PDP camps clash over nomination of candidates

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Abdulraham Mohammed-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) has clashed the nomination of candidates to represent the opposition party in the 2027 general election.   

While the Turaki bloc supported by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, unveiled plans to screen aspirants for the national and states Houses of Assembly, governorship and presidential election, tomorrow, the Mohammed NWC backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said plans by the former to nominate candidates for the PDP in next year’s election would an exercise in futility.

The Mohammed NWC recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had concluded its screening for aspirants for National assembly, state House of Assembly, governorship and presidential positions last week and has scheduled its House of Representatives, Senate, Houses of Assembly, governorship and presidential primaries for May 17,20,22,24 and 26 respectively.

The PDP has been polarised  in the aftermath of the opposition party’s National Convention, held in Ibadan, last November, which elected an NWC led by former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki.  Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal of nullifying the Ibadan convention, as well as the suspension of some key functionaries of the party.

However, the apex court’s verdict on the leadership crisis has elicited different interpretations by the disputants. While the Wike backed NWC insisted it remains the authentic leadership of the party, the Senator Adlphus Wabara led Board of Trustees (BoT) convened a PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, where an interim leadership headed by Turaki was appointed for the opposition party.

The Turaki-led INWC, in a public notice, released by its media unit, yesterday, indicated a total of 3181 aspirants consisting of 2,122 State Houses of Assembly,748 House of Representatives, 198 Senatorial, 112 gubernatorial and 1 presidential aspirants will be screened across the country, tomorrow, ahead of its primaries scheduled for May 27.

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abdulrahm Mohammed led NWC, Jungudo Mohammed, told Daily Sun that the Turaki camp is allegedly out to distract the PDP, noting that a formal report has been lodged against them with security agencies for alleged impersonation.

“Nigerians have known that they are out to distract the PDP. A petition has been submitted about the impersonation being perpetrated by these people. So, we call the insecurity to act swiftly.

“They have refused to accept the judgment of the Supreme Court. Whether the like it or not they will accept the judgment of conscience. Whatever they are doing, let them continue. And when they finish, let them take the report of their exercise to INEC.  You should ask them what happened to the e-registration they did, did they also submit it to INEC?”

Spokesman of the Turaki-led INWC, Ini Ememebong,  told Daily Sun that the fact that the Abdulraham Mohammed bloc is talking about their primaries means that their action is not futile. Ememebong, who said the INWC is currently awaiting INEC response to its communication on the Supreme judgment on the PDP leadership dispute, posited that it is not in the place of the Mohammed camp to determine which exercise is valid.

“That they have responded to it, means it is not an exercise in  futility. It is a present and constant headache to them. You know that he who is wrong is always afraid, even when not pursued. If it is an exercise in futility. They should not waste their energy. It does lie in their power to determine what is an exercise in futility and what is not an exercise in futility,” he said.