Tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Saturday after a faction of the opposition party went ahead with a controversial special convention in Abuja despite security restrictions and objections from the party’s recognised leadership.
The gathering, organised by a bloc loyal to former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, was moved to an alternative location after security operatives reportedly sealed off the initial venue earlier in the day.
At the centre of the unfolding dispute was former Minister of Information and PDP founding member, Professor Jerry Gana, who delivered a fiery address accusing state institutions of threatening democratic freedoms and attempting to frustrate opposition activities.
Gana told delegates that political intimidation would not stop the faction from pursuing its goals through constitutional means.
“We will not fight,” he said repeatedly while addressing party supporters. “The fight will happen at the polls. We will meet you there, and through the votes of Nigerians, we will defeat you.”
The elder statesman urged members to avoid confrontations with security personnel or rival groups, warning that violence could undermine the democratic cause the party claimed to be defending.
“Anybody looking for violence already knows he cannot win through the ballot,” he told the crowd.
The convention later produced former President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the faction ahead of the 2027 general election, although Jonathan was not physically present at the event. His endorsement was received by Gana on behalf of the former president.
The development is expected to deepen the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP, which has struggled in recent months with internal divisions, competing power blocs and disagreements over the party’s future direction.
In his speech, Gana linked the current situation to Nigeria’s democratic history, recalling negotiations held with the military government before the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999.
According to him, pro-democracy leaders at the time demanded structural safeguards before agreeing to participate in the transition programme initiated by the military administration.
He said one of the major conditions was the creation of an independent electoral commission capable of conducting credible elections without political interference. “We insisted that the electoral body must truly be independent before democracy could survive,” he said.
Gana recalled that the negotiations attracted international attention, with former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, participating in discussions involving political leaders and the military authorities in Abuja.
He also referenced the roles played by the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme and the late Senator Abraham Adesanya during the transition process.
The PDP stalwart, however, expressed disappointment over what he described as the declining credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“If the umpire is no longer trusted, then democracy itself is endangered,” he said, criticising the current state of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Gana further questioned the heavy security deployment around the convention venue, describing it as troubling for a democratic society.
“We cannot claim to practise democracy while political meetings are being obstructed,” he stated.
Also speaking at the gathering, Turaki maintained that the faction remained committed to democratic engagement despite the tensions surrounding the convention.
“Our struggle is political, not violent,” he said. “The people will ultimately decide through their votes.”
Saturday’s development adds another layer of uncertainty to the PDP’s internal crisis as the opposition party prepares for future electoral contests amid growing divisions within its ranks.
