With the August 1 date for the publication of the list of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections approaching, the Tanimu Turaki-led camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed confidence that former President Goodluck Jonathan will be on the ballot for the January 16, 2027, presidential elections.
National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said at a news conference that they have submitted the name of the former President and other candidates nominated by them to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ememobong the submission of the party was duly acknowledged by the Commission, but assured its members and candidates not to despair if their names are not published on Saturday by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 and the INEC timetable.
The Commission has set August 1 for the publication of the names and final particulars of candidates for the national elections (Presidential and National Assembly), while the upload of names and personal particulars for the state elections (Governorship and state Houses of Assembly) is still ongoing.
He accused the INEC of bias in all matters concerning the party, especially during court proceedings by withholding critical information or failing to acknowledge material facts that would have assisted the court in arriving at a just determination, as well as failing to obey valid court orders.
According to him, congresses conducted by the group and monitored by INEC itself were subsequently denied or ignored because acknowledging them would have contradicted the narrative advanced before the courts, adding that this pattern is particularly disturbing because the judiciary has, on several occasions, reminded the Commission that it owes every political party a duty of neutrality. Unfortunately, our experience has been otherwise.
The text of the press conference titled “Victory Ahead, by God’s Grace” reads: “Following the judgment of the Supreme Court on the leadership of our Party, which effectively left the Peoples Democratic Party without a legally recognised national leadership, the Board of Trustees and a member-requisitioned National Executive Committee constituted an Interim National Working Committee to manage the affairs of the Party. This decision was duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in line with the law.
“Despite receiving our notification and several reminders thereafter, INEC declined to accord the Interim National Working Committee the recognition warranted by the extant judicial decisions. Consequently, we approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking, among other reliefs, an order directing the Commission to recognise the Interim National Working Committee.
“The judgment delivered by Justice Salim Oluwasupo Ibrahim reads more like an appeal on the judgement of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. It is clearly inconsistent with the extant decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal that form the foundation of our case.
ALSO READ: Obi challenges INEC to publish certificates of all candidates
“Rather than determine the question of enforcing those subsisting judgments, the decision, in our considered view, ventured into issues already settled by superior courts. It is for this reason that we have exercised our constitutional right of appeal.
“It is equally important to note that the Certified True Copy of the judgment was released after considerable delay. More significantly, the Certified True Copy did not fully reflect portions of the judgment as delivered in open court. This development raises legitimate concerns, which will also be addressed through the appropriate legal processes. We remain confident that the Court of Appeal will provide the necessary clarification and reaffirm the supremacy of the earlier decisions of the higher courts.
“Our decision to seek judicial intervention was, and remains, about preserving the integrity of the Peoples Democratic Party from those who seek to reduce Nigeria’s foremost opposition party into an appendage of the ruling party. We were the pioneer target for opposition decimation and capture, as a part of the pressure for the attainment of a one-party state, but it has now spread to almost all the opposition parties.
“It is equally necessary to draw the attention of Nigerians to the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission throughout these proceedings. 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.
“In every matter involving our Party, including court proceedings before the Ibadan Convention, officials of the Commission withheld or failed to acknowledge material facts that would have assisted the courts in arriving at a just determination. Congresses conducted and monitored by INEC itself were subsequently denied or ignored because acknowledging them would have contradicted the narrative advanced before the courts.
“This pattern is particularly disturbing because the judiciary has, on several occasions, reminded the Commission that it owes every political party a duty of neutrality. Unfortunately, our experience has been otherwise. The Commission’s filings, its arguments before the courts, and its refusal to comply with court orders favourable to our Party have collectively created an impression of institutional bias that should concern every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation.”
