ABUJA, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, setting the stage for a dramatic return to partisan politics.
Okay News reports that the definitive political clearance was finalized on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, following a high-stakes screening exercise conducted by a specialized 14-member committee chaired by former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu. The decision formally moves Jonathan to the apex of a major PDP faction’s ticket ahead of the party’s upcoming convention.
Confirming the development, prominent PDP chieftain Umar Sani disclosed during an interview that the former president had already perfected the procurement of his mandatory expression of interest and nomination forms. Sani noted that Jonathan is prepared to publicly submit the documentation, signaling clear political intent. “In politics, what is important is action,” Sani stated. “If you are interested, there are processes you have to follow, one of which is the procurement of nomination forms. He has done that.”
The political bombshell unfolds amidst intense legal maneuvers regarding Jonathan’s eligibility to hold the nation’s highest office again. The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to deliver a landmark judgment on a lawsuit demanding a definitive interpretation of the 1999 Constitution. Plaintiffs argue that because Jonathan completed the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and served a full term from 2011 to 2015, a return to office would violate statutory term limits and exceed the maximum cumulative limit of eight years. Despite the pending judicial hurdle, the Aliyu-led committee—which includes party stalwarts like former Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Chief Bode George—moved swiftly to seal the screening, directly positioning Jonathan for a historic electoral rematch against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
