Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its decision to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Sani made his position known in a post on his verified X handle on Monday, describing the move as belated and questioning the sincerity of those now championing Jonathan’s return to the presidential race.

The former lawmaker was reacting to the recent adoption of Jonathan by a PDP faction as its flag bearer ahead of the next general election.

According to Sani, those currently promoting Jonathan’s candidacy failed to support him when the PDP was in a stronger political position and had a more realistic chance of mounting a formidable challenge at the polls.

He argued that the party would have been better served by fielding the former president during the 2023 election cycle rather than seeking his candidacy now.

“If they actually wanted Jonathan, they should have fielded him in 2023 when the party was relatively alive and in good shape,” Sani wrote.

“They just now want him to help them carry the coffin.”

The outspoken politician further suggested that the latest move was not necessarily aimed at giving Jonathan a viable path back to power.

Rather, he said, it appeared to be an effort to leverage the former president’s political influence and public appeal to revive a party he believes has been significantly weakened.

Sani’s comments add to the growing debate surrounding the PDP faction’s decision to draft Jonathan into the 2027 presidential contest, a move that has continued to generate reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape.

Neither Jonathan nor representatives of the PDP faction had publicly responded to Sani’s remarks as of the time of filing this report.