PDP rift deepens over Tinubu’s 2027 bid as rival camps clash ahead of convention

Fresh cracks have emerged within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as internal disagreements over President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid continue to fuel tensions ahead of the party’s National Convention scheduled for Sunday in Abuja.

At the centre of the dispute is whether the opposition party should align, directly or indirectly, with Tinubu, who is expected to seek a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The issue has further entrenched divisions between two dominant factions within the PDP.

On one side is the camp led by former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, which is strongly opposed to any form of support for the president. This bloc is backed by key figures, including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. On the other side is the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which has shown openness to Tinubu’s re-election.

The convention, fixed for March 29, is being organised by the National Caretaker Committee with the backing of the Wike-led camp, adding another layer of political intrigue to the unfolding crisis.

Speaking during a live television interview, factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, dismissed any suggestion that the PDP could support a candidate from another party, describing such a move as unacceptable.

“It is improper, unjust, and fundamentally unfair for an opposition party like the PDP to endorse the presidential candidate of another party. Absolutely no. It will never be so,” he said.

Ememobong revealed that behind-the-scenes reconciliation efforts are ongoing, aimed at resolving the party’s prolonged leadership crisis and potentially bringing an end to multiple legal disputes.

“Yes, once agreeable terms are reached, all court cases, including those at the Supreme Court, will be withdrawn and converted into a consent judgement,” he said.

Read also: Tinubu, govs, thousands of delegates converge on Abuja for APC national convention

According to him, prominent stakeholders, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Governor Makinde, are actively supporting moves to calm tensions and preserve party unity.

“At the expanded NEC meeting, both were present when a decision was taken to de-escalate tensions and create room for negotiations that will ensure the continued existence of the PDP. They remain on board, hopeful that the reconciliation and negotiations will succeed,” he added.

He also warned that weakening the PDP could have broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic system.

“In a pluralistic society like Nigeria, a one-party state, or a situation where other parties become appendages of the ruling party, is not healthy for democracy. The PDP, as the only surviving legacy party, must not go down that path.”

Ememobong stressed that any reconciliation must strictly adhere to the party’s constitutional provisions.

“Peace must be based on principles. It must not violate the party’s constitution, which mandates that the PDP shall field candidates for all elective offices,” he said.

On the nature of the negotiations, he noted a shift in approach, saying: “What is different this time is that both parties are now engaging directly. There is no mediator. The principal actors are speaking to each other. If an agreement is reached, it will be their consensus. If not, it will also be clear.”

Despite the Turaki camp’s firm stance, the Wike-aligned leadership has maintained that the PDP will still present a presidential candidate in 2027. Plans are reportedly underway to proceed to party primaries shortly after the convention, in line with the Electoral Act timetable.

The conflicting positions underscore the deepening internal struggle within the PDP, as the party grapples with its identity and strategy ahead of the next general election. While one faction pushes for a clear opposition role, the other’s perceived alignment with the ruling party continues to raise questions about the PDP’s cohesion and future direction.

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