A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, says it will not be intimidated or deterred from ratifying former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had threatened to shut down the A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2 if it hosted the planned ratification convention.
According to Ememobong, the venue had already been fully paid for and all relevant security agencies duly notified of the event. He added that the faction’s lawyers had been instructed to remind the management of the centre of its contractual obligations.
Despite the reported threat, Ememobong insisted that the special convention to ratify Jonathan’s candidature would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. at the A Class Event Centre.
He described the alleged action as an attempt to suppress opposition voices, arguing that the FCT Minister has no legal authority to determine which political events can be held or where they should take place.
Ememobong also called on PDP leaders, National Executive Committee members and stakeholders across the country to attend the convention.
The development comes after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) warned hotels, event centres and other public facilities in Abuja against hosting activities organised by groups it described as illegal.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, the FCTA said property owners who violate the directive could face sanctions, including the revocation of their titles.
The administration explained that the measure is aimed at strengthening security in the nation’s capital and urged operators of hotels and event centres to transact only with leaderships of political parties officially recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
