‘Purely 419’ – Wike, Turaki PDP Factions Clash Over INEC Forms, Candidates’ Lists

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Tanimu Turaki-led faction traded words over rival Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms, conflicting candidates’ lists and issues arising from the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed faction, Jungudo Mohammed, dismissed the activities of the Turaki faction, insisting that they would not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 polls.

Mohammed described the rival faction’s actions as “419,” saying its claims would eventually fail.

“We are not concerned one bit about what these people are doing, and we will not be concerned. Whatever they are doing will not, in any way, affect the chances of the PDP at the polls come 2027,” he told The PUNCH.

“We have consistently maintained that lies and propaganda have expiry dates. This one is just like the convention they held, which we told the whole world could not stand and did not stand.

“So, all of these they are doing is best described as the very many faces of 419, fraud. Nigerians are now aware and have become aware of their 419.”

Dispute Over INEC Forms

The controversy followed the emergence of rival nomination forms and candidates’ lists from both camps.

The Supreme Court had, in a split decision delivered on April 30, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced the Turaki-led leadership.

Following the judgment, the party’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and other members into an Interim National Working Committee.

However, the PDP leadership recognised by INEC, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, continued with the sale of nomination forms and was granted access codes to upload its candidates.

The Turaki faction also issued nomination forms to aspirants, despite the absence of INEC recognition and access codes.

Mohammed urged INEC to verify the authenticity of nomination forms displayed by the rival faction and prosecute anyone found to have forged documents.

“If truly those documents emanated from INEC, INEC should be in the best position to answer that because we are not the manufacturers of the INEC nomination forms,” he said.

“But if they did not emanate from them, then criminal proceedings should be initiated.

“Besides, when they fill these forms, where will they take them to? How would they upload them? Do they have access codes to upload their information? It’s just 419, purely 419.”

Turaki Faction Fires Back

Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, dismissed claims that the faction’s nomination forms were fake.

He said only INEC could determine the authenticity of the documents.

“The access code is not an issue; at the right time INEC will do the needful. If they claim that the forms are fake, it doesn’t lie in their mouth to say so,” Ememobong said.

“The law is clear, that only the maker of a document can determine its authenticity. We are busy with very serious things, including candidate preparations. We are also handling cases in court, so we are too busy to join issues with them.”

He admitted that the crisis had affected the party but said his faction was carefully navigating the situation.

“The negative impact is already there. But in every battle, it is not just what you go through; it is how you go through it. We are carefully navigating all the landmines, and, at the end, the end will justify the means,” he said.

Ememobong added that three major cases were pending before the courts and expressed confidence that the outcomes would favour his faction.

“We are not going to back down from this. We are clearly on the path of the law, and the facts are aligned with us,” he stated.