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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Jonathan's ratification convention will hold despite FCTA threats, PDP faction insists

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists its convention to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as presidential candidate will proceed.
  • The faction claims the Federal Capital Territory Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, threatened to shut down the venue.
  • The PDP faction stated it has fulfilled all requirements, including payments and security notifications, and will resist attempts to obstruct the event.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared its intention to proceed with a convention to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, despite alleged threats from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

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.

— Ini Ememobong, PDP National Publicity SecretaryStatement detailing the alleged threat from the FCT Minister.

The Taminu Turaki-led faction stated that the FCTA, under Minister Nyesom Wike, threatened to shut down the A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, if the party was allowed to use the facility for its ratification ceremonies. The party claims the venue's management informed them of this alleged threat.

We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event.

— PDP FactionAssertion that all requirements for the convention venue have been met.

According to the PDP faction, all necessary requirements for using the venue have been met, including full payment and notification to security agencies. The party's lawyers are reportedly set to remind the event center management of their agreement. The convention is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10 a.m.

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.

— PDP FactionStatement condemning potential obstruction of the event.

The faction described any attempt to halt the gathering as an attack on democratic principles and political opposition. They argued that the FCT Minister lacks the constitutional authority to dictate which political events can be held in the capital. The FCTA had previously warned owners of event centers against hosting events not recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with violators risking property title loss.

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.

— PDP FactionArgument against the FCT Minister's authority over political events.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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