PDP’s Turaki Slams INEC Guidelines As Anti-Opposition

Turaki has berated INEC over its guidelines, describing it as anti-opposition.

Philips News reports that the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, says the recent guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on opposition parties.

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This online newspaper notes that Turaki made this comment in a communiqué issued after a national summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, southwest Nigeria, on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

At the forum, key opposition figures, including Rauf Aregbesola, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi, met to chart a common strategy.

Reading the communiqué, Turaki said: “We shall resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party state on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country. Despite the onslaughts and maneuverings of the ruling party, we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 presidential and other elections.

“We shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and its long-suffering masses.

“INEC Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, having shown bias and partisanship in favour of the ruling APC, should not conduct the 2027 general elections. His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering widespread crises in our nation. The National Assembly should immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026, to remove all sections that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the elections.

“All leading politicians who are being detained or harassed on bailable offences be released with immediate effect and allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.

“We consider the recent guidelines released by INEC as obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties. INEC should extend the deadline for primaries till the end of July 2026,’’ Turaki noted.