Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as rival factions, one backed by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the other led by former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki, engaged in a bitter war of words over rival Independent National Electoral Commission nomination forms, conflicting candidates’ lists, and the legitimacy of their respective primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed faction, Jungudo Mohammed, dismissed the activities of the Turaki faction, insisting that they would not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 polls. Mohammed described the rival faction’s actions as “419,” saying its claims would eventually fail. “We are not concerned one bit about what these people are doing, and we will not be concerned. Whatever they are doing will not, in any way, affect the chances of the PDP at the polls come 2027,” he told The PUNCH. “We have consistently maintained that lies and propaganda have expiry dates. This one is just like the convention they held, which we told the whole world could not stand and did not stand. 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.”
The controversy followed the emergence of rival nomination forms and candidates’ lists from both camps. The Supreme Court had, in a split decision delivered on April 30, 2026, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced the Turaki-led leadership. Following the judgment, the party’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and other members into an Interim National Working Committee. However, the PDP leadership recognised by INEC, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, continued with the sale of nomination forms and was granted access codes to upload its candidates.
The Turaki faction also issued nomination forms to aspirants, despite the absence of INEC recognition and access codes. Mohammed urged INEC to verify the authenticity of nomination forms displayed by the rival faction and prosecute anyone found to have forged documents. “If truly those documents emanated from INEC, INEC should be in the best position to answer that because we are not the manufacturers of the INEC nomination forms,” he said. “But if they did not emanate from them, then criminal proceedings should be initiated. Besides, when they fill these forms, where will they take them to? How would they upload them? Do they have access codes to upload their information? It’s just 419, purely 419.”
Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, dismissed claims that the faction’s nomination forms were fake. He said only INEC could determine the authenticity of the documents. “The access code is not an issue; at the right time INEC will do the needful. If they claim that the forms are fake, it doesn’t lie in their mouth to say so,” Ememobong said. “The law is clear, that only the maker of a document can determine its authenticity. We are busy with very serious things, including candidate preparations. We are also handling cases in court, so we are too busy to join issues with them.” He admitted that the crisis had affected the party but said his faction was carefully navigating the situation.
The leadership crisis escalated on Wednesday, July 1, as two rival factions separately presented certificates of return and nomination documents to their candidates for the 2027 general elections. At the PDP’s 109th National Executive Committee meeting at Wadata Plaza, Wike urged party members to stop lamenting the loss of power and instead mobilise to reclaim it through hard work and organisation. “Nobody gives power. Power is taken. If you do not do so, that is your business. You must fight for it to take it. Nobody is ready to dash you power,” he said.
Earlier, PDP National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed commended state leaders for conducting peaceful primaries and urged members to remain united. The leadership subsequently presented certificates of return to its 2027 presidential candidate, Sandy Onor, alongside governorship aspirants and other candidates. Among the governorship candidates were Bolakale Kawu of Kwara State and Isa Pantami for Gombe State.
Meanwhile, at a separate stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, the Turaki-led faction declared that it had successfully produced candidates for all elective offices and would contest every constituency in the 2027 elections. Turaki said the party had confirmed 28 governorship candidates, 109 senatorial candidates, 360 House of Representatives candidates and 993 State House of Assembly candidates after what he described as rigorous screening and security checks. “It is not just about contesting; it is about contesting to win. That is why we carefully and methodically examined every individual who presented themselves as a candidate under the platform of our party,” he said.
The political careers of over 1,470 candidates, recently given certificates of return by the Tanimu Turaki-led group, now hang in the balance following a decision by INEC to give its Access Code to the Nyesom Wike-led group to upload its candidates’ list for the 2027 general elections. The INEC action marked a formal recognition of the Abdulrahman Mohamed and Samuel Anyanwu-led National Executive Committee of the party. A check on the INEC Portal revealed that INEC recognised only the Wike-led PDP, which has Mohammed as the National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary.
The Turaki-led group delivered certificates of return to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who they said “purchased the PDP” form to contest the 2027 Presidential election on its platform. A total of 1,471 candidates, made up of one Presidential candidate, 28 Governorship, 109 Senatorial, 360 House of Representatives and 993 State House of Assembly candidates were issued certificates by the Turaki-led group at an elaborate ceremony at the Yar’adua Centre, recently, in Abuja.
Political pundits see the INEC action as a direct fulfilment of earlier claims by Wike that all those who are outside their camp will not get INEC’s recognition. Only recently, Wike had declared that June 26 would determine the authentic PDP faction, saying “lets know who INEC would give the access code to upload the nomination forms.”
The dispute is also being fought in the courts. On Tuesday, Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed July 7, 2026, for the hearing of a case filed by Chris Uche on behalf of Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees loyal to Turaki. The Plaintiffs, which include Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, Olabode George, a Chieftain of the party, and the PDP, are seeking court orders on INEC to recognise the Turaki-led group and offload names of the officials on its website.
John Enemari, a political analyst, questioned why INEC is in a haste to upload the list of candidates loyal to Nyesom Wike and his group. According to him, “We are not surprised at what is going on now in the political space. Wike had vowed to use his influence to ensure that only his loyalists get INEC’s recognition.”
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the PDP remains deeply fractured, with both factions insisting on their legitimacy and preparing for a protracted legal and political battle that could significantly weaken the party’s chances of reclaiming power at the federal level.
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