Turaki Led Faction PDP Screens 3,000 Aspirants, Jonathan as Sole Presidential Candidate for 2027

By Tgnews Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Tuesday screen former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party, under the leadership of Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has assembled a high-powered 14-member Presidential Screening Committee to assess Jonathan, who is the only candidate listed for the position.

Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, and former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi are among the prominent members of the committee. Others include Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenih, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solariu, and Chief Anicho Okoro, who will serve as Administrative Secretary.

The screening exercise forms part of a larger nationwide process that will cover thousands of aspirants. The PDP is set to screen 748 House of Representatives candidates, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants, and 2,122 State Houses of Assembly aspirants across various states on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The development comes days after the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that Jonathan had successfully registered as a member of the PDP during the fresh digital membership registration exercise ordered by INEC.

Party sources confirmed that the statement describing “a lone presidential aspirant” refers specifically to former President Jonathan.

The PDP said the screening exercise is in line with its guidelines and timetable for the 2027 general elections. The party has also released names of members for various Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.

This latest move further signals Jonathan’s growing momentum within the PDP as speculation intensifies about his potential return to the presidential race in 2027.

Meanwhile, a former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, has declared his intention to contest the Owerri Zone Senatorial seat on the PDP platform in 2027, promising to deliver quality representation, youth empowerment, and socio-economic development to the zone.