Ememobong said the faction’s candidates remain confident in the judicial process and are committed to reclaiming the party. He stressed that, despite INEC’s refusal to provide the necessary access codes, the faction has successfully submitted, manually and in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the list of candidates sponsored by the authentic Peoples Democratic Party.
The spokesman urged party members and supporters not to lose confidence, stating the faction will continue to pursue legal and constitutional remedies. He described the dispute as part of a broader struggle to prevent the erosion of opposition politics and the emergence of a one‑party state.
Ememobong said the faction’s candidates remain confident in the judicial process and are committed to reclaiming the party. He stressed that, despite INEC’s refusal to provide the necessary access codes, the faction has successfully submitted, manually and in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the list of candidates sponsored by the authentic Peoples Democratic Party.
He warned against what he termed “electoral authoritarianism,” asserting that democratic institutions should not be used to suppress opposition parties. Ememobong expressed confidence that the courts will eventually resolve the leadership dispute in the faction’s favour, adding that its members are prepared to pursue the matter to its conclusion.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced that it has submitted the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The declaration was made during a press conference late Thursday, amid the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
Faction Claims Submission to INEC
National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, stated that INEC acknowledged receipt of the documents, even though the faction alleges it was denied access to the electronic submission codes required for online filing.
Leadership Crisis and Interim Leadership
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. He said this vacuum prompted the Party’s Board of Trustees and a National Executive Committee meeting, convened through members’ requisition, to establish an interim leadership structure.
Court Disputes and INEC Allegations
The faction subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja after INEC allegedly refused to recognise the interim leadership despite being notified of its constitution and receiving reminders. Ememobong criticised a recent judgment by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim, claiming it conflicts with earlier rulings of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, which form the basis of the faction’s case.
He added that the judgment reads more like an appeal on those earlier decisions, and the faction has appealed the ruling, expressing confidence that the appellate court will uphold the prior judgments. The faction also alleged irregularities in the release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment, asserting that parts of the document do not accurately reflect the ruling delivered in open court.
Accusations of INEC Bias
Ememobong accused INEC of failing to remain neutral in PDP matters, claiming the commission ignored material facts and court orders favourable to the party. He warned that if INEC eventually publishes names different from those submitted by the faction, it would reinforce public concerns over the commission’s impartiality and create the impression that it is supporting efforts to weaken the opposition.
Appeal, Confidence and Commitment to Opposition
The spokesman urged party members and supporters not to lose confidence, stating the faction will continue to pursue legal and constitutional remedies. He described the dispute as part of a broader struggle to prevent the erosion of opposition politics and the emergence of a one‑party state.
Ememobong said the faction’s candidates remain confident in the judicial process and are committed to reclaiming the party. He stressed that, despite INEC’s refusal to provide the necessary access codes, the faction has successfully submitted, manually and in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the list of candidates sponsored by the authentic Peoples Democratic Party.
He warned against what he termed “electoral authoritarianism,” asserting that democratic institutions should not be used to suppress opposition parties. Ememobong expressed confidence that the courts will eventually resolve the leadership dispute in the faction’s favour, adding that its members are prepared to pursue the matter to its conclusion.
