A northern political group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The group also expressed support for the leadership of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
In a communique signed by its northern coordinator, Yusuf Abubakar, the coalition of PDP loyalists and support groups from across the 19 northern states called for a coordinated media campaign in the North to mobilize support for Jonathan. The group described Jonathan as a “tested leader” and a “symbol of peace,” stating that his peaceful handover of power in 2015 demonstrated his commitment to unity and stability. The group dismissed concerns about Jonathan’s eligibility to contest, saying the issue had long been settled.
The PDP has been grappling with internal divisions ahead of the 2027 elections, with different factions pushing for various candidates, including Jonathan, Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.1 The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recently zoned the presidential ticket for the 2027 election to the South, a decision that could favor Jonathan.2
The group also reaffirmed its confidence in Umar Damagum’s leadership, praising his reconciliation efforts to reposition the party. The PDP’s NEC had confirmed Damagum as the substantive national chairman in late August 2025, a role he had been serving in an acting capacity since March 2023.3 His confirmation is valid until the party’s national convention in November 2025.4
