The 2027 presidential race has taken another dramatic turn after the Independent National Electoral Commission rejected former President Goodluck Jonathan’s nomination submitted by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The political battle within the Peoples Democratic Party has escalated after the Independent National Electoral Commission rejected the nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The nomination was submitted by the faction of the PDP led by Kabiru Turaki, which has been locked in a prolonged leadership dispute with the rival camp recognised by the electoral commission.
INEC’s rejection represents a significant setback for the faction’s attempt to position Jonathan as its standard-bearer for the next presidential election.
INEC Rejects Turaki Faction’s Submission
The electoral commission rejected the nomination submitted on Jonathan’s behalf by the Turaki-led faction, further complicating the former president’s reported return to the centre of the PDP’s 2027 calculations.
The development comes after the faction announced that it had submitted Jonathan’s name despite the dispute over which group legitimately controls the PDP.
The commission has recognised the rival PDP leadership associated with the Nyesom Wike camp, leaving the Turaki faction’s efforts facing another major institutional hurdle.
Turaki Camp Claims INEC Blocked Portal Access
The Turaki-led faction has maintained that it was forced to submit Jonathan’s nomination manually after it was allegedly denied access to INEC’s electronic nomination portal.
The faction previously insisted that its submission was valid and that it would not abandon its position despite the dispute over the party’s leadership and nomination process.
That argument has now collided with INEC’s latest decision, creating another flashpoint in the PDP’s increasingly complicated battle over its 2027 candidates.
Jonathan’s 2027 Ambition Faces Fresh Setback
The development is also significant because Jonathan remains one of the most discussed names in opposition political calculations ahead of 2027.
The former president has not emerged through a nomination process accepted by INEC, meaning the latest rejection places his reported candidacy in an increasingly uncertain position.
The controversy also highlights the extent to which the PDP’s internal crisis could affect its preparations for the 2027 general election.
PDP Leadership Dispute Refuses to Die
The party has been divided between rival camps claiming control of its national structure, with court cases and competing positions further complicating the situation.
The Turaki faction has continued to challenge the legitimacy of the rival leadership, while the Wike-aligned camp has maintained its position as the recognised PDP structure.
Previous court proceedings have already dealt setbacks to the Turaki camp, including a ruling dismissing a case seeking recognition of its leadership. The faction has indicated that it will continue its legal battle.
2027 Race Gets More Complicated
INEC’s rejection could trigger another round of political and legal manoeuvring within the PDP as the factions attempt to establish control over the party’s 2027 ticket.
For now, the development leaves the Jonathan nomination caught in the middle of a wider fight over who has the legitimate authority to speak for the PDP and submit candidates to the electoral commission.
With the 2027 election approaching, the party’s unresolved leadership crisis could prove as consequential as the contest itself.