Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has officially adopted former Cross River State governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, marking a significant step in the party’s efforts to consolidate its position as the main opposition force against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Chairman of the PDP Presidential Primary Election Committee and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, declared Onor as the consensus candidate after a series of consultations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Ortom noted that the process involved voice votes and extensive stakeholder meetings, which ultimately resulted in Onor emerging as the sole aspirant within the faction. “Having conducted consultations across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, I am pleased to formally announce that we have adopted Professor Sandy Onor as the consensus candidate of our great party for the 2027 presidential election,” Ortom stated.
PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, endorsed the decision, stating that the party’s focus is now on victory in 2027. He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for monitoring the party’s internal processes, with INEC National Commissioners Abdullahi Zuru and Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus present at the exercise. In his acceptance speech, Senator Sandy Onor, a former member of the National Assembly, pledged to run a campaign driven by competence, integrity, and a pan‑Nigerian outlook. He stated that the PDP is “the only formidable opposition to the ruling APC” and dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition as an unstable alliance driven by personal ambitions. Onor committed to tackling insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, and promised to implement grassroots‑focused policies. “The stark realities must be placed in perspective, and the poverty of this country must be cured. We cannot be poor in the midst of so much,” he said.
Onor also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, whom he accused of suffering from a “messianic complex”. He declared that only the PDP has the capacity to challenge the ruling party. “If you are looking for any party with the capacity to contend with the ruling APC, that party is the PDP,” he emphasised. The emergence of Onor as the consensus candidate reflects a strategic consolidation of the faction led by Nyesom Wike and Abdulrahman Mohammed. Following the announcement, the party leadership presented Onor with a certificate of return and the party’s flag, formally affirming his candidacy. The development also highlights the ongoing fragmentation within the PDP, as rival blocs continue to jostle for recognition ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Nonetheless, leaders of the Wike‑backed faction insist that the party has regained stability and is now fully focused on dislodging the APC from power. As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the PDP’s adoption of Sandy Onor sets the stage for a competitive contest against the incumbent APC administration, which is widely expected to field President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its candidate.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments