PDP: Turaki faction confident in court victory, inaugurates Abia caretaker team

By Dennis Agbo & Steve Oko

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction led by Kabiru Turaki, has expressed confidence of eventual legal victory in the party’s leadership crisis since its 2025 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

This is as the newly sworn-in caretaker committee chairman of the party in Abia State, Ikpegbu Emeka-Yellow, has declared that nobody can uproot PDP in Abia.

The PDP is currently embroiled in a leadership crisis, with two factions vying for control. The faction led by Nyesom Wike has taken over the party’s national secretariat, while the Turaki faction insists it remains the legitimate leadership.

A court ruling in January 2026 adjourned the case pending the decision of the Court of Appeal, while the Wike-led faction has announced plans to hold a national convention on March 28-29, 2026, to elect new leadership.

But the National Vice Chairman of the Party, Chief Ali Odefa, while inaugurating the Abia State caretaker committee led by Emeka Ikpegbu, at the zonal party office in Enugu on Tuesday, said that they were confident that the Turaki-led faction would emerge victorious in the litigation.

Odefa said: “We have been facing a whole lot of struggle from anti- democratic forces within the party who are hell-bent on making sure that the party does not grow and that the party does not survive, just to make way for the opposition federal government to continue to perpetuate itself in office despite the cries of Nigerians.

“Just about one week ago, the appeal court consolidated the nine cases that were enrolled in the lower court, hearing has been done and judgment reserved. We are expecting that the judiciary, being the hope of the common man, will live up to its expectations and let justice be served.

“There have been so many authorities, even to the level of Supreme Court, that have made statements on internal affairs and issues of the leadership of a political party. So we are hopeful. We still have a lot of confidence in the judiciary and we still know that a whole lot of them are men and women of proven integrity.”

Nobody can uproot PDP in Abia — New caretaker c’ttee chair

In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the caretaker committee, Ikpegbu Emeka-Yellow, declared that no force can uproot the party from the state, pledging to rebuild and reposition it as a dominant political force ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Other members of the caretaker committee include Chief Ochiobi Fidel Chukwuemeka, Engr. Gladys Okoro, Chidindu Kalu, Samuel Chukwudi, Kelvin Sampson, Lady Ugo Kalu, Obinna Nwaogwugwu, with Felix Nwagbara serving as Secretary.

Acknowledging the enormity of the assignment, the new chairman said the committee was fully aware of the expectations and would deliver without excuses.

He identified reconciliation of aggrieved members and the unification of the party as core priorities.

“This is not merely an appointment; it is a call to service, sacrifice, and selfless leadership,” he said.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the PDP, particularly in Abia State, has in recent years been beset by serious leadership challenges. These weakened our structures, dampened the morale of members, and momentarily diminished our once formidable presence.”

Emeka-Yellow stressed that reconciliation would be central to the committee’s mandate, noting that the time had come to heal wounds and rebuild trust.

“This is a time for reconciliation, not recrimination; a time for forgiveness, not finger-pointing; and a time to rebuild, not to dwell on the past,” he said, appealing to aggrieved members to return and work collectively to reposition the party for victory in 2027.

The former Commissioner at the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC) warned against personal and sectional interests, insisting that the unity and success of the PDP must come above every other consideration.

He also cautioned against internal sabotage, urging those he described as “political undertakers” to have a change of heart.

“The PDP is a home for loyal and committed democrats. There is no longer room for moles, impostors, or double agents who pretend to belong while working against the interest of the party,” he declared.

Emeka-Yellow further noted that the Ibadan National Convention of the PDP marked a turning point in resolving the party’s leadership disputes.

According to him, the emergence of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) had conclusively settled issues of legitimacy and restored order and discipline within the party.

“We are under no illusion about the enormity of the task before us. The responsibility to heal old wounds, rebuild trust, and reunite our party rests squarely on our shoulders. We accept this challenge fully, knowing that we have no excuse for failure,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the national leadership for the confidence reposed in the committee, Emeka-Yellow pledged unwavering loyalty to the NWC.

He also commended the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) for their resilience and commitment to stabilising the party.

He specifically acknowledged the support of the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and other PDP governors.

“We pledge our unflinching loyalty to the national leadership of our great party and assure them of our resolve to discharge this responsibility with integrity, transparency, and unwavering commitment,” he said.

The caretaker committee chairman solicited the support, cooperation, and prayers of party faithful and stakeholders, stressing that only collective effort would guarantee the PDP’s resurgence in Abia State and beyond.

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