Wike-Backed PDP Reportedly Selects VP Candidate As Turaki Faction Stands Firm On Jonathan

According to Ireporter Online, a senior official within the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee disclosed that the decision followed extensive consultations with influential stakeholders across the party. The source, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to discuss internal matters publicly, also revealed that the details of both Onor and Umaru had been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal.

The source explained that after wide-ranging consultations, the party leadership and its presidential candidate unanimously settled on Umaru as the vice-presidential nominee, describing the move as a collective decision aimed at strengthening the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC had earlier fixed 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online portal. The submission process, which commenced on June 27, requires political parties to file Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E in line with the provisions of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The electoral commission also announced that the submission of nomination forms for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates would begin on July 18 and conclude on August 8.

Confirming developments, PDP National Publicity Secretary Mohammed Jungudo said the party had successfully completed the upload of its National Assembly candidates and had also submitted the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates. However, he declined to officially identify the vice-presidential nominee, stressing that only information released by the party’s national chairman or himself should be regarded as official.

Jungudo noted that the party’s immediate focus is completing the nomination process for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates before unveiling campaign structures and committees that will coordinate activities ahead of the elections.

He expressed optimism about the party’s preparedness, insisting that ongoing legal disputes would not hinder its campaign or electoral ambitions. He also urged all candidates to work closely with party leaders and stakeholders in their respective constituencies while intensifying grassroots mobilisation.

According to him, the PDP is targeting a majority in both the National Assembly and state legislatures, while also aiming to secure governorship victories in at least two-thirds of the states. He added that the party’s strategy for the presidential election would remain confidential until the appropriate time.

Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee has rejected the reported Onor-Umaru presidential ticket, insisting that former President Goodluck Jonathan remains the authentic presidential candidate of its faction.

The faction’s Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, maintained that the group does not recognise the activities of the Wike-backed leadership operating from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. He insisted that Jonathan remains their preferred candidate and dismissed reports surrounding the rival faction’s nomination process.

Ememobong also stated that concerns regarding access to the INEC nomination portal would be addressed through the appropriate procedures at the right time. He further accused the Federal Government of creating conditions that undermine multi-party democracy, arguing that many Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process due to perceptions that it has been compromised.

He stressed that the Turaki-led faction has no interest in the decisions or appointments made by the rival leadership, reiterating that its members remain focused on pursuing what they describe as the legitimate course for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.