Kehinde Fajobi
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims that it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to run in the 2027 presidential election under its platform.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, denied the reports in an interview with BBC Hausa.
He explained that the PDP had not issued its presidential ticket to Jonathan.
“The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true,” Abdullahi clarified.
“What happened is this: I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues. But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency.”
Abdullahi further stated that he had only expressed that Jonathan, being a Nigerian citizen, was legally eligible to run for president.
“I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left.
“So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.”
He also emphasised that the PDP had already done enough for Jonathan, and there was no need to seek his return.
“We have not discussed the issue with Jonathan. We have 12 governors and many other prominent politicians who are eligible and competent to contest the presidential election.”
Abdullahi pointed out that Jonathan’s wife had recently stated that he had no intention of returning to the presidency.
“It wasn’t long ago that his wife said nothing would make her husband run for the presidency, that he didn’t leave behind or forget anything in the Villa for people to think that he’d come back to contest the position again. How then can we consider him? Ticket is given to someone who has shown interest.”