• Accord seeks extension over internal crisis
• PDP, LP deny missing nomination deadline
• APC rejects claims of using courts, INEC against opposition
• Court reserves judgment in Olawepo-Hashim’s suit
• Abia ADC chairman backs A’Court ruling
• Federal High Court amends pre-election practice directions
• SBM warns low turnout could favour incumbents

As the deadline for the submission of candidates for next year’s general election expired yesterday, political parties made conflicting claims over compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) nomination timetable, amid requests for an extension, court cases over candidate nominations and denials of reports that some parties failed to meet the deadline.

While the Accord Party appealed to INEC for more time to resolve its internal crisis, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) denied reports that they missed the deadline.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), meanwhile, rejected allegations that it was using the courts and INEC to undermine opposition parties.

The deadline also coincided with the Federal High Court’s issuance of amended practice directions to expedite the determination of pre-election cases.

An Accord Party chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that the extension would allow its presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo, to conclude his court case with the party leadership.

The source said the Accord Party leadership had become unwilling to back Olawepo as its presidential candidate after Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke allegedly pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, prompting judicial intervention.

Also, on Arise Television’s Morning Show, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, said the party experienced technical hitches that delayed the upload of its list of candidates.

Adebayo said the SDP used the extension granted by INEC to resolve the problem, adding that the party had done everything possible to prevent detractors from frustrating its participation in the forthcoming election.

However, the SDP National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, and the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, said their parties would not seek any further extension, having successfully completed the submission process.

Agunloye commended INEC for granting what he described as a reasonable extension, saying it enabled the SDP to upload the names of all its candidates.

“We acknowledge that INEC was gracious in granting the extension. It was reasonable, and we utilised the opportunity to complete the submission of our candidates’ names,” he said.

Responding to allegations that the APC and President Tinubu were using the courts and INEC to weaken opposition parties, Agunloye said the opposition should first address its internal challenges.

“There are instances where the courts or INEC may have been misled. Such issues should be identified and corrected,” he said, stressing that most opposition crises stemmed from internal disputes rather than any coordinated effort by the ruling party.

Abdullahi, while dismissing interpretations of the recent Appeal Court judgment against the ADC, insisted that congresses were state matters governed by the party’s constitution. He added that the ADC remained committed to complying with electoral requirements under the law.

When contacted, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission had not discussed any further extension.

“I am surprised to hear this. The Commission has not met on this. I have no information on whether there will be an extension because I have not received any instruction,” she said.

PDP denies missing INEC deadline, says presidential ticket submitted on time
THE Peoples Democratic Party yesterday dismissed claims that it failed to submit the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, insisting that it fully complied with the electoral timetable.

The rebuttal followed a report alleging that the PDP was among three political parties that failed to upload their presidential tickets before INEC closed its nomination portal.

Rejecting the claim, the party said the particulars of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates were submitted well within the deadline prescribed by the electoral commission.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP described the report as “false, misleading and a gross misrepresentation of the facts”, maintaining that it had met all of INEC’s nomination requirements.

“For the record, the Peoples Democratic Party successfully uploaded the names and particulars of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the INEC nomination portal at exactly 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2026, in full compliance with the commission’s requirements and within the stipulated timeline,” Mohammed said.

The party said it was surprised that the report was published without any attempt to verify the information with its leadership, particularly as it was attributed to an anonymous source.

LP insists candidates duly submitted
THE Labour Party has strongly denied reports alleging that it failed to submit the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the Independent National Electoral Commission closed its nomination portal, insisting that it fully complied with the electoral timetable.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the LP described the report as “false, misleading and unfounded”, maintaining that all its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates were successfully nominated within the deadline prescribed by INEC.

The party disclosed that the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates were uploaded on July 10, 2026, four days before the commission closed its nomination portal on July 14.

According to the statement, the submission process was completed without any hitch and in line with INEC’s guidelines.

The LP expressed concern over what it described as the publication of an unverified report allegedly based on information from an anonymous INEC official. It accused the media organisation involved of neglecting basic journalistic standards by failing to seek clarification from the party before publication.

The party argued that such reports were capable of misleading the public and creating unnecessary confusion about its participation in the 2027 general election.

It also expressed confidence that the controversy would be resolved when INEC publishes the final list of validly nominated candidates, in line with its electoral timetable.

The LP said the official list would clearly show that it had met every requirement for the nomination of its candidates.

While urging party members and supporters not to be distracted by what it termed “fake news”, the party alleged that the reports were part of efforts to undermine its growing political momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to the LP, opponents unsettled by its increasing acceptance among Nigerians had resorted to spreading misinformation instead of engaging in issue-based politics.

The statement described the report as “idle beer parlour gossip masquerading as journalism” and insisted that the facts would ultimately expose what it called a failed propaganda campaign.

The Labour Party reaffirmed its commitment to the electoral process and urged Nigerians to await INEC’s official publication of the final list of candidates rather than rely on anonymous claims circulating in the media.

APC denies using INEC, courts to destabilise opposition parties
THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed allegations that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party were using the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary to destabilise opposition parties.

Speaking through his media aide, Mr Toiki, Yilwatda said opposition parties were unfairly blaming the APC for problems arising from their own internal shortcomings.

He said the APC successfully uploaded the names of all its 471 candidates before the deadline, unlike some opposition parties.

“We worked round the clock to ensure all our candidates were uploaded before the deadline. If other parties failed to do so, they should not blame the APC,” he said.

Yilwatda also dismissed claims that the APC influenced court decisions, describing the allegation as illogical.

“If a court gives judgment, APC is blamed. Are we now controlling the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court? It simply does not make sense,” he said.

He argued that many of the crises confronting opposition parties stemmed from attempts by new entrants to take over existing party structures.

“A political party existed before certain individuals joined. When outsiders attempt to hijack such a party, those who built it will naturally resist. These are internal matters,” he said.

Commenting on reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had assembled a team of lawyers to challenge the Appeal Court judgment at the Supreme Court, Yilwatda said the matter was entirely an opposition affair.

“Whether they go to the Supreme Court or not is none of our business. APC is not a party to the case,” he said.

He also blamed the Peoples Democratic Party for its prolonged internal crisis, citing its handling of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as an avoidable problem.

Yilwatda dismissed suggestions that the APC was responsible for defections, saying politicians change parties for personal reasons.

Appealing to Nigerians not to blame President Tinubu for every opposition crisis, he likened politics to a football match.

“We want to win and you also want to win. Opposition parties should put their houses in order instead of blaming the APC whenever they encounter problems,” he said.

Court reserves judgment in Olawepo-Hashim’s suit against Accord Party, INEC
THE Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit filed by Accord Party chieftain, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking an order compelling the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Justice Mohammed Umar reserved judgment yesterday and said the date would be communicated to the parties after counsel adopted their written submissions for and against the suit.

Adopting his arguments, the plaintiff’s counsel, Henry Akunebu, urged the court to direct the Accord Party to immediately forward Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC as its presidential candidate and order the electoral body to accept and recognise him accordingly.

He challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the party and INEC, particularly a letter purportedly cancelling the party’s primaries, arguing that it lacked the party’s official stamp and authorisation. He also contended that although the letter was addressed to the INEC chairman, it was received only by an unnamed national commissioner.

Akunebu urged the court to attach no probative value to the exhibits, describing them as documents fabricated during the course of the proceedings. He also dismissed the party’s computer-generated membership register for lacking a certificate of compliance, maintaining that the primaries were never cancelled.

However, the Accord Party insisted that its primaries were validly cancelled after no aspirant purchased nomination forms or appeared to participate. Counsel to the party, T.W. Olusesi, said INEC did not monitor the exercise because it had been cancelled and urged the court to dismiss the suit.

INEC’s counsel, D.J. Gusen, similarly told the court that the commission did not monitor the exercise because it had been cancelled, adding that a letter conveying the cancellation was received by a national commissioner. He also urged the court to dismiss the suit.

In his originating summons, Olawepo-Hashim, who named the Accord Party and INEC as the first and second defendants, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite his emergence as the sole winner of the May 30 presidential primary, violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s guidelines for political parties.

He is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to forward his name breaches Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination. He also wants the court to order the party to submit his name to INEC.

In the alternative, he is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Olawepo-Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of the Accord Party. He stated that he sponsored the party’s electronic membership drive with a payment of N7 million and paid a N50 million nomination fee to contest the presidential primary.

He said he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the primary, which he claimed was monitored by INEC officials in line with the Electoral Act. However, he alleged that the party failed to submit his name to INEC despite his victory and did not issue aspirants with guidelines for the primary as required by INEC regulations, although he proceeded on assurances allegedly given by the party’s national leadership.

In his written address, Akunebu argued that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC’s guidelines when nominating candidates. He maintained that a party that conducts a valid primary is under a statutory obligation to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

He urged the court to uphold the principle of internal party democracy by granting all the reliefs sought.

Abia ADC chairman backs A’Court ruling, questions Atiku’s planned appeal
THE crisis within the ADC intensified as the party’s Abia State Chairman, Don Norman Obinna, welcomed the Appeal Court judgment nullifying the leadership of former Senate President David Mark and questioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s reported plan to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

Obinna described the judgment as a victory for internal democracy and due process, expressing confidence that INEC would comply with the verdict, particularly regarding candidate uploads.

He said the ADC and other smaller parties were pursuing legal action seeking an order compelling INEC to reopen the candidate submission portal for candidates produced through what they described as lawful congresses and primaries.

“We believe INEC will respect the judgment and act in line with the law once the Certified True Copy is transmitted,” he said.

Obinna dismissed claims that those challenging the party leadership were acting on behalf of rival parties, insisting they were defending the ADC constitution.

He accused the national leadership of sidelining state executives, operating an exclusive structure and excluding grassroots stakeholders from key decisions.

According to him, internal divisions, poor transparency and concerns over the party’s finances had weakened the ADC’s electoral prospects. He noted that despite its increased national visibility, the party failed to win any seat in the last FCT elections.

“The party is suffering from self-inflicted injuries. Instead of building a united platform ahead of 2027, we have been consumed by avoidable disputes,” he said.

Obinna called for reconciliation among aggrieved members, warning that the party would struggle electorally if the divisions persisted.

He also questioned the legal basis of Atiku’s reported appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the former vice president was neither a founding member of the ADC nor a member of its National Executive Committee.

He maintained that the Appeal Court judgment remained binding unless overturned by the Supreme Court.

APGA explains absence of presidential candidate, cites Tinubu endorsement
THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has explained why it has yet to upload the name of a presidential candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal for the 2027 general election, saying the decision followed the party’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, said the National Executive Committee, after extensive consultations, resolved not to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 election in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid, which it described as being in the national interest.

Opara, however, clarified that the party remained fully engaged in the electoral process and had successfully uploaded the names of all its candidates for the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly elections to the INEC nomination portal.

According to him, the absence of a presidential candidate on the INEC portal should not be misconstrued as a failure to meet electoral requirements but rather as a deliberate political decision arising from the party’s earlier endorsement of the President.

He maintained that APGA’s alliance at the presidential level did not diminish its determination to contest legislative elections across the country, stressing that the party was focused on strengthening its presence in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

Federal High Court issues amended pre-election practice directions
THE Federal High Court has issued the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions (Amendment), 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the speedy and efficient determination of pre-election disputes.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Director of Information of the Federal High Court, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher, said the amendment was approved by the Chief Judge, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho.

According to the statement, the amended Practice Directions revise the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, which came into effect on June 26, 2026.

The court explained that the amendment was made pursuant to Sections 254 and 285(9), (10) and (14) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 29(5) and 88(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and other enabling legal provisions.

It stated that the revised Practice Directions are intended to promote the speedy, efficient and fair determination of pre-election matters in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and other applicable laws.

The Federal High Court noted that the amended Practice Directions build on the objectives of the original rules by ensuring that pre-election disputes are handled promptly and effectively, given the time-sensitive nature of electoral litigation.

The court also disclosed that copies of the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions (Amendment), 2026, had been printed.

Low voter turnout could favour incumbents, says SBM Intelligence
THE Managing Partner of SBM Intelligence, Ikemesit Effiong, has warned that low voter turnout could influence the outcome of elections, noting that it often favours incumbent leaders.

Effiong spoke yesterday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he discussed the findings of the organisation’s latest research on voter behaviour ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said that although President Bola Tinubu’s approval ratings were low compared with those of other major presidential candidates, a low-turnout election could still work in favour of the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“A low-turnout scenario, not only in Nigeria but right across the world, tends to favour incumbents. So, even though the President’s net ratings are low and are actually the lowest of all the major candidates running in this cycle, a low-turnout scenario still bodes well for the All Progressives Congress and the President,” he said.

Speaking on the research, Effiong said the findings suggested that many eligible voters intended to participate in the election.

“In terms of turnout, what our respondents said in this report is that they are very motivated. These are likely voters—people who have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), are above 18 and are legally eligible to vote in this election. What many of them are saying is that they intend to come out and vote,” he said.