By Kingston Magare 30.5.2026
Policemen on Saturday prevented the Tanimu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party from holding a planned convention at the A-Class Event Centre in Abuja.
The PDP faction wanted to use the occasion to announce former President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Police officers barricaded all access routes leading to the facility, deploying several patrol vans to block entry from both the Wuse and Maitama axes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The action effectively prevented party members, delegates, and supporters expected at the convention from gaining access to the venue. Other motorists and road users were also affected by the restrictions.
On Friday Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike warned event centres in Abuja not to host unregistered political parties.
However, the party members including Jerry Gana, Aldophus Wabara and Turaki moved to another venue where the convention was held and Mr. Jonathan coronated in absentia to be the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Fred Agbedi an ally of Mr. Jonathan received the clearance certificate on behalf of the former President.
Reacting to the police action the PDP factions urged President Bola Tinubu to remember Nigeria was a democratic country and not a dictatorship.
“This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party.
“Whereas other parties with leadership issues similar to ours have conducted their conventions without threats from the ruling party, the PDP is too feared to be allowed the constitutionally guaranteed right to meet,” said a statement issued by the party.
“ We strongly condemned the brazen use of unmitigated power by officials of this administration, especially the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike”.
The party alleged that President Tinubu was aware of the move.
“If such acts of intimidation is unchecked Nigeria risks falling into
“full blown dictatorship within a democracy, which eventually may lead to the collapse of democracy.”