PDP will survive crisis, participate in 2027 elections – Turaki

The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has declared that no individual or group can destroy the party.

He insisted that the PDP would participate in all the 2027 general elections despite its ongoing leadership crisis.

Turaki made the declaration on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Abuja, where leaders gathered to review the recent court judgment secured by the PDP Board of Trustees and discuss the party’s political and legal strategy.

He assured members that the PDP remained strong and would overcome its current challenges.

Turaki declared that no individual or group could destroy the PDP, insisting that the party would continue to exist and remain a strong political force.

He also assured members that the PDP would field candidates in all categories of the 2027 general elections, from the presidential contest to State Houses of Assembly polls.

Turaki compared the party’s current leadership crisis to the 2016 dispute that led to the formation of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee, saying the PDP survived that difficult period and would do so again.

“Compared to the crisis the PDP faced in the past, what we are experiencing today is minor. By God’s grace, we will overcome it. We called this meeting to carefully review the recent court judgment and agree on a common position. We did not issue an immediate response because some members of the interim working committee were away when the judgment was delivered,” he said.

The senior lawyer also blamed the challenges facing many opposition parties on the actions of those in power, arguing that the ruling party appeared to benefit whenever opposition parties were thrown into crisis.

Former Niger State Governor and Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Dr Babangida Aliyu, also urged members not to lose hope, saying difficult times often reveal the true strength of an organisation.