INEC Portal Furore: Wike's PDP Fights Back Over Candidate Nomination Claims

The Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently refuted claims that it failed to upload the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal by the stipulated deadline. In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the party dismissed the allegations as false and misleading, asserting full compliance with INEC's requirements and deadlines.

This clarification was prompted by a newspaper report that listed the PDP among political parties allegedly failing to submit their presidential candidates' names before the INEC nomination portal closed. However, the Wike-backed PDP maintained that it successfully uploaded the necessary names and particulars of its candidates at precisely 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2026. This submission, the party emphasized, was completed well within the timeframe set by the Commission's nomination guidelines, directly contradicting the assertions made in the report.

The party further highlighted that the report created an erroneous impression, suggesting a failure to meet a critical electoral requirement in the lead-up to the 2027 general election. Expressing concern over the publication of unverified information, the PDP stressed the importance of accuracy when dealing with electoral procedures to prevent misleading the public. The faction reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to adhering to all provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s nomination guidelines, urging Nigerians to disregard any reports implying non-compliance with the submission deadline.

In the interest of fairness and professionalism, the PDP faction also called for a correction of the erroneous report, underscoring its dedication to transparent and accurate reporting of electoral processes.