2027: PDP factions search alliances for stranded aspirants

Blocs loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, inside the Peoples Democratic Party have stepped up strikes to safe different political platforms amid uncertainty over candidate nominations forward of the 2027 common elections.

Sources within the get together informed Sunday PidomNigeria that the blocs had been weighing the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress as potential platforms for aspirants within the PDP.

The event follows rising issues that the PDP could also be unable to discipline candidates for the 2027 elections because of ongoing court docket circumstances over the legitimacy of the get together’s two factions.

The concern was additional heightened by the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee’s rejection of the get together’s Ekiti governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, for the June 20, 2026 election.

Oluyede emerged in a major performed by the Taminu Turaki-led Nationwide Working Committee of the PDP, loyal to Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).

The Turaki management emerged in the course of the November , 2025 conference of the get together in Ibadan, Oyo State. The PDP faction backed by the FCT minister didn’t conduct a major for the election.

The 2 factions have been claiming legitimacy of the get together’s management, whereas INEC insists they need to resolve their disaster.

In the meantime, INEC additionally mentioned it won’t recognise the Turaki-led NWC.

The fee mentioned it couldn’t recognise or replace the record of PDP leaders due to the present court docket orders of the Federal Excessive Courtroom within the circumstances filed by Nwachukwu and Lamido.

Endless litigations

Findings by Sunday PidomNigeria present that there are 5 ongoing court docket circumstances that may decide the management and way forward for the get together, with two judgments presently on the Courtroom of Appeal.

One of many circumstances, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, resulted in a judgment that suspended the get together’s conference till it complies with the necessities of its structure, the Nigerian Structure, and the Electoral Act.

This swimsuit was filed by three aggrieved members of the get together: Austin Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman, Imo State), Amah Nnanna (PDP Chairman, Abia State), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South). The case is now pending within the Courtroom of Appeal.

One other notable case was filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.

Justice Peter Lifu had issued an order restraining INEC from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any PDP conference that excluded Lamido as a contestant. That matter can also be pending earlier than the Courtroom of Appeal.

The remaining three circumstances, together with one from the Oyo State Excessive Courtroom, problem the legitimacy of the November 15–16 conference and others in Abuja are nonetheless being heard within the decrease courts.

General, the 2 circumstances presently earlier than the Courtroom of Appeal are essential and can determine the management of the get together.

The Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the 5 circumstances had been pending in court docket.

Ememobong, in an interview with Sunday PidomNigeria, expressed confidence that the Turaki-led NWC would receive justice.

He acknowledged, “We have now two issues earlier than the Courtroom of Appeal and about three on the Federal Excessive Courtroom, however a very powerful ones are these on the Courtroom of Appeal as a result of these are appeals in opposition to ultimate judgments.

“Our get together is optimistic that we are going to get justice for all. We’re doubly optimistic about it as a result of even within the SDP case, the Supreme Courtroom has reiterated its time-tested place that political issues, management of political events, and the way they conduct their congresses are issues which can be non-justiciable, that means that the courts shouldn’t have jurisdiction over them.”

Factions search refuge in APC, ADC

Sunday PidomNigeria gathered that PDP factions, unsettled by unresolved management disputes, protracted court docket circumstances and INEC’s resolution in Ekiti, are exploring choices outdoors the get together.

A member of the Turaki-led NWC, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned the get together was already contemplating an alliance with the ADC.

He acknowledged that the disaster dealing with the get together would possibly deny it the chance to discipline candidates for the 2027 common elections, lamenting that INEC had demonstrated its resolve to “cease the get together’s possibilities.”

Talking with certainly one of our correspondents on Saturday, the PDP chieftain mentioned, “With what INEC has finished to our candidate in Ekiti State, we should always not deceive ourselves; our probabilities of having candidates for the 2027 common elections are very slim.

“We’re already taking steps in order that even when a few of us stay within the PDP, our candidates will be capable of contest beneath different events, particularly the ADC.

“We could not also have a presidential candidate as a result of, sure, we now have the construction, however with the present scenario, we can’t go anyplace. That’s the reason we’re already in talks with ADC leaders, and negotiations are ongoing. We can’t afford to be stranded.

“When you say we’re in a dilemma, that was up to now. Now we now have a transparent route, which is to type an alliance with the ADC to guard the pursuits of our candidates. In a short while, our negotiations with the ADC will produce an outlined construction.”

Confirming this to Sunday PidomNigeria, a high official of the ADC mentioned some leaders of the PDP and the ADC had met over the proposed alliance.

Based on the official, the PDP leaders had been from the Turaki-led faction and had been keen to work with the ADC.

Nevertheless, the get together chieftain mentioned no resolution had been taken and no formal negotiations but.

“The dialogue remains to be at an early stage; nothing concrete has been determined,” he added.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, merely mentioned, “We’re open to each Nigerian keen to be a part of the rescue mission.”

He declined to remark additional on the matter.

Additionally talking with Sunday PidomNigeria, a member of the NWC loyal to Wike’s bloc, Timothy Osadolor, expressed concern that even when the PDP produced a presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, the get together would carry out poorly.

He mentioned the PDP would want to collaborate with a stronger opposition platform to have any actual likelihood.

Osadolor blamed the disaster within the get together on what he described because the conceitedness of the governors beneath the platform.

“We have now seen that the early Christmas get together (nationwide conference) that among the governors went to have in Ibadan has led to nowhere. The opposite group has additionally efficiently made a degree that it will wrestle the governors to the bottom if want be, and that they’ve finished.

“For me, 2027 is already a closed matter for PDP. It’s closed as a result of whoever is pondering he’s going to run on the PDP platform now should both be Jesus Christ or be extra in style than Coca Cola as a result of the injury that these governors have finished to PDP won’t put anyone, irrespective of how sturdy or how in style the particular person is in a great place to win election in 2027. However to say the PDP needs to enter the election alone is like in search of a needle in a haystack,” he mentioned.

Osadolor prompt that the get together’s most suitable choice was to hunt an alternate platform that might produce a formidable candidate able to difficult President Bola Tinubu.

He, nonetheless, dismissed the APC as a viable different.

“APC shouldn’t be a platform; anybody supporting it’s simply selling starvation, hopelessness, and frustration. However, the ADC has proven indicators of being able to take over energy. With collaboration and steadiness, it might turn into a platform for a viable opposition.

“The very best wager for the PDP or for the progressive-minded folks in PDP is to hunt an alternate platform for collaboration the place a formidable candidate will be produced to offer President Bola Tinubu a run for his cash and probably defeat APC within the subsequent polls. I’m not near the APC. In the event that they (Wike bloc) are near the APC, that’s high quality for them,” Osadolor added.

When contacted, the APC’s Director of Info, Bala Ibrahim, mentioned the get together had not determined to accommodate candidates from the Wike-led faction of the PDP.

He, nonetheless, prompt that the matter was into consideration.

Ibrahim mentioned, “When you can wait perhaps on Monday, the get together will determine on it. I’m not a member of the Nationwide Working Committee. When the NWC meets and takes a place, then I can let you know.”

PDP will unite, discipline candidates – Anyanwu, Ememobong

However the Nationwide Secretary of the PDP loyal to Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, dismissed claims of any negotiations with the APC, describing them as “mere speculations”.

In an interview with Sunday PidomNigeria, Anyanwu mentioned the get together was on the trail to resolving its disaster.

He mentioned, “The PDP will quickly resolve its disaster. I consider we’re going to agree very quickly after which transfer on with one voice. Individuals will come again to the get together, I guarantee you. Within the subsequent few days now, from March, APC will begin having their issues as a result of they’ll have their conference and congresses.”

Anyanwu reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, including that he would proceed to battle for the unity of the get together.

“I’m very near the FCT minister, however he has made it so strongly clear that he’s going to assist the PDP,” he mentioned.

Additionally, a factional spokesperson for the PDP, Ememobong, dismissed the concern that the get together may not discipline candidates for the 2027 elections.

He insisted that the get together wouldn’t solely discipline candidates but additionally win the elections.

Ememobong mentioned, “PDP will discipline a presidential candidate and others, you’ll be able to take that to the financial institution. I’m assuring you 100 per cent that the PDP will totally take part within the 2027 elections. We’re not simply going to discipline a presidential candidate, we’ll discipline a candidate that may win.”

He famous that the get together nonetheless had time to take steps to make sure its candidates had been recognised earlier than the elections.

Ememobong expressed optimism that the get together would win its court docket circumstances, including {that a} beneficial ruling from the Courtroom of Appeal would verify that the choices taken on the Ibadan conference had been legitimate and compel INEC to recognise the PDP’s candidates.

He, nonetheless, mentioned the PDP remained open to working with different opposition events.

Based on him, whereas the rapid focus is on making ready the get together and its candidates, alternatives for alliances or coalitions will probably be thought-about nearer to the elections to boost their competitiveness in opposition to the APC.