A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The endorsement was ratified during the group’s convention, which was hurriedly relocated to a different venue in Abuja after security operatives blocked access to the A Class Hotel, the location initially secured for the event.
The convention lasted less than 20 minutes. During the gathering, a certificate confirming Jonathan’s nomination was presented and received on his behalf by his ally, Fred Agbedi.
Several prominent figures aligned with the Turaki-led faction attended the event, including Prof. Jerry Gana, Tanimu Turaki, Adolphus Wabara and other supporters.
Earlier in the day, police officers prevented access to the original venue by positioning several patrol vehicles across the roads leading from the Wuse and Maitama areas into the hotel premises.
The restriction affected not only PDP members expected at the convention but also motorists and other road users passing through the area.
The incident followed a warning issued on Friday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who cautioned hotels, event centres and owners of public facilities against allowing what he described as illegal political groups or organisations to use their premises, citing security concerns within the FCT.
Reacting to the development, the PDP faction accused Wike of attempting to frustrate its planned convention.
According to the party, the management of A Class Event Centre informed its officials that pressure was being exerted on the facility to prevent the programme from holding.
The group maintained that it had fully paid for the venue and complied with all requirements necessary to host the event.
It further stated that relevant security agencies had been formally notified about the convention scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Abuja’s Wuse 2 district.
Despite the challenges encountered ahead of the gathering, the faction insi.sted that the convention would go ahead and described the actions against it as an attempt at inPltimidation.