The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 presidential election, submitted by the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the party.
The faction had announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate following a special national convention held in Abuja on May 30, although the former President was not present at the event.
The group subsequently said it had submitted Jonathan’s nomination, alongside the names of its governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates, to INEC.
According to the faction, the submissions were made manually after it was denied access to the commission’s electronic nomination platform.
However, INEC has dismissed the submission, insisting that candidate nominations must be made through its designated online portal in accordance with its regulations and guidelines.
The commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said INEC does not recognise manual submission of candidates.
“Submission is only done on a dedicated portal as stipulated by our regulations and guidelines please,” she said.
The development could further deepen the leadership crisis within the PDP, with rival factions continuing to dispute control of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
At the faction’s special convention, Jonathan’s certificate of return was received on his behalf by the PDP leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi, who represents Ekeremor/Sagbama Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State.
The certificate was presented to Agbedi by former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, in the presence of party leaders, delegates, former ministers, state officials and supporters.
The electoral commission’s position effectively invalidates the manual submission made by the Turaki-led faction and raises fresh questions over the status of Jonathan’s nomination and the other candidates presented by the group.
The dispute is expected to generate further legal and political battles within the PDP as parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
