The Nyesom Wike backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from a potential 2027 presidential bid by former President Goodluck Jonathan, clarifying that he has not purchased an expression of interest form under their platform. This statement aims to quell growing rumors that the faction was preparing to hand Jonathan its ticket for the next general election.

The factional leadership, which remains loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), emphasized that while they hold the former president in high regard, the party’s primary process will be competitive and open.

They dismissed reports of an automatic ticket as speculative and unfounded, asserting that the group is currently focused on consolidating its internal structures rather than endorsing specific candidates.

This development highlights the deepening rift within the PDP. While a rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki recently held strategic meetings with Jonathan during which the former president admitted he was consulting on a potential run the Wike-backed group has remained steadfast in its own trajectory.

By explicitly stating that Jonathan “didn’t buy our form,” the faction is signaling its intent to field its own candidate, separate from those being wooed by other opposition blocs.

The Wike-backed faction’s stance is a significant blow to those advocating for a unified opposition front behind Jonathan. Political analysts suggest that the faction’s refusal to align with the “Jonathan movement” at this stage indicates that they may be positioning for a different power-sharing arrangement or supporting a candidate more closely aligned with their specific interests within the party.

Supporters of the former president, who recently visited his office to urge him to run, argue that Jonathan remains the most viable candidate to challenge the status quo. However, Jonathan himself has described the decision-making process as not a computer game, indicating that he is weighing his options carefully amidst the fractured opposition landscape.