The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of acting with institutional bias against the party, alleging that the electoral body is contributing to efforts aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, and posted on the official social media page of the PDP.

The party said its allegation followed INEC’s refusal to recognise its Interim National Working Committee despite being formally notified after the Supreme Court’s judgment on the leadership crisis.

The PDP said it subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the commission to recognise the interim leadership but expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling, describing it as inconsistent with previous judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The party disclosed that it has appealed the judgment, insisting that the legal dispute was aimed at protecting the integrity of the PDP from what it described as attempts to reduce Nigeria’s leading opposition party into “an appendage of the ruling party.”

“We approached the court to preserve the integrity of the Peoples Democratic Party from those who seek to reduce Nigeria’s foremost opposition party into an appendage of the ruling party,” the statement said.

The PDP further alleged that INEC’s conduct throughout the legal proceedings had reinforced public concerns about the commission’s neutrality.

“The Commission’s actions have regrettably reinforced the growing public perception that it is no longer acting with the impartiality expected of the nation’s electoral umpire,” the party stated.

It accused INEC of withholding material facts in court proceedings involving the PDP and ignoring congresses conducted under the commission’s supervision whenever such facts contradicted its position before the courts.

“The Commission’s filings, its arguments before the courts, and its refusal to comply with court orders favourable to our Party have collectively created an impression of institutional bias that should concern every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation,” the statement added.

The opposition party also claimed that the refusal to recognise its interim leadership forms part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties and pave the way for what it described as a one-party state in Nigeria.

According to the PDP, it remains confident that the Court of Appeal will clarify the legal issues surrounding the leadership dispute and reaffirm the authority of earlier judgments delivered by higher courts.