Summary:
In a definitive step towards unification, the new PDP leadership has secured the full backing of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who pledged renewed participation to strengthen the opposition party ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.
The restructuring efforts within Nigeria’s main opposition party have gained significant momentum following a high-profile, closed-door consultation in Abuja. The Tanimu Turaki-led National Leadership, operating under the freshly constituted National Working Committee, met with former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday to chart a new course for the party.
This strategic visit follows the recent national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, serving as a formal introduction of the new executives to the party’s elder statesman. Turaki described the engagement as a pivotal moment for the PDP, noting that the former President’s reaction was not only welcoming but deeply inspiring for the task ahead.
According to Turaki, Goodluck Jonathan has committed to transcending a passive advisory role. “We have his assurance that he remains a card-carrying member of the PDP. More importantly, he has pledged to be far more active in the party’s affairs moving forward, citing a profound sense of obligation to the platform that gave him the opportunity to serve the nation,” Turaki revealed.
Restoring the People’s Mandate
With sights set on the 2027 general elections and the immediate off-season contests in Ekiti and Osun, the leadership is focused on internal cleansing. Turaki emphasized that the era of impunity is over, promising a level playing field where the party is returned to its rightful owners—the people.
Despite facing internal friction, specifically a factional split involving groups loyal to the current FCT Minister, Turaki remains confident. He asserted that the PDP remains the “most veritable platform” for democratic governance in Nigeria, promising inclusivity and a departure from the politics of exclusion.
Navigating Legal and Electoral Hurdles
The leadership also addressed the controversy surrounding the INEC exclusion of the PDP candidate for the Ekiti gubernatorial poll. Turaki clarified that the party had met all statutory requirements, including manual submissions acknowledged by the regulator. He argued that by monitoring their primaries, the electoral commission had already validated his NWC’s legitimacy.
On the issue of party unity, Turaki expressed a strong preference for political solutions over litigation. “We are advocates of reconciliation. We did not drag the party to court; we are merely defending it. However, we are ready to sit at a round table with aggrieved members who show genuine remorse to rebuild the PDP family,” he stated.
The delegation included high-ranking stakeholders such as former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and former Minister Jerry Gana, signaling a broad consensus among the party’s old guard to back the new leadership structure.