The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has restated that it is the rightful leadership of the party. PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially recognises the NWC backed by PDP governors.
He said this while presenting the Certificate of Return to the Ekiti PDP governorship candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Many top party members attended the event, including 30 state chairmen, lawmakers, NWC officials and colourful supporters from Ekiti.
However, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the faction backed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, insisted that the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee is the true leadership of the party.
Anyanwu, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, accused Turaki of misleading the public about INEC’s position, insisting that the commission had already been formally informed of the PDP’s leadership change.
He pointed out that PDP governors supported the Ibadan convention, where Turaki and other National Working Committee members were elected on November 16 to serve four-year terms.
Despite this, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his allies, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Anyanwu, continued to assert that they remained the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary of the party.
Although PDP governors helped engineer a smooth transition from former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to Tanimu Turaki before Damagum’s tenure officially ended on December 9, the Wike-backed bloc still went ahead on Sunday to unveil Mohammed, Anyanwu and several others as members of a 60-day caretaker committee.
Speaking while presenting the Certificate of Return to the PDP governorship candidate, Turaki challenged those claiming to lead parallel factions to show proof that INEC recognised the candidate they sponsored.
INEC has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026.
Oluyede emerged as the PDP candidate after polling 279 votes in the primary held between November 8 and the early hours of November 9, defeating Funso Ayeni, who scored 239 votes, and Funmilayo Ogun, who got 17 votes.
Addressing party leaders from across the country, Turaki said:
“All PDP state chairmen are here. Nigerians have seen our National Assembly members, founding fathers and mothers, former governors and former ministers. The crème de la crème of the party is present. Who is missing this afternoon? Absolutely no one.
“A clear and decisive statement has been made today. Anyone still doubting where the authentic leadership of the PDP resides should have no doubt anymore. This is the PDP, and this is where the PDP will continue to be.”
Displaying documents he described as forms issued by INEC to the NWC, Turaki expressed confidence that Oluyede would clinch victory in the 2026 governorship race.
“These INEC forms confirm that the commission recognises our actions in Ekiti State. If INEC recognises us, who can oppose our leadership?” he asked.
Oluwole Oluyede described Ekiti as a state known for brilliance and courage, celebrated globally for education and integrity, but held back by years of mismanagement. He promised to restore good governance, revive the economy, strengthen communities, enhance security, and bring prosperity back to the state.
“My mission is clear: revive the economy, provide accessible healthcare, empower youths, and tackle insecurity decisively,” he said.
He urged aggrieved aspirants to withdraw their court cases, calling them “unnecessary distractions” that threaten party unity.
PDP National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja criticised those who once declared the party dead but are now vying to control it. “The PDP they said was dead is now the party they are fighting for,” he said.