The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said former President Goodluck Jonathan remains one of several options under consideration for its presidential ticket in the 2027 general election.

The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this known yesterday while addressing journalists in Abuja. Ologunagba, who also serves as Secretary of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, said the opposition party is not short of capable aspirants, including sitting governors and other prominent leaders.

“I don’t speak for Prof. Jerry Gana or former President Jonathan,” Ologunagba said, reacting to reports that Gana had described Jonathan as a likely candidate. “But our party has many worthy personalities and we shall cross the bridge when we get there.”

He dismissed speculations that internal disputes could derail the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. According to him, the convention remains on course and no group or individual can stop it.

On the controversy surrounding a purported state congress in Cross River allegedly backed by allies of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, Ologunagba said no such exercise was sanctioned by the National Working Committee (NWC). He maintained that the congress was postponed and that a caretaker committee led by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi would oversee the party’s affairs in the state pending due process.

“Emphatically, there was no PDP state congress in Cross River State,” he stated. “Anyone gathering people to have drinks and calling it a congress is merely hallucinating. This party has its due process, and we will follow up accordingly.”

Ologunagba further clarified that the Damagum-led NWC is the sole decision-making authority of the party, dismissing reports of conflicting directives sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He alleged that some PDP members were working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but insisted that the opposition party remained united and focused.

He explained that the deadline for submission of nomination forms was extended to allow for wider consultations and micro-zoning agreements across states. Fifteen sub-committees, he added, have already been set up to ensure a hitch-free convention in Ibadan.

On state congresses, he confirmed that exercises had been concluded in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Borno, Niger, Kogi and Adamawa, while those in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi were postponed.

Speaking on the Ekiti governorship race, Ologunagba disclosed that five aspirants, including three men and two women, had purchased nomination forms. Screening, he said, would hold on October 2 at the NCOC office in Abuja.

Describing the upcoming convention as “very significant for Nigeria’s democracy,” Ologunagba said the APC was “jittery” because of the PDP’s record of governance.