The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana’s recent statement announcing former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s potential presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The PDP also dismissed a recently held state congress in Calabar, Cross River State, branding it an unauthorised “hallucination.”
Speaking in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that Gana “doesn’t speak for the PDP” and did not have the party’s mandate to make such a declaration.
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Gana had, on Saturday in Minna after the Niger State chapter of the PDP elected new officials, asserted that following years under the late President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigerians were now looking to Jonathan’s return.
He confirmed Jonathan would contest the 2027 presidency on the PDP platform.
However, Ologunagba countered Gana’s assertion, insisting that the PDP does not suffer from a lack of qualified presidential aspirants. He highlighted the party’s current governors, whom he described as “eminently qualified Nigerians… who have done exceedingly well.”
The party spokesman stressed that their performance in their respective states demonstrates their capacity, which he termed the “DNA of the PDP.”
He said, “I can tell you, on Tuesday, this party has eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly at the governors’ level, who have done exceedingly well, that Nigeria can tap on that and say, step up the place and do the right thing…”
Ologunagba, while noting that Jonathan “is a member” and “has not said he’s not a member,” reiterated, “I don’t speak for President Jonathan. I don’t speak for Jerry Gana, with all due respect. But our party is focused on our convention and when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it.”
Cross River Congress
Furthermore, the PDP emphatically disowned the state congress election that reportedly took place over the weekend in Calabar, Cross River State.
Ologunagba maintained, “Clearly, there’s no State Congress held in Cross River State for the PDP, for the State Executive Committee of the party.”
He argued that the organisers of the event lacked the authority of the National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct the election, as the NWC “didn’t constitute that [electoral panel].”
In a dismissive tone, he humorously suggested that the gathering might have been a “pre-carnival for Christmas,” given Calabar’s reputation.
“That you imagine that you can sit down and get some people together and have drinks, and call it a congress, that’s hallucination,” Ologunagba stated.
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He confirmed that the congress had been postponed, along with those in Plateau and Kebbi States.
When asked if the organisers would face sanctions, Ologunagba asked for patience, stating, “This party will do that which is necessary to ensure that there’s discipline and there’s responsibility here.”
