2027 Election Bombshell: Wike Alleges INEC Candidate Code Scandal, Slams Turaki

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has emphatically declared that the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under his leadership is the sole entity recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for uploading candidates for the 2027 general elections. He revealed that his camp has already been granted the necessary access codes to the INEC nomination portal, thereby dismissing the Tanimu Turaki-led rival group as an unrecognised faction that is misleading its supporters with false claims.

Speaking during a media chat with journalists in Abuja, Wike refuted assertions by the Turaki-led group regarding its legitimacy. He underscored that INEC’s action of granting access codes to his camp serves as definitive proof of recognition, effectively invalidating the rival faction’s claims. Wike accused the media of inadvertently conferring legitimacy upon the unrecognised camp, stating, “They’re not parading; they [media] are the ones advertising them.” He likened the rival group’s activities to a form of deception, emphasizing that the true test of a political party's legitimacy lies in whether INEC has granted it access to its nomination portal. He questioned which candidates the Turaki group could submit if they lacked such access, contrasting it with his camp, which is actively uploading candidates.

Wike further alleged that the rival group deliberately sustains false hopes among its supporters by promising legal action and potential candidacy until the election, despite lacking official standing. He firmly maintained that there is no legitimate faction within the PDP, arguing that a mere disagreement with the party leadership does not constitute a faction. He challenged the media’s continued promotion of the “faction” narrative, highlighting that the rival group lacks its own secretariat and does not attend crucial INEC meetings, making their claims of party status untenable. According to Wike, only the recognized leadership of the party is authorized to speak for the PDP.

The Minister also addressed speculation surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential emergence as a presidential candidate through the rival camp, swiftly dismissing such notions. He affirmed that the recognized PDP leadership has already commenced the nomination process, with forms distributed to prospective candidates. He rhetorically questioned which nomination forms the rival group would provide if they were not recognized by INEC to begin with.

Broadening his commentary to the state of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike expressed skepticism regarding the genuine intentions of Nigeria’s opposition parties. He questioned whether they are truly committed to providing an alternative government or are primarily driven by personal ambitions, citing instances where individuals might switch parties (e.g., from PDP to APC) if they fail to secure a ticket. He posited that for a credible opposition to effectively challenge the government, its members must first set aside their selfish interests.

Wike extended his critique to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) concerning its legal battle with INEC. He questioned the NDC’s decision to file its registration suit at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, rather than in Abuja, where both the party and INEC maintain their headquarters. He suggested that such a choice indicated a “hidden intention,” implying an attempt to avoid scrutiny from interested parties who could have joined proceedings if the case had been filed in Abuja.

While defending the judiciary’s right to review its own decisions, especially in cases where a judgment is a nullity or was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation, Wike cautioned against public attacks on judges when court rulings are unfavorable. He advocated for adherence to established appeal processes, urging against “practicing law on television” before even thoroughly reading a judgment.

Drawing parallels to the PDP’s own leadership crisis in 2016 and 2017, Wike recalled how the party resolved its internal issues and ultimately prevailed at the Supreme Court without abandoning its principles or resorting to blaming the then APC-led Federal Government for interference. He stressed the importance of internal party cohesion and the need to “put your house in order first.” Using a football analogy, Wike illustrated that political parties must comply with electoral rules and avoid mistakes, just as teams must field eligible players, as opponents are always vigilant and will capitalize on any errors.