Breaking: Jonathan Reportedly Drafted Into 2027 Race as PDP Crisis Deepens Over Turaki Faction

Fresh political intrigue surrounded Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race on Thursday following claims that former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been adopted by loyalists within a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party linked to former Minister Kabiru Turaki.

According to sources familiar with the development, a close associate of Jonathan from the South-South geopolitical zone allegedly obtained presidential nomination documents on behalf of the former president under the Turaki-backed PDP structure.

The move, if confirmed, could dramatically reshape the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.

The development comes amid growing uncertainty within the PDP following a series of court rulings that invalidated the controversial Ibadan national convention which produced the Turaki-led National Working Committee.

In a landmark judgement delivered on April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki faction and upheld earlier decisions nullifying the Ibadan convention, ruling that the exercise violated existing court orders.

The apex court’s ruling effectively dealt a major blow to the legitimacy of the Turaki-led leadership structure, despite the faction insisting that party organs would determine the next political direction.

Before the Supreme Court judgement, both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the Turaki-led executives, declaring the convention unlawful.

Despite the legal setbacks, insiders within the faction claimed consultations had intensified in recent weeks to rally support around Jonathan as a possible consensus presidential candidate capable of unifying aggrieved blocs within the opposition.

Sources further alleged that influential stakeholders within the faction had assured the former president of “full backing” should he agree to return to active electoral politics.

Jonathan, who served as president from 2010 to 2015, has repeatedly remained silent on speculations about another presidential bid, even as political groups across the country continue to campaign for his return.

His eligibility for another presidential contest has remained a recurring constitutional debate since he completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before winning a fresh election in 2011.

So far, neither Jonathan nor his spokesperson has officially confirmed the reported move.