The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims that it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the presidency in the 2027 election under its banner.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, dismissed the rumors, clarifying that the party had not extended its presidential ticket to Jonathan.
He explained, “The reports claiming that PDP has given its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest are false. What happened was that I was interviewed by a journalist who asked about our view on Jonathan, as there were speculations about his potential candidacy. I replied by stating that Jonathan is eligible to run for the presidency, as he is a Nigerian and has the legal right to do so, with one more term available to him.”
Abdullahi emphasized that PDP had already contributed significantly to Jonathan’s political career, and as a member of the party, there was no need to actively court him for another run.
He further noted that the party had other qualified individuals, including 12 governors, who could contest in the upcoming election.
He also pointed to a recent statement from Jonathan’s wife, who had declared that the former president had no intention of seeking another term, saying he had “nothing left behind in the Villa” that would prompt him to return to power.
Abdullahi said PDP would only offer its ticket to someone who has shown a clear interest in running.
