The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanimu Turaki, has moved to put an end to speculation about a faction within the party, insisting the PDP is intact and operating under a single legitimate leadership.
Turaki made the declaration in Abuja on Wednesday, December 10, during a meeting with state chairmen.
Twenty-nine chairmen attended physically, while two others sent apologies, a turnout he said reflected overwhelming unity.
His comments come amid persistent claims by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who insist that Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remain Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary.
The group had even announced a 60-day caretaker committee over the weekend, despite the party’s Ibadan convention electing new leaders on November 16.
Turaki stressed that the transition from former chairman Umar Damagum, whose tenure ended on December 9, was done with the support of governors and in consultation with state chairmen.
He said, “For me, today is a day of fulfilment. Outside there, some people who claim to be members of our party, but who indeed the whole world knows are not members of our party, claim that they have what they call a faction.”
He added that the presence of 29 chairmen showed where the party’s authority clearly resides.
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“If all the state chairmen are here with us, then who is it that is not with us? If all the state chairmen are supporting us, then who, sincerely speaking, can be fighting us?”
According to him, Nigerians can now see where the genuine leadership of the PDP stands.
“People now know where the leadership of PDP is, and people know who the true leaders of the party are, and of course, we are the leaders, the genuine bona fide leaders of the people.”
Turaki also pledged that the NWC would work to reconnect the PDP with its base, while accusing the All Progressives Congress of worsening national conditions.
He said, “Today, PDP is on a new mission, and this new mission is to reclaim Nigeria from the inept APC leadership, a leadership that, instead of taking Nigeria progressively forward, is taking us retrogressively backwards.”
He argued that the achievements recorded during the PDP’s 16 years in power had been eroded. “Whenever Nigerians speak, they beg, they plead: if you cannot take us anywhere further, please take us back to where we were in 2015.”
Turaki assured party supporters of a comeback in the next general election. “We will take over power by the special grace of God in 2027.
“And thereafter, we will begin the journey to taking Nigeria and Nigerians to the promised land. It is possible, it is doable; we’ve done it before, and we’re going to do it again.”