…Turaki: We are granting him a waiver, he will not be screened
…Top Sources Close to Ex-President would neither confirm nor deny development
By Franklin Adole
Former President Goodluck Jonathan may have formally entered the 2027 presidential race as the sole candidate of the Sen. Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
But contrary to reports that the party has constituted a committee to screen him tomorrow, Sen. Turaki confided exclusively to KTH Daily that “We are not subjecting him to any screening process, being a former President. We are going to grant him a waiver for that.”
The development effectively confirms months of speculation surrounding Jonathan’s political comeback, with top figures in the PDP faction rallying behind his candidacy ahead of the 2027 general election.
KTH Daily gathered that Jonathan is expected to emerge as the consensus and sole presidential candidate of the PDP faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who himself has declared that he plans to run for the presidency.
Last week, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, announced that Jonathan had successfully registered as a PDP member during the party’s fresh digital membership registration exercise directed by INEC.
The PDP faction also revealed plans to screen 748 House of Representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants, and 2,122 State House of Assembly hopefuls nationwide beginning Tuesday.
In a statement posted on the party’s official Facebook page on Sunday, the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) confirmed that one presidential aspirant would be screened alongside other contestants as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
According to the statement, the nationwide screening exercise will commence at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in line with the party’s approved electoral timetable and guidelines.
The PDP wrote:
2026 SCREENING COMMITTEES AND APPEAL PANELS.
“Following the approved Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections by the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 104th Meeting, the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) hereby announces the publication of the under-listed members to serve as the Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.
“This publication is in accordance with the Party’s Guidelines and Timetable for the conduct of the 2027 General Election.
“Consequently, the total number of aspirants expected to be screened are: 2,122 SHOA, 748 HOR, 198 Senatorial, 112 Gubernatorial and 1 Presidential.
“For further inquiries, please contact the Member/Organising Secretary, Interim National Working Committee at our National Secretariat.
“The exercise will take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.”
Top sources close to the former president have refused to comment on this development, even as PDP officials confirm that the former president is all but already in the race for 2027.