The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by pro-Wike forces to disrupt the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national convention and prevent the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.

In a joint statement signed on Wednesday by Mark Adebayo, National Spokesperson of CUPP, and Peter Ameh, National Secretary, the coalition accused individuals loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of working to cripple the PDP from within in a bid to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

CUPP alleged that the PDP’s internal crisis is part of a larger scheme to prevent the party from participating in the next elections by frustrating its convention and primaries.

“An evil agenda is being orchestrated by groups loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to ensure that the PDP cannot field a presidential, governorship, or legislative candidate in 2027,” the statement read.

“This plot has been on for a while, and we agree with former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s claim that the crises in opposition parties are contrived by political foxes working to eliminate multiparty democracy in Nigeria.”

The CUPP called on Nigerians to resist any attempt to turn the country into a “banana republic” dominated by one party.

The CUPP also condemned a separate move by the same group to declare the seat of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the opposition spokesperson in the House of Representatives, vacant.

“Their desperation to remove Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere is dead on arrival because the Nigerian Constitution only recognizes death, resignation, or recall by constituents as valid grounds for a lawmaker’s seat to be declared vacant,” the statement read.

The coalition further accused the pro-Wike faction of shopping for a compromised judge to rule in their favour, revealing that they had withdrawn a case from one Federal High Court in Abuja and refiled it in another, hoping to manipulate the outcome.

“We urge Nigerian judges to beware of corrupt politicians filing frivolous and fraudulent cases to waste the court’s time. There are still honourable judges who will resist these desperate politicians seeking to undermine the judiciary with stolen wealth.”

CUPP affirmed that Hon. Ikenga remains highly popular in Ideato Federal Constituency and beyond, dismissing the legal challenge against him as a political vendetta orchestrated by anti-democratic forces.

“His constituents stand firmly with him, and opposition parties are united behind him in resisting this unconstitutional plot,” the statement concluded.