The Kabiru Turaki–led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has insisted it remains the “authentic leadership” of the opposition party, even after the Independent National Electoral Commission stepped into the raging PDP leadership crisis.
In a statement on Friday, December 19, signed by National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction revealed fresh details of its closed-door meeting with INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), and a rival group of “former members” claiming PDP leadership positions.
“Earlier today, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN invited the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some former members of our party who are claiming to be in different leadership positions in the party, to in his words ‘find a way to resolve the lingering crisis in the party’,” the statement said.
According to the Turaki camp, both sides “exhaustively” laid out their case before the commission, but agreed that the final word now rests with the Court of Appeal, where the dispute is already being heard.
“Both sides exhaustively presented the facts of the situation and confirmed that the issues are now before the Court of Appeal.
READ ALSO: INEC Meets Warring PDP Factions as Leadership Crisis Deepens
“At the end, the INEC Chairman concluded that the meeting was called to hear from both sides, though the commission is aware of the pending cases at the Court of Appeal and that the Commission awaits the final judgement of the Court on the matter,” the statement added.
By its account, the meeting did not produce a political compromise or a new recognition order from INEC.
Instead, the commission positioned itself as a neutral referee waiting for the judiciary to decide which group is the lawful PDP leadership.
Yet the Turaki-led faction is using that window to assert its authority and reassure party loyalists that it will keep acting as the main opposition voice.
“At the end of the meeting, National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki SAN said ‘As the authentic leadership of the party that emerged at a valid convention(though contested in court), while awaiting the pronouncement of the court, we will continue to undertake the duties of an opposition party, which is to hold government to account on critical issues like security, infrastructure, education, healthcare etc.’”
The message to PDP members and the wider public is clear: despite the parallel structures and court battles, the Turaki camp is not stepping aside, and plans to continue speaking and organising as the party’s national leadership until a higher court rules otherwise.