The Peoples Democratic Party has asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform.

In an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, the PDP?s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, emphasised that it would be a regrettable development if Jonathan chose another party for his presidential bid.

He revealed that the PDP had been eagerly awaiting the former president?s return for a second term, stressing the party?s continued connection to Jonathan?s political rise.

Abdullahi highlighted the party?s historical role in shaping Nigeria?s leadership, citing several notable figures who had emerged from the party.

?We?ve said this about Jonathan and our governors. Even the FCT minister, is arguably the best performer in his role and he is a product of PDP. El-Rufai, Okonjo-Iweala, Dora Akunyili, Obi Ezekwesili, Akinwunmi Adesina, Amina Mohammed? these are the pride of this country, and they are all products of the PDP,? he added.

The PDP chieftain urged Jonathan to heed the call to finish what he started within the party, and warned against the ?hypocrisy of the All Progressives Congress.?

?If Goodluck Jonathan is seriously considering running, we have been calling him to come back and complete his term. It will not be out of place, but if he runs with another political party, it will expose the hypocrisy within the APC,? he added.

Abdullahi also advised the former president to remain cautious of the recent praise from individuals and groups who previously criticised him.

?It?s crucial for him to remember how he was derided, criticised and reduced to nothing by these same people. Now that they are suddenly calling him the messiah, he must not be swayed by their sudden affection. That would be unfortunate,? Abdullahi stated.

The PUNCH had reported that the recent sighting of Jonathan?s presidential posters for the 2027 elections across major streets in Kano sparked speculations about his possible return to the political arena and intensified conversations about other prominent figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.

The posters, which were seen at strategic locations such as Gyadi-Gyadi/Zoo Road flyover, Kofar Nasarawa, and State Road, featured messages like, ?Team New Nigeria 2027; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs?Dr Goodluck Jonathan.?

The recent campaign posters, our correspondents gathered, were masterminded by a political movement known as ?Team New Nigeria?, which has been promoting its activities across Nigeria.

The emergence of the posters is similar to a development before the 2023 elections when supporters purchased nomination forms for Jonathan under the APC, but the former president distanced himself from the move.

Another permutation that raised discussions about Jonathan?s possible interest in the 2027 presidential election was the report that key political figures from northern Nigeria had begun efforts to draft Jonathan into the race.

It was reported that the move is based on the belief that Jonathan is eligible to serve another four-year term, having already served as president from 2011 to 2015.

Meanwhile, sources within the PDP have predicted that the future of the party would be determined at its upcoming National Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for February, 2025.

A member of the NEC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasised that the agenda and the way discussions would be handled at the meeting would shape the party?s future.

Since assuming the role of acting National Chairman after Senator Iyorchia Ayu?s court-ordered removal, Umar Damagum has faced mounting criticism from party leaders.

Calls for his resignation have grown louder amid the ongoing turmoil within the party.

At the 98th NEC meeting held on April 18, party leaders approved the establishment of a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, alongside plans for ward and state congresses.

The North Central Caucus was also tasked with consulting to select a replacement for the acting national chairman.

Originally set for August 15, the 99th NEC meeting was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled to November 28, 2024.

The PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, later directed the National Working Committee to ensure the NEC meeting held by February at the latest.

Additionally, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, echoed this call, urging the NWC to convene the NEC meeting in February.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the NEC meeting will be critical in addressing the party?s pressing concerns.

The source stated, ?The NEC, like all previous meetings, is where crucial decisions are made. The proposed February NEC meeting will decide the party?s future, whether it happens or not.?

However, logistical challenges and differing agendas have made convening the meeting difficult.

The source warned that the longer the delay in holding the meeting, the more detrimental it would be for the PDP.

?The sooner the meeting is held, the more carefully the issues must be addressed, as every decision made at the NEC carries significant consequences,? the source explained.

But the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, told Saturday PUNCH that the delay in the NEC meeting was due to deeper reasons within the party.

He suggested that if the ultimate goal is to remove Damagum, he would do everything in his power to prevent the meeting where such a move could be made.

?Damagum, being a shrewd politician, is not ready to leave his post,? he stated.

Odeyemi argued that if the PDP?s intention was to seek peace, it must align with Damagum and his supporters and allow the situation to settle before pushing for further changes.

?If you cannot manage yourselves as a political party, how can you manage the country?? he questioned, cautioning that rushing into the NEC meeting could lead to more crises for the party.

As the February NEC meeting looms, the future direction of the PDP remains uncertain, with key decisions that could shape the party?s future and impact Nigeria?s political landscape listed as part of the agenda.

10 Goodluck Jonathans can?t defeat Tinubu ? APC

Reacting to the invitation of the PDP to Jonathan to run on its platform, the APC said another defeat awaited the former president if he heeded the call.

In 2015, Jonathan ran on the platform of the PDP but was defeated by the APC flag bearer, Muhammadu Buhari, in the presidential election.

The former military dictator polled 15,424,921 votes to relegate the ex-president, who garnered 12,853,162 votes, to second place.

The election marked the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election in Nigeria.

In a telephone interview with our reporter, the National Director of Publicity of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said, ?There is just no way the APC will be jittery, if at all, there is such a plan to enrol former President Goodluck Jonathan into the race. The APC defeated him when he was in power. Defeating him when he?s out of power will be a walkover.

?It is something that cannot even give the party a sleepless night. So, whoever is making this permutation, if the intention is to scare the APC, I think he needs to go back to the drawing board and think again. We are not worried.

?However, I think it is too premature for us to be talking about 2027. After all, less than 40 per cent of the mandate given to the president under APC has not even been consumed. Let?s get to the river before we start thinking of crossing it. But if you bring 10 former President Jonathans, they cannot defeat the APC as of today.

?The APC defeated Goodluck Jonathan when the president was the leader of the party. The APC will defeat him again now that Tinubu is the president and the leader of the party. It is not Buhari?s cult followership that matters. It is the party arrangement. Buhari did not contest on independent candidature status.? (Text courtesy of Saturday PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

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