Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has said that the party knows those who will not be allowed to fly its flag as presidential candidate in the 2027 Presidential election.

Turaki also reaffirmed the decision to zone to the presidential ticket of the party to the southern part of the country but was quick to say that “we don’t know who our candidate will be, but we know those who will not be”.

Turaki, who was speaking with newsmen after a meeting with former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at his Abuja residence on Tuesday evening, said the former number two citizen reaffirmed his membership of the PDP, saying “we are happy that those who keep the party to success are still with us”.

He said: “We came to introduce the newly elected members of the National Working Committee to him. Those that were elected in our last National Elective Convention that took place in Ibadan.

“Those who came with us also included members of the Board of Trustees and the chairman of the BOT himself. Founding fathers and mothers, members of the National Assembly, state chairmen, former ministers, former governors, former members of the National Assembly, and indeed other major party stakeholders across the country.

“We met with His Excellency and we’ve had a very, very useful discussion with him. We told him the prospects and the challenges we’ve been facing since our election in Ibadan and generously proffered advice and guidance on the way to forward as winning platform for Nigerians.

“But the most important thing for us this evening is the assurance that His Excellency gave us that he is and will continue to remain a member of the PDP and that very soon, he will become more active than he used to be.

“He assured us that should there be anything at any time that requires attention, that we should not hesitate to run to him and he will be up and doing and will be there for us. So, we are happy that our leaders, those who are behind the successes that PDP had achieved in this country, are with us and they are going to remain with us.

“We will continue to tell Nigerians and indeed members of the PDP that your party is the biggest and greatest party in Africa. Your party is on the move again. And very soon, we shall come back to our winning days. Very soon, we will position our party to win all elections that are going to be conducted in this country, beginning with the FCT area council elections, the Ekiti and Osun off-season elections. So, I want to assure us that we are on course”.

Responding to questions on the party position regarding the Federal High Court Judgement dismissing the case filed by the immediate past National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Turaki said: “It is a vindication for us in the PDP family.

“We’ve said times and times again that the decision of the Supreme Court is sacrosanct. That our courts have no business meddling into matters that are purely political party matters.

“The judgment of Justice Umar today has vindicated us in PDP that, yes, we are the genuine leaders of PDP, that, yes, our convention was legitimately done, that people cannot just go in one corner and then begin to ascribe to themselves the leadership of a political party. This is not a market association, neither is it an association of shoe-shiners. This is a political party, and there must be discipline.”

On whether former President Jonathan will be contesting the 2027 elections, he said: “You see, like I’ve always said, we in PDP have taken a decision to zone our presidential ticket to the southern part of this country. For now, we do not know who may emerge as our candidate, even though we know those who will not be our candidates.

“So, it’s open for every member of PDP that is living in southern Nigeria or of southern Nigeria descent. The process is going to be open, it’s going to be transparent, it’s going to be fair, it’s going to be equitable, and it’s going to create level playground for everybody.

“So, if, for whatever reason, anybody wants to contest, we want to assure you, Nigerians, that you will be the deciders of who becomes your candidate.” (The Nation)