Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi, Tuesday’s press conference was less about politics and more about identity. Flanked by the state chairman, stakeholders and a hall full of supporters, the party’s Legal Adviser, Yahaya Garkuwa Esq, faced journalists to address a rumour that had been spreading: that the PDP structure in Bauchi had collapsed into the Allied People’s Movement.
“It’s a total lie,” Garkuwa said. “We the authentic members of the PDP are still in the PDP. We have not joined any other political party.”The core of the dispute, he explained, is a long-running leadership tussle.
He traced it through three levels of court. First, the Federal High Court affirmed Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed’s caretaker committee as the national leadership. The Court of Appeal upheld it. Then, according to Garkuwa, the Supreme Court delivered the final word, ruling that the Tanimu Turaki faction “is not known by law.”
In Bauchi, he said, the same applies: the only lawful structure is the one led by Hon. Ibrahim Kashim Toro.With legal avenues exhausted, Garkuwa alleged that the rival faction turned to impersonation and misinformation.
“As they don’t have where to stay, they decided to create confusion to tell the public that the PDP structure has collapsed into APM,” he stated.The party is now moving to court again, this time against those “parading themselves as party officials.” Garkuwa also pointed to a practical test of legitimacy: INEC has published PDP’s candidates for 2027 under their leadership.
“If they are truly members of the PDP, let them name their candidates. They don’t have candidates,” he challenged.He closed with a rallying message to members and voters: “PDP is still standing, PDP is still strong and is fully prepared for the 2027 general elections.”
As Bauchi politics heats up ahead of 2027, the PDP says its fight now is not just at the ballot, but in the courts and in the court of public opinion.
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