Wike’s camp accuses gov-backed PDP of plot to sabotage conference

Reconciliation efforts throughout the Peoples Democratic Party have come below contemporary pressure because the camp loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused a governor-backed Tanimu Turaki (SAN) group of plotting to sabotage the social gathering’s forthcoming nationwide conference, slated for March 29–30, 2026.

Wike-supported PDP Nationwide Caretaker Working Committee’s Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said whereas briefing reporters in Abuja on Sunday that the conference will go forward as scheduled, emphasising that the judicial rulings are binding and absolutely in impact.

He mentioned, “Let it’s clearly said that the place of the courts on the management of the PDP stays unequivocal. The judgments of the Federal Excessive Courtroom and the Courtroom of Appeal have affirmed the legitimacy and authority of the Nationwide Caretaker Working Committee because the physique duly recognised to steer the affairs of the social gathering at the moment.

“These judicial pronouncements are binding and stay in full pressure. We, due to this fact, urge all members of our social gathering and most people to be guided accordingly and disrespect any opposite claims or deceptive narratives.

“It’s, nevertheless, deeply regarding that sure people have continued to take steps aimed toward undermining the soundness and progress of our social gathering. We’re conscious of strikes by this group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, to method courts in Ibadan in a bid to safe an injunction to halt the forthcoming nationwide conference.

“That is notably unlucky provided that the management of the social gathering had, in good religion, prolonged a number of invites and alternatives for reconciliation and dialogue. Regrettably, these overtures have been ignored, because the mentioned faction did not current itself for significant engagement.”

Mohammed additional said that the PDP continues to uphold unity, inside democracy, and adherence to the rule of regulation.

He added, “Nonetheless, we is not going to permit the collective curiosity of our social gathering to be derailed by actions which can be clearly at variance with these ideas.

“On this regard, we respectfully name on the Honourable Chief Choose of the Federal Excessive Courtroom and the State Chief Choose to take judicial discover of those makes an attempt to abuse courtroom processes and to frustrate the authentic actions of our social gathering.

“We reaffirm our confidence within the judiciary because the final hope of the frequent man and belief that justice will proceed to be served in accordance with the regulation.

“Moreover, we want to categorically guarantee all Nigerians, notably our members throughout the nation, that the nationwide conference of our nice social gathering, scheduled for the twenty ninth and thirtieth of March 2026, will proceed as deliberate. All vital preparations have been concluded, and the social gathering is absolutely ready to ship a profitable, clear, and credible conference.”

When contacted, the governors-backed Turaki (SAN) camp’s Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, dismissed the Wike-aligned group’s declare as blackmail.

Ememobong, in an unique interview with The PidomNigeria, said, “It’s unhappy that individuals who we thought ought to behave like gents are nonetheless residing within the mud. The world would bear witness that from the day we took a call for reconciliation, we backpedaled on every part.

“We’ve been in contact with them, and at first they mentioned, ‘Oh, let’s look forward to Ramadan to complete,’ and all of that. However they got here up with one thing totally different.

“The one set of people who find themselves weaponizing communication and nonetheless behaving as if reconciliation just isn’t on the desk are their folks. What they’re clearly doing is blackmail.

“In the event that they know the place the injunction is to be gotten from, they need to ask themselves if they’re doing the precise and correct factor. It implies that for them to know of a case that’s but to be instituted, it means they’re those who’re going to file the case.”

The governors-backed PDP Publicity Secretary, who claimed ignorance of any try and halt the Wike group’s conference, said that they continue to be optimistic about reconciliation.

He continued, “So we’re nonetheless hopeful that the reconciliation will work. We don’t know what they’re speaking about. They need to, reasonably than spend time and power inaugurating conference committees, make themselves obtainable for dialogue.”

Earlier, PDP governors endorsed the Ibadan conference held on November 15, which resulted within the election of Turaki (SAN) and different members of the Nationwide Working Committee for a four-year time period.

Additionally they oversaw the management handover from former Performing Nationwide Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki earlier than Damagum’s tenure expired on December 9.

Nonetheless, a faction aligned with Wike later arrange a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Performing Nationwide Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Performing Nationwide Secretary, amongst others, with a 60-day mandate.

Each factions sought recognition from the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), however the fee refused to recognise both facet, resulting in protracted authorized battles as preparations for the 2027 common elections intensified.

On February 12, the Courtroom of Appeal of Nigeria heard consolidated instances arising from the PDP management disaster and delivered judgment on March 9.

A panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld the sooner Federal Excessive Courtroom ruling in Abuja, stating that the processes resulting in the Ibadan conference of November 15–16, supported by the governors, violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Structure, and the PDP Structure. Consequently, the appellate courtroom nullified the conference’s consequence, declaring the election of Turaki (SAN) and different NWC members legally invalid.

Moreover, Justice Biobele Georgewill, heading a three-member Courtroom of Appeal panel in Ibadan, Oyo State, granted all events concerned within the PDP elective conference dispute the chance to pursue an amicable decision.