The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from reports linking him to the party’s presidential candidate.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, advised the former President to take this step to protect his integrity and reputation.

The faction dismissed reports of a planned convention to affirm Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate, saying Senator Sandy Onor who was recently screened, cleared, and presented as the party’s presidential candidate for 2027.

Mohammed described reports that the PDP is planning to ratify Jonathan’s candidacy as false, misleading, and unauthorized.

The denial follows an announcement on Thursday by a faction of the Interim National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki, which had planned to convene a convention in Abuja on Saturday to endorse Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to misleading information and unfounded reports circulating in certain quarters regarding an alleged planned convention aimed at affirming former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the presidential candidate of the PDP.”

“The Party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We therefore urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the general public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity.

“It is important for the avoidance of doubt to state that the Peoples Democratic Party has successfully concluded all its primary elections, including those for governorship, State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, and the presidential primaries in accordance with INEC guidelines, the provisions of the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the party.”

The party added that the exercises were peacefully conducted nationwide under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It continued: “In view of this development, we respectfully call on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation.

“We also call on relevant security agencies to swiftly investigate the source of these false reports and take appropriate action against the perpetrators whose motive is nothing but to create political tension in the country.

“The PDP will henceforth not fold its arms and allow the party to be dragged into disrepute through falsehood, misinformation, and unauthorised political activities aimed at undermining its integrity and democratic structures.

“The party remains totally committed to due process, internal democracy, and the rule of law in all its political activities and engagements, and will continue to protect the sanctity of its constitutional processes and decisions.” (Daily Trust)