Turaki PDP Faction Denies Planned Congresses
The Peoples Democratic Party has said it is not conducting congresses in any part of the country, describing reports of planned party congresses as “false information” being circulated by expelled members aligned with the All Progressives Congress.
In a statement on Monday, the National Chairman of the PDP faction, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), said the circulation of such information was part of a deliberate attempt to undermine the party and derail Nigeria’s democratic processes.
“Our members and the general public are hereby notified that our party is not conducting congresses in any part of the country.
“The false information is being circulated by expelled members of our party, who now have clearly shown their unrelenting appendages to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a bid to kill our party and derail our democracy,” the statement read.
Turaki accused the expelled members of using their influence for personal gain, claiming that some had “mortgaged the fate of our party to the President and the APC, in return for political appointments and other favours.”
He added that the party could not “surrender” its platform to individuals seeking to negotiate with the ruling party, citing the FCT Area Council Elections as a recent example.
This disposition is obviously against the principles of multiparty democracy, which is the best option for a heterogeneous and pluralistic society like ours,” Turaki said.
He urged members and the public to ignore the alleged congresses, noting that the party is currently focused on digital membership registration:
“We therefore urge all our members and the general public to discountenance the said planned congresses in the said states. What the party is currently undertaking is the digital membership registration, which has commenced and is progressing well.”
Turaki concluded the statement by assuring members that the party would continue to provide updates, stating,” We will keep our members updated about the developments concomitant with the new political realities unfolding.”
The clarification comes amid contrasting positions within the PDP.
Nyesom Wike-backed faction insisted that its planned national convention on March 29–30 would proceed as scheduled despite ongoing litigation.
The PDP National Caretaker Committee, led by acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission had been formally informed of the planned convention.
In an exclusive interview, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, along with another member, Okechukwu Osuoha, assured that party leaders remained committed to organising a fully inclusive convention.
The Governor Seyi Makinde-backed PDP faction, led by Turaki, however, objected, insisting that the FCT Minister’s bloc lacked the capacity and locus to conduct the congress
