Fresh uncertainty has surrounded former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race as the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens ahead of the 2027 election.
Rival factions within the party are currently battling for control. The situation has created confusion over Jonathan’s reported presidential ambition.
The crisis involves two major groups within the PDP. One faction is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The other is led by former minister Kabiru Turaki.
Both groups are operating separate leadership structures. They are also issuing different directives as the struggle for the soul of the party continues.
The disagreement followed the Supreme Court judgment that nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
After the ruling, the Wike-backed camp took control of the party structure recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, the Turaki-led group also claimed legitimacy and insisted it remains the authentic leadership of the party.
The crisis has now affected preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
The Wike-backed faction fixed May 12 as the deadline for the sale of presidential nomination forms. On the other hand, the Turaki-led camp extended its own deadline to May 13.
Reports had earlier claimed that several support groups were planning to purchase the PDP’s N100 million nomination form for Jonathan.
Despite the growing speculation, the former president had not obtained any form from either faction as of Monday night.
The Wike-backed camp denied claims that Jonathan was working with them.
Speaking on the matter, Mohammed Haruna Jungudo, spokesperson of the faction, said Jonathan had not purchased any form from their camp.
He also stated that the former president was not holding political discussions with their leadership.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction maintained that Jonathan remains a respected member of the PDP.
The faction’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, said the decision to contest or purchase a form rests entirely with the former president.
Apart from the party crisis, Jonathan is also facing a legal challenge over his eligibility to contest the 2027 election.
A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking the court to stop Jonathan from contesting.
The plaintiff argued that Jonathan had already completed the constitutional limit allowed for a Nigerian president.
According to the suit, Jonathan completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure before winning the 2011 presidential election.
The plaintiff insisted that another term would exceed the constitutional limit of eight years in office.
The court case also took another twist on Monday after the plaintiff accused the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, of bias.
The plaintiff requested that the case should be reassigned to another judge for fair hearing.
He alleged that the judge reduced the time allowed for legal responses and introduced issues that were not raised by parties in the suit.
During the hearing, neither the plaintiff nor the defendants appeared in court.
Jonathan’s legal team, however, urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as baseless and unnecessary.
The court later adjourned the matter until May 15 after observing that some parties had not been properly served with hearing notices.
Jonathan has not officially declared interest in the 2027 presidential election.
However, political pressure and growing calls from support groups continue to fuel speculation about his possible return.
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