ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Fresh cracks have emerged within the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) , as rival factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led Interim National Working Committee exchanged accusations over the authenticity of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nomination forms and candidates’ lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute centres on the emergence of parallel nomination forms and conflicting lists of candidates produced by both camps following separate primary elections conducted by the factions.
Speaking with Punch, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, dismissed the activities of the Turaki-led group, insisting they posed no threat to the party’s electoral fortunes in 2027.
He described the rival faction’s actions as fraudulent and maintained that their claims would ultimately collapse.
Responding, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, through its Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, insisted it would not retreat from the dispute, arguing that its actions were backed by existing laws and court judgments.
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He also rejected allegations that the nomination forms being used by the faction were fake, stressing that only INEC had the authority to determine the authenticity of the documents.
The renewed disagreement follows the Supreme Court’s split 3-2 judgment delivered on April 30, which nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. The convention, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, had produced the Turaki-led leadership.
Following the judgment, the party’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and members of his team into an Interim National Working Committee.
Despite that development, the leadership recognised by INEC, headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed with Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and backed by Wike, has continued to function as the party’s official leadership.
The recognised leadership proceeded with the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants contesting the 2027 elections.
Its activities were monitored by INEC in line with electoral regulations, and the commission also granted it access codes for uploading candidates’ details onto its nomination portal.
The Turaki faction, however, maintained its parallel structure and equally issued nomination forms to aspirants despite not being recognised by INEC and lacking access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal. Some aspirants aligned with the faction have also displayed what they claimed were INEC nomination forms.
Reacting to the development, the Wike-backed leadership called on INEC to verify the authenticity of the nomination forms displayed by the rival camp and prosecute those responsible if the documents were found to be forged.
Mohammed argued that even if the forms existed, the rival faction had no access to INEC’s electronic nomination portal and therefore could not complete the candidate submission process.
“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, however, dismissed concerns over access codes, insisting that its priority remained preparations for the elections and ongoing legal battles.
Ememobong said only INEC had the legal authority to determine whether any nomination document was genuine and accused the rival leadership of being unnecessarily preoccupied with his faction.
“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.
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“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.
He acknowledged that the prolonged leadership crisis had affected the party but expressed confidence that the courts would ultimately settle the dispute in his faction’s favour.
“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.”