PDP Defies INEC, Submits Jonathan’s 2027 Presidential Nomination

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

The move further deepens the party’s leadership crisis, with the Turaki-led committee insisting it validly nominated its candidates in line with the Electoral Act and warning of legal action if INEC publishes a different list.

Speaking to journalists, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the party was forced to submit its candidates manually after INEC declined to provide access codes for electronic submission.

“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 the submission, which included Jonathan’s presidential nomination alongside governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates, was acknowledged by INEC.

He warned the electoral commission against publishing any list other than the one submitted by the committee.

“Should the Commission publish names other than those lawfully submitted by us… we are exhausting every constitutional, legal and democratic avenue to ensure that our party is not hijacked or annexed to the ruling party.”

The PDP also disclosed that it had appealed the Federal High Court judgment on the party’s leadership, describing the ruling as inconsistent with earlier decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The party said it would also challenge alleged discrepancies between the judgment delivered in court and its Certified True Copy.

Ememobong further accused INEC of abandoning its neutrality, alleging that the commission’s actions had reinforced public concerns about its impartiality and warning that they could erode confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

He also claimed the PDP was the first target of a broader campaign to weaken opposition parties and entrench one-party dominance.