May 31 (THEWILL) — Shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed picked former Cross River State governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, the troubled Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, led Interim Committee of the party whose election at the Ibadan national convention of the party in November 15-16, 2025 was cancelled by the Supreme Court, rushed to the press to throw up the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan candidacy.
Then the Mohammed-led National Working Committee, recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, joined words with those promoting the Jonathan candidacy. Though pundits also fault the ex-President for fuelling the rivalry because of his disturbing silence over the matter, especially during the ongoing litigation about his suitability to recontest.
THEWILL recalls that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, May 26 dismissed a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, describing the action as an abuse of court process.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, also imposed a N20 million cost against the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, in favour of the former president. The court further awarded an additional N1 million fine against the plaintiff in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), bringing the total financial penalty against the lawyer to N21 million.
Jideobi had instituted the suit against Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation as first to third defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff sought an order restraining Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election because the former president had already taken the constitutional oath of office twice and was therefore allegedly barred from seeking another term.
Delivering judgment, Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi, or legal right, to institute the suit because he failed to show any personal injury or legal interest affected by Jonathan’s perceived ambition to contest the election.
The judge ruled that courts could only entertain actions brought by persons who had demonstrated sufficient interest and direct injury arising from the subject matter of litigation. Justice Lifu further held that the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had already been determined by both the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal, whose decisions remained binding on lower courts. According to the judge, the plaintiff’s attempt to reopen issues already settled by competent courts amounted to an abuse of judicial process.
“The matter has already been decided by a superior court and this court is bound by that decision,” Justice Lifu held.
However, Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015, has not publicly declared interest in the 2027 presidential election despite recurring political speculation over a possible return bid. But Tuesday’s ruling reinforced earlier judicial pronouncements affirming that the former president remains constitutionally eligible to contest future presidential elections should he choose to do so.
Analysts say his silence over the matter appears like consent, particularly when the pending judgement by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja voided INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 polls, thus allowing free movement of politicians across political parties.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the PDP Presidential Primaries Collation Committee and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, announced Onor candidate of the party during the collation and presentation of the party’s presidential primary results at the Wadata Plaza Abuja last.
Senator Onor emerged as the sole presidential aspirant after declaring his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election and obtaining his expression of interest and nomination forms earlier this month.
According to Ortom, the committee had been engaging with party members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and had arrived at a consensus ahead of the announcement.
National Commissioners of INEC, Abdullahi Zuru and Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus, alongside other officials of the commission, monitored the exercise at the party’s national secretariat.
Following the announcement, the leadership of the PDP presented a certificate of return and the party’s flag to Senator Sandy Onor as the party’s presidential candidate.
Sources say the court judgement currently under appeal by INEC, has emboldened the Turaki group to continue bandying the former President’s name as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the group on Friday in Abuja said that the faction had been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, that illegal political groups should be prevented from using their premises for.
He alleged that Mr Wike had threatened to shut down the centre if the faction was allowed to use their hall for its presidential candidate ratification ceremonies.
He said, “We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we have duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event. We have directed our lawyers to write, reminding A Class Event Centre of these facts.
“Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.”
Mr Ememobong described the directive of the minister as an attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition.
He said there was nowhere in the laws where the FCT Minister was empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held.
He stated, “Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic.” Mr Ememobong invited party leaders from the states, national executive committee members, and other stakeholders of PDP to attend the event as scheduled.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had earlier warned owners of hotels, event centres and other public facilities in Abuja against allowing their premises to be used by illegal organisations, saying property titles of such offenders risk revocation.
The warning, issued on Friday in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, the directive is part of efforts to strengthen security in the nation’s capital and support ongoing operations by security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
The FCTA specifically drew attention to the ongoing political season, and advised hotel and event centre operators to deal only with leaderships of political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“For instance, in this political season, owners of event centres and hotels in particular must ensure that they only deal with INEC-recognised leadership of political parties in respect of the use of their facilities, and proper records of transactions.”
It described the planned convention aimed at affirming Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the PDP as misleading, unfounded, and “intended to create confusion within the polity,” urging party members to disregard it.
However, National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, stated that no such convention, meeting, or process had been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the PDP.
He said the PDP had successfully concluded all its primary elections, including those for governorship, state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, and the presidential election primaries in accordance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, the provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of the party.
It also called on relevant security agencies to investigate the source of the “false reports and take appropriate action against the perpetrators whose motive is nothing but to create political tension in the country”.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
True to their promise, the Turaki group held a special national convention held at its national secretariat in Area 10, Garki, Abuja and ratified Jonathan’s nomination in his absence. His Certificate of Return was received on his behalf by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, thus laying ground for intensification of the inter-party rivalry.
As it is now, it would take Jonathan to end the rivalry by speaking up.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
