Jonathan pledges active role in PDP, meets Turaki-led NWC

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday pledged to play an active role in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kabiru Turaki, the National Chairman of the party, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with the former president.

Turaki, speaking with journalists after the meeting, described Jonathan as a great asset to the party.

Responding to questions, Turaki said the former president had agreed “to play active roles in the party under the current arrangements.”

The visit followed renewed efforts to persuade the former president to become more actively involved in the party’s affairs. BusinessDay gathered that the party has also intensified efforts to persuade Jonathan to emerge as its candidate in the upcoming election.

Read also: Only Jonathan’s enemies will want him to join 2027 presidential race – Oshiomhole

Recall that the Turaki-led leadership had late last year undertaken a similar visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the first president produced by the party between 1999 and 2007.

Amid the current crisis, the party has continued to rebuild its structures around its founding fathers, including Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Turaki disclosed that the delegation used the opportunity to introduce members of the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) to Jonathan and to brief him on efforts to stabilise the party since their election at the National Convention held last November in Ibadan.

According to Turaki, “We briefed him on the state of the party, the challenges and prospects. On this visit, we were accompanied by former governors, members of the Board of Trustees, founding fathers and founding mothers, the Forum of State Chairmen, as well as other party leaders, including former ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He added that the party sought Jonathan’s support, guidance and advice, noting that “we have his assurance that he remains a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, that he is still active, and that he will be even more active in the activities and affairs of the party.”

Turaki further revealed that Jonathan reaffirmed his affection for the party.

“He said the PDP has done everything that can be done for an individual, and that he still feels obligated to the party,” he said.

Turaki described Jonathan’s remarks as reassuring and encouraging, especially as the party prepares for off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun states this year, as well as the 2027 general elections.

The PDP chairman assured the public and party members that the PDP remains “the most veritable platform for contesting and winning elections in Nigeria.”

“We remain the leading opposition party in this country. This new leadership is taking the party back to the people, who are the rightful owners. There will be a level playing field, inclusivity, and no room for impunity. We will not allow anyone to take what does not belong to them.

“We will listen to Nigerians. Whatever Nigerians want is what we will give them. This is the party that belongs to the Nigerian people, and that is why we are called the Peoples Democratic Party.”

Turaki also assured that the party has no issues with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We do not have a problem with INEC. We sent notice of our Ekiti State governorship primaries to INEC. INEC attended, monitored the exercise, and produced a report. INEC also provided access to its portal for the upload of our candidate’s details and those of his running mate.

“Although INEC later restricted access to the platform, we had already completed a manual submission, which INEC acknowledged.”

He added that the party followed the same process for its Osun State primaries.

“INEC was duly informed, it sent its team, monitored the primaries, and a candidate emerged. As far as statutory obligations are concerned, political parties are only required to issue the necessary notices, which we have consistently done.”

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