2027: PDP Governorship Candidates Seek Appeal against Court Judgment, Back Turaki

Eight governorship candidates of the  Saminu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged its leadership to urgently pursue an appeal against the recent Court of Appeal judgment at the Supreme Court.

The candidates, under the auspices of the Gubernatorial Candidates Forum of the authentic PDP, made the appeal during a solidarity visit to the faction’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC), where they also called for strategic measures to strengthen the party and prevent further internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Led by the forum’s chairman, Hon. Sunday Biggs, the delegation urged the party leadership to approach the legal battle with urgency, competence and all necessary preparations, while simultaneously initiating a broader reconciliation process to bring aggrieved members back into the fold.

They also called for sustained engagement with party members, particularly at the grassroots, to promote unity, counter misinformation and prevent unnecessary anxiety arising from the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

Speaking during the visit, Biggs said the candidates remained committed to the survival and electoral success of the PDP, insisting that the challenges confronting the opposition party should not determine its future.
“We believe in the PDP, we stand with the party, and we are committed to its survival and success,” he said.

He urged the INWC to remain focused, courageous and committed to preserving the party, assuring the leadership of the candidates’ cooperation and readiness to contribute to rebuilding the PDP into a stronger, more united and electorally competitive political organisation.

Biggs said the visit was also intended to encourage the party leadership to develop a comprehensive political and organisational strategy capable of strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

Responding, Turaki thanked the candidates for their solidarity, describing their visit as particularly significant given the uncertainties surrounding the party following the Court of Appeal judgment.

He said the leadership had received calls and visits from founding fathers, former and serving party leaders, members of the Board of Trustees and other Nigerians concerned about the state of the country’s democracy.

Turaki, however, insisted that the PDP would survive the current challenges, declaring that the party would not surrender to what he described as attempts by undemocratic forces to undermine its existence.

“Whatever machinations that anybody or group of persons may make, we want to tell them that PDP will continue to survive and that PDP will remain that quintessential party that it had been,” he said.

On the legal implications of the appellate court’s judgment, Turaki disclosed that the faction had directed its lawyers to study the ruling and advise the leadership on the appropriate next steps.

He said a meeting with the legal team had been scheduled immediately after the engagement with the governorship candidates to review the judgment and determine the party’s next course of action.

The PDP factional chairman also clarified that the Board of Trustees members who approached the court had not instituted an entirely new case but sought an interpretation of existing judgments delivered by the FCT High Court, Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

According to him, the combined effect of the judgments was that the Turaki-led leadership represented the authentic and legitimate leadership of the PDP.

He explained that the faction had conducted several activities in line with the Electoral Act, culminating in the emergence of candidates for various elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Turaki maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had received the particulars of the candidates, including those seeking the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly positions.

He said the Board of Trustees approached the court to determine the legal implications of the existing judgments and whether INEC was obligated to recognise and publish the candidates’ names on its portal as the PDP’s standard-bearers.

Turaki expressed optimism that the party’s grievances would receive favourable consideration should the matter proceed to the Supreme Court, adding that the leadership remained confident of securing a favourable outcome.

He assured the governorship candidates that the faction would continue the struggle to ensure that the PDP remained on the ballot in 2027.

“Even if it is a few days to the dates of the election that the shackles, the bondage of our party is freed, we will get to the polls. And by the special grace of God, we will emerge victorious,” he said.

Turaki also urged party members to remain calm and resolute, warning against actions that could further compound the party’s difficulties.

He assured the candidates that the leadership would continue to respect the party’s constitutional organs, promote inclusive consultations and carry all stakeholders along in its decisions.

The eight candidates who represented their colleagues at the meeting were Sunday Biggs (Plateau), Ladi Hassan (Kwara), Joel Danlami (Taraba), Caleb Andrew Myebangara (Adamawa), Isah Muqaddam (Gombe), Lawal Umar (Kaduna), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kebbi) and Yakubu Mu’azu (Jigawa).

The candidates expressed confidence that sustained consultation, reconciliation and a coordinated legal and political strategy would help the PDP overcome its current difficulties and position it for the 2027 general elections.