Jonathan best candidate to rescue Nigeria, PDP chieftain Agbede insists

Politics

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Freddrick Agbede, has defended the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate, describing him as the right person to lead Nigeria out of its current challenges.

Agbede spoke on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he dismissed criticisms trailing Jonathan’s emergence as the PDP flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.

Before addressing party matters, he expressed sympathy over the security situation in Oyo State, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers who have reportedly remained in captivity for more than two weeks.

On Jonathan’s candidacy, Agbede alleged that critics of the former president were being sponsored to attack his nomination.

According to him, the PDP’s decision to field Jonathan reflects its commitment to offering Nigerians a credible alternative capable of addressing the nation’s economic and governance challenges.

“If President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will not sacrifice for the progress of Nigeria, where do you expect him to make that sacrifice?” he asked.

Agbede also dismissed reports of divisions within the PDP, insisting that those laying claim to the party outside the recognised leadership structure were impostors.

“I can authoritatively tell you that the other group you describe as a faction of the PDP are impostors,” he said.

The PDP stalwart expressed confidence that Jonathan possesses the political experience and leadership capacity to unite the party and lead it to victory in the next general election.

“I think the PDP and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan have the capacity to fix this country. He can strengthen this party and lead it to victory,” he said.

Responding to questions about Jonathan’s silence since the announcement of his emergence as the party’s candidate, Agbede said the PDP was carefully planning his formal presentation to Nigerians.

“Because President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a peculiar brand, the PDP is strategically organising the process in such a way that presenting him to the public will be a big bang,” he said.

He added that Jonathan remained actively involved in the affairs of the party and was fully aware of decisions being taken by the PDP’s interim leadership.

Since the announcement of Jonathan’s candidacy, political observers have awaited an official response from the former president.

The development has also attracted reactions from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and activist Deji Adeyanju, who separately urged Jonathan to distance himself from the PDP’s declaration, citing ongoing legal disputes and leadership challenges within the party. Both men argued that doing so would help preserve the former president’s reputation as a respected statesman and global leader.