INEC Faces Backlash Over PDP Access Code: Aspirants Urged Calm Amidst Court Dispute

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urgently called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports concerning the issuance of Candidates’ Access Codes for the 2027 elections to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, stated that INEC, under Professor Joash Amupitan, has a fundamental duty of transparency to Nigerians. The pro-democracy group warned that INEC's silence on this critical matter only fuels public suspicion and significantly undermines confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the electoral process.

HURIWA expressed profound alarm over reports suggesting that the access code had been granted to the faction associated with the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. This action is particularly contentious given the backdrop of subsisting court judgments and ongoing litigation regarding the legitimate control of the PDP. Onwubiko emphasized, "If indeed the reports are true that the Candidates’ Access Code has been issued to the faction associated with the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, then INEC must immediately explain the legal basis for taking such a consequential administrative step."

Further complicating the issue, HURIWA recalled a recent Court of Appeal ruling which held that the tenure of former PDP National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, expired in December 2025. The court found no credible evidence of his re-election and ruled that any letter of instruction issued by Ajibade lacked legal validity. HURIWA contended that this decision "significantly undermines the legal foundation" of the March 29, 2026 convention conducted by the Wike-aligned faction. In contrast, the PDP Board of Trustees, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, had constituted an interim National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Chief Kabir Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

In light of these developments, the Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has urged aspirants from their faction who have not been given INEC’s Access Codes to register and upload their nominations as candidates to remain calm, assuring them that the matter is still under judicial consideration. INEC reportedly entered an appearance in the suit concerning this dispute.

However, the lack of access codes has sparked significant concern among a group known as “Concerned PDP Aspirants.” These aspirants, who purchased nomination forms from the Turaki-led PDP NWC, are now threatening to drag the interim NWC to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They claim that the NWC fraudulently sold forms to them, knowing full well that they were not the recognized and legitimate PDP faction capable of securing access codes. The petition from these aspirants highlighted that they spent "hundreds of millions of Naira in purchasing the nomination forms and expression of interest forms as well as the necessary publicity expenses and other logistics funding," demanding redress if their concerns are not addressed.

Adding to the complexity, INEC last week released the access codes to its portal to the PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which by implication recognizes the candidates registered with the Nyesom Wike-based party. This situation draws parallels to a 2023 Court of Appeal decision in Abuja, which sacked 11 Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers in the Plateau State House of Assembly. In that unanimous decision, the panel led by Justice Okon Abang ruled that the sacked lawmakers scored wasted votes during the March 2023 general election because their party lacked the necessary structure, a precedent that weighs heavily on the current dispute.

Responding to the agitation, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP NWC, Ini Emeombong, spoke to THISDAY, reiterating his call for aspirants to remain calm as the matter is still active in court. He reminded them of the recent situation in Plateau State as a cautionary tale. Emeombong expressed confidence in the ongoing legal processes, stating, "Victory will be served at the end of the day. INEC is aware of the processes."

Moreover, the spokesman for the Turaki-led NWC emphasized that INEC has not yet published the final list of candidates expected to contest the 2027 general election. Emeombong asserted their position, stating, "we are on the side of the law as victory will be ours at the end of the day. We shall see who shall laugh last in this matter." He concluded his advice to the aspirants by urging them not to "jump the gun" prematurely.