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• Chieftains speak on possibility of party not fielding candidates in 2027 polls
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Palpable anxiety has gripped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Court of Appeal is set to give its judgment on the leadership tussle, which has polarised the party between Governor Seyi Makinde backed National Working Committee (NWC) and National Caretaker Committee supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), today.
The Court of Appeal had, after submissions from the feuding parties last month, reserved judgment on the dispute. Party sources told Daily Sun that ahead of the expected judgment, the PDP supporters in the two camps are apprehensive as to where the pendulum would swing. “Everybody is waiting. It is a court judgment and everybody is agitated. Nobody is sure of anything,” a party source said.
The PDP crisis escalated after the November 15 and 16 National Convention in Ibadan last November, which elected the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC and announced the expulsion of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Kamaldeen Ajibade and Umar Bature among others, as well as the dissolution of the State Working Committees (SWCs) in six states.
In a retaliatory move, the Wike camp, which had dismissed the convention as a jamboree, constituted a 13-member National Caretaker Committee headed by Abdulraham Mohammed to run the affairs of the party, pending the election of new NWC members and also announced the expulsion of Bauchi State Governor; Oyo State Governor, Seye Makinde; Zamfara State Governor, Lawal Dauda; Umar Damagum; Adolphus Wabara and Chief Olabode George, among others.
Prior to the Ibadan convention, the PDP has been embroiled in crisis following a tussle between the PDP governors on the one hand and the FCT minister on the other hand, over the control of the party’s machinery ahead of the 2027 polls. While a Federal High Court in Abuja directed the party not to go ahead with the convention, an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, gave the PDP a go-ahead for the exercise.
In the aftermath of the convention, there are also two conflicting judgments on the PDP crisis. While the Federal High Court, Ibadan, nullified the outcome of the convention. The Oyo State High Court upheld the exercise.
While the Court of Appeal judgment is expected to bring some clarity to the leadership tussle in the PDP, some party chieftains are apprehensive that the prolonged crisis is threatening the participation of the party in the 2027 polls, as the case may eventually end at the Supreme Court.
The party’s problem, in respect to the next general election, is compounded by the new electoral act, which compels political parties to submit a digital register of all its members nationwide to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days to the nomination of party candidates for election.
Section 77 (2) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandates every political party to maintain a digital register of its members, while Section 77 (4) prescribes that “Each party shall make such register available to the Commission not later than 21 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congresses or conventions.” In addition, Section 77(7) states that “a party that fails to submit the membership register within the stipulated time shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election.”
According to INEC timetable for the 2027 polls, the primaries to choose party candidates is scheduled to be held between April 23 to May 30. Consequently, political parties are expected to submit their digital register to the electoral commission on April 2.
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Immediate past PDP deputy national youth leader, Timothy Osadolor, told Daily Sun that he is afraid that the party has been weakened considerably, such that it might be an exercise in futility for anyone to seek to contest the 2027 polls on the platform of the party. He stated that some members of the party, interested in contesting the next general election, are already looking for alternative platforms to actualise their aspiration.
Osadolor said: “Even if the leadership crisis is resolved before the commencement of primaries, the damage is already done and there is no way any credible candidate will stand a chance, no matter how popular he or she might be. The countless litigation have weakened the party base; there are still those who are skeptical that all of these, fielding candidates might be an exercise in futility. I have that fear too.”
Similarly, a chieftain of the PDP from one of the South West states, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Sun that members of the party were afraid as to whether the party would be able to participate in the 2027 polls. The PDP chieftain, who is also eying a national assembly seat in the 2027 election, noted that though Oyo State Governor has asked his supporters interested in the next general election to start campaign on the PDP platform, they are afraid that their efforts might come to nought at the end of the day.
According to him, “People who want to contest under the PDP are apprehensive. Although the governor said they should campaign on the platform of the PDP, they are apprehensive that the case might not be resolved and if eventually resolved against their faction, even if they have won election, it might be an exercise in futility.
“The fear is real in respect of what the Court of Appeal decides. The Supreme Court will eventually have the final say. And whatever nomination on the strength of the Court of Appeal judgment might be a nullity. Look at what is happening in Osun and Ekiti. The party has no candidates in the governorship contests in the two states. It is a big issue.”
Nonetheless, the factions are making separate plans for the general election. The Turaki camp is currently conducting digital membership registration, while the Wike camp is holding congresses in some states. Officials of the two camps, who spoke to Daily Sun before the date for judgment was fixed, had expressed hopes that the judiciary would act expeditiously.
National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Ini Ememobong, told Daily Sun that the PDP has done its part in preparation for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 polls, noting that it was waiting for the court to give its verdict.
“We have done our part in preparation for the primaries. We are hopeful that with the new timetable, the court will be more expeditious in its judgment.”
Similarly, a member of the Caretaker Committee, Okechukwu Osuoha, told Daily Sun, that there was no cause for alarm, noting that the committee, relying on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which nullified the convention, is going ahead with preparation for the next general election. However, Osuoha expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would give its verdict on the leadership issue soon.
He said: “There is no cause for alarm. The National Caretaker Committee, which I am a member, has already started work by holding congresses in some states. The National Convention has been scheduled to take place on March 29 and 30. The Court of Appeal had heard the matter and reserved a date for judgment. I am believing that it will come very soon. We are doing whatever we can do to be up to date.”
