The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn in Cross River State on Friday as a rival faction loyal to former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, unveiled a parallel list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
At a press conference in Calabar, the faction presented tax consultant Julius Udayi as its governorship candidate, insisting that its nominees are the duly nominated and recognised flag bearers of the party in Cross River State.
Udayi said the faction’s lineup also includes candidates for the state’s three senatorial seats, all eight House of Representatives constituencies and other elective positions ahead of the 2027 polls.
The development marks the latest escalation in the prolonged internal crisis within the PDP, raising fresh uncertainty over the party’s preparations for the next general election in Cross River.
The emergence of parallel candidates reflects the deepening divisions between rival blocs within the opposition party, with both camps laying claim to the party’s legitimate leadership and electoral mandate.
The faction maintained that its candidates emerged through a valid nomination process conducted under the leadership of Tanimu Turaki and urged party members to remain united despite the ongoing dispute.
The latest development is expected to further complicate the PDP’s internal reconciliation efforts and could trigger fresh legal and political battles over the party’s authentic candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
