The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruled out an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such a political arrangement could undermine Nigeria’s democracy and pave the way for an “electoral monarchy.”
The faction said its loyal members would neither support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid nor endorse the policies of the APC-led Federal Government, insisting that the primary responsibility of opposition parties was to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative to the government in power.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the faction’s Interim National Working Committee.
The statement followed renewed calls by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for PDP members to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Wike had, on Monday, told members of a support group loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a meeting in Port Harcourt that PDP members must work for the President’s re-election.
However, the Turaki-led faction condemned the position, describing those advocating support for the ruling party as individuals who were operating within the opposition while advancing the interests of the APC.
Ememobong said the reported call for PDP candidates to abandon their political structures and support Tinubu was not new, arguing that the message was directed at people who did not represent the interests of genuine party members.
He maintained that principled PDP members would not participate in what the faction described as self-serving support for the APC-led government and its policies.
“The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego,” the statement said.
The faction added that any meaningful alliance among opposition parties should be directed towards strengthening their collective political capacity rather than supporting the ruling party.
It also criticised the proposed “rainbow coalition,” describing it as a threat to electoral democracy and warning that the arrangement could weaken political competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing divisions within the PDP over its leadership, political direction and relationship with the Tinubu administration.
While Wike and members of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction have maintained their commitment to supporting the President’s re-election, the Turaki-led group insists that the party must remain firmly in opposition.
The disagreement comes as rival factions continue to contest the party’s leadership and authority, raising questions about its ability to present a united front before the next general elections.
The Turaki-led faction urged its supporters to remain steadfast while awaiting a judicial decision on the dispute.
According to Ememobong, the faction’s case had been heard by the Court of Appeal, and the party was awaiting judgment.
He expressed hope that the court would resolve the dispute and restore the party to what the faction considers its legitimate leadership.
The statement also cautioned Nigerians against political arrangements that, in the faction’s view, prioritise elite interests over democratic competition.
It warned that broad political collaboration could become a vehicle for consolidating power if it was not driven by clear principles and accountability.
The faction described the 2027 general elections as an opportunity for Nigerians to decide whether the current political leadership should remain in office.
It urged party members to resist pressure to support the APC and instead focus on strengthening the opposition ahead of the polls.
With competing PDP factions advancing sharply different positions on Tinubu’s re-election, the party’s internal dispute is increasingly intertwined with the wider battle over the shape of Nigeria’s opposition politics in 2027.
