PDP ticket is open to Jonathan, others

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, has said the party’s 2027 presidential ticket is open to former President Goodluck Jonathan and any other aspirant from the South.

Turaki stated this on Tuesday night after a meeting between the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and former Vice President Namadi Sambo. Sambo served as vice president during Jonathan’s tenure.

The PDP chairman, who said the meeting was to introduce the new NWC members to Sambo, disclosed that the former vice president has promised to back the opposition party in the 2027 contest.

Turaki, reacting to a question on Jonathan’s speculated 2027 presidential ambition, said: “You see, like I have always said, we in PDP have taken a decision to zone our presidential ticket to the southern part of this country. For now, we do not know who may emerge as our candidate, even though we know those who will not be our candidates.

“So it’s open for every member of PDP that is living in southern Nigeria or of southern Nigeria descent.

“The process is going to be open, it’s going to be transparent, it’s going to be fair, it’s going to be equitable, and it’s going to create a level playground for everybody.

“So if, for whatever reason, anybody wants to contest, we want to assure you, Nigerians, that you will be the deciders of who becomes your candidate.”

He added: “We have met with His Excellency (Sambo) and we’ve had a very, very useful discussion with him. We told him the prospects and the challenges we’ve been facing since our election in Ibadan.

“And His Excellency has generously proffered advice and guidance to us on the way to move forward as far as propelling this party to once again become a veritable winning platform for Nigerians.

“But the most important thing for us this evening is the assurance that His Excellency has given us that he is and will continue to remain a member of the PDP.

“And His Excellency has assured us that very soon he will become more active than he used to be. And he assured us that should there be anything at any time that requires attention, we should not hesitate to run to him and he will be up and doing. And he will be there for us.

“So, once again, we are happy that our leaders, those who are behind the successes that PDP had achieved in this country, are with us and they are going to remain with us.”