Police officers have blocked roads leading to the venue of a special convention organised by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.
Officers stationed at the barricade told TheCable that the event had been cancelled.
The PDP is currently split into two factions. The faction backed by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The other faction, led by Kabiru Turaki, had scheduled its convention for Saturday at the A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja.
Ahead of the event, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a directive instructing owners of hotels, event centres, and other public facilities to deal only with the leadership of political parties recognised by INEC. The FCTA also warned that any property used by “illegal organisations” risks losing its title documents.
Despite the directive, the Turaki-led faction insisted the convention would proceed as planned.
Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the faction, said the FCTA had threatened to close the event centre if it hosted the convention.
“We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event,” Ememobong said.
“We have directed our lawyers to write to A Class Event Centre, reminding them of these facts. Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday, 30th May, 2026, at A-Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 am.”
He added: “We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience.”
Ememobong argued that no law empowers the FCT minister to determine which events should be held in Abuja.
