The Peoples Democratic Party faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has protested the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to grant the party’s candidate nomination upload code to the PDP leadership backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Jungudo Mohammed, disclosed in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH that INEC had provided the access code for uploading the party’s 2027 candidates to the National Working Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, describing the move as further validation of the NWC’s legitimacy.
Responding to the development, the spokesperson of the Turaki-led faction, Ini Ememobong, told our correspondent that INEC’s recognition was merely administrative.
He argued that the electoral body would still recognise their faction and upload its candidates regardless of who holds the code, citing the commission’s handling of candidate submissions in Ekiti State and Osun State as examples.
The Supreme Court, in a split 3–2 ruling delivered on April 30, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which had the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and produced the Turaki-led leadership.
