…PDP National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, criticised those who once dismissed the party as dead but were now fighting for control.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | PDP National Working Committee has reasserted its control over the party, with National Chairman Tanimu Turaki (SAN) maintaining that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognises the NWC endorsed by PDP governors as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Speaking on Wednesday at the presentation of the Certificate of Return to the party’s Ekiti governorship candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Turaki said all major PDP stakeholders were aligned with the NWC. The ceremony was attended by 30 state chairmen, National Assembly members, NWC officials, and party leaders, alongside supporters from Ekiti dressed in colourful Ankara outfits.
However, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the faction loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, countered Turaki’s claims. In an interview, he insisted that the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee remained the party’s legitimate leadership and accused Turaki of misleading the public about INEC’s position, saying the commission had already been notified of the leadership change.
PDP governors had earlier backed the Ibadan convention that produced Turaki and other NWC members on November 16, ahead of former Chairman Umar Damagum’s exit on December 9. Despite this, the Wike-aligned group announced a 60-day caretaker committee last Sunday, naming Mohammed, Anyanwu and others as members.
At the certificate presentation, Turaki challenged the rival faction to produce evidence that INEC recognised their governorship candidate. INEC has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026. Oluyede, who won the party’s November 8–9 primary with 279 votes against Funso Ayeni (239) and Funmilayo Ogun (17), vowed to revive Ekiti’s economy, strengthen communities, enhance security, and restore good governance. He urged aggrieved aspirants to drop their court cases, describing them as needless distractions.
PDP National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, criticised those who once dismissed the party as dead but were now fighting for control. Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, represented by Senator Abdul Ningi, described the crisis as “man-made and resolvable,” while House Minority Whip Ali Isah pledged the caucus’s support for the Turaki-led NWC.
Earlier, when meeting with state chairmen, Turaki said the NWC’s success depended on their support, insisting the factional leaders lacked legitimacy. He promised to return the party to the grassroots and argued that the APC had reversed the progress achieved during the PDP’s 16 years in power.
But Anyanwu dismissed Turaki’s claims as “unfortunate,” arguing that INEC had not recognised the governors-backed NWC. He insisted INEC was officially informed of the caretaker committee’s emergence and challenged Turaki’s camp to show proof of recognition, including in states like Osun. He questioned why the NWC was in court seeking an order compelling INEC’s recognition if it already existed.
According to Anyanwu, the Ibadan court had already noted it lacked jurisdiction and that INEC was not involved. He urged Nigerians to verify the situation directly from INEC and insisted the PDP remained united under Acting National Chairman AbdulRahman Mohammed, who he said enjoyed broad support across the party.
