PDP Crisis Deepens As Faction Presents Goodluck Jonathan For 2027 Presidential Election

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Mr. Kabiru Turaki, has taken a significant step by submitting the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election. This move comes amidst an ongoing leadership dispute within the party. The faction's Interim National Working Committee claimed to have manually submitted Jonathan's name, along with those of other candidates, to the Independent National Electoral Commission in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026. According to the National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction remains the authentic leadership of the PDP, citing a Supreme Court judgement that allegedly left the party without a legally recognised national leadership. Ememobong stated that the faction had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja after INEC allegedly refused to recognise the interim leadership. He also criticised a recent judgement, arguing that it contradicted earlier decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The faction alleged irregularities in the release of the Certified True Copy of the judgement and accused INEC of failing to maintain neutrality in matters concerning the PDP. Ememobong warned against electoral authoritarianism and expressed optimism that the courts would ultimately resolve the leadership dispute in the faction's favour. The submission of Jonathan's name has sparked controversy, with the faction urging its members and supporters to remain confident in the face of potential challenges. The ongoing dispute has significant implications for the 2027 elections and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.