The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, says it will fight to free the party from the “shackles of bondage” imposed by “undemocratic forces”.
Turaki gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the party’s gubernatorial candidates, led by Sunday Biggs, chairperson of the forum and gubernatorial candidate in Plateau.
He said the PDP remained determined to survive the current challenges, describing it as Nigeria’s only surviving legacy political party.
On November 4, the court of appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Turaki-led interim national working committee (NWC) of the PDP.
The appeal was filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led board of trustees (BoT) of the PDP faction.
INEC recognises the PDP faction backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Turaki said the party received calls and expressions of support from its founding fathers and mothers, BoT members, past and present leaders, and other Nigerians following the verdict.
“PDP will continue to survive and will remain that quintessential party that it has been. Whatever machinations that anybody or group of persons may make, we want to tell them that PDP will not go down,” he said.
“Now, PDP has come to stay, and PDP will continue to fight to free itself from the shackles of bondage that some undemocratic forces and elements are trying to put us in.”
He said the interim NWC has instructed its legal team to review the judgment and advise it on the next steps.
Turaki expressed optimism that the party would overcome the legal challenges and have its candidates on the ballot in 2027 elections.
Biggs said the candidates visited Turaki to reaffirm their support for the interim NWC and encourage them to develop strategies to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged the leadership to pursue an appeal to the supreme court with urgency, competence and adequate legal preparation.
Biggs called for a broader platform for reconciliation and constructive engagement among aggrieved members, as well as regular communication with party members to prevent misinformation, speculation and unnecessary anxiety.
He said the gubernatorial candidates are committed to cooperating with the leadership to rebuild the PDP into a stronger, more united and electorally competitive political institution.
“We believe in the PDP, we stand with the party, and we are committed to its survival and success,” he said.
The delegation included gubernatorial candidates from various states, including Ladi Hassan (Kwara), Joel Danlami (Taraba), Caleb Andrew Myebangara (Adamawa), Isah Muqaddam (Gombe), Lawal Umar (Kaduna), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kebbi), Yakubu Mu’azu (Jigawa), and Zanna Gaddama (Borno).
