A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has validly submitted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, despite the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The faction, led by former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki, also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias, alleging that the electoral body is undermining the party’s legitimate leadership.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the faction’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC), Ini Ememobong, insisted that the party lawfully submitted Jonathan’s nomination and those of its governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly candidates in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
According to Ememobong, the submissions were made manually after INEC allegedly refused to provide the party with access codes required for electronic submission.
“Notwithstanding INEC’s refusal to provide us with the necessary access codes—which is an administrative convenience rather than a legal requirement—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,” he said.
The faction warned INEC against recognising or publishing candidates submitted by any other group, arguing that such a move would further erode public confidence in the electoral commission’s neutrality.
It also expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn a recent Federal High Court ruling which declined to compel INEC to recognise the party’s interim leadership.
Ememobong said the party approached the courts after INEC allegedly refused to acknowledge the interim leadership constituted by the PDP’s Board of Trustees and a member-requisitioned National Executive Committee following a Supreme Court judgment that, according to the faction, left the party without a legally recognised National Working Committee.
“Our decision to seek judicial intervention was, and remains, about preserving the integrity of the Peoples Democratic Party from those who seek to reduce Nigeria’s foremost opposition party into an appendage of the ruling party,” he stated.
He further alleged that the challenges facing the PDP were part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties and create a one-party state.
“We were the pioneer target for opposition dismantling and capture as part of the pressure for the attainment of a one-party state, but it has now spread to almost all the opposition parties,” he added.
The PDP faction urged its members and supporters to remain calm if INEC eventually publishes a different list of candidates, assuring them that all constitutional and legal avenues were being pursued to protect what it described as the party’s authentic leadership.
Ememobong also criticised the conduct of INEC throughout the legal dispute, accusing the commission of withholding material facts during court proceedings and ignoring party congresses it monitored.
He further faulted the judgment delivered by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, arguing that it conflicted with previous decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the party has already appealed the ruling and raised concerns over discrepancies between the judgment delivered in open court and its Certified True Copy.
“It is equally important to note that the Certified True Copy of the judgment was released after considerable delay. More significantly, the Certified True Copy did not fully reflect portions of the judgment as delivered in open court,” he said.
The faction urged INEC to refrain from publishing candidates submitted by any rival group until the Court of Appeal determines the matter, warning that any contrary action would deepen public concerns over the commission’s impartiality.
Ememobong maintained that the dispute extends beyond the PDP, describing it as a struggle to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
“Electoral authoritarianism is fundamentally incompatible with democratic consolidation. It reduces elections to mere rituals rather than genuine expressions of the people’s sovereign will,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the party would ultimately prevail in court, saying, “With God on our side, victory is certain, even if it is delayed. We remain willing and prepared to endure to the very end.”
The PDP has remained embroiled in a prolonged leadership crisis following judicial pronouncements affecting its National Working Committee. While the party’s Board of Trustees and a member-requisitioned National Executive Committee announced an Interim National Working Committee to oversee its affairs, INEC has yet to recognise the arrangement.
Following an unfavourable ruling at the Federal High Court, the faction appealed the decision while proceeding with the manual submission of its candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
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