The anti-Wike faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has affirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, after a police blockade and alleged threats by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, disrupted its planned convention in Abuja.
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The affirmation was announced in a communiqué issued on Saturday, May 30, 2026, by the National Publicity Secretary of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
According to the faction, the Special National Convention was initially scheduled to hold at the A-Class Event Centre in Abuja, but the management of the venue allegedly cancelled the booking after receiving threats that its Certificate of Occupancy would be revoked and the property demolished if the event was allowed to proceed.
The faction also alleged that by 7 p.m. on Friday, more than 20 truckloads of armed policemen had been deployed to block roads leading to the event centre, forcing motorists to drive against traffic and preventing delegates from accessing the venue.
Despite the development, the faction said its Board of Trustees, Interim National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, state chairmen, governorship candidates and National Assembly candidates convened an emergency session at an undisclosed location.
It said some members initially pushed for confrontation with security operatives in order to forcefully access the venue, but elder statesmen within the party advised restraint.
According to the communiqué, the elders urged members to show maturity and defeat their opponents at the polls rather than engage in a physical struggle.
The faction said the stakeholders thereafter proceeded with the main business of the day and unanimously affirmed Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate and flagbearer for the 2027 election after a motion was moved and seconded.
It added that a formal public presentation and flag-giving ceremony would be organised at a later date, away from what it described as administrative interference by the FCT Administration.
The PDP faction accused President Bola Tinubu of allegedly shielding Wike and allowing state institutions to be used to suppress opposition activity, warning that such actions could push Nigeria toward a one-party system.
It also questioned why other political parties facing internal disputes are allowed to hold conventions in Abuja without similar interference.
“This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party,” Ememobong said in the communiqué.
The faction called on Tinubu to de-escalate political tension and stop what it described as the asphyxiation of opposition voices in the country.
Meanwhile, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has condemned the reported police blockade of the convention venue and the alleged threats by Wike to revoke land titles of hotels, event centres and other facilities that host groups described as illegal.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said the development raised serious constitutional and democratic concerns.
The organisation said freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly are guaranteed under Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution and cannot be arbitrarily restricted by INEC, a minister or any government official.
“These rights are not granted by INEC, a minister, or any government official. They are constitutional rights that can only be restricted in accordance with the law and subject to constitutional safeguards,” RULAAC stated.
The group argued that while INEC has statutory responsibilities over elections and political parties, it has no authority to decide whether citizens can assemble, associate or express political views.
It also said no minister has the legal power to extinguish constitutional rights through executive directives or public threats.
RULAAC warned that hotels, event centres and other public venues are legitimate businesses entitled to rent their facilities for lawful activities, except where a group has been declared unlawful by a court or prohibited by law.
It described threats to revoke property titles over lawful political gatherings as troubling, saying legality must be determined by law and competent courts, not administrative discretion.
The organisation also faulted the role of the police in the dispute, warning that security agencies must remain politically neutral and must not be perceived as taking sides in intra-party disputes or partisan contests.
It said any restriction on access to meetings or gatherings must be based on credible security concerns, must be necessary and proportionate, and must comply with constitutional standards and the rule of law.
RULAAC urged the FCT Administration to respect constitutional freedoms and ensure that all regulatory actions are grounded in due process.
It also called on the Nigeria Police Force to maintain neutrality, while urging political actors to resolve their grievances through lawful and democratic channels.
The development comes amid deepening divisions within the PDP, with rival factions battling for control of the party and its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
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