The Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned calls for opposition candidates to abandon their political structures and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing those behind the move as pretenders working for the ruling party.
The faction, through its National Working Committee, said the proposal was aimed at weakening the opposition and undermining Nigeria’s electoral democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement, the faction dismissed the reported appeal for PDP candidates to support Tinubu, insisting that those promoting the idea did not represent the interests of genuine party members.
“The news credited to … is that PDP candidates should collapse their structures and support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu is nothing new, except for the fact that his message is not directed at real PDP members. The message is meant for persons who, like him, are pretenders in the opposition but are working for the governing party,” the statement said.
The faction maintained that genuine PDP members would not support the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government, which it accused of implementing policies detrimental to Nigerians.
It argued that the primary responsibility of opposition parties was to provide an alternative to the ruling party rather than endorse its policies or support its electoral ambitions.
“The true and principled members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not part of the shameless, self-serving support for the APC-led Federal Government and its destructive policies. The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego,” the statement added.
The group further argued that any proposed alliance should involve opposition parties working together rather than collaborating with the ruling party.
It warned that the political arrangement being promoted as a rainbow coalition could threaten the country’s democratic process and undermine electoral competition.
“This political anomaly, styled and championed as a rainbow coalition, is the greatest threat to electoral democracy and the fastest way of railroading the country into an electoral monarchy,” the faction stated.
The Turaki-led group also urged PDP members to remain committed to the party as they await the outcome of the legal dispute over its leadership.
According to the statement, the faction’s case had been heard by the Court of Appeal, and it was awaiting the court’s judgment.
“We urge all true and faithful members of the Peoples Democratic Party to remain steadfast as we await the judiciary’s decision, hopeful that it will return our party to its true owners. Our case at the Court of Appeal has been heard, and we await judgment,” it said.
The faction expressed confidence in the judiciary, adding that it expected the dispute to be resolved in the interest of justice.
It also cautioned Nigerians against what it described as elite accommodation and state capture disguised as broad-based political cooperation.
“Nigerians should be wary of elite accommodation and state capture masquerading as broad-based political collaboration. The election next year provides a great opportunity to vote out these insensitive and irresponsible political actors,” the statement added.
