The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan is not pursuing the presidency out of personal ambition but in response to growing calls from Nigerians seeking national renewal and unity.

The position was made known on Saturday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, while addressing journalists shortly after the group formally declared Jonathan its presidential candidate in absentia.

According to Ememobong, the former president’s emergence as the faction’s preferred candidate reflects the desire of many Nigerians for leadership capable of fostering healing and rebuilding the nation.

“At a time like this, Goodluck Jonathan’s running is not his ambition but a call from the people for him to run,” he said.

He added that the country requires a leader who can unite Nigerians and drive a process of national restoration over the next four years.

“The next four years must be four years of healing, restoration, patience and nation building, and who is going to do that? The man best suited to do that is Goodluck Jonathan,” Ememobong stated.

The declaration comes days after the faction, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate during a special convention held in Abuja.

However, despite the endorsement, Jonathan has yet to publicly confirm whether he intends to contest the presidency. The former president has not issued any statement regarding the nomination or his political plans ahead of the next general election.

The development has continued to generate debate within political circles, particularly as various factions within the PDP position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential race.