Fresh turmoil has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party over Jonathan's 2027 presidential ambitions. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike is at the centre of the storm.
Wike has vowed to block any group seeking to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential bid. He's also threatened to shut down Class A event centre in Abuja if they host such a gathering.
A faction led by Tanimu Turaki announced plans for a convention on Saturday to endorse Jonathan's candidacy. But Wike's camp quickly moved to block the move.
Jungudo Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary aligned with Wike, dismissed the convention claims as false on Friday. "No such convention has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by party leadership," he stated.
Mohammed urged all party members to ignore what he called misleading information. He said the reports were designed to sow confusion in the country.
According to Wike's faction, the PDP has already completed all primary elections. These included governorship, state assembly, and presidential contests, they noted.
INEC properly supervised all these exercises across Nigeria, the statement insisted. The party says everything followed due process and electoral guidelines.
Wike's group called on Jonathan to publicly distance himself from what they termed a charade. They want the former president to protect his democratic credentials.
They've also asked security agencies to investigate the false reports circulating. The faction said perpetrators are deliberately fueling political tension.
Mohammed warned that the PDP won't tolerate attempts to damage its reputation anymore. The party is committed to democratic principles and constitutional processes, he added.
Officials said only authorized party communications should be trusted by the public. Party members should disregard unauthorized political activities, they cautioned.
Turaki's group fired back swiftly, refusing to be intimidated by Wike's threats. Ini Ememobong, Publicity Secretary of their Interim National Working Committee, hit back hard.
Ememobong said they've met all legal requirements for their scheduled event. The event centre proprietors have informed them of Wike's intimidation tactics, he disclosed.
Both factions within Nigeria's main opposition party are now locked in a bitter standoff. The dispute threatens to deepen existing divisions within PDP ranks.
Jonathan has remained silent on the controversy swirling around his name. His position on the competing claims hasn't been made public yet.
Party loyalists worry the internal conflict could weaken PDP's chances in 2027. The division exposes deep fractures that may take time to heal.
