Factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have stepped up efforts to identify alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party insiders told Punch that both blocs are considering the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as possible vehicles for their aspirants, amid growing fears that the PDP may be unable to field candidates due to protracted leadership disputes and ongoing court cases.
Concerns intensified following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) rejection of the PDP’s Ekiti State governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, for the June 20, 2026 election. Oluyede emerged from a primary organised by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), which is aligned with Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal and Ahmadu Fintiri.
The Turaki-led NWC emerged from the PDP’s November 2025 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, while the faction backed by Wike did not conduct a primary for the Ekiti poll. Both camps continue to lay claim to the party’s national leadership, with INEC maintaining that the PDP must resolve its internal crisis before it can be recognised to present candidates.
Sunday Punch gathered that frustration over unresolved leadership tussles, lingering litigation and INEC’s firm stance has pushed PDP factions to actively explore options outside the party.
A member of the Turaki-led NWC, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that discussions with the ADC were already in progress. He warned that the ongoing crisis could prevent the PDP from fielding candidates in 2027, noting that INEC had shown readiness to enforce its position.
“With what INEC has done in Ekiti, we should be realistic—our chances of having candidates in 2027 are very slim,” the source said. “We are taking steps to ensure that, even if some of us remain in the PDP, our candidates can contest under other parties, especially the ADC. We cannot afford to be stranded.”
He added that alliance talks with the ADC were aimed at protecting the interests of PDP aspirants and could soon produce a clear structure.
Confirming the development, a senior ADC official said leaders of both parties had held preliminary meetings over a possible alliance, though he stressed that discussions were still at an early stage and no formal agreement had been reached.
ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party remained open to Nigerians willing to join its cause, describing it as a “rescue mission.”
Meanwhile, Timothy Osadolor, a member of the PDP NWC aligned with Wike’s bloc, expressed doubts about the party’s prospects even if it manages to produce a presidential candidate for 2027. He argued that the PDP would struggle on its own and would need to align with a stronger opposition platform to stand a chance.
Osadolor blamed the party’s woes on what he described as the arrogance of some governors, insisting that the damage done to the PDP had significantly weakened its electoral chances.
“For me, 2027 is already closed for the PDP if it goes alone,” he said, adding that the party’s best option was to collaborate with an alternative platform capable of producing a strong candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
While dismissing the APC as a viable option, Osadolor said the ADC had shown potential to emerge as a credible opposition platform if strengthened through collaboration.