By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The endorsement came on saturday in spite of the various plots by the by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike to block it from taking place.
The event was initially scheduled to hold at ‘A’ class garden, Wuse 11 , Abuja, but the venue was cordoned off overnight by police, following an alleged order by the Minister of the FCT.
Following the condoning off of the original venue, the factional PDP had to quickly make an alternative arrangement, thus culminating in the holding of the exercise at it’s interim national secretariat at No 11 Owo Close, Area 10, Garki District of Abuja.
The Chairman of PDP Chairmen Forum, Dr Tony Aziegbemi moved the motion for the adoption of former President Jonathan as the presidential candidate for the 2027, and was seconded by Senator Mohamed Sanusi Degash.
The ratification was done through voice vote.
Although Jonathan was absent at the occasion, his certificate of returns was collected on his behalf by Hon. Fred Agbedi, a member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State.
The factional PDP thereafter moved to the originally paid venue (A Class garden), but was confronted with a barricade by trucks load of policemen.
Dr Tanimu Turaki, who is the arrow head of the faction, however accused some politicians using their positions to thwart the nation’s democracy, saying, “we want to tell them that Nigeria is bigger than anybody and any group of persons.”
Turaki told Wike that the time of fighting has not yet come, adding, “The time of fighting will come when we meet at the polls”.
Continuing, he said, “We will meet you there, we will fight you there, we will defeat you there, and then we will pin you down on the ground.”
The interim National Chairman called on PDP members to resist an attempt to provoke them to violence, and said anybody who fights does not have the chances of winning in an election.
“We believe we are on the right course. We believe that we are going to win election. Therefore, fighting is not for us,” he boasted.
A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, regretted that Nigerian democracy has been derailed, saying, “I’m sad, I’m still very, very sad, that after so many years of development in Nigeria, we are still being reduced to this, under democracy.
“We’re supposed to be having a special convention in a very, very well-organised place. Now the police have taken over the whole… Are we back into military rule?” Gana queried.
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