Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — June 6, 2026 — A fresh wave of tension has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the faction recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, moved on Friday, June 6, 2026, to threaten legal action against a rival group led by Tanimu Turaki over alleged unlawful presentation of itself as the party’s leadership.
The development was disclosed in Abuja during a media briefing by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, who stated that the Wike-aligned leadership had already submitted petitions to security agencies earlier on the same day, June 6, 2026, requesting intervention over what it described as impersonation of the party’s authentic leadership structure.
Mohammed said the petitions were directed at relevant security institutions in Abuja, urging them to investigate the activities of the Turaki-led faction, which he alleged continues to operate in defiance of court rulings and established party recognition processes.
He further stated that the INEC-recognised leadership, which operates from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, would not hesitate to initiate formal legal proceedings if the rival group persists in presenting itself as the party’s legitimate authority.
According to him, the actions of the Turaki group risk misleading party members and the public, adding that the integrity of the party’s leadership structure must be preserved through lawful enforcement mechanisms.
The dispute is the latest escalation in a long-running internal crisis within the PDP that has persisted since shortly after the 2023 general elections, involving competing claims to national leadership and control of party administration.
The rival faction, led by Tanimu Turaki and represented by spokesman Ini Ememobong, rejected the allegations on the same day, June 6, 2026, also speaking from Abuja.
Ememobong insisted that the Turaki-led leadership remains legitimate, arguing that its position is grounded in existing court judgments, the PDP constitution, and Nigerian laws governing political parties.
He maintained that the issue is strictly a legal and constitutional matter rather than a criminal one, and therefore should not be subjected to security agency intervention.
Ememobong added that the faction’s activities are consistent with judicial interpretations and that it would continue to operate within what it considers lawful authority while pursuing internal party restructuring through legitimate channels.
The leadership dispute centres on competing interpretations of court rulings and internal party procedures determining which faction holds authority over the PDP’s national structure.
The Wike-backed bloc maintains that its leadership is the only one formally recognised by INEC as of June 2026 and therefore holds constitutional authority over party administration, including disciplinary powers and official representation.
The Turaki faction disputes this interpretation, insisting that court decisions support its own claim to legitimacy and that attempts to exclude it amount to violations of due process within the party framework.
Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, remains a central figure in the dispute due to his political influence within the party despite serving in the federal executive arm.
His alignment with the INEC-recognised faction has continued to shape internal power dynamics within the PDP, intensifying divisions among senior party stakeholders.
As of June 6, 2026, no formal court hearing has been announced specifically regarding the latest petition submitted to security agencies, and neither the PDP national headquarters nor INEC has issued a new consolidated statement on the fresh escalation.
The crisis continues to unfold at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, with both factions maintaining firm positions and no indication of immediate reconciliation.
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