PDP Faction Leader Turaki Appeals Arrest Warrant Amid Political Turmoil
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Turaki, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), due to his repeated failure to appear in court for arraignment in a criminal case filed by the Inspector-General of Police. Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered the warrant after Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was absent despite being served with hearing notices, with the court finding no justifiable reason for his non-appearance.
Turaki's Legal Response and Health Claims
Turaki has confirmed appealing the bench warrant, with his legal team filing an application for a stay of execution. Through his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Turaki explained that his absence was due to a sudden hospital visit. He noted that his lawyers had also filed an application to quash the charge, which typically would not require his physical presence in court. The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, accuses Turaki of providing false information in a petition dated October 5, 2022, allegedly contravening Section 140 of the Penal Code.
Prosecuting counsel Usman Rabiu urged the court to invoke Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to compel Turaki's attendance, citing his consistent absence. The case was initially before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but was reassigned to Justice Kekemeke after Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge, alleging a lack of confidence in the handling of the matter. Justice Ogbonnaya had declined to issue a warrant before the transfer.
PDP Faction's Stance on Tinubu's Re-election
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has firmly stated that it will not support President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027, even as fresh reconciliation efforts begin to resolve feuding factions within the party. During a live interview on Arise TV, the factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, emphasized that it would be improper for an opposition party like the PDP to endorse the presidential candidate of another party.
Ememobong said, "It is improper, unjust, and fundamentally unfair for an opposition party like the PDP to endorse the presidential candidate of another party. Absolutely no. It will never be so." This declaration comes amid ongoing talks aimed at bringing aggrieved members back to the table and addressing the party's prolonged leadership crisis, with Turaki leading the reconciliation process.
Political Implications and External Influences
Turaki maintained that the criminal case is unrelated to the PDP but hinted at possible external political influence. In a statement, he said, "While it needs emphasising that this matter is completely unrelated to the PDP, external political influence cannot be completely ruled out." The charge alleges that Turaki gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police via a petition in 2022, with the police prosecutor seeking his arrest under the ACJA for repeated non-appearance.
The bench warrant and the PDP faction's stance against Tinubu highlight deepening divisions within the party as it grapples with internal conflicts and external pressures. The reconciliation efforts led by Turaki are critical for the PDP's future as a credible opposition force in Nigerian politics, with the 2027 elections looming as a key test of unity and strategy.
