Wike Faction of PDP Dismisses Rival Turaki Bloc as Illegitimate Ahead of Scheduled National Convention in Abuja

The Wike-backed PDP faction insists the March 29-30 national convention is lawful, dismissing the Turaki-led bloc following favorable court rulings.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 5:02 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

A Defiant Push Toward a National Convention

The internal power struggle within the Peoples Democratic Party has reached a critical flashpoint as the faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike prepares to hold a national convention. Despite a deepening schism that threatens the party's stability ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee insists the event remains on course for March 29 and 30. Spokesperson Mohammed Haruna Jungudo reaffirmed on Friday night that the administrative machinery is moving forward, dismissing any attempts by rival groups to stall the transition of power.

Legal Rulings Undermine Rival Leadership Claims

Central to the Wike camp’s argument is a series of judicial decisions they claim have stripped the opposition bloc of any legal standing. According to a senior member of the caretaker committee, rulings from the Federal High Court in Ibadan and the Court of Appeal have effectively nullified the rival leadership structure. The faction maintains that these courts declared the previous Ibadan convention unlawful and issued orders prohibiting the Turaki group from parading themselves as the National Working Committee, thereby leaving the caretaker committee as the only authentic governing body.

Questioning the Authority of the Turaki Bloc

The Wike-aligned leadership has been vocal in questioning where the Kabiru Turaki-led group derives its power to convene meetings or influence party policy. Proponents of the upcoming convention argue that any National Executive Committee meeting called by the rival faction lacks a foundation in law. The camp contends that because the judiciary found no valid basis for the rival convention, any subsequent actions taken by that group are inherently void. They maintain that the political process must strictly adhere to the structures recognized by the courts to ensure the validity of the newly elected officers.