Who Is PDP Governorship Candidate??

Ikenya, Bwacha Parallel Emergence Throws Party Members Into Disarray

•Ikenya Has Traditional Party Loyalists Structure

•Bwacha Backed With Slush Fund, Unofficial Federal Support

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State has entered the 2027 election cycle divided, uncertain, and struggling to maintain internal coherence, following the emergence of two parallel governorship candidates from rival factions within the party.

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya, was declared winner of a governorship primary conducted by the Turaki-led structure. Chairman of the election committee, Hon. Felix Hassan Hyat, who announced the results in Jalingo, said Ikenya polled 34,173 votes to defeat David Usman Dinshiya, who secured 4,853 votes. Hyat described the exercise as “free and transparent” and commended party officials for what he called a peaceful process.

Speaking after his emergence, Ikenya dismissed claims of division within the party.

“There is no factional PDP in Taraba. We are one united PDP family,” he said, while outlining plans to industrialise the state and revive infrastructure if elected in 2027.

However, that position is contradicted by a parallel process backed by the Nyesom Wike-aligned bloc of the party, which had earlier affirmed Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its governorship candidate.

Chairman of the electoral committee for that exercise, Barrister M. A. Danladi, said Bwacha’s emergence was in line with party guidelines and the Electoral Act, adding that the committee was mandated to forward his name as the party’s sole candidate.

“The declaration of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is pursuant to the guidelines of the party and the Electoral Act,” Danladi stated.

Addressing delegates and stakeholders after his affirmation, Bwacha attributed his ambition to what he described as worsening conditions in the state.

“The people are crying. Hunger is everywhere. Poverty and corruption have taken over,” Bwacha said, insisting that he would not have contested if governance in the state had met expectations.

The parallel declarations have left party members visibly divided, with several grassroots operatives admitting confusion over which candidate to support.

“We don’t even know who we are campaigning for,” a party member in Jalingo said.

Another member, who identified himself as a ward-level organiser, told Taraba Truth and Facts that the crisis has made it difficult to promote the party ahead of the election cycle.

“Even as a party man, I don’t know which faction to believe. This crisis has made it impossible to market any candidate,” he said.

Political watchers in the state say the situation reflects a deeper structural conflict between established party networks and emerging power blocs.

“The PDP is still strong in Taraba, especially at the grassroots,” one analyst said. “But that strength is tied to unity. Once you lose clarity, you begin to lose control.”

Amid the confusion, allegations have also emerged from within party ranks over the motivations driving support for the rival camps.

A party stakeholder alleged that some supporters of the Bwacha camp are motivated by expectations of financial backing linked to the Wike political structure.

“Those following Bwacha are after money. They are waiting for campaign funds. They don’t really believe in the project,” the stakeholder claimed.

While the allegation could not be independently verified, multiple party sources expressed concern that internal trust is weakening.

On the other hand, supporters of the Turaki-led structure insist their strength lies in long-standing loyalty and grassroots presence across the state.

The growing division is already raising concerns about the party’s electoral viability if the crisis persists.

“We will not waste our votes,” another party member said. “If this is not resolved, people may decide to vote outside the party.”

Across several local government areas, members say the confusion is beginning to affect mobilisation, with conflicting directives and parallel loyalties slowing down early campaign activities.

“People only know PDP here,” a local political observer noted. “But now they are asking — which PDP?”

For many within the party, the central issue is no longer about how the primaries were conducted, but which candidate will ultimately carry the party’s mandate into the 2027 governorship election.

Until that question is resolved, party insiders and analysts warn that the PDP in Taraba risks entering the election cycle divided against itself — a position that could weaken its long-standing dominance in the state.