The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has moved to position former President Goodluck Jonathan as its only presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general election, after granting him a screening waiver.
This was disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday by a member of the party’s Presidential Screening Committee, Babangida Aliyu, shortly after the conclusion of screening activities for aspirants.
Aliyu, a former governor of Niger State, said Jonathan had already been approved as the party’s sole contender following a decision by the PDP national leadership to exempt him from further screening.
According to him, the waiver was based on Jonathan’s extensive political background and previous leadership positions.
“As you know, the party had already given a presidential aspirant the waiver. Like I said in the beginning, he was a deputy governor, became governor, became vice-president and became president.
“So, we didn’t see anything that needed screening. Therefore, the party had given him a waiver.
“In other words, he had been declared as the candidate of PDP for the presidential election,” he said.
When pressed by journalists on whether Jonathan remained the only aspirant, Aliyu responded, “yes.”
He further revealed that a similar waiver had been extended to Taofeek Arapaja, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and ex-National Secretary of the party, allowing him to contest the Oyo governorship race.
Aliyu noted that Arapaja explained his decision to remain in Oyo State to ensure smooth political processes.
He also confirmed that the committee had screened several other aspirants seeking legislative and executive offices across states including Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Delta.
“Our committee is on at any time other people come within the screening period. We will continue the screening exercise,” he said.
Despite internal tensions within the party, Aliyu expressed confidence in its stability and electoral prospects.
“We are very happy that even those who have been attempting to kill the party cannot succeed.
”The party will contest this election by the grace of God and by the Constitution of Nigeria,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant in Gombe State, Sharif Abdullahi, said he would focus on tackling poverty and insecurity if elected.
“Yobe state is among the backward states in Nigeria. It was created in 1991 but still lagging behind Jigawa and Gombe states which are our neighbours.
“If I’m elected, I’ll make sure I improve on the educational, health and agricultural sectors,” Abdullahi said.
He also expressed confidence that the PDP could reclaim Gombe State in 2027.
Another aspirant from Delta State, Benedict Etanabene, described the PDP as Nigeria’s most reliable political platform.
“PDP is the most stable of all the political parties and in fact, it is the oldest.
“The time PDP managed this country, we recorded tremendous successes. One in the growth of democracy and two, economy.
”We were the giant of Africa in economy at that time.
“The security was not as challenging as it is today. So if we reminiscence on the past of PDP, it is still the best,” he said.
Etanabene added that, if elected, he would prioritise infrastructure development and empower local governments.
“I believe that all the councillors in Delta are mainly governors on their own; so development must start from the various wards.
“This means that all councillors will be entitled to a budget from the state, domiciled in the local government account, but when they finish, they will audit the account and get reimbursement from it,” he said.
He also promised job creation and mass employment at the grassroots level.
“I have the desire to make every local government employ a minimum of 500 persons from each local government.”
In Kebbi State, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and governorship aspirant, Ibrahim Manga, said insecurity would be his top priority.
“Kebbi has been bedevilled by insecurity, one of the flashpoints in the country, as it were,” he said.
Manga pledged to strengthen security and stimulate economic growth through youth empowerment initiatives.
The FCT Minister-backed PDP faction had earlier screened Professor Sandy Onor as its sole presidential aspirant on May 14.
