A factional National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tanimu Turaki, has assured members and supporters that the leadership is taking every step to ensure that the party features prominently on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.
Turaki gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja during his opening remarks at the 103rd National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of his faction of the party.
He said that in spite of the lingering leadership challenge in the party, all hope was not lost, as the leadership was working round the clock to ensure that PDP remained a viable platform for all aspirants.
“It is my pleasure to also inform us that the leadership is assiduously working round the clock to ensure that PDP remains a veritable platform for all our members wishing to contest for elections, both in 2027 and beyond.
“We feel that to whom much is given, much is expected. The support, the cooperation, the solidarity of members of National Working Committee ,NWC, and indeed other leaders of this party is so humongous.
“It is overbearing to us that our irreducible minimum responsibility for all of you is to ensure that we keep PDP not only afloat, but in a state where we will contest and win elections, and by the special grace of God, come back into government at the centre in 2027″, he said.
Turaki noted that the leadership had intentionally delayed the meeting to analyse unfolding scenarios both within and outside the courtroom on the party’s leadership crisis.
He said that as leaders, they were in a better position to inform party members of all the developments.
This, he said, would guide them in taking informed decisions on what needed to be done, not only for the purpose of saving and strengthening PDP as the “only surviving legacy party in Nigeria today” but also for saving democracy.
Speaking on defection of PDP members to other political parties, Turaki noted that the exit of high-profile members—including former presidents, vice-presidents and governors, would never lead to the party’s collapse.
“PDP will continue to exist because it has become an institution as far as democracy in Nigeria is concerned.
“Nobody and no group of people can stand up and say, ‘This is our party’. That is why despite the loss of members, it has not affected the survival of this party”, he said.
The Board of Trustees ,BoT, Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, urged members to remain steadfast as the party awaits a formal report from a reconciliation committee headed by Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Wabara described PDP members defecting to other parties as having ‘weak belief’, saying: ‘He who laughs last laughs best’.
PDP House of Reps Caucus Leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi, assured the party that the lawmakers remaining in the chamber were holding on and ready for battle.
“When the war gets tough, it’s only the tough that keeps going”, Agbedi said.
He urged members not to be swayed by financial inducements, saying PDP must rise “so we can take this battle to their doorsteps”.
Chairman of State Chairmen, Hon. Tony Azigbemi, representing 28 state PDP chairmen, reaffirmed their loyalty to Turaki’s leadership, describing the internal friction as a fight between light and darkness.
He criticised the unilateral appointment of national officers by some select individuals.
“One man cannot sit in his bedroom and write the names of members of the National Caretaker Committee. We will stick with this leadership, no matter what is thrown at us”, Azigbemi said.
2027: Nasarawa Govt Dismisses Report Of Sule, Atiku Secret Meeting
Nasarawa State Government has dismissed as false a media report alleging that Gov. Abdullahi Sule held a secret meeting with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Saudi Arabia.
The government described the report, published by an online medium, as “a complete fabrication” and “entirely false”.
Mr Ibrahim Addra, Chief Press Secretary ,CPS, to the Governor, made the denial in a statement yesterday in Lafia.
According to him, although Sule travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj, he did not meet with Abubakar or any of his associates during the trip.
“At no point during his stay did the governor meet with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. There was no meeting, no dinner and no agreement of any kind”, Addra said.
He added that the governor was not aware of Abubakar’s presence in Saudi Arabia, contrary to claims in the report.
The CPS noted that even the spokesperson to the former vice-president, Mr Paul Ibe, was quoted as saying he was not aware of such a meeting.
Addra described the publication as “fiction dressed as journalism” and alleged that it was politically motivated.
He said the report came shortly after Sule publicly reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Few days ago at the APC zonal congress, Gov. Sule stood firmly with his party and the President when he seconded the motion moved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for the North Central zone of the party adopt President Bola Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election”, he said.
The spokesman stressed that the governor remained loyal to the All Progressives Congress ,APC, and had consistently demonstrated support for the president.
“Gov. Sule has, on several occasions, publicly extolled the leadership of President Tinubu and affirmed his commitment to the administration.
“He does not say one thing in public and another in private”, he said.
Addra further alleged that unnamed political actors were behind the report in a bid to create disaffection between the governor and the president.
He urged the public to disregard the publication, describing it as misleading and aimed at political sabotage.
The CPS also called on the media organisation to retract the story and issue an apology.
“Journalism carries a huge responsibility. Publishing a story of this magnitude without credible evidence or confirmation from the principal actors falls below acceptable standards”, he said.
He reaffirmed Sule’s commitment to the APC, President Tinubu and the people of Nasarawa State.
“Governor Sule remains focused on governance and will not be distracted by unfounded allegations”, Addra said.
