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The newly elected national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has said the party is open to a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, saying all options that strengthen democracy are on the table.

Turaki said the PDP would prioritise rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges and would adopt whichever political strategy its members and the wider public consider most credible.

He spoke in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust yesterday after he was elected with over 1,516 delegate votes at the party’s national elective convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The former minister said he does not believe Nigeria will slip into a one-party system, but warned that “democracy is under threat.”

He added that the PDP under his leadership would work “with other political parties under IPAC, with civil society organisations, with the international community, and with the fourth estate of the realm, so we can ensure democracy is safeguarded.”

Asked whether the PDP would collaborate with other opposition parties to present a common front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, Turaki said the party would be open to all options.

“I do not know what will happen. But I assure you we will be open to all options, provided they strengthen democracy in Nigeria and are acceptable to our people.

“What we want is for Nigerians to be rescued from the present situation. So whatever option is available and acceptable will be considered. The decision will be taken when we get there.”

We’ll work with them if our principles align – ADC
Reacting to Turaki’s position, the National Publicity Secretary of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would be willing to work with the PDP only if the latter agrees that “it will not be business as usual.”

Speaking to Daily Trust, Abdullahi said: “We’ll be willing to work with any political party in Nigeria that is willing to subscribe to the philosophy of the ADC. We said we are not just interested in winning power for winning’s sake. We are more interested in resetting politics in Nigeria.

“If the purpose for working together is just to win power, then there is no point. That’s why we are saying that we are willing to work with them provided they are willing to abide by the principles that we have set for ourselves as a coalition.

“So, we absolutely believe that all opposition parties need to come together to defeat and remove this government that has threatened everything that we know to be good about our country. So, we are willing to work with them if they are willing to subscribe to our principles, which is that it is not going to be business as usual and that politics must be to the service of the people.”

We wish them good luck; we’re not worried – APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is unbothered by any planned coalition, insisting no reasonable Nigerian would want to return to what it called the “years of PDP misrule.”

Speaking to Daily Trust, Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s Director of Publicity, said, “The APC is wishing them good luck, who is also part of them, I suppose (in veil reference to former President Goodluck Jonathan). Just that we do not know which of them. But we are not worried by whatever shenanigans they are coming up with.

“As long as the game is going to be played by the books, we know Nigerians will not want to go back the way of the PDP. Nigerians know what they went through under the misrule of the PDP. So, no matter what they say, no responsible Nigeria will go to the poll and vote for PDP again. Nigeria has been rescued from their misrule and Nigeria will not go back to that lane. So, we are not worried but we wish them good luck.”

How Turaki emerged as PDP chairman
Turaki emerged as the new PDP chairman in the early hours of Sunday after the party’s leadership, backed by five of its seven governors, aligned with the Ambassador Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee to proceed with the convention in Ibadan despite conflicting court orders—two stopping the exercise and one allowing it to proceed.

Two Federal High Court judges in Abuja had restrained the party from holding the convention, but a state high court in Ibadan granted permission. The Damagum faction said the latter ruling aligned with a previous Supreme Court decision that internal party affairs should not be truncated by judicial interference.

His election followed the withdrawal of Senator Lado Danmarke, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Katsina State, who was the only other cleared aspirant. Former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido had earlier secured one of the court orders stopping the convention, arguing he was denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form.

Despite withdrawing, Danmarke still polled 275 votes.

Hoelujohn:
Wike will actually help to the defeat of Tinubu

yarimo:
Turaki in what capacity are you saying all this rubbish?

yarimo:
Turaki in what capacity are you saying all this rubbish?

PDPdestroyer:
That one concern una. Tinubu till 2031

adioolayi:


Hmmmm...

We will all come back to all of these ...

Wike maybe on of the most disliked politicians in Nigeria of today....but, no one can take away his political intelligence.

I have carefully study the man, he hardly pick on dirty fights that is not legally correct.

He picks his dirty fight, standing in legal path..and this explains why he keeps winning at the court.


Make no one shout Judiciary nonsense later on.. because, we all know this PDP convention gets several legal K-legs

mrvitalis:
Let's wait till supreme Court rules on the PDP matter

AMINDA:
Real analysts know this already. Wike is not even loved at home. The people of Rivers boycotted the local government elections he singlehandedly organised in the state. His only pretend-lovers are Gbadorians from the usual quarters who will turn against him in the twinkle of an eye as soon as he falls out with their tin-god. In the meantime, he continues to cost Tinubu huge political capital and goodwill.

AMINDA:
Real analysts know this already. Wike is not even loved at home. The people of Rivers boycotted the local government elections he singlehandedly organised in the state. His only pretend-lovers are Gbadorians from the usual quarters who will turn against him in the twinkle of an eye as soon as he falls out with their tin-god. In the meantime, he continues to cost Tinubu huge political capital and goodwill.

sparko1:
Are you in Rivers State?

The governor and every elected house member are now friends with Wike.

If you want to lie, tell us something different.

adioolayi:


Hmmmm...

We will all come back to all of these ...

Wike maybe on of the most disliked politicians in Nigeria of today....but, no one can take away his political intelligence.

I have carefully study the man, he hardly pick on dirty fights that is not legally correct.

He picks his dirty fight, standing in legal path..and this explains why he keeps winning at the court.





Make no one shout Judiciary nonsense later on.. because, we all know this PDP convention gets several legal K-legs

Nijaforward:
The earlier APC get rid of Wike the better for them

sparko1:
Are you in Rivers State?

The governor and every elected house member are now friends with Wike.

If you want to lie, tell us something different.

blackgold2018:
you re definitely not in rivers state. Governor Fubara friend to Wike🤣..

Well Rivers votes in 2027 will shock you Yorubas. Haven’t you seen that rivers state politics has gone silence. A lot will be revealed days to the 2027 election in Rivers

AMINDA:
Friends by choice or by coercion? What about the people of Rivers state? Are they also friends with Wike and Tinubu, or they don't matter?