The Peoples Democratic Party plunged deeper into turmoil as rival factions clashed over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of its leadership. National Chairman Tanimu Turaki, backed by PDP governors, claimed sole legitimacy during a certificate presentation to Ekiti governorship candidate Oluwole Oluyede in Abuja on Wednesday. The event drew 30 state chairmen, National Assembly members, and party elders, underscoring the governors’ support amid the governors-backed Ibadan convention on November 16.
Turaki dismissed rival claims by Wike allies, insisting INEC dealt only with his National Working Committee. He waved documents as proof during the Yar’Adua Centre ceremony, where Oluyede secured 279 votes in the party’s primary from November 8 to 9. “These are INEC forms. They confirm that INEC recognises what we have done in Ekiti State,” Turaki declared, vowing victory in the June 20, 2026, election.
Oluyede, who beat Funso Ayeni (239 votes) and Funmilayo Ogun (17 votes), pledged to revive Ekiti’s economy, boost healthcare, empower youth, and crush insecurity. He urged fellow aspirants to drop court cases as needless distractions harming unity. The candidate hailed Ekiti’s global reputation for education and integrity, now stifled by years of poor governance.
National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja mocked those who once buried the PDP, now scrambling for control. “You can now see that the PDP is alive. The same party they said was dead is what they are fighting for,” he said. Arapaja called for reconciliation, noting aggrieved members as family sharing the same language.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, via Senator Abdul Ningi, branded the crisis man-made and fixable. House Minority Whip Ali Isah backed Turaki’s group, stressing democracy’s fragility against intimidation. During a state chairmen meeting, Turaki boasted 29 chairs’ presence, with two absent for valid reasons, and promised grassroots revival to reclaim power in 2027.
The Wike faction fired back through Acting National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, who slammed Turaki’s INEC boasts as lies. Anyanwu defended the 60-day caretaker committee under Acting Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, formed after the Damagum tenure ended on December 9. “INEC has not recognised them. They did not attend the convention, and INEC knows who the genuine leadership is,” he insisted.
Anyanwu challenged rivals to prove INEC’s nod for their Ekiti primary or Osun activities. He cited a prior INEC rejection of a fake youth leader as secretary and noted the Ibadan court’s dismissal of a suit seeking forced recognition. “Nigerians will soon see their lies. The PDP remains intact under Acting National Chairman AbdulRahman Mohammed, who enjoys the support of party faithful,” Anyanwu added.
The standoff traces to the governors’ smooth handover from Umar Damagum to Turaki, despite Wike’s holdout with allies like Mohammed. As factions dig in, the PDP risks further fractures ahead of key polls, leaving loyalists caught in a painful divide that threatens the party’s future.
