{"id":121681,"date":"2025-08-28T15:32:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T14:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=121681"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:32:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T14:32:35","slug":"2027-pdp-tightens-grip-on-jonathan-amidst-indifference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/2027-pdp-tightens-grip-on-jonathan-amidst-indifference\/","title":{"rendered":"2027: PDP Tightens Grip on Jonathan Amidst Indifference"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
By Myke Agunwa<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
The zoning of the Presidency to the south by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, has reignited fresh search for a credible candidate who will challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, with many stakeholders expressing overwhelming preference for former President Goodluck Jonathan.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Recall that Former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, had said that ex-President Jonathan remains the PDP strongest and most viable option for the 2027 presidential election. In a recent interview on Arise Television, he urged the party to do everything possible to \u201cwoo\u201d Jonathan back into its fold.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI think so far now in the PDP, with all due respect to all the members of the PDP, I don\u2019t see any better alternative than Jonathan. If he comes into PDP, I don\u2019t see any other person, really.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cIf we are giving the president to the south, who is there in PDP who can challenge Jonathan? In terms of pedigree, in terms of being there in office, in terms of being cool-headed, in terms of somebody who is willing to listen\u2026 and somebody who also believes in partnership.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI think for PDP now; they should try to woo him. To me, he is their best bet, Nigerians will support him\u201d Lamido stated.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Shortly after it NEC meeting, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro in an interview, confirmed that the party is in talks with Jonathan and expressed optimism that he will give a positive nod.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cSome persons are talking to him to come and run, and it is a possibility\u201d Moro admitted.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Similarly, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, in a recent BBC Hausa service interview on August 5, confirmed moves by the party to convince the former president to run again.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He claimed that the former president has made a positive response to the invitation, saying that he would ponder and consult about it to make a decision.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cSome of the conditions he gave were: to be given an automatic ticket if he accepts to run, though he also said he would have to make consultations before getting back to us,\u201d he claimed.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Pointblanknews.com learnt from an insider in the party who had no authority to speak on the matter that former President Jonathan has been offered an automatic party by the party to run in 2027 but he is yet to accept the offer.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The party chieftains said that many stakeholders from the north especially governors who want to take a shot at the 2031 presidential election have thrown their weight behind Jonathan, arguing that due to the constitutional barrier on him to seek re-election, he remains the region\u2019s best bet.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who did not want to be named, told\u00a0pointblanknews.com<\/a>\u00a0that despite Peter Obi\u2019s assurances that he would serve only one term if elected, most party leaders believe Jonathan would bring greater stability since he is encumbered by the constitution to seek re-election.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He said that the task of wooing Jonathan back to the race has been handed over to Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed who is very close to the former President.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cLet me tell you straight away, serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into the race. From the look of things, our northern colleagues believe that it is necessary to get the former president to come in and complete his second term.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cIt is not that the Obi option has been ruled out, but developments in the Labour Party and the coalition make it risky to put all our eggs in one basket. We do not want a situation that could leave the party scratching around to field a strong contender.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t forget that Kauran Bauchi is very close to the former President. He is executing the task with the desired strategy and seriousness with the hope to take over from Jonathan in 2031 when power returns to the north\u201d he revealed.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Another sources added that Jonathan\u2019s return to the party and the presidential ticket were some of the issues discussed when he met with some party leaders in The Gambia recently. The meeting also covered strategies for financing the party and the 2027 election campaign.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
But another source said that despite all the overtures, Jonathan will not accept the offer.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He said, \u201cLook Tinubu is not a Jonathan that will concede defeat easily in 2027. Yes, Jonathan is under intense pressure from the party to run but he has not given them his words.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cThe first thing he told them is to go and put their party in order which they are doing. The recent decision on zoning is part of the in-house cleaning.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cEven as the party has offered automatic ticket and other incentives, Jonathan is mindful of the fact that President Tinubu is a very ambitious politician.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cRemember that recently, the EFCC beamed its search light on former Senate President David Mark, former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former governor of Imo State Emeka Ihedioha. Don\u2019t forget that Jonathan\u2019s wife has some cases of corruption pending at the EFCC. All Tinubu will do to distract him will be to reopen those cases. Tinubu may not attack Jonathan directly as an ex-president, but when he reopens investigations on Patience Jonathan, then it will be a very big embarrassment to the former president who has been enjoying a quiet life.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cFor now, Jonathan will not accept PDP overtures and he has thrown his weight behind Peter Obi\u201d.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Explaining the options before the party as it shops for its presidential flag bearer he continued,<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cTinubu\u2019s political moves has pitched the north against the south west, so what the party is doing is to see how they can build the confidence of the north around Obi and assure them that he will spend only one term in office.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cNow Atiku is out of the way. The party has publicly declared that allowing Atiku to run in 2023 was a grave mistake. With that confession, PDP will now see how it will reduce the grip of Wike who has been fighting because of Atiku\u2019s negative influence on the party.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cThe party will revamp its structures and root for Obi who is the party\u2019s best bet to the villa in 2027, \u201d he said.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It is worthy to note that former first lady, Patience Jonathan had dismissed the possibility of her husband joining the 2027 presidential race.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Mrs Jonathan who was a guest during the Women Icon Leader of the Year Award organized by Accolade Dynamics Limited in Abuja said that rather than contest, her family would campaign for Tinubu\u2019s re-election because Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, supported Jonathan\u2019s 2011 presidential bid.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI believe in one President. I believe in turn by turn. When it\u2019s your turn, I will support you. When it\u2019s not your turn, step back\u2014so that the country can move forward.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI stand by my friend (Oluremi Tinubu). My friend is great. I told her I would campaign with her. I\u2019m not denying her. I\u2019m not running. I\u2019m not going back to the villa. If you call me, I will not go\u201d she said in her usual joking manner.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n