2027: PDP faction submits Jonathan’s candidacy to INEC despite recognition row
By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja
The Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, announced on Friday that it has manually submitted the presidential nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan, along with a list of other candidates for the 2027 general elections, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This submission comes despite the electoral body’s refusal to recognize the committee.
The move is seen as exacerbating existing tensions within the party, as the Turaki faction asserts that it followed legal protocols under the Electoral Act. The committee has warned of potential legal consequences if INEC publishes any candidate list other than the one submitted.
During a press conference, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, explained that the decision to submit manually was prompted by INEC’s denial of access codes for electronic filing, which the committee argued are merely administrative tools.
“Notwithstanding INEC’s refusal to provide us with the necessary access codes, we have successfully submitted, manually and in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the list of candidates sponsored by the authentic Peoples Democratic Party,” Ememobong stated.
He added that the submission, which includes Jonathan’s nomination as well as candidates for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly positions, has been acknowledged by INEC.
Ememobong cautioned that any list published by INEC other than their submission would lead to a comprehensive legal challenge. “Should the Commission publish names other than those lawfully submitted by us, we will explore every constitutional, legal, and democratic avenue to ensure our party is not undermined,” he said.
He linked the ongoing dispute to a recent Supreme Court ruling, which left the PDP without a recognized national leadership. He claimed that the party’s Board of Trustees and a requisitioned National Executive Committee meeting were responsible for forming the Interim National Working Committee following the ruling.
Ememobong criticized INEC for not recognizing the interim leadership after being formally notified, which has prompted the PDP to seek judicial intervention. He expressed discontent with a Federal High Court decision, asserting it conflicts with prevailing Supreme Court and Court of Appeal rulings.
The PDP has also accused INEC of compromising its neutrality. “The Commission’s actions have reinforced the public perception that it is no longer acting impartially as the nation’s electoral umpire,” Ememobong said.
He alleged that INEC had omitted crucial information in court proceedings regarding the party and ignored congresses it was supposed to monitor, undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
Ememobong further claimed that the PDP is being targeted in a broader initiative to weaken opposition parties and foster one-party dominance. “We were the pioneer target for opposition dismantling and capture, but it has now spread to almost all the opposition parties,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians to defend multi-party democracy and warned that electoral authoritarianism threatens to undermine democratic stability. Ememobong concluded with a note of confidence that the PDP would prevail in its ongoing legal challenges.
