The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the formation of a caretaker committee within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by supporters of Tanimu Turaki, describing the move as fraudulent and misleading.

Speaking on Tuesday, Wike warned Nigerians not to be deceived by what he called an attempt to create confusion within the party. He insisted that there is no leadership crisis in the PDP and maintained that the party operates from its officially recognized national secretariat at Wadata House in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

According to Wike, the Turaki-led group has no legal backing to set up a parallel leadership or sell nomination forms. He argued that such actions amount to fraud, especially as the group has not overturned existing court judgments.

“You cannot claim to be a party and fail to identify a legitimate national secretariat,” Wike said. “If you are selling forms, where will they be submitted? That is clear deception.”

The minister also stated that the recent PDP convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium remains the only valid convention of the party. He noted that the event was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and produced the current national leadership.

Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Adolphus Wabara, had earlier announced the appointment of a 13-member interim National Working Committee headed by Turaki. The group said its decision followed a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Ibadan convention, which it claims created a leadership vacuum in the party.

The caretaker committee was inaugurated after a meeting held at the Yar’Adua Centre, attended by several prominent party figures. These include Seyi Makinde, former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, elder statesman Jerry Gana, and former minister Zainab Maina.

The Turaki-led faction insists that the Abuja convention which produced the current PDP leadership is invalid. However, Wike and his allies continue to reject this position, maintaining that there is no vacancy in the party’s leadership.

Seventeen members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in what signals a widening wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defection notices were formally announced during Tuesday’s plenary session by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

The affected lawmakers represent constituencies across several states including Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers. Those who moved to the NDC include Yusuf Datti (Kano), Harris Okonkwo (Anambra), Sani Adamu (Kano), Thaddeus Attah (Lagos), George Ozodinobi, Lilian Obiageli (Anambra), Oluwaseyi Sowunmi (Lagos), Peter Anekwe (Anambra), Zakari Mukhtari (Kano), George Olawande (Lagos), Murphy Omroruyi (Edo), Umezuruike Manuchim (Rivers), Emeka Idu (Anambra), Jese Onuakalusi (Lagos), Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Anambra), Afam Ogene (Anambra), and Kamilu Ado (Kano).

In a related development, Leke Abejide, who represents Yagba federal constituency in Kogi State, defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers cited internal leadership disputes and ongoing legal challenges within their former parties as the main reasons for their decision to switch allegiance.

The latest defections come amid increasing political movements within the National Assembly, as politicians reposition themselves ahead of the next general elections.

This development follows the recent defection of prominent political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who both moved from the ADC to the NDC earlier this week and encouraged their supporters nationwide to join the party.

Political analysts say the growing number of defections could significantly reshape party strength and alliances in the lead-up to 2027.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended the deadline for the sale and submission of its expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of upcoming primaries.

The decision was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) during a meeting held on Thursday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Speaking after the meeting, Durosinmi Meseko said the sale of forms will now close at midnight on May 4, 2026, while submission of completed forms and required documents has been extended to midnight on May 5.

Meseko explained that the extension was necessitated by the public holiday observed nationwide on Friday and the high level of interest from aspirants.

The party had earlier fixed May 2 as the deadline for the sale of forms and May 4 for submission.

The APC had released its timetable for the 2027 elections on April 20, with Sulaiman Argungu outlining the costs for various positions.

According to the schedule, presidential aspirants are required to pay N30 million for the expression of interest form and N70 million for the nomination form. Governorship aspirants will pay N10 million and N40 million respectively.

Senate aspirants are to pay N3 million for the expression of interest form and N17 million for the nomination form, while House of Representatives aspirants will pay N1 million and N9 million. For State House of Assembly seats, the fees are N1 million for expression of interest and N5 million for nomination.

The party also stated that female aspirants, youths, and persons with disabilities will pay the full expression of interest fee but enjoy a 50 percent discount on the nomination form.