Tanimu Turaki, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Interim National Management Committee (INMC), has warned that elected officials who defect to other parties with the party's mandate will face consequences ahead of the 2027 general election. He issued the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during the presentation of certificates of return to 28 governorship candidates. Turaki said all candidates must sign a legal undertaking against defection as a condition for the party submitting their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). "What happened before will not happen again," Turaki said. "Moving forward, nobody will take our mandate to another political party and get away with it. This undertaking is part of the conditions we are submitting to INEC alongside your names."
The warning follows previous instances where nearly all governors elected under the PDP platform switched to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Turaki stressed that the anti-defection measures are intended to protect the party's electoral investments and prevent a repeat of past losses. Despite not yet receiving formal approval from INEC, the INMC faction continues to operate, having conducted primaries for state and national positions. The party is also carrying out background checks on some candidates to ensure they are credible and capable of delivering democratic governance. Turaki said the screening process was thorough to avoid post-election legal challenges and that the selected candidates are well-suited for their roles.
He claimed the PDP is positioning itself to field unparalleled candidates capable of defeating the APC in 2027. According to Turaki, the party's presidential candidate has a stronger profile than any opponent, including the APC's flagbearer. He urged party members to campaign with confidence, adding that the PDP aims to return to its legacy of public service delivery.
Turaki warns against defections while leading a faction not yet recognised by INEC, raising questions about the authority behind his conditions. The same party that lost nearly all its governors to defections now demands loyalty under a structure awaiting official approval. Candidates are required to sign legal undertakings to prevent mandate theft, yet the party's own legitimacy is still pending with the electoral body. This creates a paradox where enforceability of the anti-defection rule rests on a framework that itself lacks formal recognition.
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