A faction of the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded plans to present the party’s flag to former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Penpushing reports that the faction led by a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the flag presentation ceremony would take place on a date to be announced later.
The National Publicity Secretary also criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what he described as attempts to frustrate the faction’s special national convention.
Penpushing further reports that Ememobong accused Wike of threatening the management of A-Class Event Centre, the venue initially selected for the ratification of Jonathan’s candidacy before the event was relocated to a private residence.
The spokesperson stated that despite the alleged intimidation, the faction proceeded with the ratification exercise, during which delegates unanimously endorsed Mr Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.
“Since the main activity of the day is the affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders continued with the plan and President Goodluck Jonathan was unanimously affirmed, after a motion was duly moved and seconded, as the presidential candidate and flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 presidential election. Furthermore, the formal presentation and flag-giving ceremonies will be slated subsequently,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that it is on record that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently split into two factions, with one led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by Wike and the other led by Turaki, who served as minister in the Jonathan administration.
The Wike-backed faction, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises, has nominated a former senator, Sandy Onor, as its presidential candidate, while the Turaki faction adopted Jonathan as its candidate earlier this month.
Penpushing reports that while Onor has accepted the nomination and urged party members to support his candidacy, Jonathan has remained silent on his adoption by the rival faction as at the time of filing this report.
The presentation of a party flag in Nigerian politics is a symbolic ceremony through which a political party formally endorses and unveils its candidate for an election, and during the event, party leaders publicly hand over the party’s flag to the candidate, signifying that he or she has become the party’s official standard-bearer.
Penpushing further reports that the ceremony is often attended by party officials, elected representatives, supporters and other stakeholders, while it typically follows the conclusion of the party’s nomination process and serves as the formal launch of the candidate’s campaign.
Meanwhile, the political and legal significance of the planned ceremony may be limited because the faction is not recognised by the electoral body, and under Nigeria’s electoral framework, only candidates nominated by party leadership recognised by the electoral commission can participate in elections.
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