The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged its members to reject calls to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections, insisting that the opposition must provide an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party was reacting to comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging PDP candidates to collapse their political structures and support Tinubu’s re-election.
In a statement issued on October 20, 2026, the PDP National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, described the reported call as an attempt to advance the interests of the ruling party through individuals operating within the opposition.
“The message is meant for persons who, like him, are pretenders in the opposition but are working for the governing party,” Ememobong said.
The PDP maintained that its loyal members would not support the APC-led Federal Government or what it described as its destructive policies.
“The true and principled members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not part of the shameless, self-serving support for the APC-led Federal Government and its destructive policies,” the statement said.
The party stressed that the primary responsibility of an opposition party was to challenge the government and present Nigerians with an alternative rather than support the incumbent.
“The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego,” Ememobong said.
The PDP also rejected the idea of an alliance between opposition parties and the ruling APC, arguing that any coalition should be directed towards strengthening the opposition.
“If at all opposition parties are to have an alliance, it will be amongst themselves, not with the governing party,” the statement added.
The party warned that the proposed arrangement, which it described as a “rainbow coalition,” could undermine Nigeria’s electoral democracy and weaken political competition.
“This political anomaly, styled and championed as a ‘rainbow coalition,’ is the greatest threat to electoral democracy and the fastest way of railroading the country into an electoral monarchy,” Ememobong said.
The PDP called on its members to remain committed to the party while awaiting the Court of Appeal’s decision on its internal dispute.
It expressed hope that the court’s judgment would resolve the dispute and restore the party to what it described as its rightful owners.
“We urge all true and faithful members of the Peoples Democratic Party to remain steadfast as we await the judiciary’s decision, hopeful that it will return our party to its true owners,” the statement said.
Ememobong confirmed that the party’s case had been heard by the Court of Appeal, adding that the PDP was awaiting the court’s decision.
“Our case at the Court of Appeal has been heard, and we await judgment. We know that the entire judiciary is conscious that justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
The party further warned Nigerians against what it described as elite accommodation and state capture disguised as broad-based political collaboration.
It urged voters to make their choices based on the performance and policies of political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Nigerians should be wary of elite accommodation and state capture masquerading as broad-based political collaboration,” Ememobong said.
He added that the forthcoming election would provide an opportunity for voters to hold political leaders accountable.
“The election next year provides a great opportunity to vote out these insensitive and irresponsible political actors,” the statement added.