The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, has granted former President Goodluck Jonathan an official waiver from its presidential screening process, effectively clearing him to contest the 2027 presidential election. Party officials also confirmed that the former leader is currently the party’s sole presidential aspirant.
The decision was announced by the former Governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, who represented the Chairman of the Screening Committee, former Vice President Namadi Sambo. Dr Aliyu explained that the panel saw no justification to subject Dr Jonathan to a routine vetting process, given his extensive and historic state architecture experience.
“The party had already given a presidential aspirant a waiver from screening,” Dr Aliyu stated. “Like I said in the beginning, he was deputy governor, became governor, became vice president, became president, so we didn’t see anything that needed screening. Therefore, the party had given him a waiver. In other words, he has been declared and cleared as a candidate of the PDP for the presidential election, and that is former President Jonathan.”
When pressed by journalists on whether the former president stood uncontested within the faction, Dr Aliyu replied: “As far as I know, as far as of today, at this moment, yes, sir.”
The screening committee also extended a similar administrative dispensation to the party’s National Secretary, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
Ambassador Arapaja, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and diplomat, was exempted from the standard protocols due to strategic assignments in the South-West geopolitical zone.
“The other waiver is also for the former deputy governor and ambassador, and the secretary of the party, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, who for many reasons, has to be in Ibadan, Oyo State to ensure that everything has gone well,” Dr Aliyu noted. “So we also declared him as having been given a waiver by the party.’’
While the presidential ticket appears settled within the faction, the screening of other elective positions is progressing steadily. Dr Aliyu disclosed that the panel had processed aspirants for various legislative and gubernatorial seats from Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states. He assured stakeholders that the exercise would remain open for remaining contenders within the window stipulated by the party’s guidelines.
The announcement comes amidst severe internal frictions and legal battles for the control of the main opposition party’s structure. Dr Aliyu, however, expressed defiance against external and internal forces attempting to undermine the political formation.
“We are very happy that even those who have been attempting to kill the party cannot succeed, and the party will contest this election by the grace of God and by the constitution of Nigeria,” he added.
With Dr Jonathan formally cleared by the Turaki-led faction, the stage is set for a highly fragmented and complex presidential contest as the alternative factions and newly formed coalitions position themselves for the 2027 general elections.
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