In preparation for the 2027 general election, the Kabiru Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted former President Goodluck Jonathan a waiver from its presidential screening process, with party officials confirming that he was currently the party’s only presidential aspirant.
Top Society recalls that the other faction of the PDP led by Nyesom Wike had, a few days ago, screened Sandy Onor as its sole presidential aspirant, alongside 25 governorship aspirants from 17 states at the PDP Legacy House in Abuja. The faction said it was proceeding with its electoral processes following the resolution of its leadership crisis by the Supreme Court, which affirmed the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led national working committee.
In the main, former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who represented the chairman of the screening committee, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the party saw no need to screen Jonathan, given the positions he had previously held.
He said: “The party had already given a presidential aspirant a waiver from screening. 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 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.”
Aliyu also announced that the PDP granted a waiver to its National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, a former deputy governor and ambassador.
“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. So we also declared him as been given a waiver by the party,’’ Aliyu said.
He said the screening committee had so far received aspirants from Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Akwa Ibom and Delta states, adding that the exercise would continue for those yet to appear before the panel within the stipulated period.
“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,” Aliyu added.
Asked whether Jonathan was the only presidential aspirant currently seeking the PDP ticket, Aliyu replied: “As far as I know, as far as of today, at this moment, yes, sir.”
