The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of acting with institutional bias against the party, alleging that the electoral body is contributing to efforts aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, and posted on the official social media page of the PDP.

The party said its allegation followed INEC’s refusal to recognise its Interim National Working Committee despite being formally notified after the Supreme Court’s judgment on the leadership crisis.

The PDP said it subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the commission to recognise the interim leadership but expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling, describing it as inconsistent with previous judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The party disclosed that it has appealed the judgment, insisting that the legal dispute was aimed at protecting the integrity of the PDP from what it described as attempts to reduce Nigeria’s leading opposition party into “an appendage of the ruling party.”

“We approached the court to preserve 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,” the statement said.

The PDP further alleged that INEC’s conduct throughout the legal proceedings had reinforced public concerns about the commission’s neutrality.

“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,” the party stated.

It accused INEC of withholding material facts in court proceedings involving the PDP and ignoring congresses conducted under the commission’s supervision whenever such facts contradicted its position before the courts.

“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,” the statement added.

The opposition party also claimed that the refusal to recognise its interim leadership forms part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties and pave the way for what it described as a one-party state in Nigeria.

According to the PDP, it remains confident that the Court of Appeal will clarify the legal issues surrounding the leadership dispute and reaffirm the authority of earlier judgments delivered by higher courts.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected the nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 election submitted by the Taminu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

DAILY POST recalls that the PDP faction earlier announced the submission of Jonathan’s nomination together with the names of its governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates to INEC.

According to the PDP faction, the submission was done manually following denial of access to INEC’s electronic nomination platform.

However, the electoral body, through its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, dismissed the submission.

Eta-Messi stated that nominations can only be processed through INEC’s designated online portal in line with electoral regulations.

According to her, the commission 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.

INEC’s position effectively shuts the door on the nomination submitted by the Turaki faction and raises fresh questions about the validity of the candidates presented by the group.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming his political influence no longer carries electoral weight ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Frank made the remarks in a statement issued on Friday while reacting to Obasanjo’s recent comments about the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

According to him, Obasanjo had developed a pattern of attacking Atiku whenever a general election approaches instead of promoting any preferred candidate.

He accused Obasanjo of repeatedly blaming Atiku for the failures of the administration they served in together, describing the former president’s interventions as a recurring election-year ritual.

Frank argued that Nigerians had become familiar with what he described as the former president’s recurring criticism of his former deputy, insisting that such attacks would not influence the outcome of the 2027 election.

“Your political value is whitewash and a ruse because any candidate you support has always been defeated at the polls, even in your state of Ogun,” Frank said.

He urged Obasanjo to openly campaign for any candidate of his choice instead of, according to him, repeatedly directing criticism at Atiku.

“Sell your candidate if you have one at all and refrain from allowing yourself to be used before the issue of Atiku becomes a nightmare that may eventually consume you,” he added.

Frank also challenged the former president to focus more on the performance of the current administration rather than making Atiku the centre of his political interventions.

“Atiku isn’t the problem of Nigeria right now and we dare you to criticize the current government like the way you cry about Atiku,” he stated.

He maintained that political leadership would ultimately be decided by Nigerians at the polls and not by the endorsement or opposition of any political figure.

“If it is destined for Atiku to become President, neither you nor anyone else can stop it,” Frank said.