ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that it will not support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The faction said the party must remain focused on challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress at the polls.
Response to Wike’s Call
The faction made its position known in a statement issued on Tuesday. It was responding to comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike had reportedly urged PDP candidates to abandon their individual political structures and support Tinubu’s second-term ambition. The faction rejected the proposal.
The statement was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the faction’s Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong.
“The news credited to Minister Nyesom Wike that PDP candidates should collapse their structures and support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu is nothing new, except for the fact that his message is not directed at real PDP members,” the statement said.
Pretenders in Opposition
The faction said Wike’s appeal was intended for “persons who, like him, are pretenders in the opposition but are working for the governing party.”
It maintained that supporting Tinubu’s re-election would contradict the PDP’s responsibility as an opposition party. It said the party should offer Nigerians a credible alternative to the policies of the APC-led government.
“The true and principled members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not part of the shameless, self-serving support for the APC-led federal government and its destructive policies,” it stated.
Duty of Opposition
The statement stressed that an opposition party should not use its political influence to strengthen the government it is expected to challenge. It said the party should present alternative policies and compete for power through democratic elections.
“The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego,” the statement added.
The faction also argued that any political arrangement involving opposition parties should strengthen their collective ability to challenge the ruling party.
“If at all opposition parties are to have an alliance, it will be amongst themselves, not with the governing party,” it said.
Warning on Rainbow Coalition
The faction also criticised the “rainbow coalition” involving opposition politicians and the ruling party. It warned that political cooperation built around the interests of powerful individuals could weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
“This political anomaly, styled and championed as a ‘rainbow coalition,’ is the greatest threat to electoral democracy and the fastest way of railroading the country into an electoral monarchy,” the statement said.
The group argued that democracy depends on the existence of competing political parties. It said allowing opposition figures to rally behind the incumbent could reduce voter choices and weaken accountability.
Call to Nigerians
The faction urged Nigerians to reject what it called elite accommodation and state capture disguised as political collaboration.
“Nigerians should be wary of elite accommodation and state capture masquerading as broad-based political collaboration. The election next year provides a great opportunity to vote out these insensitive and irresponsible political actors,” the statement added.
Legal Setbacks
In April 2026, the Supreme Court invalidated the PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025. The convention had produced the Turaki-led leadership. The ruling complicated the struggle over the party’s leadership.
In July, the Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed a suit seeking recognition for the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee. This was another setback for the faction’s efforts to secure official recognition.
Despite these challenges, the Turaki-led group has continued to present itself as committed to challenging the ruling party. It called on its supporters to remain committed and await further developments. It expressed confidence that its position would ultimately prevail.
