The Independent National Electoral Commission has turned down former President Goodluck Jonathan’s nomination as PDP presidential candidate for 2027.
The rejection came on Friday, a few hours after a group led by Kabiru Turaki said it submitted Jonathan’s name and other PDP candidate lists in person at INEC headquarters. The development has deepened the party’s leadership crisis ahead of the next election.
Vanguard Newspaper reports that INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission only accepts online filings.
“Every nomination must be done through our portal. We no longer take physical submissions,” she stated.
But the Turaki camp said it was left with no choice. National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, told reporters that INEC refused to release the login codes needed for online upload. He argued the codes are not part of the law.
“Because INEC blocked us from the portal, we delivered everything by hand. It is valid under the Electoral Act 2026,” Ememobong said.
He said the submission included Jonathan for president, plus PDP candidates for governor, National Assembly and state assembly. He added that INEC acknowledged receipt even as both sides still argue over who controls the party.
Ememobong warned INEC not to publish any other list. He said the faction will defend what it calls the authentic PDP in court and through democratic means.
“If INEC releases different names, we will challenge it legally,” he said. “Our party must not be handed over to the ruling party.”
He blamed the crisis on a Supreme Court judgment that left the PDP without recognized leaders. He said the Board of Trustees and an NEC meeting then set up an Interim National Working Committee.
According to him, INEC ignored notice of that interim team, forcing the group to go to court. He also faulted a recent Federal High Court ruling, saying it tried to reopen issues already settled by higher courts. The faction has appealed and is questioning differences between the court’s judgment and the Certified True Copy.
He accused INEC of losing neutrality. “Their actions are making Nigerians doubt the commission,” he said. “They left out key facts in court and ignored congresses they monitored.”
Ememobong alleged the PDP crisis is part of a wider plan to weaken opposition parties and entrench one-party rule.
“We were the first to be targeted. Now it’s happening to others,” he warned, urging Nigerians to protect multi-party democracy.
The PDP leadership dispute will decide how the party fields candidates in 2027. For now, INEC insists it will only recognize nominations uploaded through its official portal.