National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanimu Turaki, says the party has not received any official communication from Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State regarding his reported resignation from the PDP.
Turaki spoke with newsmen shortly after the National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, noting that although a resignation letter circulated in the media, the party has not been formally notified.
He said Governor Adeleke has the right to remain in or leave the party but emphasised that no official correspondence had been received. He said, “We have seen in the media a letter purported to be from him resigning his membership of our party, but I tell you that up to this moment, we have not officially received any such indication from him that he has left this party. From the instructions we have given our people in the field, I know that Gov. Adeleke’s name is one of the aspirants vying for the ticket.”
Turaki explained that Adeleke’s status would depend on whether he appeared in person or through a representative at the centre of the primary. He said, “So, if he decides—either in person or via a representative at the centre of the primary—that he has withdrawn or refused to make himself available, then that will form part of the report we will receive. As far as we are concerned, even if what we saw on social media is true, as a Nigerian, Gov. Adeleke, like any other person, has the constitutional right to freedom of association. He is free to move in; he is free to move out of any political party.”
He added that the strength of the PDP lies with the people, not individuals elected on the party platform. He said, “We are together with our people. If you go to states where some of the governors left, conduct a survey and you will discover that most of the people did not go with those who defected. That is what we are counting on. Our people are with us intact, and by the special grace of God, when election time comes, they will prove to Nigerians that the PDP is still in proper and complete shape.”
Turaki said the NWC had reviewed and approved the congresses conducted in Osun to select ad-hoc delegates. He noted that the governorship primary in the state was ongoing peacefully and confirmed that Adeleke remained one of the aspirants. He said, “As I speak to you now, primaries are ongoing…Gov. Adeleke’s name is one of the aspirants vying for the ticket.”
He also disclosed that the committee had reviewed preparations for the local government election in Anambra, expressing confidence in the readiness of the state chapter. He said the PDP expected a strong performance when the election is held.
Speaking on former PDP governors nominated by President Bola Tinubu for non-career ministerial appointments, Turaki said the party had not been officially notified by any of them. He said, “For the former governors who have been nominated, we are yet to receive any indication from them seeking permission or notifying us of the appointment. We wish them well. If they come to us, we will certainly consider it on its merit and take a decision on the appropriate response. But for now, I can confirm to you that we have not received any communication from them informing us that they have been nominated for ambassadorial positions.”
Turaki also addressed Nigeria’s security challenges and urged the Federal Government to review the country’s security architecture. He said governors should not be called chief security officers without having authority over security operations in their states. He said, “We call on the federal government to brace up and, most especially, begin to consider a review of the security architecture in this country. We in the PDP believe that a situation where governors are called the chief security officers of their respective states, yet have no hand in controlling the operational activities of the military and security personnel who operate in their states is something that needs to be overhauled.”
Meanwhile, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said on Tuesday that Governor Adeleke will formally join a new political party before December 13 following his resignation from the PDP.
