The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have dismissed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appeal the Federal High Court judgment faulting aspects of its 2027 election timetable.

Reacting to the appeal, National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the action by INEC was anticipated and, therefore, did not come as a surprise to the party.

According to him, “We expected it, and that was the reason we did not shift our primaries. We regarded the judgment as a booby trap in the first instance. However, our disposition to that judgment does not prejudice the fact that INEC is not doing the right thing.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that Nigerians have a strong alternative government of their choice next year, one that will reshape the country.”

In a similar reaction, National Secretary of SDP, Olu Agunloye, said INEC had the constitutional right to appeal the judgment, “but it will meet the whole of Nigeria in court.”
Agunloye added that it had become obvious that the commission was “working not for Nigerians, but in the interest of one individual.”

However, the immediate past spokesman of former INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, defended the commission’s decision to challenge the judgment, arguing that the ruling questioned INEC’s constitutional powers.

Oyekanmi said the commission was acting within its rights to seek judicial interpretation at a higher court, noting that the 1999 Constitution clearly outlines INEC’s responsibilities.

“The first function is to organise, undertake and supervise all elections into the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, as well as membership of the Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.

“The commission is also empowered to register and deregister political parties in accordance with extant laws, and to monitor the organisation and operations of political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses and primaries,” he said.

He explained that extensive planning and consultations with political parties and stakeholders usually precede the release of any election timetable by the commission.

“A lot of planning and consultations go into the finalisation and production of the timetable and schedule of activities that INEC releases for any election. One would have expected that any major stakeholder with issues regarding the timetable would have drawn the commission’s attention to such concerns during the consultative meetings.

“Once the timetable is released, it becomes a legal document, and all the activities contained in it follow a sequence and timelines prescribed by extant laws.

“Therefore, any attempt to compel the commission to alter timelines of activities in the 2027 election timetable should not be taken lightly because of the constitutional and electoral implications involved.

“It is, therefore, important and necessary for INEC to appeal the judgment and state its case before a higher court,” Oyekanmi added.

INEC asks A’Court to void judgment nullifying part of 2027 election guidelines
RECALL that the Independent National Electoral Commission asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified part of the electoral guidelines issued by the commission for the conduct of the 2027 general election.

In a motion on notice attached to the appeal, INEC prayed the court for an order staying the execution or further execution of the judgment delivered by the high court on May 20, 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal it filed before the Court of Appeal.

Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had last week nullified guidelines issued by INEC directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 as a condition for participation in the 2027 general election.

The suit challenging the legality of the directive was instituted by the Youth Party.

In its judgment, the court held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

However, in the appeal dated May 25, 2026, filed through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon (SAN), INEC urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment.

Apart from seeking to overturn the judgment, the Senior Advocate also asked the court to stay its execution pending the determination of the appeal.

In the appeal, the electoral body raised nine grounds of appeal.

INEC argued that the trial court erred in law by failing to pronounce on its objection that the suit was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying the commission a fair hearing.

Chief Izinyon further argued that the lower court erred in its interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026.

According to the appeal, the trial court held that political parties were only required to submit the names of candidates who emerged from valid primaries not later than 120 days before the general election and to notify INEC 21 days before holding primaries, congresses, conventions, or meetings for the nomination of candidates and election of party executives.

The lower court also held that INEC was not empowered to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries, provided the names of candidates were submitted within the timeline stipulated by the Electoral Act.

INEC, however, maintained that the judgment was against the weight of evidence placed before the court.

The commission, therefore, urged the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

It also asked the court to strike out the suit on the ground that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute and maintain the action, which it described as academic.

Primaries fallout may trigger fresh wave of defections from APC ahead of 2027
MEANWHILE, what may trigger a fresh wave of defections by politicians who lost their parties’ tickets for the 2027 elections appears to have begun with the resignation of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, from the ruling All Progressives Congress after failing to secure the party’s governorship ticket in Nasarawa State.

Adamu’s decision to quit the APC in search of another platform to actualise his ambition has reinforced growing speculation that many aggrieved aspirants across the country may soon follow the same path.

Already, permutations within several political camps suggest that aspirants who lost out in the recently concluded APC primaries are weighing options of defecting to rival parties, especially in states where allegations of manipulation, imposition and irregularities have continued to trail the exercises.

In several states, dissatisfied contenders and their supporters have openly questioned the credibility of the delegate system and voting figures announced by party leaderships, insisting that the exercises were skewed in favour of preferred candidates.

The situation has been compounded by complaints that many persons who participated in the primaries could not be properly verified as authentic party members, fuelling accusations of compromised membership registers and inflated delegate figures.

Speculations over possible defections have also spread beyond mainstream politicians to celebrity figures involved in partisan politics. Businessman and socialite, Obi Cubana, recently stirred political conversations after reportedly removing APC affiliations from his Facebook profile shortly after the primaries, fuelling rumours of dissatisfaction and possible political realignment.

Although he has not publicly announced plans to quit the party, the move has been interpreted in some quarters as a subtle reaction to internal developments within the APC.

Similarly, Cubana Chief Priest, who lost an APC House of Representatives primary in Imo State, openly expressed frustration over the process, deepening concerns about growing discontent among aggrieved aspirants ahead of 2027.

Boosting the confidence of many aggrieved aspirants is the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which set aside aspects of the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission that placed restrictions on political parties’ timelines for pre-election activities.

In the judgment delivered by Justice M.G. Umar, the court nullified portions of INEC’s 2027 election timetable to the extent that they imposed restrictive timeframes on political parties contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 between the Youth Party and INEC, the court held that the electoral body lacked the statutory power to prescribe the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The court further declared that INEC could not lawfully abridge or limit the statutory periods provided under the Electoral Act relating to the submission of personal particulars of candidates, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final lists of candidates, and campaign periods for the elections.

Consequently, the court set aside the portions of INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections that were deemed inconsistent with the Electoral Act, 2026.

With the judgment, aggrieved aspirants, many of whom are expected to begin submitting petitions to the APC national headquarters from today, may now explore alternative platforms to pursue their ambitions if dissatisfied with the outcome of any reconciliation process initiated by the party.

Among those who have already petitioned the party leadership are the immediate past Lagos APC spokesperson, Oluseye Oladejo, who contested for Mushin Federal Constituency; Akeem Animashaun; Kolawole Taiwo; Ayodele Adewale; Adesola Samuel Adedayo; and Abdul Animashaun, who reportedly called the attention of President Bola Tinubu to their grievances.

Before the Federal High Court judgment nullifying INEC’s earlier deadline for submission of party membership registers and databases ahead of the 2027 polls, the prevailing belief was that aggrieved aspirants would find it difficult to defect after losing primaries. That position marked a sharp departure from Nigeria’s political tradition, where politicians who feel cheated or sidelined often switch parties to pursue their ambitions elsewhere.

However, the court ruling has now altered political calculations. By reaffirming the constitutional window for submission of candidate details and party data, the judgment effectively reopened opportunities for dissatisfied aspirants to migrate to other parties and still contest elections.

Political observers believe the ruling may embolden heavyweight politicians who lost primaries to test their popularity elsewhere, particularly in states where internal disputes remain unresolved. Across the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and smaller parties, there are already signs of disquiet among loyalists of defeated aspirants.

In Oyo State, controversy has continued to trail the APC governorship primary won by Senator Sarafadeen Alli, who was declared the winner with 578,143 votes ahead of Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, while former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, came third.

Reacting to the outcome, Adelabu rejected the figures, insisting that the total registered membership of the APC in Oyo State was far below the votes announced. In a statement issued by his media aide, Comrade Femi Awogboro, Adelabu maintained that the party’s registered membership in the state stood at about 153,640 and not over 500,000 as allegedly portrayed during the exercise.

He subsequently urged party members and the public to await what he described as the “official declaration” of authentic results, warning those handling the process against manipulation.

Beyond Oyo, similar grievances have emerged in states such as Lagos State, Kano State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State and Kaduna State, where some aspirants and their loyalists are accusing party leaders of favouritism, consensus imposition and selective endorsement of preferred candidates.

In Lagos, the outcome of the APC primaries has reportedly left several lawmakers and aspirants embittered, especially those denied return tickets despite strong grassroots structures.

Political analysts warn that unless party leaders move quickly to reconcile aggrieved camps, the country may witness another round of pre-election defections capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027.

They argue that while some aspirants may initially remain within their parties to negotiate, prolonged dissatisfaction and perceived injustice could force them to seek refuge in opposition parties or emerging coalitions.

Already, smaller parties and coalition movements are said to be quietly positioning themselves to receive disgruntled politicians shut out of the major parties’ arrangements. With the electoral window now widened by the court ruling, analysts believe the season of political realignment may only just be beginning.

Questions have also continued to trail the authenticity of the voting figures announced during the APC primaries, particularly when compared with the party’s claimed membership strength of about 12.6 million nationwide. Critics argue that some of the figures recorded in the contests appeared inconsistent with verified membership data, fuelling allegations of manipulation and inflated results.

The controversy intensified following the APC’s nationwide presidential primary figures that reportedly produced over 10.99 million votes for President Tinubu. Opposition figures and aggrieved aspirants insist that such numbers have further raised concerns about transparency within the party’s internal electoral processes, especially in states where registered party membership is believed to be far lower than the votes announced.

A senior member of one of the major opposition parties disclosed to The Guardian that although the party’s membership strength was presently below seven million, it expected a sharp increase due to the growing number of aggrieved APC members allegedly indicating readiness to defect.

Immediate past National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu, yesterday dismissed the APC’s claimed membership strength of over 12 million, arguing that there was no scientific basis for such figures under the prevailing economic hardship.

He also alleged that APC governors were using money to collect voters’ cards ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the most important thing was for President Tinubu to ensure that the next presidential election is free and fair.

However, an APC chieftain in Osun State, Alhaji Liadi Tella, dismissed fears of mass defections following the primaries.

According to him, any party member dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries remains free to seek redress or exercise the constitutional right to move elsewhere.

He argued that politicians had also been defecting to the APC in large numbers and that the ruling party should not be overly worried about losing some members to rival platforms.

But one aggrieved aspirant in the Southwest cautioned the APC leadership that defections may only represent one aspect of the fallout from the controversial primaries.

“The worst scenario,” he warned, “would be those who may remain within the party only to sow seeds of discord and inflict deeper internal damage.”

He specifically urged President Tinubu to reflect on the events of the 2023 elections in Lagos, where the APC nearly lost its traditional stronghold amid internal grievances and voter discontent.

APC suffers fresh defections after controversial primaries
FRESH cracks have emerged within the ruling All Progressives Congress as prominent party members, including a serving senator, a former Inspector-General of Police, and an aide to the party’s national chairman, dumped the party following disputes arising from recent primary elections.

Mustapha Bala, Chief of Staff to APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) days after losing a keenly contested APC shadow poll for the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency seat in Kano State.

The primary election was conducted to select the party’s candidate for the 2027 election and to fill the vacancy created by the death of the lawmaker representing the constituency, Muhammad Danjuma, who died in April while serving under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Following his defection, Bala was formally received into the NDC by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso at his Miller Road residence in Kano.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, confirmed the development.

“As part of the symbolic reception into the Kwankwasiyya movement, Mustapha Bala Dawaki was decorated with the famous red Kwankwasiyya cap,” Hassan said.

Bala was initially appointed Chief of Staff by former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and was retained in the position by the current chairman, Yilwatda.

Also, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, resigned from the APC following his defeat in the party’s governorship primary election in Nasarawa State.

Adamu formally submitted his resignation letter yesterday to APC executives in Makama Ward, Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Speaking during the meeting, he said, “You are the officials of my ward in the APC, Makama ward.”

The officials responded: “Yes, sir.”

Adamu added, “The law said when a person wants to join a party, he goes to his ward. When I wanted to join (the party), I came to the ward.

“And if you want to leave, leave through the ward. I am before you today, my officials, APC, Makama ward, my ward.

“Deputy Chairman, since the Chairman is not here, Ahmad Auwal, the Secretary Usman Abdullahi, today I have addressed a letter to you, especially the chairman, letter of resignation of membership of All Progressives Congress.”

In his resignation letter, Adamu said recent developments within the party, particularly the conduct of the governorship primary election in Nasarawa State, influenced his decision to leave the APC.

Similarly, the Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba Umar, resigned from the APC and declared for the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), days after withdrawing from the APC governorship primary election in Bauchi State.

Buba, regarded as one of the leading governorship contenders in the APC, withdrew from the race 24 hours before the primary, alleging violations of the party’s electoral guidelines and abuse of constitutional provisions.

Announcing his decision on Sunday, the senator cited the “absence of internal democracy, lack of fairness, marginalisation” of genuine party members, and growing disregard for the views and aspirations of grassroots supporters within the APC.

According to him, his decision to join the PRP followed extensive consultations with political associates, youth and women groups, party stakeholders, and supporters across Bauchi South Senatorial District and the state.

Buba described the PRP as a platform founded on justice, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and people-oriented leadership, with a commitment to democratic values enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He added that his movement to the PRP was aimed at strengthening democratic governance, protecting the interests of ordinary citizens, and ensuring effective representation for the people of Bauchi State.

Progressive Governors congratulate Tinubu on APC primary victory
THE Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the All Progressives Congress presidential primaries, describing the outcome as a validation of his leadership and service to the country.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, stated this in a statement issued on behalf of members of the forum.

Uzodimma said the outcome of the primaries reflected the confidence Nigerians had in Tinubu’s leadership capacity and commitment to democratic governance.

“It was a victory foretold. A validation by Nigerians to continue with your good works and further strengthen democracy,” the statement read.

According to him, the large turnout of supporters across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory demonstrated the President’s popularity and acceptance among party members and Nigerians.

“The long lines in the 36 states and Abuja said it all: an acknowledgement of your hard work, uncommon sacrifice and fervent love for country,” he added.

The forum stated that Tinubu’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate was well deserved, citing what it described as his sterling performance and exemplary patriotism.

Uzodimma further assured the President of the continued support of APC governors ahead of the general election.

“We shall always stand by you because we believe in your vision, your capacity and your exemplary patriotism as the President of Nigeria,” the statement added.

The governors also expressed optimism that the victory at the primaries reflected what to expect at the general election.