race for the 2027 presidency is gradually taking shape, even as political realignments and legal battles continue to reshape the country’s electoral landscape.