By Joe Ephraim, Calabàr
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River state under the Tanimu Turaki-led faction, Julius Udayi, has insisted that his name remains on the official portals of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Udayi made the assertion during a press briefing in Calabar, where he sought to clarify the controversy surrounding the party’s governorship ticket in the state and the continued activities of rival groups claiming to represent the PDP.
He said the position of his faction was further strengthened by the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, which, according to him, upheld the nomination of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as the PDP governorship candidate for the Osun State election.
The appellate court, the faction said, ruled on Thursday, August 13, 2026, that Adedamola was validly nominated and presented by the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP and consequently directed INEC to include the party’s logo on the ballot for the Osun election.
Drawing a parallel with the Cross River situation, Udayi maintained that he was validly nominated and presented by the same Turaki-led leadership of the PDP and that his name is reflected on one of INEC’s portals as the party’s governorship candidate in Cross River.
He therefore urged party members, Cross Riverians and relevant authorities to disregard what he described as attempts by rival individuals to parade themselves as the authentic PDP candidates in the state.
The Turaki-led faction accused supporters of the rival camp associated with HE Nyesome Woke and Senator Sandy Onor of engaging in parallel political activities capable of creating tension and threatening the prevailing peace in the state.
The faction called on security agencies, particularly the state’s Chief Security Officer, to monitor the activities of the rival group and take proactive measures against any action that could lead to a breach of the peace.
Udayi and his supporters also alleged that the activities of the rival faction were linked to the political interests of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing them as detrimental to the interests of Cross River State.
The faction maintained that the Tanimu Turaki-led structure remains the legitimate leadership of the PDP under which Udayi was nominated as the governorship candidate.
It appealed to Cross Riverians and PDP members across the 18 local government areas of the state to support its leadership and avoid actions that could escalate the internal disagreement within the party.
The development comes amid an unresolved leadership and candidacy dispute within the PDP in Cross River State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with rival camps laying claim to the party’s leadership and governorship ticket.
