The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concern over the circulation of fraudulent campaign posters on social media platforms featuring former President Goodluck Jonathan. Some posters show Jonathan alone, while others pair him with prominent Nigerians allegedly presented as his running mates.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the posters as misleading and politically mischievous. The statement was shared via the party's official X handle.
The party clarified that the images falsely portray Jonathan as a member of various political parties whose logos appear on the posters. The PDP reaffirmed that the former president remains a registered member of the PDP under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. Jonathan personally completed his registration in his ward during the recently concluded digital membership registration exercise.
The party added that Jonathan confirmed this development during a recent meeting with members of the Interim National Working Committee. The statement emphasized that this clarification is necessary given the provisions of the extant Electoral Act, which prohibits and punishes double registration.
The PDP also warned that some individuals may be deliberately producing and circulating fake campaign materials. The party expressed concern that such actions could involve attempts to fraudulently input Jonathan's details and those of other prominent party members into the membership databases of other political parties.
“We are aware that mischief makers may not only design and circulate fake campaign posters, but may also, in concert with highly placed collaborators, attempt to input the details of President Jonathan and other prominent members of our party and the opposition movement into the databases of different political parties,” the party stated.
The PDP urged the public and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of what it described as “malfeasance” and to disregard any fraudulent political materials or claims linked to such activities. It further called on relevant authorities to monitor and curb the spread of misinformation ahead of future electoral processes.
