RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected calls for opposition politicians and party members to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, insisting that the party must remain committed to providing Nigerians with an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The faction, associated with former PDP National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, maintained that supporting the incumbent president would undermine the fundamental responsibility of an opposition political party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the group criticised the political alliance being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Ememobong described calls for PDP members to support Tinubu as an appeal to individuals whose political allegiance, according to him, was inconsistent with their professed opposition status.
He argued that genuine opposition members should challenge government policies they considered harmful and present credible alternatives rather than endorse the administration responsible for implementing them.
The faction also rejected the proposed Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement championed by Wike to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
According to Ememobong, cooperation among political parties should strengthen democratic competition and provide voters with alternatives, rather than weaken opposition to the governing party.
He expressed concern that political arrangements bringing opposition figures into an alliance with the incumbent administration could reduce electoral competition and concentrate political influence.
The statement further warned against what the faction described as political accommodation among influential individuals at the expense of public accountability.
Ememobong urged members to remain committed to the PDP despite the continuing leadership dispute affecting the party.
He disclosed that the faction’s legal challenge concerning the party’s leadership had been heard by the Court of Appeal and that the group was awaiting judgment.
The spokesman expressed hope that the judicial process would resolve the dispute in its favour and clarify the party’s leadership structure ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, Wike has repeatedly defended the Rainbow Coalition, maintaining that his support for Tinubu does not mean the PDP should abandon contests for governorship, National Assembly and state legislative seats.
The FCT minister has described the coalition as a platform bringing together individuals from different political parties who support the president’s re-election.
His position has generated disagreements among political stakeholders, including members of the PDP and some APC leaders who have questioned the implications of the cross-party arrangement.
The faction urged Nigerians to evaluate political parties and candidates based on their records, policies and proposed solutions to national challenges.
It maintained that the 2027 general elections should provide citizens with an opportunity to assess the performance of political leaders and make their choices through the democratic process.
