Plans by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to formally ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election were stalled on Saturday, after police sealed off the venue of its special convention in Abuja.
Security operatives barricaded the A-Class Event Centre, the proposed venue for the gathering organised by a PDP faction loyal to former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, effectively preventing delegates, party members and supporters from accessing the facility.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warned hotels, event centres and owners of public facilities against allowing their premises to be used by what he described as illegal organisations.
Police patrol vehicles were stationed at strategic points around the event centre, with access roads leading to the facility from both the Wuse and Maitama axes blocked.
A police officer at the venue told journalists that no political event had been approved to hold at the facility.
“There is no such event holding here today,” the officer said when asked about the planned PDP gathering.
The convention had been scheduled to endorse Jonathan as the faction’s consensus presidential candidate, a move that was already generating fresh controversy within the opposition party.
Recall that the FCT Minister had in a statement on Friday warned that owners of facilities used for gatherings by organisations operating outside the law risk losing their property titles.
The statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike, stated that, “Going forward, the title documents of any event centre, hotel, or public building used for the gathering of illegal organisations will be revoked.”
According to Olayinka, the directive is aimed at strengthening security and supporting law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and public order in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said authorities would closely monitor the use of public venues to prevent activities capable of undermining security or disrupting public order.
The FCT Administration also advised owners of hotels and event centres to transact only with the leadership of political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to maintain proper records of all bookings.
“Owners of these facilities are therefore urged to take cognisance of the legality of organisations seeking to use their facilities and their intended purpose before letting them out.
“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the revocation of the title documents of such properties.”
Saturday’s disruption is expected to deepen the crisis within the PDP, with the Turaki-led faction pushing for Jonathan’s endorsement while another bloc reportedly aligned with Wike is backing Sandy Onor as its preferred presidential candidate.
