2027 Poll: We Will Be On Ballot, Turaki-led PDP Insists

The Interim National Chairman of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki (SAN), on Thursday insisted that his faction will participate fully in the 2027 general elections despite the leadership crisis rocking the party.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Turaki said the current internal crisis was not new to the PDP, stressing that the party had weathered similar storms in the past and would emerge stronger.

He recalled the leadership crisis that culminated in the inauguration of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee, saying the PDP survived that difficult period and remained united.

According to him, the present challenges confronting the party are not as severe as previous ones.

“There may be challenges here and there regarding the leadership of our party. Again, for us in the PDP, this is nothing new. We will overcome. We shall overcome. We are overcoming,” he said.

Turaki alleged that many of the crises affecting opposition political parties in the country could be traced to the ruling party, describing the development as unfortunate.

He, however, maintained that no individual or group could destroy the PDP.

“Nobody, and I dare say, nobody can kill the PDP. PDP will continue to live,” he declared.

The former Minister of Special Duties said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to brief party leaders on recent developments, including the implications of a court judgment delivered last Friday in a suit filed by the party’s Board of Trustees.

He explained that the interim leadership had yet to issue an official response to the judgment because some officials were outside the country or away on official engagements when it was delivered.

Turaki said the meeting would also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Insisting that his faction remained a legitimate platform for contesting elections, he 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 tell you that this PDP shall be on the ballot for all rounds of the 2027 elections, from the presidential election down to the State Houses of Assembly elections.”

He commended party stakeholders for remaining loyal to the PDP despite its current challenges and urged them to remain united in their efforts to strengthen the opposition.

Turaki expressed confidence that the decisions reached at the meeting would reposition the party and ultimately lead it to victory in the 2027 general elections.