PDP Breaks Silence On Alleged Merger With APM Ahead Of 2027

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has dismissed reports that its structure in the state has been merged with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Ireporter Online, the party’s Legal Adviser in Bauchi State, Yahaya Garkuwa, described the merger report as false during a press conference in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Garkuwa maintained that the PDP remained intact in the state and accused members of a rival faction of allegedly impersonating party officials and circulating false information capable of creating confusion among party members and the public.

He said the PDP structure recognised by his faction in Bauchi was led by Ibrahim Kashim Toro, while the national leadership recognised by the faction was headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The legal adviser also said the internal crisis within the PDP had reached different levels of the judiciary.

According to Garkuwa, the Federal High Court had previously recognised the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker leadership at the national level.

He explained that members of the Tanimu Turaki faction subsequently appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal also upheld the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership at the national level and Ibrahim Kashim Toro’s leadership in Bauchi State.

Garkuwa’s comments come amid continued political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several parties and political groups exploring possible alliances.

Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State election, Oluwole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal subsequently struck out the case during its inaugural sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday following an application by Oluyede and the PDP.

Speaking after the proceedings, Oluyede said he decided to discontinue the legal challenge following appeals from President Bola Tinubu and other individuals he described as important to him.

He also disclosed that he intended to support efforts towards securing Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election while maintaining that he remained a member of the PDP.

Oluyede had filed the petition after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji the winner of the June 20 governorship election.

However, before the substantive hearing of the case began, the PDP candidate filed an application seeking to withdraw the petition.

His counsel, Paul Komolafe, who also represented the PDP, formally moved the application before the three-member tribunal panel.

Counsel representing Oyebanji, the APC and INEC did not oppose the application.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, consequently struck out the petition.

Oluyede later told journalists that ending the legal battle would enable political actors to focus their attention on the development of Ekiti State and Nigeria.

He said he believed discontinuing the case was in the broader interest of the state and would allow stakeholders to concentrate on governance and development.