By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports that it issued the Candidates’ Access Code for the 2027 general elections to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warning that any action capable of pre-empting ongoing court proceedings could undermine confidence in the electoral process.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement on Sunday, said the electoral commission owes Nigerians a duty of transparency over the controversy, insisting that silence on the issue only fuels suspicion about its neutrality.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must immediately clarify widespread reports alleging that it has issued the Candidates’ Access Code for the upload of candidates for the 2027 general elections to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party whose claim to the party’s leadership remains the subject of subsisting judicial pronouncements and ongoing litigation,” HURIWA said.

“The Commission owes Nigerians a duty of transparency. Silence on such a fundamental issue only fuels public suspicion and undermines confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the electoral process.”

HURIWA argued that if the reports are true, INEC should explain the legal basis for issuing the access code to the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, despite pending litigation over the authentic leadership of the PDP.

“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 despite the existence of appellate court decisions and an ongoing suit before the Federal High Court seeking judicial determination of the authentic leadership of the PDP,” the group stated.

HURIWA recalled that the Court of Appeal had ruled that the tenure of former PDP National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, expired in December 2025 and that there was no credible evidence of his re-election, thereby raising legal questions over the validity of actions arising from the March 29, 2026 PDP convention.

He also noted that the PDP Board of Trustees had constituted an interim National Working Committee led by Kabir Tanimu Turaki and instituted a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the Turaki-led leadership.

According to HURIWA, the Federal High Court has fixed July 7 for hearing after ordering accelerated proceedings because of INEC’s electoral timetable.

“It is a matter of public record that INEC has entered appearance in the suit and that the Federal High Court has fixed July 7, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications and the substantive case after ordering accelerated hearing because of the Commission’s electoral timetable,” the rights group said.

It added that counsel to the plaintiffs had informed the court that political parties had already begun receiving Candidates’ Access Codes and requested that the Turaki-led leadership also be issued the code to avoid irreparable prejudice.

HURIWA urged INEC to avoid taking any administrative action capable of rendering the pending proceedings academic.

“In these circumstances, HURIWA believes that INEC must exercise utmost restraint. The Commission must not take any administrative step capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or rendering the pending proceedings merely academic,” the statement said.

The association maintained that if INEC has not issued the access code to any PDP faction, it should publicly state so, but if it has already done so, it should review the decision in the interest of justice.

“If INEC has not issued the Candidates’ Access Code to any PDP faction, it should state so unequivocally and reassure Nigerians that it will abide by whatever lawful orders ultimately emerge from the courts,” HURIWA said.

“However, if the Commission has already issued the code to any faction notwithstanding the subsisting legal disputes, HURIWA urges it to immediately review that decision in the interest of justice, fairness and constitutional order,” the rights group added.

It stressed that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process depends on strict adherence to the Constitution and judicial authority, urging INEC to remain neutral and avoid actions capable of deepening political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.