Turaki‑led PDP Faction Files Goodluck Jonathan’s Candidacy with INEC for 2027 Election

The interim national working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, headed by Kabiru Turaki (SAN), announced that it had lodged former President Goodluck Jonathan’s name with the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, despite an ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP.

According to Interim National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the faction submitted Jonathan’s candidacy manually together with its slate of governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly candidates, asserting full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026. He said INEC confirmed receipt of the documents but refused to provide the electronic submission codes required for the process.

Ememobong maintained that the Turaki faction represents the authentic PDP leadership after a Supreme Court ruling left the party without a legally recognised national executive. The group has appealed a recent judgment by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim, contending that it contradicts earlier Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions, and has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge INEC’s refusal to recognise the interim leadership.

The spokesperson accused INEC of partiality, alleging the commission ignored court orders and could publish a candidate list that differs from the one the faction submitted, thereby eroding public confidence. He urged party members to stay resolute, affirmed that legal and constitutional remedies would continue to be pursued, and warned against what he termed “electoral authoritarianism” that could threaten opposition politics.

Source: www.03naija.com