The race for the 2027 presidency has taken a dramatic turn. The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to screen former President Goodluck Jonathan as its lone presidential aspirant.

This high-stakes move signals a massive comeback attempt for Jonathan under the umbrella of a newly reshaped PDP.

Heavyweights Anchor the Screening Committee

To handle an aspirant of Jonathan’s stature, the faction has assembled a 14-member screening committee packed with party veterans and heavyweights. The committee will be led by high-profile figures, including:

  • Namadi Sambo (Former Vice-President)

  • Jonah Jang (Former Plateau State Governor)

  • Tom Ikimi (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs)

  • Olabode George & Babangida Aliyu

The administrative side of the screening will be overseen by Anicho Okoro, who serves as the committee's administrative secretary.

Digital Re-registration Sparks the Comeback

While the official party announcement initially shielded the identity of the "lone presidential aspirant," insiders have firmly confirmed it is Goodluck Jonathan.

This development comes on the heels of a disclosure last week by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong. He revealed that Jonathan had officially re-registered as a member of the PDP utilizing the fresh digital registration exercise mandated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A Nationwide Screening Blitz

The screening of the former president is part of a massive, nationwide primary preparation effort by the opposition faction. Alongside Jonathan, a Makinde-backed faction of the PDP is set to screen thousands of aspirants vying for various legislative and executive roles ahead of 2027.

Category Number of Aspirants
Presidential 1 (Goodluck Jonathan)
Governorship 112
Senatorial 198
House of Representatives 748
State House of Assembly 2,122

Timeline Note: The screening exercise is scheduled to kick off concurrently across the country on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

What This Means for 2027

With the Interim National Working Committee releasing its official schedules and panels, this faction is speeding ahead with its 2027 general election timetable. Introducing Goodluck Jonathan back into the presidential ring completely alters the dynamics of the opposition strategy—and will undoubtedly send shockwaves through competing political camps.