PDP: Turaki NWC ‘does not exist’, convention will hold — Wike camp

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — 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 of the party as non-existent and insisted that the party’s planned national convention will go ahead as scheduled, despite the rival group’s rejection.

The standoff points to a prolonged crisis within the PDP. At stake is who controls the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to Vanguard on Friday night, a highly placed source within the Wike camp, alongside Mohammed Haruna Jungudo, spokesman of the National Caretaker Working Committee, set out the camp’s position, with Jungudo saying a formal response would follow.

“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.

The camp’s position rests heavily on recent court rulings, which it says nullified the rival leadership.

“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.

On that basis, the camp insists preparations for the convention are lawful and firmly on track.

“So, the process towards the convention is ongoing. It is lawful. NEC has been notified and they are going to observe it,” he added.

Despite the hard line, the source signalled that the door remains open.

“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 Wike ally said.

The source also argued that the courts have already settled the question of leadership.

“Both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled that the National Caretaker Committee is the authentic leadership of the PDP. We are proceeding to conduct a valid convention that will produce national officers. You must look at this from the point of law. Because Nigeria is not a banana republic; it is a democratic society. Democracy must thrive on the rule of law,” he added.

He then questioned the basis of the rival bloc’s actions, especially its continued meetings.

“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 a NEC meeting or whatever?” the source asked.

He added: “Imagine, the purported convention held last year has still not been recognised by NEC. Yet they continue to hold NEC meetings. What kind of NEC meeting is that?”

Even so, the Wike-aligned camp made clear it is moving ahead regardless.

“As far as we are concerned, the convention will hold on the 29th and 30th. If they want to come, if they accept reality, we have given them an olive branch to participate,” he said.

Placing the dispute in a wider context, the source pointed to the courts as the final arbiter.

“Any aggrieved person in Nigeria seeks redress in a court of law. The matter was before the courts… so I do not know. Nigeria has been reduced to a society where anybody does anything they like,” the source maintained.

He also dismissed actions taken outside what he described as legally recognised structures.

“If he (Turaki) goes ahead to hold a 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 ended by restating the camp’s position and the road ahead.

“So, 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. From there, we will take it forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jungudo told Vanguard: “We will address the press on that tomorrow.”

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