A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to hold a Special National Convention in Abuja on Saturday to formally ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The convention, which is expected to attract party leaders, delegates and supporters from across the country, will take place at the ‘A’ Class Event Centre along Kassim Ibrahim Way in Wuse 2, Abuja, beginning at 10am.
The invitation for the convention was signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan.
According to the invitation, the gathering is specifically organised for the “ratification of the nomination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
The planned ratification marks another major step by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP to position Jonathan as its candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The move has continued to generate reactions within Nigeria’s political space, especially as Jonathan himself has not publicly declared interest in the race.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his personal decision, the faction has moved ahead with processes aimed at presenting him as its consensus presidential flagbearer.
Earlier this month, the faction’s screening committee granted Jonathan a waiver and cleared him as the sole aspirant for the presidential ticket.
Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who chaired the screening committee, explained that the waiver was granted because of Jonathan’s long political experience and contributions to national development.
Aliyu noted that Jonathan had served at different levels of government, including deputy governor, governor, vice president and president.
According to him, the former president possesses the experience and leadership qualities needed to lead the country again.
Following the clearance, the faction also conducted its presidential primary on Wednesday, May 28, ahead of Saturday’s formal ratification exercise.
The development came shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Jonathan was eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Tuesday, dismissed a suit seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting the presidency again.
The judge held that the plaintiff lacked the legal right to file the case because he could not prove that he had suffered any personal loss or damage from Jonathan’s possible participation in the election.
Justice Lifu also noted that previous judgments delivered by both the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility to contest.
He described the latest suit as an abuse of court process.
The ruling was immediately welcomed by the PDP faction, which described the court decision as a victory for democracy and constitutional interpretation.
According to the faction, Nigerian laws cannot operate retroactively to prevent Jonathan from participating in the election.
Party leaders also described the suit against the former president as vexatious and politically motivated.
The court judgment, alongside the waiver earlier granted to Jonathan, is now seen by the faction as a legal and political green light for his emergence as candidate.
However, despite the ongoing political activities around his name, Jonathan has remained cautious about openly declaring his ambition.
When youth groups and supporters visited him earlier this month in Abuja to urge him to contest the 2027 election, the former president said the presidential race was a serious matter that required careful consultation.
“Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” Jonathan told the delegation.
He repeated the same position at the end of the meeting, stressing that he could not suddenly announce a return to the presidential race without proper discussions and consultations.
“I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult. If there is a need to, I will wait,” he said.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 after the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Before becoming president, he served as deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa State, and later vice president under Yar’Adua.
His administration is often remembered for major investments in agriculture, infrastructure, electoral reforms and the power sector.
Jonathan also gained international recognition in 2015 when he peacefully conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress after losing the presidential election.
His decision to accept the result and congratulate Buhari before the final announcement was widely praised both within and outside Nigeria.
Many political observers still regard the move as one of the strongest examples of democratic maturity in the country’s history.
Since leaving office, Jonathan has remained active in diplomacy, peacebuilding and election observation activities across Africa and beyond.
He has also largely stayed away from direct partisan politics, making the current efforts by the PDP faction particularly significant.
The PDP, which governed Nigeria for 16 years before losing power in 2015, has continued to battle internal divisions and leadership struggles in recent years.
The emergence of factions within the party has further complicated efforts to rebuild a united opposition ahead of 2027.
As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had yet to issue any statement confirming acceptance of the nomination or formally declaring his intention to contest the presidency in 2027.
Nevertheless, Saturday’s convention is expected to provide a clearer direction on the plans of the PDP faction and the future of Jonathan’s possible return to active presidential politics.