PDP In Fresch Crisis As Wike, Turaki Factions Unveil Rival Candidates for 2027 Polls – Both camps claim legitimacy, await INEC recognition as battle for party control intensifies

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as rival factions led by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), separately unveiled candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a move that underscored the deepening schism within the opposition party, both camps held parallel events in Abuja, issuing certificates of return and nomination documents to their respective candidates while insisting they represent the authentic leadership of the PDP.The competing ceremonies came less than 24 hours before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to release access codes to political parties for uploading the names of candidates for the 2027 elections—a development widely seen as a crucial test of legitimacy for the feuding camps.At the PDP’s 109th National Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s national secretariat, Wike rallied members to focus on winning back power rather than lamenting past electoral defeats.”Nobody gives power. Power is taken. If you do not fight for it, that is your business,” Wike declared, urging party leaders and candidates to deliver tangible electoral victories at all levels.He challenged governors, lawmakers and party stakeholders to justify their relevance through electoral success, stressing that the PDP must rebuild from the grassroots if it hopes to return to power.Expressing confidence that his faction would ultimately prevail, Wike said the issuance of INEC access codes would reveal which leadership the electoral umpire recognises.”

As far as I am concerned, June 26 is when they will give access codes to political parties to upload candidates. Don’t worry, we are good to go. Nobody is afraid. We will see who INEC will give the code to,” he said.

The Wike-backed leadership, headed by National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, subsequently presented certificates of return to its presidential candidate, Sandy Onor, alongside governorship, senatorial and other candidates.Among those unveiled were Kwara governorship candidate Bolakale Kawu and Gombe governorship aspirant Isa Pantami.Speaking earlier, Mohammed praised state chapters for conducting peaceful primaries, while Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa, appealed for reconciliation and renewed grassroots mobilisation

.Meanwhile, at a separate stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee declared that it had successfully produced candidates for every elective position across the country and was fully prepared to challenge for power in all constituencies.Turaki revealed that the faction had screened and cleared 28 governorship candidates, 109 senatorial candidates, 360 House of Representatives candidates and 993 State House of Assembly candidates following what he described as a rigorous vetting process.”It is not just about contesting; it is about contesting to win.

That is why we carefully examined every aspirant who sought to fly the party’s flag,” he said.According to him, extensive background checks and security screenings were introduced to ensure that only credible candidates emerged and to minimise the risk of post-election disqualifications.He added that candidates who had completed the screening process would receive engraved certificates of return, while others whose documentation was recently submitted would be issued provisional certificates pending final processing.

In a more dramatic claim, the faction’s National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas-Shan, announced that former President Goodluck Jonathan had emerged as its presidential candidate.”We have a presidential candidate who bought nomination forms, completed the process and was duly nominated. Despite attempts to stop us, we successfully produced our presidential candidate,” he said.Representing the governorship candidates, Delta State aspirant Benedict Etanabene commended the faction’s leadership for conducting what he described as transparent and credible primaries rooted in due process.

The parallel issuance of certificates by both camps highlights the escalating battle for the soul of the PDP and raises fresh questions about which faction will ultimately be recognised by INEC.With the submission of candidates now imminent, the opposition party appears headed for a decisive showdown that could shape not only its future but also its chances in the 2027 general elections.