The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki says it has submitted the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The group’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, saying the submission was made manually after INEC allegedly refused to grant the faction access to its candidate nomination portal.
Manual Submission After Portal Access Denied
Ememobong said the faction also submitted the names of its candidates for the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, adding that INEC acknowledged receipt of the documents.
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He explained that the manual submission became necessary because the commission did not provide the faction with the access codes required to upload the candidates’ names electronically.
Faction Challenges INEC’s Recognition
The Turaki-led faction has been locked in a leadership dispute with another PDP camp backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which is recognised by INEC.
Earlier this month, the Wike-backed faction uploaded the names of its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates to the commission’s nomination portal.
On July 17, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by the PDP Board of Trustees seeking an order directing INEC to recognise the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee.
Ememobong said the faction has appealed the judgment and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling.
INEC Accused of Bias
The spokesperson accused INEC of failing to remain neutral throughout the party’s leadership crisis.
He alleged that the commission ignored key facts during court proceedings involving the party and warned that publishing candidates submitted by any group other than the Turaki-led leadership would reinforce allegations of bias.
Ememobong said the faction hoped INEC, under its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, would act impartially.
He warned that recognising candidates submitted by another faction would raise further concerns about the commission’s neutrality and weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
According to him, the legal battle is aimed at protecting multi-party democracy, adding that the Turaki-led faction remains confident of succeeding in court.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.