PDP Faction Claims Submission of Jonathan’s Name to INEC
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced that it has forwarded the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its presidential nominee for the 2027 general election. The statement was made during a press conference held late Thursday.
Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, said INEC confirmed receipt of the documents, even though the faction alleges it was denied access to the electronic submission codes required for online filing.
The faction maintains that it represents the authentic leadership of the PDP, citing a Supreme Court ruling that left the party without a legally recognised national executive. According to Ememobong, this vacuum prompted the Board of Trustees and a requisitioned National Executive Committee meeting to establish an interim leadership structure.
After INEC reportedly refused to acknowledge the interim leadership despite being notified of its formation, the faction approached the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ememobong criticised a recent judgment by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim, arguing that it contradicts earlier decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, which underpin the faction’s legal position.
He added that the faction has appealed the judgment and remains confident that the appellate court will uphold the prior rulings. The group also alleged irregularities in the Certified True Copy of the judgment, claiming that parts of the document do not accurately reflect the ruling delivered in open court.
Ememobong accused INEC of bias, stating that the commission’s filings, court arguments, and refusal to obey favourable court orders create an impression of institutional partiality. He warned that if INEC publishes a different list of candidates, it would reinforce perceptions of electoral authoritarianism and undermine opposition politics.
The spokesman urged party members and supporters to stay resolute, promising that the faction will continue to pursue all legal and constitutional avenues to secure its position. He expressed confidence that the courts will ultimately resolve the leadership dispute in the faction’s favour and reaffirmed its commitment to reclaiming the party.
