How INEC access code intervened in PDP crisis

As the battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which started in the build up to the 2023 elections intensified after the November 15 and 16 elective National Convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State, parties in the crisis have remained implacable all claiming to forming the authentic structure of the party.

As the hostility raged with the matter in court, keen watchers of the imbroglio were of the opinion that when the Supreme Court finally makes a pronouncement on the matter, it will finally put an end to the disputations.

Unfortunately, even after the Supreme Court judgement which took place in April, 2026, both factions, the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led camp which were hitherto supported by the PDP Governors before their defection from the party and the Abdulrahman Muhammed led faction backed by the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike continued to lay claim to the party leadership.

While the Abdulrahman faction insisted that the Supreme Court has nullified the Ibadan convention that produced Turaki and his members of the National Working Committee, NWC, the Turaki-led leaders said that since the Apex Court also upheld the suspension of the National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade then the judgement it in its favour.

Consequently, the Adolphus Wabara led Board of Trustees, BoT which is loyal to the Turaki camp said they had taken over the party and went ahead to inaugurate the Turaki-led leadership into a new new Interim National Working Committee, INWC.

Wike backed faction receives INEC code

Last month during the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the Wike backed PDP, the FCT Minister stated that the authentic leadership of the party will be known when the Independent National Electoral, INEC gives out the access code to upload the names of candidates for the 2027 elections to their portal.

Last week, as INEC began to release access codes to political parties to upload names of its candidates, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abdulrahman led faction, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed,  confirmed the receipt of the code to Daily Trust.

In an interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, the party spokesperson insisted that it is not the receipt of INEC Access code that defines them as the authentic leadership, but the Supreme Court judgement.

He said it is not just the issue of access code that has put an end to the crisis in the party, “what has put an end to issue of division is the Supreme Court judgment, the courts have brought an end to any form of leadership dispute in the party. There is no two ways about it and we want people to stop getting confused about it.”

“INEC as a law abiding institution acted based on the judgment of the court, the reason why we were given access code is because the court has made a pronouncement and INEC relied on that pronouncement to legitimize and recognize us that’s why we were given access code,” he said.

He said the most important thing is that the PDP has moved on.

“We are carrying out all our legitimate activities in line with relevant laws and the relevant authorities, INEC, security, the general public, every other person have come to agree that the only legitimate PDP is the one headed by Abdurrahman Mohammed who are presently occupying the National headquarters of the party.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Turaki led faction were not successful as the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Ini Ememobong was yet to reply to messages, including WhatsApp messages sent to his number while he wasn’t picking his  calls the many times our correspondent called his line.

Access code clears path for Pantami, Aondokaa, Ombugadu, Natasha others

Meanwhile, among those set to boost their chances over in the 2027 general elections following the granting of access code to the Wike backed PDP are politicians like the governorship candidate of the party in Gombe State, Isa Ali Pantami, a former minister of communication, the governorship candidate of the party in Benue, Micheal Aondoakaa, who is a former attorney General and Minister of Justice.

Others are  Bolakale Kawu, the governorship candidate of the party for Kwara State, Kefas Ropshik, popularly known as Kefiano for Plateau State, David Ombugadu in Nasarawa State, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti, among others.

Why PDP is confident of winning

Jungudo on his part added that the party is very confident of winning many of the states.

He cited the internal wrangling and disagreement, arising from the outcome of the All Progressives Congress, APC primaries, as one which will lead to a serious “wide crack in the APC.”

“So they may not be able to have that formidable front to win elections. The situation in the country and the poor performance of governors of APC and their respective houses of assembly and national assembly members is a factor which we believe will contribute greatly to our own success.

“We have fielded credible people across all elective positions. Very popular people with track records, people that are in touch with the grassroots.

“So we believe in a free and fair democratic contest, we will win election. As to how many states, we will win. If we don’t win all, we will win at least two over three for the Governorship elections in the States and National Assembly.

“Tell me, who is a performing APC governor as it is today? Who is performing? Look at the elections in Adamawa. Despite the defection of Governor Fintiri, we still swept all the local government elections. So who is performing? Let me tell you, we are keeping our strategies to our chest.”He said.

Jonathan’s ambition on a tightrope

Meanwhile, the quest by PDP members loyal to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki led faction to present former President Goodluck Jonathan as their presidential candidate might have hit the rocks as nothing further has been heard about it since the release of the access codes.

In may this year speculations were rife that Jonathan may have decided to join the 2027 presidential race.

The reports was that the Bayelsa born politician had already secured the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms from a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Turaki through some of his cronies and kinsmen.

Among those considered to be the arrow heads of the Jonathan must contest, is a Member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, Fred Agbedi, former Information minister and member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Professor Jerry Gana among others.

Even though the former President did not at any point officially declare his intention, the PDP officials insisted that Jonathan remains their Presidential candidate.

While addressing journalists after the screening of 12 governorship aspirants in Abuja, former governor of Niger State and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, BoT, under the leadership of former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Babangida Aliyu, said Jonathan is the only presidential aspirant of the party known to them.

Aliyu said, having served as Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice president and President, Jonathan deserves to be given a waiver, adding that with his antecedents he does not need any screening.

He said, “Therefore, the party had given him waiver. In other words, he has been declared and cleared as the candidate of the PDP for the presidential election, and that is former President Jonathan.”

Also during the presentation of Certificates to candidates of the party, the National Organising Secretary, Theophilos Daka Shan insisted that Jonathan remains the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party faction.

Jonathan not in the race – Sources

Meanwhile, Daily Trust gathered that the former President was never in the 2027 presidential elections.

A source in the party told our correspondent that the leaders of the party actually met with the former president and asked him to join the contest, but he never gave his word.

The source said, “Leaders of the Turaki faction of the PDP actually wanted Jonathan to contest, but he was not interested. If you remember at different times people came to meet him, but he declined. The only time I can remember is when he told the supporters that came to his house that he would consult and get back to them. But he never did.

“If you have been following what has been happening in the polity, you will know that the PDP is not how it used to be. It has been divided into factions, with a lot of litigations. So do you think Jonathan will want to contest under that same arrangement?

“I believe the Turaki-led PDP just wanted to use his name to boost their faction. Because as a former President Jonathan knows what it takes to contest for the Presidency and definitely not in this manner.” He said.

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