The Chairman of the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has assured party members and supporters that the PDP will fully participate in the 2027 general elections, insisting the party will field candidates for every elective office.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Turaki said that despite the internal challenges facing the party, the PDP remains strong and capable of overcoming its current difficulties.
He noted that the party had survived similar crises in the past, recalling the leadership dispute that resulted in the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee.
“Nobody, and I dare say, nobody can kill the PDP. The PDP will continue to live. There may be challenges here and there regarding the leadership of our party, but this is nothing new. We will overcome. We shall overcome. We are overcoming”, he said.
Turaki described the meeting as an opportunity to brief stakeholders on recent developments, particularly the court judgement delivered last Friday in a suit filed by the PDP Board of Trustees.
He said the party leadership would carefully study the judgement and adopt appropriate strategies to move the party forward.
Reaffirming the PDP’s readiness for the next general elections, Turaki said: “The essence of every political party is to legitimately capture power. You cannot capture power unless you are on the ballot. I want to assure you that the PDP will be on the ballot in every stage of the 2027 elections, from the presidential election to the State Houses of Assembly elections.”
He urged party members to remain united and committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Turaki also accused the ruling party of fuelling crises within opposition parties, describing it as unfortunate that many of the challenges confronting opposition parties could be traced to “the footsteps of the party in government”.
The Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Babangida Aliyu, commended Turaki for upholding legality and due process in managing the party’s affairs.
Recalling the crisis that led to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee, Aliyu said the PDP had overcome greater challenges in the past.
“Many a time, you never know the strength you have until you are thoroughly challenged. We have been challenged,” he said.
Aliyu criticised politicians who had defected from the PDP, describing them as individuals driven by personal interests.
“Those who thought they could kill the PDP by running away to another party are the ones now suffering more than what we are going through.”
He urged members to remain patient and steadfast, expressing confidence that the party would recover and emerge stronger.
“We will get our party back, and we will succeed in the final analysis.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen’s Forum, Tony Aziegbemi, dismissed claims that the PDP had become irrelevant, insisting that it remained a formidable political force.
He criticised former members who, according to him, had benefited significantly from the party before turning against it.
Aziegbemi also called for greater accountability in public office, condemning what he described as the excessive accumulation of wealth by some public officials while millions of Nigerians continued to live in poverty.
He urged party members not to lose hope, assuring them that the PDP would emerge stronger.
“Don’t be scared. Don’t have doubts. We will get there, and when we get there, we will know where the rain beat us and where the rain dried us.”
