By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABUJA — The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with Seyi Makinde has declared that its scheduled primaries and national convention will go ahead as planned, dismissing alleged attempts by Nyesom Wike to stall the process.
The group, operating under an interim leadership chaired by Kabiru Turaki, said preparations for the 2027 general elections were firmly on course, including the ongoing sale of nomination forms. It maintained that no pressure or political manoeuvring would halt the exercise expected to produce the party’s presidential candidate.
In a strongly worded statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction criticised Wike’s recent media appearance, describing it as unbecoming and calling on him to apologise to Nigerians over his remarks.
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Ememobong accused the minister of launching unwarranted attacks on prominent figures, characterising his comments as empty rhetoric driven by frustration. He said the party would typically ignore such outbursts but chose to address the public, framing its response as a reflection on its past association with Wike.
The statement further urged individuals allegedly defamed in Wike’s comments to seek legal redress, stressing that no one is above the law.
The Merit Newspaper reports that reaffirming its legitimacy, the Makinde-aligned leadership dismissed claims of any overarching authority within the party, noting that the position of “national leader” does not exist in the PDP’s constitution.
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It also rejected suggestions that Wike could disrupt the party’s financial operations, insisting that its accounts remain functional despite threats directed at institutions working with the party.
On the legal disputes referenced by the minister, the faction said it was awaiting certified true copies of relevant court rulings and challenged Wike to publicly clarify the details of the cases he cited.
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The statement reiterated with a note of confidence, assuring Nigerians that the party’s internal processes would proceed uninterrupted, adding that truth would ultimately prevail despite political tensions.
