The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as the faction supported by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and the Tanimu Turaki-led faction traded words over rival Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms, conflicting candidates’ lists and issues arising from the party’s primaries ahead of 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 said the rival faction was “419” and its claims would ultimately amount to nothing.
We are not concerned one bit about what these people are doing, and we will not be concerned. What they are doing will in no way affect the chances of the PDP at the polls come 2027,” he told The PUNCH.
“We have always said lies and propaganda have expiry dates. This one is just like the convention they held, which we told the entire 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 conscious and have become aware of their 419.”
INEC Forms Controversy
The row erupted after rival nomination forms and candidates’ lists were issued by both camps.
The Supreme Court on April 30 in a split decision had voided the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on the 15 and 16 November, 2025, that produced the Turaki-led leadership.
Following the judgement, the party’s Board of Trustees, headed by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and others to the Interim National Working Committee.
But the PDP leadership recognised by INEC led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, continued with the sale of nomination forms and was given access codes to upload its candidates.
The Turaki faction, too, issued nomination forms to aspirants, even without INEC’s recognition and access codes.
Mohammed called on INEC to authenticate the nomination forms displayed by the rival camp and prosecute whoever is caught forging documents.
“If those documents are really from INEC, INEC is in the best position to answer that because we are not the producers of the INEC nomination forms,” he said.
“But if not from them, then criminal proceedings should be instituted.
“And besides, when they fill in these forms, where will they take them?” How would they get them up there? Do they have the access codes to upload their information? It’s only 419. It’s only 419.
Turaki Faction Responds
Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, dismissed claims that the nomination forms of the faction were fake.
“It’s only INEC that can tell the authenticity of the documents,” he said.
“The access code is not a problem, at the appropriate time INEC will do the needful. “If they are claiming that the forms are fake, they don’t have the mouth to say that,” Ememobong said.
“The law is clear, that only the maker of a document can determine the authenticity of a document. We’re busy on very serious things, including candidate preparations. We are also involved in litigation, so we are too busy for a fight with them.”
He admitted the crisis had hurt the party but said his faction was handling the situation carefully.
“The damage is already done. But in every battle, it’s not just what you go through. It’s how you go through it. We are stepping carefully around all the landmines, and, in the end, the end will justify the means,” he said.
Three major cases are pending before the courts and I am optimistic about the cases favouring my faction,” he said.
“We are not going to give in to this. “Obviously we are on the path of the law and the facts are on our side,” he said.