The Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led faction of the party traded words over the emergence of rival Independent National Electoral Commission nomination forms, conflicting candidates’ lists and other issues arising from the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an interview with Punch, Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP National Secretary disclosed dismissed the activities of Turaki’s faction, adding that they will not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections. He further described their faction’s action as “419” insisting that they will fail.
Following this, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, through its Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, vowed that it will not relent in the ongoing dispute.
The faction firmly insisted that its position was backed by law and court judgments, while dismissing claims that its INEC nomination forms were fake, adding that only INEC could verify them.
The legal landscape shifted dramatically when the Supreme Court issued a fractured 3–2 ruling on April 30, which completely nullified the People’s Democratic Party national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025
Turaki and other members were reappointed to an Interim National Working Committee by the Board of Trustees, which was presided over by Adolphus Wabara, after the ruling.
Since then, the group has continued to operate alongside the PDP leadership recognised by INEC which Wike aligns with.
Meanwhile, the PDP, under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, continued to sell nomination and expression of interest forms to candidates vying for the party’s 2027 election tickets.
They were given access tokens to upload their candidates, and INEC acknowledged and tracked their operations in accordance with legal criteria.
PDP Parallel Structure
Despite lacking INEC recognition, access codes, and commission oversight of its operations or primaries, the Turaki faction maintained a parallel structure and also sent nomination forms to potential candidates for the upcoming elections, even though some of its candidates displayed INEC nomination forms.
In response, the Wike backed PDP faction asked INEC to confirm the legitimacy of the nomination forms that their rival group was displaying. They also urged the commission to look into and prosecute anyone found to have faked the documents.
Mohammed also maintained that the rival faction could not submit the alleged nomination forms without access to INEC’s nomination portal, adding that that only officially recognised candidates could complete the nomination process.
He said, “So, all of these they are doing is best described as the very many faces of 419, fraud. Nigerians are now aware and have become aware of their 419.
Additionally, in its response, the Turaki faction dismissed the issue of codes, claiming that it is focused on candidate preparations and ongoing court cases rather than engaging in disputes with rival groups.
Although Ememobong acknowledged that the crisis has had some effect, he said it is being managed carefully, expressing confidence that INEC will take appropriate action after all legal processes were concluded.
He stated, “Well, the first thing is that they have made us an obsession for themselves. Everything we do seems to excite them. We clearly know that they lack what to do.
Backstory…
Meanwhile, this comes only a week after the two rival factions separately presented certificates of return and nomination documents to their candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Despite the crisis and court order, both factions have insisted that it is the party’s legitimate leadership , also expressed optimism that the Independent National Electoral Commission would recognise its nominees.
The Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led Interim National Working Committee and the faction loyal to by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, held parallel events in Abuja, where they unveiled candidates and rallied supporters ahead of the next general elections.
