Turaki-led PDP Alleges Intimidation Over Jonathan’s Affirmation As Party’s Presidential Candidate On Saturday 

Turaki-led PDP Alleges Intimidation Over Jonathan’s Affirmation As Party’s Presidential Candidate On Saturday

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister Tanimu Turaki has alleged intimidation and abuse of power ahead of Saturday’s planned convention to affirm former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.

The group accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of threatening to shut down the venue designated for the event.

In a statement issued on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee of the PDP, Ini Ememobong, the faction claimed that the management of A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, informed them of alleged threats from the FCT Minister over the planned gathering.

“We have been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to shut down their business premises if the Peoples Democratic Party is allowed to use their hall for our presidential candidate ratification ceremonies,” the statement read.

The group stated that it had fully paid for the venue and had also notified relevant security agencies about the event.

According to the statement, the party had directed its lawyers to formally remind the management of the event centre of the contractual agreement already reached.

It insisted that despite the alleged intimidation, the special convention to ratify Jonathan’s candidature would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.

“We reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled,” the statement added.

The Turaki-led faction described any attempt to suppress political opposition through intimidation as undemocratic and contrary to the rule of law.

“We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience,” the statement said.

The group further argued that the FCT Minister had no legal authority to determine which political events should be held or where they should take place.

“There is nowhere in our laws where the Minister of the FCT is empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held,” it stated.

The faction also took a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that actions of government officials were beginning to portray tendencies associated with authoritarian rule.

Party leaders, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other stakeholders were invited to attend the event as planned.

The development comes amid growing internal tensions within the PDP over leadership disputes and moves by different blocs ahead of the 2027 presidential election.