The faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki has dismissed allegations that presidential aspirants were being prevented from purchasing nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the faction’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, described the claims as false, insisting that the party had not obstructed any interested aspirant from participating in the process.
According to the statement, the party recently extended the deadline for the purchase and submission of nomination forms following appeals from members seeking more time to complete the process.
Ememobong noted that under the amended timetable, aspirants still had until Friday, May 22, 2026, to obtain and return completed forms, while special screening for those yet to be screened would take place on Saturday, May 23.
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“We state clearly that the Interim National Working Committee is not aware of any hindrance by the party through its officials to prevent anybody from purchasing the forms,” the statement read.
He further clarified that although the party zoned its presidential ticket to the South, zoning arrangements could not override constitutional rights.
“To this end, we urge the public to discountenance any story alleging that the party is preventing people from purchasing forms.
“We reiterate that our forms are still available during the period specified in the amended timetable, and all Nigerians seeking to genuinely contest on our platform are free to obtain, fill, and return their forms,” he said.
The clarification followed earlier reports that the Turaki-led PDP planned to screen former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential aspirant.
However, the party later announced that Jonathan would not undergo the conventional screening exercise.
Speaking on the development, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who is a member of the PDP screening committee, said the former president did not require screening because of his previous experience in office.
