A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee, insisting that its leadership remains genuine and fully recognised within the party.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Tuesday, also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of showing bias in its recent refusal to recognise or update the list of elected National Officers from the Ibadan convention, citing court judgments as the reason for its action.
PUNCH Online reports that PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, where Turaki (SAN) and other members of the National Working Committee were elected on November 16 for four-year term.
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, together with his allies Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, maintained that they continued to hold the positions of Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.
While the governors ensured a smooth transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure officially ended on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction went ahead on December 8 to appoint Mohammed, Anyanwu, and others as 13 members of a 60-day caretaker committee.
Both factions have since been competing for INEC’s formal recognition.
In response, INEC, in a letter dated December 22 to the lawyers of the Turaki-led NWC, Akintayo Balogun & Co, and signed by Secretary Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, titled “Re: Demand for recognition and update of the list of the National Officers Elected at the Purported 2025 Elective National Convention of PDP” obtained by The PUNCH stated that it cannot recognise or update the list of PDP national officers allegedly elected at the November convention, citing compliance with the law and existing court orders.
In response, the PDP faction emphasised that, both legally and in practice, no faction exists within the party.
It stated, “The said judgments have been appealed, and an application for the stay of execution filed against the judgments. Very soon, the Court of Appeal will hear and give judgment in the matters.
“While that is being awaited, it is needful to state that INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed upon and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention—a fact the commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.
“Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. While we appreciate the monumental pressure that INEC has come under (after all, he who pays the piper dictates the tune), we remind them that their constitutional responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and in the defence and protection of democracy.
“While INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting the judgment of the court on the matter, we hope that they are guided by the judgments of the Supreme Court, especially in the SDP case, being the latest delivered last week, barring INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties. The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP, as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the Party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN.
“In the past one month, the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, State Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former Governors and Ministers, and many other notable stakeholder groups have all met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki SAN.”
The Turaki-led NWC emphasised that democracy is based on majority rule, noting that the group of Wike and Anyanwu’s allies cannot legitimately be considered a faction of the PDP.
It continued, “Finally, having held a meeting with the commission last week, and our correspondence thereafter, further explaining relevant issues relating to the current situation, we should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that has completely coloured the action of the electoral umpire.
“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in the court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.
“If INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, knew the matter was in court, what was the rationale for the contrived meeting of Friday last week? Except to paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.
“We therefore urge all Nigerians, particularly our members, to remain calm, resolute, and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party, as we reposition the party for electoral success in the coming elections.”
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