The former Cross River senator emerged through a consensus arrangement after consultations with delegates and stakeholders across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday affirmed former senator, Sandy Onor, as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The announcement followed the party’s 2026 presidential primary election held at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, where chairman of the primary election committee and former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, declared Onor winner of the exercise.
Ortom said the former Cross River senator emerged through a consensus arrangement after consultations with delegates and stakeholders across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have worked day and night with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that we arrive at a consensus,” Ortom said.
Also speaking, the factional national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Mohammed, noted that Onor was the sole aspirant in the contest and expressed optimism that the PDP would make a strong showing in the 2027 elections.
In his acceptance speech, Onor pledged to lead an energetic and issue-based presidential campaign anchored on competence, courage and national unity.
“I take this responsibility very seriously. I shall fly the PDP flag with energy, with courage, with competence and with intellectual depth. I shall do it with a pan-Nigerian disposition in all that I do,” he said.
The former lawmaker said Nigerians would soon witness a repositioned PDP capable of providing credible opposition and governance.
According to him, the PDP remains the only political party with the structure and national spread capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next general election.
“If you are looking for any party with the capacity to contend with the ruling APC, that party is the PDP,” he stated.
Onor dismissed the chances of the African Democratic Congress, saying the party lacked the staying power to emerge as a formidable opposition platform.
The PDP presidential candidate identified poor leadership as Nigeria’s biggest challenge and promised to tackle insecurity, poverty and economic hardship through accountable governance.
“Properly managed, as I hope to do, with courage, integrity and probity, we shall make Nigeria that country that people saw at independence as the giant of Africa,” he said.
He also promised to pursue a grassroots-driven campaign focused on the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
“The poverty of this country must be cured. We cannot be poor in the midst of so much,” he added.
The PDP national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, described Onor as the best candidate to lead the party into the 2027 presidential election.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the exercise, including national commissioners Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, Prof. Rhoda Gumus and Mr Kunle Ajayi.