The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has reaffirmed its authority over the party, with National Chairman Tanimu Turaki (SAN) insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognises the NWC backed by PDP governors as the authentic leadership of the party.

Speaking at the presentation of the Certificate of Return to the PDP Ekiti governorship candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on Wednesday, Turaki said all major stakeholders of the party were with the NWC.

The event was attended by 30 PDP state chairmen, National Assembly members, NWC members, party leaders and supporters who travelled from Ekiti dressed in colourful Ankara attire.

Responding, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the faction supported by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee remained the legitimate leadership of the PDP.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Anyanwu accused Turaki of lying about INEC recognition, claiming that the commission had been duly notified of the party’s change of leadership.

Recall that PDP governors backed the Ibadan convention, where Turaki and other NWC members were elected on November 16 to serve four-year terms.

However, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside his allies Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Anyanwu, continued to insist that they remain the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.

Even though the governors facilitated a smooth transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure officially expired on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction still announced, on Sunday, Mohammed, Anyanwu and others as members of a 60-day caretaker committee.

Turaki, while presenting the Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate, challenged those claiming to be factional leaders to present the evidence of INEC recognition for their own governorship candidate.

INEC earlier scheduled the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026.

Oluyede won the party’s primary held between November 8 and the early hours of November 9, securing 279 votes to defeat Funso Ayeni (239 votes) and Funmilayo Ogun (17 votes).

Addressing party leaders from across the country, Turaki declared, “All state chairmen of PDP are here. Nigerians have seen members of the National Assembly, founding fathers and mothers, former governors and former ministers of the PDP. Indeed, Nigerians have seen the crème de la crème of the party. Who else is missing this afternoon? Absolutely none.

“A strong statement has been made today. For anyone still doubting where the authentic leadership of the PDP lies, there should be no doubt again. This is PDP. This is where the PDP is and will continue to be.”

Displaying documents he said were forms issued by INEC to the NWC, Turaki expressed confidence that Oluyede would win the 2026 election.

“These are INEC forms. They confirm that INEC recognises what we have done in Ekiti State. If INEC recognises us, then who can be against our leadership?” he said.

Responding, Oluyede described Ekiti as a land of brilliance and courage globally celebrated for education and integrity, but held back by years of governance failures.

He pledged to restore good governance, revive the economy, strengthen communities, improve security and return the state to prosperity.

“My mission is clear: to revive our economy, ensure accessible healthcare, empower our youths and decisively tackle insecurity,” he said.

He urged aggrieved aspirants to withdraw their court cases, calling them “needless distractions” that could undermine party unity.

PDP National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, criticised those who once declared the party dead, but were now fighting to control it.

“You can now see that the PDP is alive. The same party they said was dead is what they are fighting for,” he said.

He urged the candidate to reconcile with aggrieved members, saying, “They are our people. We speak the same language.”

Later on Wednesday, at the same venue, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, represented by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), described the PDP crisis as “man-made and resolvable.”

“We know the issues in PDP are man-made, and what is man-made requires a man-made solution. The problems of PDP can be resolved,” he said.

House of Representatives Minority Whip, Ali Isah, also pledged the caucus’s support for the Turaki-led NWC, stressing that democracy must be protected.

“No country can succeed without democracy. Anyone who believes intimidation of other parties will bring success is mistaken,” he said.

Earlier, during a meeting with PDP state chairmen in Abuja, Turaki said the NWC’s effectiveness depended on the cooperation of the State Chairmen’s Forum.

He said those claiming to lead factions were not recognised party members.

“With 29 state chairmen present and two sending apologies, tell me—who is not here? If all state chairmen are supporting us, who can be fighting us?” he asked.

Turaki vowed that under his leadership, the NWC would return the party to the grassroots, arguing that the APC leadership had reversed the progress achieved during the PDP’s 16 years in power.

He said, “Nigerians plead: if you cannot take us forward, take us back to 2015. But we will take power in 2027 and move Nigeria to the promised land. It is doable—we have done it before.”

Reacting, Anyanwu said Turaki’s claim of INEC recognition was “unfortunate,” insisting the commission had not recognised the governors-backed NWC.

“All these claims are just for optics. INEC has not recognised them. They did not attend the convention, and INEC knows who the genuine leadership is,” he said.

He argued that INEC had been informed of the caretaker committee and had received a formal notification of the leadership change.

“Let them show INEC’s recognition of their convention or activities in states such as Osun,” he challenged.

He added that INEC “was not present at their convention and has no dealings with them,” questioning why the Turaki-led NWC was in court in Ibadan seeking an order to compel INEC’s recognition.

“Nigerians will soon see their lies. The PDP remains intact under Acting National Chairman AbdulRahman Mohammed, who enjoys the support of party faithful,” he said.

Speaking further, he argued, “INEC is aware of the caretaker committee constituted by the PDP. They have been formally informed, have received our letter, and know the legitimate leadership of the party. So, whatever Turaki says is just media hype—it is not true. INEC did not recognise them. Let them show us INEC recognition of their convention or any activities in other states, especially Osun.

“We have gone through this before when they paraded the former youth leader, Ude Okoye, as National Secretary, and INEC communicated to them that they did not recognise Ude Okoye as Secretary.

“It is the same approach they are taking again—they are simply lying. INEC did not monitor their convention, and they have no business with it. Even the Ibadan court yesterday clarified that it has no jurisdiction to hear the matter, and INEC is not involved.’’

“I challenge anyone to go to INEC and verify for themselves. They will discover that what Turaki is saying is entirely false. INEC did not recognise them, was not present at their convention, and has no dealings with them. If they claim INEC has recognised them, why are they in federal court in Ibadan asking the court to compel INEC to do so? (The PUNCH)

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