Wike-backed PDP state Chairmen ask Jonathan to Denounce ‘Misuse’ of His Name by Turaki Faction

The state chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to distance himself from the Kabiru Turaki faction.

The Turaki PDP faction had announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections after his candidacy was ratified at a special national convention held in Abuja.

Although Jonathan was not present at the venue, his certificate of return was received on his behalf by Fred Agbedi, a member of the house of representatives from Bayelsa state.

While he has been meeting with the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, the former president has not publicly commented on his nomination.

Last month, the Turaki-led PDP manually submitted Jonathan’s name after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to provide it with the access codes required to upload his nomination electronically.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Austin Nwachukwu, chairman of the PDP state chairmen’s forum backed by Wike, said the Turaki PDP group is “exploiting” Jonathan’s name.

“We call on you, in view of the global image and moral authority you command, to address Nigerians directly and disassociate yourself from the continuous use of your name in this spectacle of macabre dance by expelled PDP members,” Nwachukwu said.

“It is public knowledge that your name is being used by these shameless people to perpetuate their ignoble activities. This must stop. Silence in the face of such misuse damages not just the party, but your own legacy of peace and statesmanship.”

Nwachukwu, who is the chairman of the PDP in Imo, said the submission of Jonathan’s name through the manual process is a breach of the electoral process.

The politician claimed that Turaki and members of the interim caretaker committee had been expelled from the party, adding that they are “orchestrating a sustained campaign of impersonation and deliberate distortion of court judgments in an attempt to create the impression of a parallel leadership within the party”.

He said there is only one legally recognised PDP, which is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed as national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary.

Nwachukwu urged the party’s national working committee (NWC) to commence contempt proceedings and other legal actions against the Turaki faction.