Wike-backed PDP In Bauchi Denies Collapse Into APM

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has dismissed reports that its structure has collapsed into the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing the claim as false and the handiwork of impostors.

The party’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Yahaya Garkuwa, stated this on Tuesday at a press conference held at the PDP secretariat, which is backed by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, along Maiduguri Bypass, Bauchi.

Garkuwa maintained that the only PDP recognised by law in Bauchi State is the faction led by Hon. Ibrahim Kassim Toro, while at the national level, the party is led by Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed.

He said the leadership dispute within the party had been subjected to judicial scrutiny, with various courts affirming the leadership structure recognised by the party.

According to him, the Federal High Court had earlier affirmed the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee as the authentic national leadership of the PDP.

He said the Tanimu Turaki-led faction subsequently appealed the judgment, but the Court of Appeal upheld the decision and recognised the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership at the national level and Ibrahim Kassim Toro’s leadership in Bauchi State.

Garkuwa added that the matter was eventually taken to the Supreme Court after the rival faction remained dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal judgment.

He claimed that the Supreme Court ruling further affirmed their position, adding that the Tanimu Turaki faction was not recognised by law.

The Legal Adviser alleged that after exhausting their legal options, members of the rival faction resorted to impersonation and the spread of false information about the PDP.

“Now that they don’t have anywhere to go following the judgment of the Supreme Court, they have started impersonating as leaders of the PDP. They decided to create confusion by telling the public that the PDP structure has collapsed into APM,” he said.

Garkuwa insisted that the recognised members of the PDP remained in the party and had not defected to any other political organisation.

“We, the authentic members of the PDP, are still in the PDP. We have not joined any other political party; we still remain in the PDP,” he said.

He further disclosed that the Bauchi PDP leadership was preparing to take legal action against individuals allegedly parading themselves as officials of the party.

Garkuwa urged members of the public to disregard the alleged merger rumour, insisting that the PDP remained the legally recognised party in the state.

He also challenged the rival faction to produce the names of candidates it claimed to have sponsored for the 2027 general elections.

“If they are truly members of the PDP, let them name their candidates. They don’t have candidates,” he said.

Garkuwa assured party supporters that the PDP remained intact and prepared to participate in the 2027 general elections.

“PDP is not collapsing into any political party. PDP is still standing, PDP is still strong and is fully prepared for the 2027 general elections,” he said.

The Legal Adviser was accompanied at the briefing by the state party chairman, other party officials, stakeholders and supporters.

He maintained that the PDP had fielded credible candidates capable of delivering victory and recalled that the party was responsible for many of the developmental projects executed in Bauchi State and across the country during its years in government.

He stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has presented Hon. Usman Adamu Ahmed Suphi as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections in Bauchi State, with Alhaji Abdulkadir Aliyu Bababa as his running mate.