The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially declared its presidential race for the 2027 general election open to all qualified aspirants from southern Nigeria, including former President Goodluck Jonathan.
InfoStride News reports that the decision was announced on Tuesday night during a high-level meeting held at the Abuja residence of former Vice President Namadi Sambo. The meeting was attended by key party leaders, including the PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki.
Speaking at the meeting, Turaki said it was still too early to predict who would emerge as the party’s presidential flag bearer, stressing that the PDP was committed to a free, fair and transparent primary process.
“So, if for whatever reason anybody wants to contest, we want to assure Nigerians that they will be the deciders of who becomes their candidate,” he said.
Turaki noted that the contest would be open to all PDP members of southern Nigerian origin, assuring aspirants of a level playing field.
“It is open to every member of the PDP living in southern Nigeria or of southern Nigerian descent. The process is going to be open, transparent, fair, equitable, and it will create a level playing field for everybody,” he added.
Clarifying what he meant by a level playing field, the PDP chairman stated that the party’s presidential ticket would be zoned to the South, a decision that clears the way for Jonathan and other prominent southern politicians to vie for the nomination.
Meanwhile, Turaki expressed satisfaction with the recent judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which dismissed a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a factional National Secretary of the PDP.
He described the ruling as a major victory for the party and a reaffirmation of internal discipline and adherence to due process.
InfoStride News understands that less than 24 hours earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja had also dismissed a suit instituted by Anyanwu seeking official recognition as the PDP National Secretary.
Justice Mohammed Umar, who delivered the judgment, ruled against the claims of the factional secretary, a development widely seen as strengthening the Turaki-led leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
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