The Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced on Friday that it manually delivered the nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates for the 2027 elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This action occurred despite INEC’s ongoing refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of this specific committee.
This development intensifies the internal leadership struggle within the party. The Turaki faction maintains that its selection process followed the 2026 Electoral Act, warning that they will pursue legal remedies if the electoral body releases an alternative list of candidates. National Publicity Secretary Comrade Ini Ememobong stated that the party chose manual submission after INEC denied access to the electronic portal, labeling the online codes as merely an administrative convenience.
Ememobong asserted that the committee successfully provided the full roster of candidates, including those for the presidency, governorship, and legislative positions, and that INEC acknowledged receipt. He cautioned the commission against publishing any names other than those officially submitted by his faction to avoid potential legal conflicts. The official framed the dispute as a consequence of earlier court rulings that left the party without a clear, legally accepted leadership, which necessitated the formation of their interim body.
Furthermore, the PDP faction criticized the Federal High Court ruling, arguing it contradicts previous Supreme Court and Appeal Court decisions. The party has initiated an appeal process and raised concerns regarding alleged inconsistencies within the court’s official documentation. Ememobong accused INEC of losing its neutrality and suggested that the commission is actively participating in a political strategy to suppress opposition parties, urging citizens to safeguard Nigeria’s multi-party democracy against authoritarian trends.
