PDP adopts Sandy Onor as consensus presidential candidate for 2027

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted Senator Sandy Onor as its sole consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, in a move party leaders say signals renewed unity and political direction ahead of the polls.

The adoption was announced on Tuesday in Abuja following consultations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Chairman of the Presidential Primary Election Committee, Dr. Samuel Ortom, formally declared Onor as the party’s consensus candidate, stating that the decision reflected broad agreement within the party.

“Having conducted consultations across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, I am pleased to formally announce that we have adopted Professor Sandy Onor as the consensus candidate of our great party for the 2027 presidential election,” Ortom said.

He called for affirmation from delegates, adding, “Those in agreement, say ‘Aye.’ Is anybody in disagreement? You may say ‘No.’ The ayes have it.”

The declaration was met with applause as Onor was presented as the PDP’s flag bearer for the 2027 race.

National Chairman of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman, described the development as a reflection of internal cohesion, insisting that the PDP had overcome months of internal tension.

“We are here for endorsement because we have only one person aspiring to the office of President in 2027,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Onor said the party had successfully resolved its internal divisions and was now positioned to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Today, we have reclaimed our party, the legacy party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Today, we have a leadership that is united, purposeful and visionary,” he said.

Onor also dismissed rival opposition coalitions, arguing that the PDP remained the only viable alternative to the APC.

He criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as unstable and driven by personal ambition rather than ideology, while referencing key opposition figures and internal fractures within emerging coalitions.

According to him, the PDP had stabilised after years of internal struggles and was now “ready to govern well.”

He also outlined key policy priorities, particularly addressing rural poverty, which he linked to insecurity and unemployment across Nigeria.

“We cannot be poor in the midst of so much. Insecurity is fundamentally a function of rural poverty,” Onor said, adding that strengthened local government funding would help reduce crime and improve livelihoods.

The PDP candidate further insisted that the party remains unified despite previous reports of division, stating, “There is only one PDP.”