Politics

PDP Crisis Deepens as INEC Refuses to Recognise Turaki-Led NWC

Published

1 month ago

December 23, 2025

PDP Crisis Deepens as INEC Refuses to Recognise Turaki-Led NWC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined a request to recognise the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing subsisting court judgements and ongoing legal proceedings.

The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, both influential figures within the opposition party.

Recall that in November, the PDP—supported by Makinde and Mohammed—held a national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where a new set of national officers emerged. The convention, however, was preceded by conflicting court rulings, with Federal High Courts in Abuja issuing orders halting the exercise over alleged violations of the party constitution and electoral laws, while an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the event.

Following the convention, a faction of the party opposed to the process, led by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), constituted a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC), deepening the leadership crisis within the PDP.

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Subsequently, the Makinde-backed PDP, through its legal representatives, formally requested INEC to recognise Kabiru Turaki as the party’s authentic national chairman.

However, in a letter dated December 22 and addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co, counsel to the PDP, INEC said the issue remains sub judice, stressing that it cannot take any administrative action that could pre-empt the outcome of the cases currently before the courts.

The electoral umpire stated that it would not update its records to reflect any change in the PDP’s national leadership until all pending suits and appeals challenging the Ibadan convention are conclusively determined.

“In the light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudiced and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals,” the commission said.

INEC added that, in obedience to the rule of law and existing court orders, it is unable to recognise or update the list of national officers purportedly produced at the PDP National Convention of November 15–16, 2025.

PDP Crisis Deepens as INEC Refuses to Recognise Turaki-Led NWC

Politics

Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC

Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has issued a fresh directive to his supporters following the defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and several lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwankwaso urged his loyalists across Kano State to remain calm, disciplined, and committed to the ideals of the movement, describing the defections as a political development that should not weaken the party’s grassroots base. He advised supporters facing pressure to defect to exercise caution and strategic patience, stressing that long-term political goals must not be sacrificed for short-term advantages.

The directive comes amid reports that the governor, alongside members of the Kano State House of Assembly, federal lawmakers, and several local government officials, has resigned from the NNPP to join the ruling APC, a move that has triggered a major political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Kwankwaso and NNPP leaders have alleged that some of the defections were carried out under political pressure, a claim that has further heightened tensions between the NNPP leadership and the Kano State Government. The party insists that the defections do not reflect the true strength of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which it says remains deeply rooted among the electorate.

While the APC has welcomed the new entrants, political analysts note that defections do not automatically translate into voter support, particularly in Kano, where Kwankwaso continues to command significant grassroots influence.

The NNPP has also dismissed claims that Kwankwaso endorsed or approved the defections, reiterating that the moves are personal decisions and do not represent the position of the party or its national leader.

As political maneuvering intensifies, attention is now focused on how both parties will consolidate their positions in Kano as preparations for the next election cycle gather momentum.

Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC

Politics

Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP

Published

18 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), leading a sweeping political realignment that has seen eight members of the House of Representatives and 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly also withdraw their membership from the party.

Governor Yusuf’s Resignation Letter Emerges

The governor’s resignation, communicated through a formal letter to NNPP leaders, follows weeks of speculation over growing internal crises, leadership disputes, and legal challenges within the party. Several local government chairmen and grassroots party structures across Kano State are reported to have defected alongside the governor.

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In his letter, Governor Yusuf thanked NNPP members for their support during the 2023 election cycle but said persistent factional conflicts had weakened the party’s cohesion and effectiveness, making it difficult to sustain governance and political stability in the state.

Political sources say the governor and the defecting lawmakers are expected to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming days, a move that would significantly alter the political balance in Kano State and the wider North-West region.

Observers describe the mass defection as one of the biggest setbacks for the NNPP since the 2023 general elections, raising fresh concerns about the party’s future relevance as political actors begin positioning ahead of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.

The development adds to a growing wave of cross-party defections in Nigerian politics, underscoring intensifying competition and realignment as parties consolidate power ahead of future elections.

Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP

Politics

Fayose Reveals Alleged Details of Tinubu‑Makinde Meeting

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Fayose Reveals Alleged Details of Tinubu‑Makinde Meeting

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has released a controversial account of the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, igniting fresh debate in Nigerian politics.

Fayose claimed that Makinde did not meet the president alone but was accompanied by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which he described as a “lack of courage” to face Tinubu independently. According to Fayose, President Tinubu emphasized that the discussion would focus strictly on official governance matters affecting Oyo State, refusing to engage on political grievances or upcoming electoral support.

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The former governor also alleged that Tinubu made it clear he was not seeking Makinde’s political backing for the 2027 elections, reaffirming his support for allies within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and leaving Makinde’s political future firmly with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In response, Governor Makinde reiterated his commitment to the PDP, stressing the importance of bipartisan cooperation for national development while dismissing speculation about defecting to the APC.

Fayose’s account has sparked a national conversation on political dynamics, federal influence, and party loyalty, particularly within the context of the PDP’s internal disputes and preparations for the 2027 general elections. As of now, neither the Presidency nor Governor Makinde has officially commented on Fayose’s revelations.