The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to require all its candidates for the 2027 general elections to sign loyalty undertakings before their names are submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as part of efforts to prevent post-election defections.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the presentation of Certificates of Return to the party’s governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
At the event, the PDP also confirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
PDP Warns Candidates Against Defection
Speaking during the ceremony, Chairman of the PDP Interim National Working Committee, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said the party was determined to prevent a repeat of situations where candidates elected on its platform later defect to rival political parties.
According to him, all candidates will be required to sign undertakings committing them to remain loyal to the party before their names are forwarded to INEC.
“Nobody, moving forward, will take our mandate to another political party and get away with it. Before we submit your names to INEC, you will sign an undertaking. What happened in the past will not happen again,” Turaki stated.
He added that the party had carried out extensive background checks and security screenings on candidates to avoid legal and integrity issues that could jeopardise future electoral victories.
Jonathan Emerges PDP Presidential Candidate
The PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan, confirmed that Jonathan had been nominated as the party’s presidential flagbearer.
“We have a presidential candidate who bought the forms, signed them and was nominated by the party. That candidate is former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Shan said.
He explained that despite internal challenges and the leadership crisis that followed the Supreme Court judgment nullifying the party’s Ibadan convention, the PDP successfully completed its nomination process nationwide.
According to him, the party has produced 28 governorship candidates, 109 senatorial candidates, 360 House of Representatives candidates and 993 House of Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.
Full List of PDP Governorship Candidates Presented With Certificates of Return
The party presented Certificates of Return to the following governorship candidates:
- Lawal Mohammed Umar – Kaduna State
- Hassan Oladimeji Ali – Kwara State
- Zanna Gadama Mustapha – Borno State
- Ibeabuchi Ihenechukwu – Abia State
- Effiong Eyamba – Cross River State
- Sherrig Abdullahi – Yobe State
- Donatus Nwogbo – Enugu State
- Eze Alexander – Ebonyi State
- Etenabene Benedict – Delta State
- Taofeek Arapaja – Oyo State
- Caleb Maigbadani – Adamawa State
- Mohammed Ahmed Yayari – Gombe State
- Victor Richard – Rivers State
- Joel Ikenya – Taraba State
- Ibrahim Abdullahi – Kebbi State
- Mohammed Ja’afaru – Nasarawa State
- Oladelipopu Adebisi – Ogun State
- Mohammed Kabir – Kano State
- Emmanuel Agbo – Benue State
- Adetokumbo Pearce – Lagos State
- Sunday Garba – Plateau State
PDP Expresses Confidence Ahead of 2027
Turaki maintained that the PDP would field candidates in every constituency across the country and expressed confidence in the party’s chances at the polls.
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“We are not just contesting elections in 2027; we are contesting to win,” he said.
Also speaking, Ondo State PDP Chairman and Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen Forum, Dupe Aisida, said the party had overcome its recent internal challenges and was now better positioned for the next election cycle.
According to him, the PDP remains united, stronger and fully prepared for the 2027 general elections.