PDP faction moves venue for Jonathan’s presidential candidacy ratification, saying it will not be intimidated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Tanimu Turaki has relocated the venue of a special convention that will ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.

Police officers who had blocked the roads to the original venue and party officials confirmed the change to The Cable.

The convention will now take place in Area 10 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

This move follows the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee’s statement that it will resist any attempt to intimidate it.

The committee had scheduled a Saturday convention at the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja.

It declared that intimidation would not deter the party from endorsing Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a directive requiring owners of hotels, event centres and other public facilities to deal only with political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

‘This is intimidation’

In a statement released Friday in Abuja, the Turaki faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ini Ememobong, said the faction had been informed by the proprietors of the A-Class Event Centre of a threat from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Ememobong alleged that Wike threatened to shut down the centre if the faction used its hall for the 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, May 30, at A-Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.” he said.

Ememobong described the minister’s directive as an attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition, noting that the law does not grant the FCT Minister the authority to determine where events should be held.

“Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic,” he added.

‘Convention to affirm Jonathan misleading’ – Wike PDP

Meanwhile, the Nyesom Wike‑backed PDP faction, led by Abdulraman Mohammed, has denied the existence of a convention planned by the Turaki-led faction to affirm Jonathan as its presidential candidate for 2027.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described the proposed convention as false, misleading, and an attempt to create unnecessary political tension.

Mohammed said no such meeting or affirmation process had been scheduled or approved by any recognised organ of the party.

He noted that the PDP had already completed all statutory primary elections—including those for the Presidency, National Assembly, Governorship, and State Houses of Assembly—in strict compliance with INEC guidelines, the Electoral Act, and the party’s constitution.

“The Party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the Peoples Democratic Party. We, therefore, urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity.”

He called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from the charade to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation.

Mohammed also urged security agencies to investigate the source of the false reports and take decisive action against those responsible, warning that the PDP would no longer tolerate its name being dragged into disrepute through unauthorised political activities.

He reiterated the PDP’s commitment to internal democracy, due process, and the rule of law, advising the public to rely strictly on official channels for any communication regarding party affairs.

Recall that the Wike PDP, on Tuesday, affirmed former National Assembly member Senator Sandy Onor as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Vanguard News

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