Wike-backed PDP faction names Sandy Onor as consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election amid growing internal party divisions.
A faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party aligned with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has announced former senator Sandy Onor as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The announcement was made at the party’s national secretariat located at Wadata Plaza in Abuja during a gathering chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed. Delegates from different states reportedly endorsed Onor through a voice vote, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the exercise.
According to members of the faction, the decision to adopt Onor was aimed at repositioning the PDP ahead of the 2027 presidential contest and strengthening the party against the ruling administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking after his emergence, Sandy Onor pledged to rebuild the party and restore public confidence in the PDP. He also promised to unite members and provide what he described as a credible alternative leadership for Nigerians ahead of the next election cycle.
However, the development has further exposed the deepening crisis within the PDP, as another faction within the party is reportedly pushing for former President Goodluck Jonathan to emerge as the party’s presidential flagbearer.
The growing division has intensified uncertainty surrounding the future of the PDP, which has continued to battle leadership disputes, court cases, and internal power struggles since the 2023 general elections.
Political observers say the emergence of multiple factions could weaken the party’s chances in 2027 if reconciliation efforts fail. Reactions on social media have also remained mixed, with some critics questioning the legitimacy of the process and others describing the move as a strategic political calculation by Wike’s loyalists.
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Despite the controversy, supporters of the faction insist that the adoption of Sandy Onor marks the beginning of a new direction for the PDP as preparations for the 2027 elections gradually gather momentum.
