In its platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to run in the 2027 presidential election.
Naija News reports that this comes after Jonathan’s presidential poster for the 2027 election was recently spotted on a main street in Kano, sparking speculation about a possible return to politics.
Some political elites said the move was based on the belief that Jonathan, who had already served as president from 2011 to 2015, was eligible for another four-year term.
In an interview with Punch, PDP National Publicity Deputy Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi said the party was eagerly awaiting Jonathan’s return for a second term due to his political rise.
Abdullahi urged Jonathan to heed the call to finish what he started within the party, stressing that it would be a shame if the former president chose another party to run for president.
The PDP leader also highlighted the historical role of the party in shaping Nigeria’s leadership, citing several prominent figures from the party.
he said: “We said this about Jonathan and the governors. Even the FCT minister is probably the best performer in his role and he is a product of the PDP. El-Rufai, Okonjo-Iweala , Dora Akunyili, Obi Ezekwesili, Akinwunmi Adesina, Amina Mohammed… these are the pride of this country and are all products of the PDP.
“If Goodluck Jonathan is seriously considering running, we are calling on him to come back and serve out his term. It is not out of place, but if he were to run with another party The hypocrisy within the APC will then be exposed.
“It is vital for him to remember how he was ridiculed, criticized and reduced to nothing by those same people. Now that he is suddenly being called the Messiah, he must not be upset by the sudden affection. That would be a shame.”
However, sources within the PDP predict that the future of the party will be decided at the National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for February 2025.
In an interview with the above publication, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Dylan Odeyemi, said the delay in the NEC meeting was due to deeper reasons within the party.
He indicated that if the ultimate goal was to remove Damagum, he would do everything possible to prevent a meeting where such a move could take place.
Mr Odeyemi insisted that if the PDP was to pursue peace, it should work with Mr Damagumu and his supporters to allow the situation to calm down before pushing for further changes.
“Mr. Damagum is a shrewd politician and has no intention of leaving his post,” he said.
Odeyemi also warned that rushing to the NEC meeting could lead to further crisis for the party, adding: “If we cannot manage ourselves as a political party, how can we manage the country?”
