A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Umar Sani, Thursday declared that his faction would field candidates in the 2027 general elections despite the leadership tussle rocking the party.
Sani, who spoke during a television interview on Thursday, insisted that the faction’s leadership remains legitimate and fully backed by law and the Supreme Court judgment on the dispute.
“We are telling them with our full chest that the law is on our side, the facts are on our side, and we are going to contest the election in 2027,” he said.
His remarks came in response to recent comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who endorsed the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the PDP.
Rejecting Wike’s position, Sani maintained that the party’s internal crisis had already been resolved by the apex court, noting that the faction was only awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before presenting it to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The issue has already been settled. This is a matter that the highest court of the land has made a pronouncement on,” he stated.
According to him, once the CTC is submitted, INEC would be bound to recognise the faction’s position in line with the court ruling.
Sani also dismissed reports suggesting that unresolved disputes over party structures, offices, and bank accounts indicate deep divisions within the PDP.
“The issue of bank account or no bank account, they are all diversionary… when in actual fact, there is no problem, and the only problem has been permanently resolved by the apex court,” he said.
The PDP stalwart further accused Wike of using public comments to intimidate members of the faction, insisting that their political consultations and mobilisation efforts were continuing across the country.
“What he has said is merely intimidation tactics… he knows we have been holding meetings,” Sani stated.
He added that preparations for future elections were already underway, with aspirants reportedly obtaining nomination forms ahead of the 2027 polls.
“By the law, we are the authentic PDP,” he declared, expressing confidence that Nigerians would eventually align with the faction’s position.
