2027: PDP faction submits Goodluck Jonathan’s name to INEC as presidential candidate

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the presidential candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 general election, amid the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

The faction’s Interim National Working Committee, led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN), said it manually submitted Jonathan’s name alongside those of its governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly candidates in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday night, the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, said INEC acknowledged receipt of the documents despite allegedly denying the faction access to electronic submission codes.

Ememobong maintained that the faction represents the authentic leadership of the PDP, arguing that a Supreme Court judgment left the party without a legally recognised national leadership.

According to him, the development prompted the PDP Board of Trustees and a National Executive Committee meeting convened through members’ requisition to establish an interim leadership structure.

He said the faction later approached the Federal High Court in Abuja after INEC allegedly declined to recognise the interim leadership despite being formally notified of its constitution.

The spokesman criticised a recent judgment delivered by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim, claiming it conflicted with earlier decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

“The judgment reads more like an appeal on the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal,” Ememobong said.

He disclosed that the faction had already appealed the ruling and expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn it.

Ememobong also alleged irregularities in the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, claiming that portions of the document did not accurately reflect the decision delivered in open court.

The faction further accused INEC of failing to remain neutral in matters concerning the PDP.

“The Commission’s filings, its arguments before the courts, and its refusal to comply with court orders favourable to our Party have collectively created an impression of institutional bias that should concern every Nigerian,” he said.

According to him, if INEC eventually publishes names different from those submitted by the faction, it would reinforce public concerns about the commission’s impartiality.

He urged PDP members and supporters not to lose confidence, assuring them that the faction would continue to pursue legal and constitutional remedies.

Describing the dispute as part of a broader struggle to preserve opposition politics, Ememobong warned against what he termed “electoral authoritarianism” and the emergence of a one-party state.

He insisted that the faction complied with the law despite the challenges it faced.

“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,” he stated.

He added that members of the faction remained confident that the courts would ultimately resolve the leadership dispute in their favour.

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