Anxiety Grows Over Fate Of 1,393 PDP Legislative Candidates
Uncertainty has continued to surround the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election as its prolonged leadership crisis threatens the nomination of candidates for 1,393 National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats.
The dispute pits a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against another led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Both groups claim authority over the party's leadership, particularly the office of the National Secretary, creating uncertainty over who has the legal right to submit candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Under INEC's timetable for the 2027 elections, political parties were required to submit the particulars of their presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates by 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 2026.
Nominations for governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled to open on July 18 and close on August 8, 2026.
The crisis has resulted in rival meetings, conflicting resolutions and multiple court cases, with the Turaki-led faction alleging that INEC has given preferential recognition to the Wike-backed leadership.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Wike dismissed the rival faction's claims, insisting that the recognised PDP leadership had already received INEC's access code to upload candidates.
He alleged that the Turaki group was misleading aspirants by collecting nomination fees despite lacking the authority to submit candidates.
Meanwhile, the Turaki faction has asked the court to declare it the authentic leadership of the PDP and compel INEC to recognise its interim National Working Committee for the purpose of processing candidates for the 2027 elections.
The group argues that its inability to access the commission's nomination portal has placed its candidates at a disadvantage.
The case is scheduled to come up for possible judgment on July 17, 2026, several days after the deadline for submitting presidential and National Assembly candidates, a development that has heightened anxiety among affected aspirants and party members nationwide.
The dispute pits a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against another led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Both groups claim authority over the party's leadership, particularly the office of the National Secretary, creating uncertainty over who has the legal right to submit candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Under INEC's timetable for the 2027 elections, political parties were required to submit the particulars of their presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates by 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 2026.
Nominations for governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled to open on July 18 and close on August 8, 2026.
The crisis has resulted in rival meetings, conflicting resolutions and multiple court cases, with the Turaki-led faction alleging that INEC has given preferential recognition to the Wike-backed leadership.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Wike dismissed the rival faction's claims, insisting that the recognised PDP leadership had already received INEC's access code to upload candidates.
He alleged that the Turaki group was misleading aspirants by collecting nomination fees despite lacking the authority to submit candidates.
Meanwhile, the Turaki faction has asked the court to declare it the authentic leadership of the PDP and compel INEC to recognise its interim National Working Committee for the purpose of processing candidates for the 2027 elections.
The group argues that its inability to access the commission's nomination portal has placed its candidates at a disadvantage.
The case is scheduled to come up for possible judgment on July 17, 2026, several days after the deadline for submitting presidential and National Assembly candidates, a development that has heightened anxiety among affected aspirants and party members nationwide.
