The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a fresh twist after the Saminu Turaki-led faction accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias and submitted the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The faction, which claims to be the legitimate leadership of the PDP, alleged that INEC denied it access to the electronic portal required for candidate submissions, forcing it to manually submit its list of candidates.
According to the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction successfully submitted Jonathan’s name, alongside its governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly candidates, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“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 further claimed that the electoral commission acknowledged receipt of the documents.
The Turaki-led faction accused INEC of failing to remain neutral in the ongoing PDP leadership dispute, alleging that the commission ignored court judgments and relevant facts concerning the party’s internal crisis.
It also warned that it would challenge any list of candidates published by INEC that differs from the one submitted by its camp.
The development has shifted the PDP’s internal crisis beyond the struggle for party leadership to a legal battle over which faction has the constitutional authority to nominate candidates for the 2027 elections.
The faction disclosed that it has already approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge INEC’s alleged refusal to recognise its interim leadership.
It also criticised a recent judgment by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim, arguing that the decision conflicts with earlier judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, which it claimed support its position.
Ememobong said the faction has appealed the ruling and remains confident that the appellate court will rule in its favour.
The submission of Goodluck Jonathan’s name is expected to further complicate the battle for the PDP presidential ticket, especially as the rival faction reportedly backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected the Turaki group’s claim to the party’s leadership and its authority to nominate candidates.
With rival camps now laying claim to the party’s structure, the dispute is expected to trigger fresh legal battles over which list of candidates INEC will ultimately recognise for the 2027 elections.
