2027: Wike-backed PDP says INEC candidate list ends speculation over presidential ticket

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the publication of its presidential candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ended months of speculation over the party’s participation in the 2027 presidential election.

 

The faction said the inclusion of its presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, and running mate, Babangida Umar, on INEC’s final list of candidates had disproved claims that the party would be unable to field a presidential candidate.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the party described the publication as a major milestone and said it had put an end to what it termed sustained misinformation against the PDP.

 

“Of particular significance is the publication of the names of our presidential candidate, Distinguished Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, and his running mate, Alhaji Babangida Umar, who will proudly fly the flag of our great party in the 2027 presidential election,” the statement read.

 

The faction said predictions that internal disputes would prevent it from participating in the election had been proven wrong.

 

“This development has effectively laid to rest the sustained misinformation and propaganda by those who desperately sought to convince Nigerians that the PDP would not field a presidential candidate.

 

“For months, these unfounded claims were deployed as a campaign tool to mislead Nigerians, discourage our supporters and create doubts about the future of our party.

 

“Today, the facts have prevailed, the law has taken its course, and the PDP has once again been vindicated,” it stated.

 

The party thanked its members and supporters within and outside Nigeria for remaining loyal despite the internal crisis.

 

It also commended INEC, the judiciary and security agencies for what it described as their commitment to the rule of law and constitutional order.

 

The faction reaffirmed its commitment to reconciliation and appealed to aggrieved members to return, saying unity remained essential to reclaiming political power.

 

It also welcomed returning members and recent defectors, describing their decision as a reflection of growing confidence in the party.

 

The PDP further assured Nigerians that its leadership under National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu would provide what it described as a credible and unifying alternative in the 2027 elections.

 

The statement followed INEC’s publication of the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general election.

 

The development comes amid the party’s prolonged leadership crisis and is a setback for the Tanimu Turaki-led faction, which had claimed to have submitted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s name to INEC as its presidential candidate after allegedly forwarding the nomination manually.