Taraba PDP: I Will Be on Ballot — Joel Ikenya

• Says  Supreme Court’s Decision Will Determine Authentic  Candidates


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Taraba State, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, has expressed confidence that he will be on the ballot in the 2027 governorship election despite the ongoing legal dispute over the party’s leadership and candidates.

Ikenya spoke against the backdrop of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent publication of candidates for the forthcoming elections, which included candidates submitted by the Abdulrahman-led faction of the PDP.

In a statement, Ikenya urged PDP members, supporters and candidates across Taraba State not to panic, saying the INEC publication did not, in his view, amount to a final determination of the dispute over the authentic candidates of the party.

He said several legal matters concerning the leadership of the PDP, its caretaker arrangement and the nomination of candidates remained before the courts.

According to him, an appeal is pending before the Supreme Court arising from the January 30, 2026 Court of Appeal ruling on the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, while another appeal arose from the July 17, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ikenya also pointed to the June 3, 2026 Court of Appeal decision, arguing that the question of whether the Federal High Court went beyond the reliefs sought by the parties in recognising the Abdulrahman-led caretaker committee remained a significant legal issue.

He further argued that the Supreme Court’s decision nullifying the PDP’s Ibadan convention did not confer authority on the Abdulrahman-led caretaker committee.

According to Ikenya, the decision also affected the positions of Kamaldeen Ajibade and Samuel Anyanwu, leading the PDP’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee to take steps towards an interim leadership arrangement.

He said the BoT and NEC subsequently constituted an Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Taminu Turaki, SAN, and communicated the decision to INEC.

Ikenya said the legal status of the competing leadership arrangements remained subject to judicial determination.

He also cited a recent Court of Appeal decision relating to the Osun State off-cycle governorship election, which he said upheld the PDP governorship candidate submitted by the Turaki-led leadership.

The Taraba PDP candidate said the development reinforced his position that competing claims over the party’s leadership and nomination of candidates would ultimately be resolved through the courts.

“Our message to the PDP family in Taraba is therefore simple: remain calm, stay united and do not give up,” Ikenya said.

He expressed confidence that the courts would provide clarity by the end of September or early October and said he remained convinced that he would contest the 2027 governorship election.

“I will be on the ballot,” he said.

Ikenya urged PDP candidates, leaders, women and youth groups, as well as supporters across the wards and local government areas, to continue their legitimate political activities, mobilisation and engagement with the electorate.

He also appealed to party members to avoid violence, provocation and other actions capable of disrupting the peace in Taraba State.

“Our strength is in the law, democracy and the people,” he said.