A coalition of professional and political watchdog groups on the aegis of Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), has expressed serious concern over the supposed 2027 election timetable released by the Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It specifically said that the Wike-Anyanwu faction of the PDP has clearly signalled that it is no longer operating as an opposition entity, but a secondary engine for the Tinubu-led APC.
OWN further said that what Nigerians are witnessing is the formalization of a political ‘holding company’ by the Wike-Anyanwu-led faction which aligned their timetable so precisely with the APC.
The group stated that upon a rigorous side-by-side analysis of the schedules, it has become indisputably clear that the Wike-Anyanwu group carried out a wholesale “copy-and-paste” of the timetable of the All Progressives Congress (APC) released about 48 hours ago on April 20, 2026.
A statement by Aisha Bello, media coordinator of OWN noted that the level of mirroring between the two documents transcends mere coincidence.
According to Bello; “From the introduction, to the commencement of form sales to the specific sequencing of primaries for the Presidency and State Governorships, the Wike-Anyanwu timetable is an operational twin of the ruling party’s agenda.
“Mirrored Primaries: Both groups have effectively aligned their primary/appeal windows for May 2026, ensuring that their internal political cycles do not conflict, but rather complement the APC’s transition strategy.
“Identical Thresholds: By adopting similar high-entry costs and logistical milestones, the Wike-Anyanwu faction has signalled that it is no longer operating as an opposition entity, but as a secondary engine for the Tinubu-led APC.
“The Wike and Anyanwu-led group has stripped away the last veneer of independence. You cannot claim to lead an opposition when your internal clock is set by the ruling party’s headquarters.
“This is not a political party; it is a strategic extension designed to destabilize the genuine opposition from within,” it stated.
OWN therefore called on the Nigerian electorate and the genuine stakeholders of the PDP to recognize the timetable for what it is – a roadmap for integration into the APC.
It also noted that the striking synchronicity between the two groups suggests a shared command structure and a unified 2027 objective.
Accordingly, OWN urged all defenders of multi-party democracy to remain vigilant as this ‘extension’ group continues to use the machinery of the PDP to fuel the ambitions of the APC.
