A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), emphasizing that its leadership remains genuine and fully recognized within the party. The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of showing bias in its recent refusal to recognize or update the list of elected National Officers from the Ibadan convention.
The Ibadan convention, which took place on November 16, saw the election of Turaki and other members of the NWC for a four-year term. However, a rival faction, led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his allies, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, claim to still hold their positions as Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.
The PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, ensuring a smooth transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure officially ended on December 9. In contrast, the Wike-aligned faction appointed a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, leading to a competition for INEC’s formal recognition.
INEC, in a letter to the lawyers of the Turaki-led NWC, cited compliance with the law and existing court orders as the reason for not recognizing or updating the list of PDP national officers allegedly elected at the November convention. The PDP faction responded by emphasizing that no faction exists within the party, both legally and in practice. They noted that the court judgments cited by INEC have been appealed, and an application for a stay of execution has been filed.
The PDP also pointed out that INEC had monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed upon. Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. The party urged INEC to be guided by the judgments of the Supreme Court, particularly in the SDP case, which bars INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.
The Turaki-led NWC emphasized that democracy is based on majority rule and that the Wike and Anyanwu group cannot be considered a legitimate faction of the PDP. The party called on all Nigerians, particularly its members, to remain calm and resolute, supporting the party’s rebirth and renaissance moves as it repositions for electoral success in the coming elections. The ongoing dispute between the two factions is likely to have significant implications for the PDP’s future and its ability to contest upcoming elections effectively.