By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is set to appear before the Peoples Democratic Party screening committee on Tuesday after emerging as the sole presidential aspirant of a faction of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The factional PDP leadership led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, announced that the nationwide screening exercise for aspirants seeking various elective offices would begin on Tuesday, with Jonathan expected to be screened as the party’s lone presidential hopeful.
According to the party, over 3,000 aspirants, including governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly hopefuls, are scheduled for screening as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
Although the PDP statement did not officially mention Jonathan’s name, multiple party sources confirmed that the former president is the only aspirant who obtained the party’s presidential nomination form.
The 14-member screening committee includes former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and PDP chieftain Olabode George.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has recently been linked with growing calls for a political comeback ahead of the next presidential election.
The development comes amid lingering leadership disputes within the PDP, with different factions battling for control of the party structure ahead of the 2027 polls.
