PDP sources insist there is no real faction in the party — say recent INEC decisions clearly favour the Turaki-led NWC
Ekiti rejection and Osun monitoring seen as defining indicators
The leadership tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appears to have taken a clearer direction following a series of actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which party insiders believe amount to practical endorsement of the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC.
According to findings by Vanguard, several recent events — including INEC’s on-ground monitoring of the Osun governorship primary and its refusal to act on a letter from the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led group seeking to delay the Ekiti congresses and primary — have strengthened the perception that the Commission implicitly recognises the Turaki leadership.
A senior party source familiar with the PDP’s internal processes said the situation within the party is far more settled than public discourse suggests.
“In truth, the debate about who is legitimate should not even be happening. INEC recognises the Turaki-led NWC. That’s the reality,” the insider said.
He noted that official notices signed by the Turaki-led executives were accepted by INEC, including those for the Osun governorship primary, which was monitored by five Commission officials.
“Everyone saw the Osun primary on Tuesday. INEC officials were there, and the notice came from the Turaki team. That speaks for itself,” he added.
The controversy escalated when the Anyanwu group wrote to INEC announcing a postponement of the Ekiti primary. INEC, however, declined to act on the communication because it lacked the signatures of the chairman and secretary recognised by the Commission.
“The Ekiti issue was straightforward. The letter they sent didn’t meet INEC’s requirements, so the Commission simply couldn’t respond to it,” the source explained.
He also disclosed that the party had formally acknowledged INEC’s earlier letter rejecting the postponement, noting that documents and photographs confirm the communication.
“Later, INEC seemed to distance itself from that version of the letter, but we have records showing it was issued and transmitted to us. It wasn’t even intended for the media, so we’re not sure how it got out,” he said.
Another insider revealed that INEC privately urged the PDP leadership to conduct the Osun primary promptly to avoid missing the legally allowed time frame, which could have left the party without a candidate.
“INEC didn’t want the party trapped in a technical mess. They pushed for the primary to be held quickly to avoid complications ahead of 2027,” he noted.
Regarding talk of factions, party sources dismissed claims that the PDP is divided, stressing that no legitimate faction exists unless a formal walkout takes place at a national convention.
“People forget how the only real faction happened — when five governors walked out in 2014. That is what a faction looks like. Nothing like that happened here,” the source insisted.
The party is now awaiting a judicial pronouncement on the legality of the December 8 convention, with a court in Ibadan expected to rule next week.
“The judgment will provide official clarity, but internally, and based on INEC’s actions, things are already quite clear,” one of the sources concluded.
