Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the caretaker committee set up by allies of Tanimu Turaki within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the move as fraudulent and misleading.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike insisted there is no leadership vacuum in the party and warned Nigerians against what he called attempts to create confusion. He maintained that the PDP has only one recognised national secretariat located at Wadata House in Abuja.
Wike argued that the Supreme Court judgment referenced by the Turaki-led faction did not justify the formation of a caretaker committee. According to him, any effort by the group to sell nomination forms under the PDP amounts to fraud.
He challenged the faction to publicly identify a legitimate PDP secretariat and questioned the legality of their actions, stressing that the group had not overturned any court ruling before proceeding with its plans.
The minister also reaffirmed that the PDP national convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium remains the party’s only valid convention, noting that it was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and produced the current leadership.
Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees led by Adolphus Wabara had earlier appointed a 13-member interim National Working Committee headed by Turaki, citing a leadership vacuum following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Ibadan convention.
The Turaki-led group held its meeting at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, with notable figures including Seyi Makinde, Babangida Muazu, Jerry Gana, and Zainab Maina in attendance.
The faction, however, continues to insist that the Abuja convention which produced the current PDP leadership is invalid, deepening the internal crisis within the party.
