The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has rejected claims that its structure has collapsed into the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), insisting that the party remains operational and will contest the 2027 general elections.
The clarification followed reports that a faction associated with the party’s internal dispute had moved its structure toward the APM. The PDP leadership recognised by the faction led by Bauchi State Chairman Ibrahim Kashim Toro dismissed the development as unauthorised and said those behind the announcement no longer represented the party.
PDP State Legal Adviser Yahaya Garkuwa made the position known during a press conference at the party’s secretariat on Maiduguri Bypass in Bauchi.
The dispute comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections and opposition groups explore alliances, defections and possible coalition arrangements.
Garkuwa maintained that the PDP structure recognised by his faction remains under Toro’s leadership and rejected any suggestion that it had transferred its political machinery to the APM.
He said the party’s position was supported by previous court proceedings over the leadership crisis that has divided the PDP.
According to him, the PDP faction he represents recognises Abdulrahman Mohammed as the national leader, while Toro heads the recognised Bauchi structure. He accused members of the rival camp of presenting themselves as PDP officials despite what he described as unfavourable court outcomes.
The legal adviser said the reported APM merger was therefore not an official decision of the PDP structure he represents.
The party also urged its members and the wider public to disregard reports suggesting that the PDP had ceased to exist in Bauchi.
The dispute has moved beyond political rhetoric, with the Bauchi PDP leadership indicating that it may pursue legal remedies against individuals allegedly presenting themselves as authorised party officials.
Garkuwa accused the rival group of using the PDP’s name without the approval of the recognised state leadership.
He said the party was examining the legal implications of the alleged impersonation and would take appropriate action.
The development illustrates the continuing consequences of the PDP’s internal leadership crisis, particularly as rival groups attempt to establish their legitimacy ahead of a major election.
The competing claims also create practical questions about which faction has the authority to nominate candidates, control party structures and communicate official decisions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Bauchi PDP leadership also pointed to its preparations for the 2027 elections as evidence that its political structure remains active.
The party said candidates associated with its faction have been presented for the forthcoming polls and challenged the rival camp to demonstrate which candidates it intends to field under the PDP platform.
This issue could become increasingly important as the election timetable advances because party nominations and candidate submissions must come through structures recognised under Nigeria’s electoral framework.
The Bauchi PDP leadership said it remained committed to participating fully in the 2027 elections and would continue its mobilisation across the state.
Key Issues Behind the Dispute
The current controversy revolves around several interconnected questions:
- Which faction has legitimate control of the PDP structure in Bauchi?
- Who has authority to act on behalf of the party?
- Which group can nominate candidates under the PDP platform?
- Whether individuals who announced the APM move remain PDP members.
- How previous court decisions affect the competing claims.
These questions give the dispute significance beyond the reported APM merger because control of the party structure could determine who represents the PDP on the ballot.
The controversy comes as the APM expands its activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is the APM’s presidential candidate, while the party has begun organising its campaign structure around his candidacy. The APM recently announced the commencement of its presidential campaign activities and presented itself as an alternative political platform for voters.
Makinde’s emergence has also generated debate within opposition circles about possible cooperation between political parties.
However, the PDP’s latest position in Bauchi should not automatically be interpreted as a rejection of every possible opposition alliance nationally. It specifically concerns the reported collapse of the Bauchi PDP structure into the APM.
Earlier in May, another PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed also publicly distanced itself from claims of an APM alliance, describing an event involving PDP and APM figures as misleading and unauthorised.
The latest development comes against a broader realignment among opposition parties ahead of 2027.
Different PDP factions and political actors have taken varying positions on cooperation with the APM and other emerging platforms. In Bauchi, the disagreement has become particularly complicated by the party’s unresolved leadership struggle.
The political significance extends beyond whether individual members have moved between parties. Control of party structures determines access to nomination processes, campaign machinery and the legal authority to present candidates for elections.
For the PDP, maintaining a clearly recognised structure will therefore be crucial as the 2027 election process moves forward.
The immediate focus will be on whether the competing PDP factions can resolve their differences through the courts or political negotiations before key electoral deadlines.
For now, the Bauchi PDP faction led by Toro insists that it remains the legitimate party structure and has rejected the reported APM merger.
The threatened legal action could provide another avenue for settling the dispute, while the party’s claims regarding its candidates may eventually face scrutiny through the electoral process.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the ability of the PDP to resolve its internal disputes could prove just as important as its broader strategy for confronting rival political platforms.
