Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led faction engaged in a war of words over the emergence of rival Independent National Electoral Commission nomination forms, conflicting candidates’ lists and other issues arising from the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH dismissed the activities of Turaki’s faction, insisting they will not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections. He also described the rival faction’s action as “419” and said its claims would eventually fail.
Reacting, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, through its Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, vowed not to back down in the ongoing dispute, insisting its position was backed by law and court judgments, while dismissing claims that its INEC nomination forms were fake, adding that only INEC could verify them.
The Supreme Court, in a split 3–2 decision delivered on April 30, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which was backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and produced the Turaki-led leadership.
Following the judgment, the Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and other members into an Interim National Working Committee. Since then, the group has continued to operate alongside the PDP leadership recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which Wike aligns with.
Meanwhile, the PDP led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, proceeded with the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants seeking the party’s tickets for the 2027 elections.
Their activities were recognised and monitored by INEC in line with statutory requirements, and they were granted access codes to upload their candidates.
The Turaki faction, however, maintained a parallel structure and also issued nomination forms to prospective candidates for the forthcoming elections, despite lacking INEC recognition, access codes, and commission oversight of its activities or primaries, although some of its candidates displayed INEC nomination forms.
Reacting, the Wike-backed PDP asked INEC to verify the authenticity of the nomination forms being displayed by their rival faction, urging the commission to investigate and prosecute those responsible if the documents were found to be forged.
Mohammed further argued that the rival faction could not submit the alleged nomination forms without access to INEC’s nomination portal, adding that that only legally recognised candidates could complete the nomination process.
He stated, “We are not concerned one bit about what these people are doing, and we will not be concerned. Whatever they are doing will not, in any way, affect the chances of the PDP at the polls come 2027. We have consistently maintained that lies and propaganda have expiry dates. This one is just like the convention they held, which we told the whole world could not stand and did not stand.
“So, all of these they are doing is best described as the very many faces of 419, fraud. Nigerians are now aware and have become aware of their 419.
Surprisingly, some of these people are also showing off INEC forms given to them.
“If truly those documents emanated from INEC, INEC should be in the best position to answer that because we are not the manufacturers of the INEC nomination forms. So, INEC should verify if these documents truly emanated from them. Then they should explain why. But if they did not emanate from them, then criminal proceedings should be initiated.
“Besides, when they fill these forms, where will they take them to? How would they upload them? Do they have access codes to upload their information? You should ask them this: how would they upload their information to the server? They don’t have access. It’s just 419, purely 419.”
The Turaki faction dismissed the issue of codes, saying it is focused on candidate preparations and ongoing court cases rather than engaging in disputes with rival groups.
Ememobong acknowledged that the crisis has had some effect but said it is being managed carefully, expressing confidence that INEC will take appropriate action after all legal processes were concluded.
He stated, “Well, the first thing is that they have made us an obsession for themselves. Everything we do seems to excite them. We clearly know that they lack what to do.
“The access code is not an issue, at the right time INEC will do the needful. If they claim that the forms are fake, it doesn’t lie in their mouth to say so. They should rather concentrate. It takes fake to recognise fake. The law is clear, that only the maker of a document can determine its authenticity. We are busy with very serious things, including candidate preparations. We are also handling cases in court, so we are too busy to join issues with them.
“Well, the negative impact is already there. But in every battle, it is not just what you go through; it is how you go through it. We are carefully navigating all the landmines, and, at the end, the end will justify the means.
“The most critical matters are pending before the court. We have three definitive cases before the courts. That’s all. They are very definitive. They will determine the future one way or the other. And we are confident they will go in our favour.
So, until then, we are not going to back down from this. We are clearly on the path of the law, and the facts are aligned with us. If you look at the judgments and the post-Supreme Court actions of the National Executive Committee, clearly we are within the ambit of the law.”
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