Bolaji Idowu
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has dismissed claims of a party faction, declaring the PDP fully united after 29 state chairmen unanimously affirmed the legitimacy of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Turaki made the declaration on Wednesday during a meeting with PDP state chairmen in Abuja. While 29 chairmen were present, two others sent in their apologies.
The PDP governors had previously supported the Ibadan convention held on November 16, where Turaki and other NWC members were elected for a four-year tenure. However, allies of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu — continued to insist that they remained Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.
Despite a seamless transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki ahead of Damagum’s tenure ending on December 9, the Wike-backed faction went ahead on Sunday to name Mohammed, Anyanwu, and others into a 60-day caretaker committee.
Turaki said every step taken was in collaboration with the state chairmen, emphasizing that the effectiveness of the NWC depends on their cooperation. He said:
“If all the state chairmen are here with us, then who, sincerely speaking, can be fighting us? These are known faces; these are veterans in their own right, and they are here physically, not virtually, and they are here in person, not via representation. So as far as PDP is concerned, I think it speaks for itself.”
He assured the state chairmen that under his leadership, the NWC would return the PDP to the people. He also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it is taking Nigeria backwards.
“Today, PDP is on a new mission — to reclaim Nigeria from the inept APC leadership. The achievements of the 16 glorious PDP years have either been destroyed, shattered, or reversed. We are not taking Nigerians back to where we were in 2015; we will take over power by the special grace of God in 2027, and thereafter begin the journey to taking Nigeria and Nigerians to the promised land,” Turaki said.