The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan remains a member of the party, despite ongoing speculation about his political future. This clarification was made by Hon Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary of the PDP, during a press briefing on Monday. Ologunagba's statement came in response to a claim by Prof Jerry Gana, a former minister of information and PDP leader, who suggested that Jonathan would contest and win the 2027 presidential election under the PDP banner. Jonathan has largely been absent from PDP events since 2016, following the party's crisis after the 2015 elections.

"I don’t speak for Professor Jerry Gana. People can express their opinion," Ologunagba stated, distancing the party's official position from Gana's remarks. He emphasized, "in this party, as we are today, President Jonathan is a member, he has not said he’s not a member." However, Ologunagba highlighted that the PDP boasts numerous eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly at the gubernatorial level, who have demonstrated strong leadership and could garner national support to replicate their successes across the country. He urged Nigerians to compare the performance of PDP-controlled states with those governed by the APC, presenting this as a crucial conversation for voters. Ologunagba underscored the party's primary focus on its upcoming national convention, dismissing the discussions around Jonathan's potential bid as "semantics" for now.

Further complicating the narrative, the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has categorically stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan would not receive an "automatic ticket" for the PDP's presidential candidacy in 2027. The movement, through its national coordinator Abdulrazaq Hamzat, strongly reacted to Professor Jerry Gana’s remarks, insisting that the PDP’s flagbearer would be chosen by delegates at the national convention through an open and transparent process, fully aligned with the Electoral Act 2022. Hamzat asserted that while Professor Gana is entitled to his enthusiasm for Jonathan's return, the ultimate decision rests with the party delegates and divine will, not a select few party stalwarts.

The GHSM also expressed significant reservations about Jonathan's potential return, arguing that Nigerians are looking towards future progress rather than a return to the "old order" that Jonathan represents. Hamzat critically reviewed Jonathan's time in office, alleging that his administration mismanaged the nation's diversity, leading to a resurgence of ethnic tensions and religious bigotry, a legacy he believes has worsened under subsequent governments. The movement further lambasted Jonathan’s foreign policy, specifically citing Nigeria's 2011 decision to deviate from the African Union's stance and support NATO's intervention in Libya. This move was described as a "strategic blunder" that subsequently destabilized the Sahel region and exacerbated insecurity across several West African countries, including Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Domestically, the GHSM leader maintained that Jonathan still has unresolved questions regarding corruption allegations that marred his administration, particularly mentioning the notorious Dasukigate arms procurement scandal. Despite these criticisms, Hamzat reaffirmed that the PDP operates as a democratic platform where no aspirant, regardless of their past presidential status, should expect an automatic endorsement. He challenged Jonathan, stating that if he genuinely desires a return to Aso Rock, he must be prepared to contest against nationally unifying aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim in a fair and transparent primary election. The GHSM concluded by stressing that Nigerians deserve fresh leadership and a new vision to effectively address the nation's myriad challenges, firmly advocating for moving "forward, not backward."

In other party matters, Hon Debo Ologunagba also addressed and dispelled claims of an internal rift within the PDP concerning congresses held in Cross Rivers State. He clarified the situation following conflicting letters sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the PDP national chairman, Illiya Damagum, and national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, regarding the conduct of these congresses. Ologunagba asserted, "There is no crisis here. I can tell you boldly the NWC is united on this." He explained that the National Working Committee (NWC), as the managing body of the party, overwhelmingly voted to postpone the congresses for specific reasons previously communicated. He emphasized that any contradictory letters cannot override the collective decision of the NWC, reiterating that no congresses officially took place in Cross Rivers State, dismissing such claims as "hallucination."