The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn on Tuesday after a faction of the party led by Abdulrahman Mohammed announced Senator Sandy Onor as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The development came barely days after another faction of the party under the leadership of Kabiru Turaki adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred presidential candidate, further exposing deep divisions and leadership struggles within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction made the announcement during the collation and presentation of results from its presidential primary exercise held at the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja.
Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who chaired the PDP Presidential Primaries Collation Committee, officially declared Senator Sandy Onor as the faction’s consensus candidate during the exercise.
Members of the committee explained that the decision followed consultations with party members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as voice votes conducted among delegates and stakeholders within the faction.
Senator Onor, who was the PDP governorship candidate in Cross River State during the 2023 elections, emerged as the sole aspirant after purchasing his expression of interest and nomination forms earlier this month.
Speaking at the event, Ortom said extensive consultations were carried out before arriving at the decision to adopt Onor as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Following the declaration, leaders of the faction presented the party’s flag and a certificate of return to Onor amid cheers from supporters and party loyalists present at the venue.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including National Commissioners Abdullahi Zuru and Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus, were also present to monitor the proceedings at the party secretariat.
The latest development has, however, intensified uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s leadership crisis, especially after the rival Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee earlier endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s consensus candidate.
At a screening exercise held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on May 19, the Turaki-led faction granted Jonathan an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential election and exempted him from the party’s standard screening and nomination procedures.
Speaking on behalf of the committee at the time, former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, said the former president was given special consideration because of his status and experience within the party.
Aliyu explained that the waiver granted to Jonathan meant he had been fully cleared to contest the election on the platform of the PDP without going through the usual internal screening process required for other aspirants.
The emergence of two separate presidential candidates from rival factions has further deepened confusion within the PDP, with both groups laying claim to the party’s structure and authority ahead of the next general election.
Political observers and party stakeholders have also expressed concern that the parallel endorsements of Sandy Onor and Goodluck Jonathan could complicate reconciliation efforts and weaken the opposition party as preparations for the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum.
