The Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led interim factional National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has screened 12 governorship aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections, while also giving automatic clearance to former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential aspirant.
The disclosure was made in Abuja on Tuesday by the chairman of the PDP INWC screening committee and former Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was represented by former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, after the screening exercise.
In response, the African Democratic Congress said Jonathan’s entry into the presidential race would reshape political calculations in the country and force parties to rethink their strategies.
Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, was reportedly granted a waiver by a PDP screening panel headed by Aliyu, which effectively positioned him for a possible return to the presidential contest.
Although the development has not been formally confirmed by the PDP national leadership, it has already sparked heated debate in political circles, with analysts suggesting that Jonathan’s comeback could significantly alter election alignments.
Earlier, PDP chieftain and former presidential aide Umar Sani claimed that Jonathan had already obtained a presidential nomination form ahead of 2027.
Sani, a former aide to Namadi Sambo, made the claim during an interview on Trust TV on Tuesday.
His remarks come amid renewed consultations involving Jonathan across political groups, fueling speculation that the former president may be weighing a return to active politics nearly 12 years after leaving office.
Although Jonathan has not publicly declared interest or confirmed his platform, Sani suggested that internal crises within the PDP may be influencing his cautious approach, while dismissing claims that the party is exploiting Jonathan’s popularity.
Sani stated, “The issue is not about whether we will extract commitment from him. What is most important in politics is action.
“If your action suggests you are interested, there are certain actions to follow. One of which is the procurement of the nomination form.
“He has procured the nomination form. In fact, he is about to come and submit the forms publicly. So it is not an issue of whether we are trying to bring or use him for our face-saving grace, whatever. No.
“The fact of the matter is that we believe that Jonathan is the right choice at this moment. We are very confident that the matter will be thrown out because you cannot relitigate something that has already been decided upon,” Sani said.
He added that only the Supreme Court could overturn previous rulings on Jonathan’s eligibility, insisting that the case before Justice Peter Lifu would likely be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction when it is heard on May 26.
Sani also rejected claims that Jonathan’s supporters were merely using his name for political gain, arguing instead that many Nigerians still feel emotionally connected to his leadership.
“Most Nigerians know him and are nostalgic about Jonathan. At the time he left office, many people felt the PDP was not performing, but now Nigerians have seen the difference clearly,” he added.
According to the screening committee chairman, a waiver was granted to Jonathan due to his extensive political experience, effectively clearing him as the party’s presidential candidate.
He also noted that a similar waiver was granted to former Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja, explaining that Jonathan required no screening because of his past roles as deputy governor, governor, vice president, and president.
He said, “The party had already given a presidential aspirant a waiver from screening. As I said in the beginning, he was deputy governor, became governor, became vice president, and became president, so we did not see anything that required screening.
“Therefore, the party granted him a waiver. In other words, he has been declared and cleared as the PDP candidate for the presidential election, and that is former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The other waiver is for the former deputy governor, ambassador, and secretary of the party, Taofeek Arapaja, who, for many reasons, had to remain in Ibadan, Oyo State, to ensure that everything went well. So, we also declared that he had been granted a waiver by the party.
The committee added that thousands of aspirants are being processed across different levels, including state assemblies, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and a single presidential slot.
Meanwhile, a Kebbi governorship aspirant, Ibrahim Manga, confirmed his clearance after screening, while Delta aspirant Benedict Etanabene said he joined the PDP after Labour Party structures collapsed in the state, questioning its relevance in Delta politics.
In Yobe, PDP governorship candidate Sharif Abdullahi said he is contesting again in 2027 and promised reforms in education, healthcare, and agriculture if elected.
Earlier, the Turaki faction stated that 2,122 aspirants would be screened across various levels, including 112 governorship hopefuls and 198 senatorial aspirants.
On April 30, the Supreme Court ruled in a tight 3–2 decision that the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16 was invalid, deepening the party’s internal leadership crisis.
The convention had produced a leadership structure led by Turaki (SAN), backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Following the ruling, the Board of Trustees chairman aligned with the Makinde faction, Adolphus Wabara, argued that the court’s position on suspensions involving allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike suggested the party lacks a legally recognised leadership structure.
Subsequently, a National Executive Committee meeting of the Makinde bloc approved a 13-member caretaker committee headed by Turaki (SAN) to manage party affairs.
Reacting to Jonathan’s reported emergence, the ADC said on its verified X handle, @ADCVANGUARD, that his potential candidacy introduces new uncertainty into the 2027 political landscape.
The party said, “Jonathan’s possible return will shake the PDP, disturb APC calculations, unsettle Labour Party sympathisers, and force every political camp to rethink strategy.
“Whether people like him or not, GEJ remains one of the few Nigerian politicians whose name still carries national emotion. Some remember him for peacefully conceding defeat. Others criticise his administration. But nobody can deny that his entrance into the race changes the conversation.”
The ADC further argued that the development goes beyond internal PDP politics, describing it as a signal of the return of established political forces ahead of a highly competitive 2027 election cycle.
The African Democratic Congress said the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party screening committee to clear former President Goodluck Jonathan on waiver for the 2027 presidential election is far more than routine party news.
According to the party, the development is a clear political message that “the old forces are returning to the battlefield,” adding that it signals that major political blocs are already positioning themselves for a high-stakes national contest.
Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has since remained a prominent figure in African politics, especially through diplomatic roles and peace-building efforts across the continent.
In recent years, there have been recurring calls from various political interests urging him to return to active politics, particularly against the backdrop of public dissatisfaction with economic hardship and governance issues.
The ADC further argued that Jonathan’s reputation for moderation and his broad national acceptance could present a new political challenge for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, especially at a time of rising concerns over inflation, insecurity, and the cost of living.
“For APC, this is another headache. Tinubu is already battling public anger over hardship, insecurity, inflation, and broken expectations.
“Now imagine facing a former president with nostalgia value, a soft public image, and a familiar national network. That is not a small challenge,” the party added.
