The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northern Support Group has thrown its weight behind former President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, while also reaffirming full confidence in the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum.
The endorsement was announced in a communiqué issued after the group’s 8th Northern Support Group Meeting held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, between October 8 and 9, 2025.
Signed by Hon. Yusuf Abubakar, Northern Coordinator, and Hon. Adamu Ahmed Narayi, North-West Zonal Secretary, the communiqué noted that representatives from all northern states attended the meeting, united by the shared goal of repositioning the PDP for electoral victory.
The group praised Ambassador Damagum for his reconciliation efforts, describing him as a stabilising figure committed to restoring unity, discipline, and cohesion within the party.
It also expressed confidence that the PDP could reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with renewed commitment and strategic mobilisation, urging members to rally behind Jonathan as a symbol of peace, unity, and progress.
According to the communiqué, there is “no going back” on Jonathan’s candidacy, with the group describing him as one of Nigeria’s most patriotic leaders who put national interest above personal ambition by peacefully handing over power in 2015.
The group dismissed concerns about Jonathan’s eligibility to contest, insisting the issue had been long resolved and should not serve as a political distraction.
However, it criticised some party elders and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for allegedly undermining unity and collaborating with the APC-led government. It particularly accused Minister Nyesom Wike of deliberately causing divisions within the PDP while serving in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The communiqué urged Ambassador Damagum to enforce strict disciplinary measures against any member whose actions weaken the party’s structure or reputation, stressing that party supremacy must be upheld over individual interests.
Reaffirming that the PDP still enjoys massive grassroots support across northern Nigeria, the group called for unity and strategic reorganisation to restore the party’s dominance ahead of 2027.
The communiqué ended with a pledge of loyalty to the PDP leadership and a firm commitment to building a united and formidable platform capable of returning the party to power.