PDP Faction Submits Jonathan’s 2027 Nomination To INEC Despite Recognition Dispute

The Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has manually submitted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential nomination and the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite the commission’s refusal to recognise the committee.

Addressing journalists on Friday, the committee’s national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party resorted to manual submission after INEC declined to provide access codes for electronic submission, insisting the codes were only an administrative convenience.

He said the submission included Jonathan’s presidential nomination as well as the party’s governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates, adding that INEC acknowledged receipt of the documents.

“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 said.

He warned the commission against publishing any list other than the one submitted by the committee and said the party would pursue all constitutional and legal means to challenge any contrary action.

Ememobong said the interim committee was constituted by the PDP’s Board of Trustees and a requisitioned National Executive Committee meeting after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the party’s leadership, accusing INEC of refusing to recognise the committee despite being formally notified.

He also criticised a recent Federal High Court judgment on the leadership dispute, saying it was inconsistent with earlier decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He disclosed that the PDP had appealed the judgment and would challenge alleged discrepancies between the ruling delivered in court and its Certified True Copy.

The PDP spokesperson further accused INEC of abandoning its neutrality and alleged that the party was the first target of a wider campaign to weaken opposition parties. He urged Nigerians to defend multi-party democracy, expressing confidence that the PDP would prevail.