As leaders intensify reconciliation efforts ahead of Sunday’s National Convention, the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said the party will not back President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Support for President Tinubu, who will run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is one of the contentious issues tearing the party apart, resulting in PDP’s two camps.

While the camp led by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike is in support of Tinubu’s re-election, the Turaki camp backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is against it.

The March 29 National Convention in Abuja is being organised by the National Caretaker Committee backed by Wike.

The Turaki faction’s stance on Tinubu is coming as leading elders and stakeholders of the PDP including Chief Olabode Goerge and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said yesterday, that there is no going back on reconciliation, adding that nothing would be spared to ensure that the party fields candidates in the 2027 polls.

This was as leaders, elders and stakeholders of the PDP in Kwara State said they will participate in the national convention in Abuja, weekend.

It’ll be improper for PDP to back Tinubu – Ememobong

Speaking during a live television interview, factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, insisted that it will be “improper” for the PDP, as an opposition party, to endorse the candidate of another party.

“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 disclosed that ongoing reconciliation talks are aimed at resolving the protracted leadership crisis and could lead to the withdrawal of pending court cases.

“Yes, once agreeable terms are reached, all court cases, including those at the Supreme Court, will be withdrawn and converted into a consent judgement,” he said.

He said key stakeholders, including Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, are backing moves to de-escalate tensions.

“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.

Warning against the dangers of a weakened opposition, Ememobong said: “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.”

He stressed that any peace deal must align with the party’s constitution.

“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 talks, he added: “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.”

PDP will field presidential candidate — Wike camp

However, the leadership of the party backed by Wike, has said that the party will field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, with plans to move to primaries shortly after its national convention, in line with the Electoral Act time-table.

This position came at a time of growing internal tension within the PDP over the party’s strategy for the 2027 presidential election, despite ongoing peace talks.

While the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has publicly ruled out supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Wike himself has openly backed the President, highlighting lingering tensions within the party as it looks ahead to 2027.

A senior figure in the Wike camp, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing party processes, gave insight into both the convention activities and what comes next.

“There will be another convention, possibly in about a month, to pick a presidential candidate. After this elective convention, as other political parties conduct their primaries, we will conduct ours as well. All presidential aspirants will come forward, and we will carry out a proper process to elect our flagbearer,” the source said.

He, however, made it clear that the immediate priority is to wrap up the current convention before shifting attention to the next phase.

“But let’s first conclude this convention,” he added.

From all indications, preparations for the convention are well advanced, with key arrangements already in place and activities ongoing, according to the source.

There are also signs of active participation by party members, with multiple aspirants already going through internal processes ahead of the convention.

“Yes,” the source said when asked if he was a candidate for an office.

He also spoke about his role in the planning process, pointing to coordination efforts across committees working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth convention.

“Everything is going well. In fact, as Chairman of one of the committees, I visited the National Stadium, the venue, today. Reports were presented on progress by all the committee chairmen,” he said.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the National Caretaker Working Committee did not yield results, as calls and messages sent to its spokesman, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, were not responded to as of press time.

No going back on reconciliation — Bode George, Saraki

Also speaking, PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George, said reconciliation efforts are ongoing, insisting the crisis will not destroy the party.

Speaking on a programme on Arise TV, he said: “Sometimes life is not a straight line… it takes time,” he said, lamenting the role of personal ambition in the crisis. Suddenly personal ambition came in, and we found ourselves in this quagmire. But I don’t see it as an issue that should decimate the party.”

He added: “Yes, moves are on… we would talk to them. But no individual owns this party. The total commitment of every part of this country contributes to the strength of our party.”

George warned against attempts to edge Nigeria towards a one-party state: “Who are these small fellows that are causing trouble that we will have only one party to run an election? It is worse than infidelity. That we will not accept.”

Running one-party system worse than infidelity — Bode George

Reinforcing his stance, George described the idea of a one-party system as dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is worse than infidelity. That we will not accept,” he said, stressing that the party would remain open to aspirants.

“For our people who are planning to run, we would make sure they have a platform to run on,” he added.

Similarly, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who spoke on Channels TV, said efforts are focused on preserving the PDP as a viable platform ahead of 2027.

“Where we are today, we are still trying to bring people together… My number one priority is having a platform for people that want to contest to contest. PDP must be on that ballot paper,” he said.

He added: “We are on the right path on what is best for the PDP… all of us agreed that PDP must provide a platform for people to contest elections.”

George said: “Sometimes life is not a straight line; it is not a smooth line. Sometimes you hit bumps; sometimes you hit a roundabout as you travel. So it takes time.

“But it is so harrowing for people like me when you look back. Who are these people causing trouble? I can only imagine how the founding fathers of our party would feel, because they committed themselves selflessly to the growth of this nation. They engaged in serious discussions on the major problems affecting this great country, such as religious bigotry and tribalism.

“They forgot their personal ambitions and dedicated themselves to forming a political party that is national, selfless and fearless in outlook, respecting all religious differences and tribal sentiments.

“In the past, minority tribes had no opportunity, but with the creation of the PDP, the door was opened for every Nigerian, regardless of religion or tribe, to be part of the country’s development and benefit from it.

“Suddenly, personal ambition crept in, and we found ourselves in this quagmire. But I do not see it as an issue that should decimate the party. The competence of the managers and leaders in resolving this crisis will reflect our sense of responsibility and behaviour to Nigerians. I want to assure people that, yes, we have this crisis, but we will resolve it. No individual owns this party.

“The total commitment of every part of this country contributes to the strength of our party. Yes, efforts are ongoing, and I commend the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, which advised that we should reconcile ourselves. I was pleased because that guidance came from the judiciary.

“I want to remind people in Abuja of the crisis of 1962 in Ibadan, what happened from 1965 to 1966, and eventually 1967 when the civil war started. It appears we have not learnt any lessons. I was in Form 4 in 1963; we witnessed the turmoil in this country, and history is no longer adequately taught to the younger generation. You can only know how a crisis begins; no one can predict how it will end.

“For several weeks now, we have been waiting for a small group. Where were they in 1999? Wike was just a local government chairman. When were the elders building this party across Nigeria? This party will not collapse. We will engage in dialogue, but it will not be based on personal ambition. No individual ambition can be greater than this country called Nigeria. This is the same nation that helped liberate Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

“Who are these individuals pushing for a situation where only one party runs elections? It is worse than infidelity, and we will not accept it. For those who plan to run, we will ensure they have a platform. Do not start a problem you cannot control. An opportunity has opened for dialogue, and we will see how it unfolds.”

We’ll ensure platform for aspirants — Saraki

Saraki, on his part, said the immediate priority is to stabilise the party ahead of its convention and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

“If we can get our convention done, have it attended by INEC, that is the message we are pushing across,” he said.

His interview ran in part: It was unfortunate that we had these issues before they escalated at the Ibadan convention. We did our best to bring people together. I advised against holding the Ibadan convention and suggested a caretaker committee as the best option. That would have helped us avoid the emergence of different factions, and when the atmosphere became calmer, we could then proceed with the convention. Unfortunately, that advice was not taken. For such a convention, there should have been prior agreements behind the scenes on positions. If we had adopted a caretaker committee, we would not have had this crisis. Before then, we were not in court until after the Ibadan convention.

Where we are today, we are still trying to bring people together. Our focus now is to ensure that the PDP remains a platform for its members who wish to contest elections. I will be attending the national convention, and I believe all loyal party members should attend for that purpose. From the feedback we are getting at the grassroots, people still have strong love and affiliation with the PDP. Across the country, the PDP remains a household name.

We are on the right path regarding what is best for the PDP. My number one priority is to ensure there is a platform for those who want to contest elections. The PDP must be on the ballot. If we can successfully hold our convention with INEC in attendance, that is the message we are pushing. Up till last night, meetings were ongoing, and we all agreed that the PDP must provide a platform for people to contest elections.

Kwara PDP leaders back Abuja convention

Meanwhile, leaders, elders and stakeholders of the PDP in Kwara State have resolved to participate in the party’s forthcoming national convention in Abuja. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting in Ilorin, where stakeholders unanimously agreed to attend and fully participate in the exercise.

“We agreed that our delegates should attend and fully participate in the coming national convention in Abuja,” the communiqué read.

They said the outcome of the convention would determine the party’s next line of action in the state.

“If the National Convention is successful and witnessed by INEC as required by law, we will reconvene to assess the situation and recommend to our leader to use the PDP as the platform for the 2027 general elections,” they said.

Reaffirming confidence in the party, the stakeholders added: “The PDP remains a very popular, credible and widely accepted platform in Kwara State.”

Also speaking, a former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Ali Ahmad, said: “We will go to Abuja convention; if we see INEC we will participate fully, otherwise we won’t.” (Vanguard)

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