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.
“419” was the rival faction and its claims would amount to nothing in the end, Mohammed said.
We are not concerned at all 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 that 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 these they are doing is best described as the very many faces of 419, fraud. “Nigerians are now aware and conscious of their 419.”
Controversy Over INEC Forms
The row broke out after the two camps issued rival nomination forms and candidates’ lists.
The Supreme Court had on April 30 voided the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on the 15 and 16 November, 2025, which produced the Turaki-led leadership by a split decision.
After the judgement the party’s Board of Trustees, headed by Adolphus Wabara, re-appointed 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 also issued nomination forms to aspirants even without INEC’s recognition and access codes.
He urged INEC to verify the nomination forms presented by the rival camp and prosecute anyone found to be involved in forgery of documents.
“INEC is the best person to answer that if those documents are really from INEC because we are not the producers of the INEC nomination forms,” he said.
But if not from them, then it is necessary to start criminal proceedings.
“And what’s more, when they fill out these forms, where will they take them?” How would they get them up there? Do they have the access codes to upload their data? It’s only 419 It’s only 419
Turaki Faction Response
Ini Ememobong, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, reacted to the claims by dismissing the allegation that the nomination forms of the faction were fake.
“Only INEC can tell the authenticity of the documents,” he said.
“The access code is not a problem, INEC will do the needful at the appropriate time. “If they are saying 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 with some very serious things, including candidate preparations. We are also involved in litigation, so we are too busy to fight them.”
He acknowledged the crisis had hurt the party but said his faction was handling things with care.
“The negative impact is already present. But in every battle, it’s not just what you go through. It’s how you go through it. We’re tiptoeing 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 added.
“We are not going to give up to this. “We are obviously on the path of the law and the facts are on our side,” he said.
