PDP: Turaki Group Confident S’Court Will Have Last Say, INEC Recognises Wike’s Group
• George says electoral body’s recognition of faction ‘absolute lunacy, deceitful, dishonest’
• Reconciliation still possible after factional convention, says Olawepo-Hashim
•Aondoakaa joins PDP, Akinjide quits
• Natasha charges members to put party above self
•Wike destroyed PDP, Delta gov’s aide says
Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Segun Jamesin in Lagos, George Okoh in Makurdi and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki, yesterday, said only the Supreme Court would have a final say on the leadership struggle in the party.
Turaki’s comments came as as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised a faction of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) sponsored by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said, ‘’With the series of disturbing activities occurring in succession within the last 48 hours, genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party across the country have expressed their concerns and are asking what the future holds for the party and our country’s democracy, by extension.
‘’To them, and other fair-minded, democracy-loving Nigerians, we reassure that we have taken this battle to the Supreme Court for the determination of all the issues relating to the leadership of our party, particularly as it relates to what constitutes an internal affair.
‘’With this appeal and the relevant concomitant applications filed and served on all the parties involved, we are hopeful that sooner, rather than later, the apex court will, in the interest of democracy, expeditiously hear and adjudicate on this matter.
‘’For the avoidance of doubt, we state that the pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers and members of ‘Wike’s Autocratic Party’, which they mischievously tagged a PDP convention, was held in contempt of the Court of Appeal, where parties had entered appearances and agreed with the Court on the way to proceed with the matter, only to turn around and undertake acts capable of destroying the rest.
‘’Furthermore, they were served with the processes of the appeal at the Supreme Court, as well as other suits challenging the holding of the said convention. The validity of that gathering is now a matter before the court, which we will diligently follow to its conclusion.”
PDP also stated, ‘’Additionally, the Federal High Court, Abuja, per Justice Abdulmalik, whom we had earlier applied to for recusal on the basis of her bias against us, expectedly delivered judgment this morning in favour of the Wike-backed APC apologists, granting them access to the PDP secretariat and directing security agencies to offer them protection while in occupation of the said secretariat.
“In response, we have directed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and other relevant applications against this judgment. We must admit what is already public knowledge– these are very trying times for us, the PDP, and all opposition parties in Nigeria.”
Ememobong explained, ‘’These crises are clearly orchestrated by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government, who have shown morbid fear for the existence of alternative political platforms, and are determined to foist a one-party state on the country.
‘’This fear is fuelled by their knowledge of the impending rejection Nigerians are waiting to serve them because of their abysmal performance in core governance issues like security, the economy, and social welfare.’’
The Turaki-led PDP urged members and all Nigerians to keep hope alive in the sincere expectation that the apex court would come to the rescue of multi-party democracy in the appeal before them.
‘’The Supreme Court now has the historic opportunity to uphold and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its earlier decisions on the jurisdiction of courts in internal affairs of political parties, when it has its final say,’’ it stated.
INEC Recognises Wike’s Faction of PDP
INEC recognised a faction of PDP’s NWC supported by Nyesom Wike.
Wike’s faction of PDP held its national convention on Sunday in Abuja, where new national officers of the party were elected.
Members of the NWC were re-elected through consensus after the national caretaker committee was dissolved.
The commission, yesterday, reflected the development on its official website where it published the updated leadership of the opposition party.
George: INEC’s Recognition of Wike’s Group Absolute Lunacy, Deceitful, Dishonest
Former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George, described the recognition of the party’s faction, led by Wike, by INEC as absolute lunacy, deceitful, dishonest and “the greatest joke of the year”.
George, in a statement, reiterated his earlier posi-tion, saying, “Wike and some characters with him were expelled in Ibadan last November. They are just about two per cent of our party population.
“What INEC has just done has clearly confirmed what it wants to do during the 2027 presidential election. INEC doesn’t want any other party to field a presidential candidate to challenge Bola Tinubu.”
George said, “What INEC has just done by the recognition of Wike’s gang can only spell doom for this country because we are yet to attain nationhood with this type of pettiness.
“I am shocked that Prof. Amupitan assumed office only to recognise a less than two per cent of PDP membership, who are only renegades, who have sold the party to the APC.
“Those founding fathers of our party will perpetually be cursing them because this is unacceptable. It is a dereliction of civility, legality as well as a shock.”
He added, “In the past, some people tried this and they didn’t succeed. I pray this country doesn’t go up in flames. INEC has just brought the greatest insult to Nigeria and the Nigerian people by supporting these renegades.
“We are waiting, I am waiting. I call on our people to wait for the Supreme Court judgement which will see the liberation of this country from this shenanigan.
“The truth must prevail, the will of the people must prevail, not this devilish, destabilising, disgusting approach to addressing governance. Everybody who wants to contest on the platform of PDP must be allowed to do so.”
Olawepo-Hashim: Reconciliation Still Possible After PDP Factional Convention
A PDP presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, said reconciliation within the party was still achievable despite the recent national convention held in Abuja by a faction backed by Wike.
While reacting to developments after the conven-tion, Olawepo-Hashim maintained that PDP could not afford to side-line any major bloc within its structure, warning that continued division could weaken its standing as a formidable opposition force.
“Nothing has changed to alter the necessity for reconciliation and unity,” he said, calling on leaders of the contending factions to urgently resume dialogue.
He emphasised the need to harmonise party structures in line with previous agreements.
Olawepo-Hashim stated that ongoing legal proceedings at the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court provided legitimate avenues for resolving the dispute, adding that a consent judgement remains possible if political compromises are reached.
He underscored the importance of preserving PDP’s founding ideals as an inclusive platform, urging stakeholders to prioritise unity over factional interests.
According to him, reconciliation efforts should now focus on resolving structural divisions within the party, including the existence of parallel National Working Committees and conflicting state structures arising from separate congresses.
Aondoakaa Dumps APC for PDP
Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, resigned his membership of the APC. Aondoakaa disclosed this in a statement he personally signed and available to journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Sunday.
Andoakaa was a leading governorship aspirant on APC’s platform in Benue State.
The former minister, who said his resignation took effect from March 28, explained that his decision to quit APC followed careful reflection and wide consultations with his family, political associates and supporters.
He stated, “While I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the growth of the party at various levels during my membership, prevailing circumstances have made it necessary for me to take this step in the overall interest of my people and democratic values.
“I wish to express my profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the visionary leadership he has continued to provide for our nation as well as for the support and attention which Benue has enjoyed under his administration.”
He said, “I assure him of my continued loyalty to his Renewed Hope Agenda. Furthermore, I deeply appreciate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, for the quality leadership he has provided to the APC family in Benue.
“I acknowledge his role in shaping the political landscape of our dear state and assure him of my enduring respect.
“Finally, I wish to sincerely appreciate the leadership and members of the party in Ushongo Local Government Area, the entire Benue and beyond for the cooperation and support extended to me over the years. The relationships built and experiences gathered remain invaluable.”
Andoakaa, who did not disclose his next political destination, was however seen participat-ing at the PDP convention held in Abuja at the weekend.
Ex-FCT Minister, Akinjide, Dumps PDP
Former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, left PDP. This was the first time she would be leaving PDP, which she joined in 2001.
The Harvard-trained lawyer, in a letter addressed to her Ward 1 Party Chairman in Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, said it was a difficult decision for her to make.
The letter read, “I hereby formally give you notice of my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.
“This decision was not taken lightly, given the fact that I have been a member of the party since 2001. I came to this difficult decision after a long period of personal reflection.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a member o f the party and the experiences and relationships built during m y time as a member of the party.
“I appreciate the platform provided for political office and engagement, and I wish the party success in the future.”
Natasha Charges Members to Put Party Above Self
Kogi Central Senator, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, charged PDP members to place collective interest above personal ambitions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s call formed the central thrust of the party’s 2026 National Convention held in Abuja, on Sunday, where delegates adopted a motion she moved to validate party structures across the country.
In a statement by her media office, the senator said, “The task before us is bigger than any single person. Together, we must rebuild trust, deepen inclusion, and position the PDP as the credible alternative Nigerians are looking toward.”
Her admonition came as the convention unanimously approved the ratification of congresses conducted at various levels, a move widely seen as a critical step in stabilising the party and preparing it for future electoral contests.
The Kogi Central lawmaker stressed that the exercise was not merely procedural but fundamental to reinforcing internal democracy and strengthening institutional stability within the PDP.
“Today’s decision is not merely procedural; it is a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to internal democracy, party discipline, and respect for due process,” she stated.
Wike Destroyed PDP, Says Delta Gov’s Aide
A political aide to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Ossai Ovie Success, took a swipe at Wike over his remarks at the PDP national convention held on Sunday in Abuja.
In a Facebook post reacting to the convention, Ossai accused Wike of double standards, questioning his moral authority to criticise governors, who defected from PDP to APC, despite currently serving in an APC-led federal government.
“Wike has the effrontery to be threatening governors who defected from the PDP to the APC. Yet the same man is a minister under an APC government,” Ossai wrote, adding that the former Rivers State governor has contributed significantly to the internal crisis that weakened PDP.
The aide, who is aligned with Oborevwori, described Wike’s stance as “laughable” and expressed disappointment over what he termed an attempt to intimidate political actors who chose to leave the opposition party.
