2027: Turaki-led PDP speaks on endorsing President Tinubu amid reconciliation

The Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has addressed speculation about a possible endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election, emphasizing that party reconciliation and internal unity remain the top priority.

Speaking to ARISE NEWS on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Ini Ememobong, said the PDP must first establish a strong framework for resolving internal disputes before taking any position on endorsements.

“It will be immoral, unjust for PDP to endorse Tinubu for 2027 ,” Ememobong said, adding that the party hopes reason will prevail over emotions during the reconciliation process. “The Turaki-led faction insists that this reconciliation aims to strengthen the party as an opposition, not as an appendage.”

While cautious, Ememobong did not rule out future party positions on national endorsements. He highlighted that effective reconciliation and institutional reforms could allow the PDP to make considered political decisions, including on potential support or alignment with national leadership, once internal matters are resolved.

Tracing the roots of the ongoing tensions, Ememobong cited longstanding disagreements that intensified after the PDP lost power in 2015 and deepened following the Ibadan convention in November 2025.

To prevent future crises, he proposed creating a professional, independent framework—potentially involving arbitration and mediation institutes—to act as an early warning system, identifying and addressing tensions before they escalate.

“Sometimes you need external people to objectively assess positions and guide parties towards resolution,” he said, noting that while implementing such a system may be challenging, it is necessary to safeguard party unity and long-term stability.

Ememobong expressed optimism that the ongoing reconciliation talks would yield results, emphasising that lasting stability depends on proactive conflict management and institutional reforms.