The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has welcomed the publication of Senator Sandy Onor as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The group said the appearance of Onor’s name on INEC’s final list of candidates has put an end to months of uncertainty and political speculation surrounding the PDP’s readiness for the next presidential election.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction said the publication of its candidates confirmed that the PDP had successfully completed the processes required under the law and remained firmly in contention for power in 2027.
According to the statement, the inclusion of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor and his running mate, Alhaji Babangida Umar, on the electoral commission’s list marks a significant step in the party’s preparations for the nationwide poll.
“Of particular significance is the publication of the names of our presidential candidate, Distinguished Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, and his running mate, Alhaji Babangida Umar, who will proudly fly the flag of our great party in the 2027 presidential election,” the statement said.
The PDP leadership maintained that the development has silenced critics who repeatedly claimed that internal disagreements and legal disputes within the party would prevent it from presenting candidates for the election.
For several months, different factions within the opposition party battled for control of its structures, leading to court cases, leadership tussles and uncertainty over the validity of decisions taken by rival camps.
The situation generated widespread debate about whether the PDP would meet constitutional and electoral requirements ahead of the deadline set by INEC.
Reacting to the latest development, the party said predictions that it would fail to produce a presidential candidate had now been proven wrong.
“This development has effectively laid to rest the sustained misinformation and propaganda by those who desperately sought to convince Nigerians that the PDP would not field a presidential candidate.
“For months, these unfounded claims were deployed as a campaign tool to mislead Nigerians, discourage our supporters and create doubts about the future of our party. Today, the facts have prevailed, the law has taken its course, and the PDP has once again been vindicated,” the statement added.
The faction expressed appreciation to party members, supporters and stakeholders across the country for standing by the PDP throughout the period of uncertainty.
It noted that despite the challenges confronting the party, many members remained committed to its ideals and continued to support efforts aimed at repositioning the PDP ahead of the next general election.
The leadership also commended institutions involved in the electoral process, including INEC, the judiciary and security agencies, for their roles in maintaining constitutional order and ensuring that democratic procedures were respected.
Beyond celebrating the publication of its candidates, the party used the opportunity to renew calls for reconciliation among members.
The PDP appealed to aggrieved party faithful and former members who left during the crisis to return and contribute to efforts aimed at rebuilding the party.
According to the leadership, unity remains critical if the opposition party is to effectively challenge for power in 2027.
The statement further welcomed individuals who recently joined or returned to the PDP, describing the development as a sign that confidence in the party is gradually being restored despite months of internal disputes.
The latest reaction comes shortly after INEC released the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections, a move that formally confirmed candidates cleared to participate in the contest.
The publication is also being viewed as a setback for a rival PDP faction led by former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Tanimu Turaki.
That faction had earlier adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the election and insisted that it remained the legitimate leadership of the party.
The group had claimed that it manually submitted the name of its candidate to INEC after failing to obtain the access code required for electronic submission through the commission’s portal.