PDP faction to ratify Jonathan as presidential candidate today
The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has vowed to go ahead with its plan to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 elections today. This is even as the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory […]
The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has vowed to go ahead with its plan to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 elections today.
This is even as the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has threatened to revoke the land titles of any hotel or event centre that allows the use of its premises by political parties that are not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP is divided into two factions, with the Wike-backed faction being recognised by INEC.
Earlier, the Turaki-led faction had scheduled their special convention for the ratification of Jonathan as their sole presidential candidate at A Class Event Centre, Wuse District in Abuja.
- Inside Bauchi’s cassava economy
- INEC should be empowered to reject flawed primaries to save democracy — Dukawa
Meanwhile, reacting to the threat by Wike, Ini Ememobong, the national publicity secretary of the party, said they had been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the minister to shut down their business premises if the PDP is allowed to use their hall for the presidential candidate ratification ceremony.
“We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event. We have directed our lawyers to write, reminding A Class Event Centre of these facts.
“Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday,” he said.
Ememobong said they were certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration, which must be resisted by all people of good conscience.
“There is nowhere in our laws where the minister of the FCT is empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held. Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic but available and operational only under an emperor – a title that President Tinubu has been struggling to deny.”
He called party leaders from the states, National Executive Council (NEC) members and other critical stakeholders to attend the event as scheduled.
They are out to cause confusion – Wike-backed faction
In their reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Abdulrahman Muhammed and backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed reports of a planned convention to endorse former President Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate, describing them as false and misleading.
In a statement, the faction noted that its attention had been drawn to “misleading information and unfounded reports” circulating in some quarters, alleging that a convention had been scheduled for Jonathan’s endorsement.
It stated that no such convention, meeting or process was scheduled, approved or endorsed by any recognised organ or leadership of the PDP.
“We urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders and members of the general public to disregard such false information as it is misleading, unauthorised and intended to create confusion within the polity,” the statement reads.
The party’s national publicity secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said that for the avoidance of doubt, the PDP had concluded all its primary elections for governorship, state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and the presidential ticket in line with INEC guidelines, the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
He also urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from what he described as a “charade” in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and his personal legacy.
FCTA warns event centres, hotels against granting access to ‘illegal organisations’
Meamwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned owners of event centres, hotels and other public buildings in the FCT to stop granting usage access to illegal organisations.
The FCTA gave the warning in a statement signed by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and Social Media in Abuja on Friday.
The administration explained that the allocation of lands in the FCT were strictly for lawful activities, adding that usage of event centres, hotels and other public buildings would now be closely monitored.
“Owners of these facilities are, therefore, urged to take cognisance of the legality of organisations seeking to use their facilities and the purpose before letting them out,” it stated.
The administration further advised the affected persons and individuals to grant access only to the leadership of political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and keep proper records of the transactions.