The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a presidential nomination form for former President Goodluck Jonathan that was physically delivered by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The commission insisted that all candidate nominations must be submitted electronically through its official portal, a position that has triggered a dispute over the validity of the faction's entire candidate list.
The rejection was confirmed by INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, who told journalists that the commission only accepts filings made via its designated online system. "Submission is only done on a dedicated portal as stipulated by our regulations and guidelines please," she said.
Turaki faction explains why it submitted manually
Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki faction, said the group had no choice but to submit the documents physically after INEC refused to release the electronic access codes required to file online. He argued that the codes are an administrative convenience rather than a legal requirement, and that the manual submission is in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
"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.
According to Punch, the submission includes Jonathan's presidential nomination as well as candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions fielded by his committee. Ememobong claimed that INEC acknowledged receipt of the documents, even though the commission disputes which faction represents the legitimate PDP leadership.
Warning against publishing different candidate list
Ememobong cautioned INEC against publishing a candidates list that differs from what his committee submitted. He vowed to pursue all available legal remedies if the commission does so. "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," he said.
The warning comes amid a leadership crisis in the PDP. Ememobong explained that the standoff originated from a Supreme Court judgment that left the party without a recognised national leadership. He said the party's Board of Trustees and a requisitioned National Executive Committee meeting subsequently set up an Interim National Working Committee, but INEC refused to acknowledge this structure despite formal notification.
Accusations of INEC partiality
The faction also criticised a Federal High Court ruling, saying it is inconsistent with earlier appellate decisions. Ememobong said the faction has appealed the judgment and intends to separately challenge alleged discrepancies between the ruling delivered in court and its Certified True Copy, as reported by Vanguard.
He accused INEC of withholding facts during court proceedings and of ignoring party congresses that the commission itself monitored. "The Commission's actions have regrettably reinforced the growing public perception that it is no longer acting with the impartiality expected of the nation's electoral umpire," he said.
Ememobong further alleged that the PDP's internal troubles are part of a deliberate plan to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. "We were the pioneer target for opposition dismantling and capture… but it has now spread to almost all the opposition parties," he said, calling on Nigerians to protect multi-party democracy.
Jonathan remains noncommittal
Meanwhile, the Turaki faction visited its presidential candidate, former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja on Friday, July 24. Despite being nominated by the faction, Jonathan has not publicly declared whether he will contest the 2027 presidency.
The standoff between INEC and the Turaki faction leaves the PDP's preparations for the 2027 elections in uncertainty. The faction insists it will continue to press its case through the courts and other democratic channels, while INEC has maintained that it will only recognise candidates submitted through its electronic portal.
Ememobong reaffirmed the faction's commitment to ensuring that the PDP is not hijacked by forces aligned with the ruling party, and called on Nigerians to defend the country's multi-party democracy. The dispute is expected to shape legal and political battles in the months leading to the 2027 general elections.
