The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned its candidates for the 2027 election against defecting after securing the party’s tickets.

Chairman of the PDP Interim National Working Committee, Tanimu Turaki, issued the warning on Wednesday.

Turaki stated that those whose names would be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2027 general election would be required to sign undertakings committing them to the party.

The warning came as the party presented Certificates of Return to 21 governorship candidates.

Turaki declared that the party had completed nominations nationwide, signalling its readiness for the 2027 elections.

“Nobody, moving forward, nobody will take our mandate to another political party and get away with it. But before we take your names to INEC, you will sign. You will sign an undertaking. What had happened before will not happen again,” Turaki said.

According to him, the party had carried out background checks and security screening on candidates as part of efforts to minimise legal and integrity-related risks.

Paul Ibe, a media aide to Africa Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has lamented that former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has spent 126 days in detention.

Ibe said El-Rufai’s detention has shown that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is harassing and intimidating the former governor for defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Posting on his Facebook page, Ibe described El-Rufai’s ongoing trial as a sham.

He wrote: “Yesterday marked day 126 of the abduction and detention of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the @ADCNig.

“By now, it should be clear to all, irrespective of political leaning that the Tinubu-led APC administration is harassing and intimidating el-Rufai for having parted ways with the APC.

“The sham trial of the ADC chieftain is politically motivated. We’ve gathered from those asking him to go and make “peace” (whatever that means) with President Bola Tinubu, because he (Tinubu) is allegedly focused on keeping him until after the 2027 elections.

“The adjournment of his case to September appears to confirm this. Meanwhile, the conditions of the bail granted to el-Rufai is too punitive and meant to keep him perpetually in detention.

“In fact, the bail conditions only encourages civil servants to loot maximally and acquire assets and properties at all cost while in service.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed speculations that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Jungudo Mohammed, made this clarification in a statement on Wednesday, describing Wike as a valuable asset.

The clarification followed recent comments by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, who openly praised Wike’s leadership and said he was jealous that the minister is not in the ruling party.

“The commendation from the ruling party only confirms the quality of leaders the opposition has produced over the years.

“We have no intention of allowing Wike leave permanently, regardless of political pressure or offers from the APC. He is a valuable asset to the PDP,” the statement said.

DAILY POST reports that Wike is a card carrying member of the PDP but is working as a minister under the APC-led Federal Government.