The Peoples Democratic Party led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has scheduled the screening of former President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow, Tuesday, as the lone presidential aspirant of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, former Governor of Plateau State Jonah Jang, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Ikimi are among a committee of 14 members assembled to screen Jonathan. Other members of the committee include Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium, and Chief Anicho Okoro, who will serve as administrative secretary of the committee.
The screening exercise will take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The party said the publication of the screening details “is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.”
The Seyi Makinde-backed PDP equally announced that it was set to screen 748 House of Representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, and 112 governorship aspirants, with 2,122 states Houses of Assembly aspirants also expected to be screened.
The development comes after weeks of rapid political movement around the former president. The Turaki-led PDP’s Interim National Working Committee held a strategic meeting with Jonathan last Friday, less than 48 hours after he disclosed publicly that he was consulting widely on the possibility of running for the presidency in 2027.
A top official in Jonathan’s team subsequently confirmed to Vanguard that the decision to use the PDP as a platform followed extensive deliberation over where his chances were brighter in returning to power.
The Turaki-led PDP has maintained that Jonathan recently participated in the party’s digital membership registration exercise and personally confirmed his membership status during a meeting with members of the Interim National Working Committee.
“We state categorically that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party under the capable leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN,” the faction said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
Jonathan himself has not yet made a formal, unequivocal public declaration of his presidential candidacy. This publication will update readers following tomorrow’s screening exercise.
