PDP Has One Leadership, One Direction; Jonathan Knew Better, Turaki Group Cannot Field a Candidate — TARABA PDP CHAIRMA

In this exclusive interview with Nahum Sule, our Taraba Correspondent, the Chairman of the PDP faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba Sale, speaks on the outcome of the party’s primary elections in Taraba State, the state of the PDP, the controversy surrounding rival factions, and his party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also shares his views on governance in Taraba State and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

QUESTION: Sir, with the successful conclusion of the PDP primary elections in Taraba State, how would you assess the overall conduct of the exercise, and what message does it send about the party’s readiness for the 2027 elections?

That’s a very good question. I thank you for this opportunity. First and foremost, I would like to say that this is the Peoples Democratic Party with national officers duly recognized by INEC. INEC has recognized our activities and has come up with the list of 22 political parties. The Peoples Democratic Party is number 17 on the list. The line of activities scheduled by INEC captures the activities of my PDP, the PDP led by Alhaji Abdurahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary. This is the PDP recognized by INEC.

As for our primary elections, we started with the House of Representatives, which was successfully conducted. Then we moved to the Senate, followed by the State Assembly, and then rounded it up with that of the State Governor, which was also successfully conducted. Two days later, we conducted the presidential primary here in our office, rancour-free and without any hitches.

QUESTION: Sir, how can you show Tarabans that the PDP is ready to win the 2027 election when virtually all the state caucus have defected?

Thank you for this question. I want to assure you, and you should tell Tarabans, that the PDP is still on the ground. PDP is in Taraba, and Taraba is PDP, no matter who left.

Those who were elected on the platform of the PDP but later left for the APC are regretting it now. However, it is too late. As the saying goes, it is too late to cry when the head has already been cut off.

The elected officials—governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and members of the State House of Assembly—were all elected under the platform of the PDP before they defected to the APC.

Come 2027, Tarabans who are deeply rooted in the PDP will vote for the party again. We will reclaim our mandate, and Taraba will be fully back in PDP affairs.

QUESTION: There are concerns among party supporters that the ongoing national crisis could weaken the PDP’s electoral chances. What assurances can you give Tarabans regarding the stability and future of the party? Also, there are claims of factions within the PDP, and primary elections were conducted in the state. What is the state of the party, and what is your response?

When you say “faction,” it baffles me because we do not have any faction. We have only one strong PDP. We conducted our congresses and conventions, and everyone knows that.

The other group is merely acting out a drama. I do not want to dwell on them because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not recognize them. They are impostors, and all they are doing is dramatizing issues to cause confusion.

They have a paymaster who is sponsoring them to distract the real PDP. If you ask them, they will tell you they have a paymaster. He is paying them to create distractions, but thank God the people of Taraba now have their eyes open and understand what is happening.

We elected a governor who has failed to perform. He is afraid to return to the people, so he has moved to another party, hoping that, with the support of the federal government and the President, he can somehow find his way back through the election. That cannot happen.

The people are wiser now. Nobody can intimidate us with federal might because this is our right.

We do not have any crisis in the PDP. There is nothing like a national crisis. The issue surrounding the Turaki-led faction is a settled matter following the Supreme Court judgment. That judgment effectively nullified the November 2025 convention in Ibadan.

Surprisingly, some people claim that the judgment also nullified both the Ibadan and Abuja conventions. That cannot be true. The court is not Father Christmas, handing out judgments arbitrarily. A court only decides on matters brought before it. It either grants or refuses the reliefs sought. It cannot decide issues that were never presented before it.

Only the ignorant can make such claims. As far as I am concerned, the Supreme Court judgment settled everything. If anyone is dissatisfied, they can only return to the Supreme Court for clarification or interpretation. They have failed to do so, which is why we keep saying they are only interested in causing confusion.

They also claim to have two governors in their camp. Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde are now in the APM. If they truly have the PDP, why are they leaving the PDP for the APM?

Look at the gathering they held in Abuja. They claimed they wanted former President Goodluck Jonathan to be their presidential candidate. Do they even have a party capable of fielding a candidate? Fortunately, Goodluck Jonathan is not as foolish as they are. He refused to attend their gathering and declined to associate with it. In fact, he congratulated our own presidential candidate.

So, they are only there to create confusion. However, Turaki knows that the affairs of the PDP are being managed by Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu.