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The National Caretaker Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the Kabiru Turaki-led bloc as non-existent, insisting that the party’s planned national convention will proceed as scheduled.
The development highlights the deepening crisis within the opposition party over the control of its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to Vanguard on Friday night, a senior member of the Wike camp, alongside Mohammed Haruna Jungudo, spokesperson of the National Caretaker Working Committee, reaffirmed to Vanguard that preparations for the convention remain on course.
“That is their business. Maybe they do not want to participate in the convention; that is left to them. Do not forget the fact that the Turaki group no longer exists,” the source said.
Jungudo added that the camp would formally address the issue.
“We will address the press on that tomorrow,” he said.
The Wike-aligned faction said its position was backed by recent court rulings, which according to it, nullified the rival leadership structure.
“Both the Federal High Court in Ibadan and the Court of Appeal have set aside that convention in Ibadan and declared it unlawful. Even in Ibadan, it was pronounced that they should stop parading themselves as the National Working Committee,” the source stated.
The camp said the legal decisions confirmed the legitimacy of the caretaker committee currently running the party.
The faction maintained that preparations for the national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 were lawful and progressing smoothly.
“So, the process towards the convention is ongoing. It is lawful. NEC has been notified, and they are going to observe it,” the source said.
He added that the convention would produce new national officers for the party.
“As far as I am concerned, the only authentic leadership of the PDP is the National Caretaker Committee. The plan for the convention is ongoing, and it will take place on the 29th and 30th to produce valid and authentic national officers,” he said.
Despite the hardline stance, the Wike camp said it remained open to reconciliation with the rival bloc.
“If they do not want to come, we are open to dialogue and reconciliation. I do not know why they would say they do not want to attend. We have invited them. The convention is for the PDP. The PDP is one,” the source said.
The faction also questioned the legitimacy of meetings being convened by the Turaki-led bloc.
“The court of first instance said there was no valid convention. They went on appeal, and the appellate court also ruled that there was no convention. Where then do they derive the power to hold an NEC meeting or whatever?” the source asked.
He further argued that any actions taken outside the structures recognised by law cannot stand.
“If he goes ahead to hold an NEC meeting that is not recognised by law, is it valid? It cannot be. Anything not recognised by law should not stand. That is all I know,” he added.
