The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairmen’s Forum has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly disassociate himself from a factional Interim National Working Committee led by Dr. Tanimu Turaki, which has reportedly presented him as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the forum’s chairman and Imo State PDP Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, said Jonathan should not allow the group to continue using his name. The chairmen insisted that the only recognised PDP leadership is the National Working Committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which is duly recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the forum, the Turaki-led group manually submitted Jonathan’s name and a list of National Assembly candidates to INEC after failing to obtain the necessary portal access codes. In contrast, the recognised NWC successfully uploaded the name of its presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, and other candidates through INEC’s official portal. The chairmen noted that Jonathan’s name was absent from INEC’s published list of qualified presidential candidates, indicating the electoral body does not recognise him as the PDP flag-bearer.
Nwachukwu called on Jonathan to address Nigerians directly, citing his global image and moral authority. “Silence in the face of such misuse damages not just the party, but your own legacy of peace and statesmanship,” the forum stated. They accused the Turaki-led committee of forgery and misrepresenting court judgments to create the impression of a faction within the PDP, describing its members as expelled individuals.
The forum asked security agencies to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found responsible. It warned that the group’s “utter disrespect for the rule of law” and “reckless utterances” pose a clear and present danger to public order. The chairmen further urged the recognised NWC to pursue legal action against the INWC and appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to review the use of a building in Abuja’s Garki area where the faction reportedly holds meetings, describing the activities there as capable of breaching public peace.
The forum maintained that Abdulrahman Mohammed remains the sole recognised PDP National Chairman and dismissed those presenting themselves as a rival faction as impostors. As the party navigates its internal leadership disputes ahead of the 2027 election cycle, the resolution of these competing claims will be critical for the PDP’s legal standing and electoral preparedness.
