BREAKING: INEC Rejects Jonathan’s 2027 Presidential Bid Submission

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it successfully submitted a list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, including former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential flagbearer.

According to Ireporter Online, the electoral commission maintained that all political parties are required to submit the names of their candidates exclusively through INEC’s designated electronic portal, stressing that manual submission does not comply with the commission’s approved procedures.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Ita-Messi, clarified the commission’s position while responding to the claims made by the PDP faction. She stated that although she could not verify whether any documents had been delivered to the commission, the recognised process for candidate nomination remains electronic submission through the official portal.

She also questioned the faction’s claim that it had successfully submitted its candidates after alleging that it was denied access to the electronic upload platform, noting that such a process contradicts the commission’s established guidelines.

The commission’s response followed a press briefing by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction in Abuja, during which it announced that it had forwarded its list of candidates for the 2027 elections to INEC. The faction claimed the list included former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, alongside nominees for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives positions.

According to the faction, it was unable to upload the candidates electronically because INEC allegedly failed to provide the required access credentials. It therefore opted for a manual submission, insisting that the move complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the faction, its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, defended the decision, arguing that the manual submission was lawful under the Electoral Act. He also accused INEC of taking sides in the lingering leadership dispute within the PDP, alleging that the commission had failed to remain impartial despite existing judicial pronouncements and developments surrounding the party’s internal crisis.

The disagreement adds another dimension to the ongoing leadership tussle within the PDP as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, with INEC reiterating that political parties must adhere strictly to its prescribed nomination procedures.