Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it will proceed with its planned special convention to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate, despite a threat by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to revoke the title documents of the Abuja event centre where the gathering is scheduled to hold. The convention is set for Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the ‘A’ Class Event Centre, Kassim Ibrahim Way, Wuse 2, Abuja, beginning at 10 a.m.
In a statement issued on Friday, 29 May 2026, the party’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC) – led by former Minister of Special Duties Kabiru Tanimu Turaki – accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of attempting to “intimidate” the party and “suppress political dissent” by threatening to revoke the title documents of any event centre, hotel or public building used for gatherings by what the FCTA described as “illegal organizations”. The FCTA’s warning, contained in a separate statement on Friday, directed hotel and event centre owners in Abuja to only deal with political party leaderships recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and warned that failure to comply would result in the revocation of title documents.
The Turaki‑led PDP, however, insisted that it has already paid in full for the use of the A Class Event Centre, notified the relevant security agencies, and directed its lawyers to remind the facility’s management of these facts. “We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience,” the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said in the statement. “There is nowhere in our laws where the Minister of the FCT is empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held.” The faction invited its party leaders, National Executive Committee members and other critical stakeholders to attend the event as scheduled.
The planned ratification comes barely two weeks after the Turaki‑led INWC granted Jonathan an automatic waiver from screening and declared him its sole presidential aspirant. The party’s Presidential Screening Committee chairman, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, justified the waiver on the grounds of Jonathan’s political pedigree as a former deputy governor, governor, vice president and president. However, the former president has not publicly confirmed whether he will accept the nomination or attend the ratification convention. The INEC‑recognised PDP faction backed by Wike has already ratified former lawmaker Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The FCTA’s directive, which was issued hours before the PDP faction’s counter‑statement, has been widely interpreted as a direct attempt to block the Jonathan ratification rally. The warning did not name any specific group but its timing and focus on “unrecognised political party leaderships” left little doubt about its target. Political analysts noted that the move could set up a fresh legal and political confrontation between the rival PDP factions ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
As of Friday evening, the management of A Class Event Centre had not issued a public response to the FCTA’s threat. However, the Turaki‑led PDP has made it clear that it will not be cowed. “We will resist every attempt to intimidate us,” the party vowed.
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