PDP Factions Trade Accusations Over INEC Forms Ahead of 2027 Elections
The rift within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has widened as the faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the group led by Tanimu Turaki exchanged accusations regarding rival Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms and differing candidate lists.
Jungudo Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the Wike‑backed camp, dismissed the Turaki faction’s activities as irrelevant to the party’s electoral prospects in 2027.
He labelled the rival faction’s actions “419,” insisting that their claims would ultimately collapse and that Nigerians had already recognised the alleged fraud.
According to Mohammed, the PDP’s chances at the polls remain unaffected, arguing that lies and propaganda have a limited shelf life, much like a failed convention that could not stand.
The dispute surfaced after both camps released separate nomination forms and candidate rosters. A split Supreme Court judgment on 30 April 2025 nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, which had produced the Turaki‑led leadership.
Following the ruling, the Party’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reinstated Turaki and others into an Interim National Working Committee. Nevertheless, the INEC‑recognised PDP leadership under Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu continued selling nomination forms and was granted access codes to upload its candidates.
The Turaki faction also issued forms to aspirants despite lacking INEC recognition or access codes. Mohammed urged INEC to verify the authenticity of the documents presented by the rival group and to pursue criminal charges if any forgery is proven.
Ini Ememobong, Publicity Secretary of the Turaki‑led Interim National Working Committee, rejected the claim that their forms were fake, stating that only INEC can determine a document’s authenticity. He noted that the access code issue would be resolved in due time and that his faction remains focused on candidate preparation and ongoing court cases.
Ememobong acknowledged that the internal conflict has already harmed the party but expressed confidence that his side is carefully navigating the challenges, adding that three major court cases are pending and expected to favour his faction.
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