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“Dear Media Friends, We At INEC Distance The Commission From APC’s Claim Of 12.9m Registered Members”

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Professor Josiah Amupitan INEC Chairman
Prof Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman.

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has distanced itself from the figure of the digital membership registers of political parties recently made public by the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC Prof Nentawe Yilwaltda.

 

On an  Arise Television’s News programme to defend the seemingly outrageous high number of votes purportedly garnered by President Bola Tinubu at the just concluded primaries of the party, Yilwaltda had claimed that the APC verified and submitted a whopping 12 .9 million registered members after its registration exercise.

 

The APC National Chairman, while also  giving the number of registered members of other parties, claimed that the combined numbers of opposition party members is not up to that of the APC .

 

According to his breakdown, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has 2.4 million members, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, 1.6 million, Labour Party, LP, 1.3 million members ,and Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, 700,00 members.

 

” We ( APC) have about 12.9.million registered members that were submitted to the INEC. Let me give you data . APC submitted.12.9.million registered members .

 

” PDP submitted 1.6 million registered members. The ADC

submitted 1.6 million registered members,  Labour Party submitted.1.3 million registered members, and NDC submitted, 700,000 registered members.

 

” So, these are the data. If you put all these political parties together, they don’t add up to APC’s registered members.

All the political parties, this number I have counted, they are not up to the number that APC registered.

 

“But even the most important thing in our own case is that we have verified data. The data of our members are verified by NIMC . We synchronised the data with NIMC”, Yilwaltda claimed.

 

He emphasized that the numbers of votes polled by the President during the primaries were nothing extraordinary going by the figure of registered members of the party.

 

But apparently scandalized, the INEC said the figure reeled out by the APC National Chairman never emanated from it .

 

The spokesperson for the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, in a short statement on Tuesday, May 26, informed that the data so released by the APC National Chairman remains strange to the Commission.

 

” Dear esteemed media colleagues, please note that this is certainly not from INEC . Thanks” Oketola stated .

Osun Gov. Adeleke Says Appeal Court Has Saved Accord Party From Bad People, Lauds Judiciary

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ademola Adeleke - Osun State Governor
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

By Ayodele Oni

 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has opined that those scheming to disenfranchise and block Accord Party members from August polls have failed with the Appeal Court judgement.

 

The governor described the judiciary as the last hope and refuge of the citizens as he commended the Court of Appeal for ordering stay of proceedings in a suit seeking to deregister Accord and other parties.

 

In a statement, the governor hailed the presiding justices for their professionalism and undiluted commitment to fair and equitable administration of justice.

 

He described the Court ruling as a just action designed to protect the rights and privileges of all stakeholders, calling the Justices the preserver of citizens’ rights as guaranteed by the constitution.

 

“I am using this opportunity to commend the judiciary for protecting the sanctity and integrity of our democracy from deliberate abuse by anti-democratic elements.

 

“On behalf of the good people of Osun State, we thank the justices and the entire judiciary.

 

“From 2018 till date, I have been a beneficiary of judicial interventions which protect my rights and privileges when faced with constant abuse and attacks on democratic rights.

 

“The judiciary is the last hope of the oppressed, the refuge for the weak.

 

“The judgement by the Justices of the Court of Appeal further reinforces our faith in the judiciary, further rekindles our trust in the democratic process.

 

“As we escape the trap of those seeking to avoid free and fair elections, I congratulate Accord leaders locally and nationally.

 

“We should now redouble our campaigns to secure an overwhelming victory on August 15. We must be bold, strong and resolute within the confine of the law to sustain and extend our mandate.

 

“As we have the people and God with us, we won’t succumb to intimidation and harassment. August 15th is for the continuity of our Imole administration.

 

“We will legally resist any attempt to derail the democratic process,” the governor decared.

 

At the resumed hearing of the appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026  between Accord versus Incorporated Trustees of National Forum of Former Legislators & 6 Ors, counsel to the appellant, Musibau Adetunbi SAN had informed the Court of three pending applications.

 

They include an Application for Stay of Further Proceedings filed on 4th May, 2026; an Application seeking Departure from the Rules filed on 4th May, 2026; and an Application seeking leave to amend the Notice of Appeal filed on 14th May, 2026.

 

In a bench ruling, the Court held that the essence of an application for stay of proceedings is to preserve the res pending the determination of the appeal and to ensure that the appeal, if successful, is not rendered nugatory.

 

The Court further held that having considered the grounds of appeal together with the affidavit evidence placed before it, and particularly in view of the absence of substantial opposition from the Respondents, the Appellant had placed sufficient materials before the Court to warrant the exercise of its discretion in their favour pursuant to Order 4 rules 10 and 11 of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021.

 

The Court also made reference to Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/444/2026 – Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem v. Accord, being a matter of similar facts wherein the Court of Appeal had equally granted an application for stay of proceedings in similar circumstances.

 

The Court accordingly granted the Appellant’s Motion for Stay of Proceedings.The appeal was thereafter adjourned to 27th October, 2026 for hearing.

Rivers APC Gov. Candidate, Chinda, Faces Legal Hurdle To Stop Him

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kingsley Chinda

By Ayodele Oni

 

Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners has filed a suit to stop Chinda, a known ally of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), minister, Nyesom Wike, governorship ambition.

 

Chinda had as emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the party’s primary election held on May 21, 2026.

 

Chinda stood as the sole candidate in the election, following the last minute withdrawal of other contestants – incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole and Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly.

 

Following the development, Chinda is currently the governorship candidate of the ruling APC in Rivers State, while also serving as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, a position he occupies due to his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

Not much was heard about the lawmaker’s defection to the APC until his name came up as one of the aspirants in the ruling party’s Rivers gubernatorial primary.

 

However, legal hurdles emerged in the APC gubernatorial flagbearer’s path ahead of the 2027 election as an association of lawyers, who include members of Chinda’s Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, has approached an Abuja Federal High Court seeking to stop him from taking part in the 2027 poll on the grounds that his defection from the PDP to the APC did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, as well as Supreme Court pronouncements on defection of legislators.

 

According to court documents, lawyers under the aegis of Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners filed the suit on May 12, 2026, asking the court to stop Chinda from participating in the APC gubernatorial primary, and, in the event he emerges as candidate, bar him from participating in the general election.

 

Listed as respondents in the suit filed on behalf of the plaintiff by J. B Lamay, Esq, are Chinda, George-Kelly, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Speaker House of Representatives, APC, Department of State Services, (DSS) and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

 

Besides an order stopping Chinda from participating in the gubernatorial election in Rivers State, the plaintiff also asked the court to order the Speaker of the House of Representatives to immediately remove him as Minority Leader due to dual party membership, and declare his seat vacant.

 

Reliefs sought by the plaintiff include an order directing INEC to conduct a bye-election to fill the said vacancy due to Chinda’s alleged violation of Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the Supreme Court of Nigeria judgment of 27th February 2025 that stipulates the steps for defection by legislators.

 

In the same vein, the plaintiff asked the court to order the national leadership of the APC to reject and prevent Chinda and George-Kelly from participating in the Rivers State governorship primaries due to violations of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

 

In George-Kelly’s case, the court was informed that he failed to resign his position as Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency according to the directive that all appointees of the President of Nigeria ought to resign by 30th March 2026 if they seek to contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections.

 

However, with George-Kelly having withdrawn from the primary, Chinda’s emergence as APC gubernatorial candidate is now under threat going by the reliefs sought in the lawsuit.

 

Specifically, the plaintiff asked the court for “an order directing INEC not to recognize or accord validity to the participation, nomination and/or candidature of the 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents (Chinda and George-Kelly) in the APC Rivers State governorship primary election” pending the determination of the suit.

Peter Obi Media Office Reacts To Misleading 45m  Figures Ascribed To Him At Purported NDC Primary Election

By
The Source
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Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi

The attention of the Peter Obi Media Office has been drawn to certain 45m  primary vote figures currently circulating on social media and various news platforms, purporting to be the breakdown of official results from an imaginary primary by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC ascribed to Mr Peter Obi.

 

A statement signed by Ibrahim Umar, Spokesperson for POMR in reaction stated:

 

“​We wish to state categorically that these figures are entirely false, fabricated, as such, the primary never took place and no figure was generated from any process.  We urge the general public, party supporters, and members of the press and the public to completely disregard these misleading statistics.

​Official and accurate information regarding Mr Peter Obi’s engagements and political processes will always be communicated through our verified and authorised channels and appropriately signed.

 

“Those behind this fraudulent figure attribution to Peter Obi are looking for partners in their fraud but they should look elsewhere not with Peter Obi.”

Nigerian Footballer, Victor Udoh, Dies At 21 Years, Football Community Mourns

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Victor Udoh

By Akinwale Kasali

 

The World Football Community is mourning the sudden demise of Nigerian footballer, Victor Udoh who passed  at  the age of 21 years.

 

Udoh, a former player for Belgian Side, Royal Antwerp and English club, Southampton Football Club, reportedly died in Abuja under circumstances that are still unclear.

 

It was gathered the sad occurrence happened Tuesday, May 26th, 2026.

 

An official statement from Royal Antwerp Football Club where the youngster rose through the ranks before moving to England, confirmed his passing, saying, “It is with great sadness that RAFC has learned of the death of former player Victor Udoh,” the club said.

 

The Belgian club added that its thoughts were with his family, friends, and loved ones during the difficult period.

 

Udoh moved from Abuja to Belgium as a teenager to pursue his football career and quickly impressed in Antwerp’s youth setup, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances before earning promotion to the senior team.

 

The Late Udoh joined Southampton in January 2025, on a Three-and-a-Half-Year contract and featured for the club’s development side before later moving to Czech Republic Club Side, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice.

 

It was gathered that the Striker had recently returned to Nigeria following the end of the Czech football season before news of his death emerged.

 

His death has led to tributes pouring in from fans, teammates, and members of the football community mourning the loss of the promising young striker.

 

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is yet to comment, or issue a statement on the sudden demise of the youngster.

Ekiti ADC Flays “Hurried Arraignment, Detention” Of House Of Assembly Candidate

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
African Democratic Congress - ADC

By Ayodele Oni

 

Ekiti State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) has condemned what it called the illegal arrest, unlawful detention, and hurried arraignment of Mr Ayodele Babatola, the House of Assembly Candidate of the party in Ado Constituency 1,  on allegations of ra*e.

 

He  was remanded in  prison custody on the orders of a magistrate court sitting in Ado Ekiti.

 

Babatola was arraigned on Monday by the Ekiti State Police Command, through the Rapid Response Squad, for allegedly having a forced intimate affair with a woman whose identity was withheld.

 

Reacting in a statement, the party stated that: “We view these actions as a gross violation of the constitutional rights of Mr Babatola and a dangerous abuse of State power.

 

“Every Nigerian, regardless of status or political affiliation, is entitled to the presumption of innocence, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention under Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

 

The statement, signed by Gboyega Aribisogan, Director, Communications, Media and Publicity, Dare Bejide Campaign Organisations, added that: “From the available facts, the arrest and detention were carried out without adherence to due process.

 

“Babatola was neither properly invited nor granted the opportunity to respond to the allegations before being detained and arraigned. Such conduct undermines the integrity of our justice system and erodes public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

 

“While we do not condone any form of sexual violence and affirm that ra*e is a heinous crime that must be investigated and prosecuted thoroughly, we insist that justice must never be sacrificed on the altar of political persecution or mob sentiment.

 

“The law must take its course, but it must do so lawfully, fairly, and without malice.

 

“We, therefore, demand the immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention to determine if due process was followed.

 

“The party demands the release of  Ayodele Babatola on bail pending the conclusion of any lawful investigation and trial in line with his constitutional right.

 

“We call on the Nigeria Police Force, the Ekiti State Attorney General,  National Human Rights Commission, and the National judicial Commission to intervene and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.

 

“The ADC stands for the rule of law, human rights, and due process. We will not remain silent while citizens are subjected to illegal persecution under the guise of criminal allegations.”

Kano: Abacha Son Loses PDP Gov Ticket

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Mohammed Abacha

Mohammed Sani Abacha, has been defeated in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship primary election in Kano state. Mohammed was the eldest son of Nigeria’s late maximum ruler, Gen Sanni Abacha.

He lost the election to Muhammad Bello Dalhatu, according to the results announced by the Chairman, PDP Governorship Primary Election in the state, Umar Danjani Hadejia, who, in his announcement of the results said Dalhatu scored the highest number of votes to clinch the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 election.

According to the returning officer, who said the election was conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, guidelines, Dalhatu polled 2,233 votes, while Abacha scored 749 votes during the election.
“Having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Dalhatu is declared the winner of the PDP gubernatorial primary election and is consequently returned as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Kano Stat, he said.
Adding that “The Committee commends all aspirants, delegates, party officials, security agencies, and stakeholders for their maturity, cooperation, and commitment throughout the exercise. We call on all party members to unite and work collectively toward the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.”

Bauchi PRP Rejects Senator Buba Umar As Gov. Candidate, Removes Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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Senator Shehu Buba Umar

By Ayodele Oni

 

More trouble is looming as the People’s Redemption Party, (PRP), rejected Senator Shehu Buba Umar who defected to the Party over the choice of former Governor Mohammed Abubakar as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate.

 

Senator Buba, who had planned to contest the APC governorship primaries but pulled out 24 hours before the scheduled date citing lack of internal democracy and manipulation of the primary process, was immediately announced as the PRP consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Bauchi State.

The chairman of PRP in the state, Abdulrahman Yusuf Muazu, who approved his nomination has also been removed for gross misconduct, constitutional violations, and negligence of duty.

 

The decision was made public during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Bauchi by Ahmed Mohammed Bello, the party’s Majidadi A Ward Secretary.

 

“The ouster follows a May 11, 2026, recommendation by the party’s disciplinary committee, invoking Articles 6(a), 6(a)(ii), and 6(d) of the PRP”.

 

“The crisis peaked after Muazu allegedly bypassed party protocols to facilitate the defection of Senator Shehu Buba Umar from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and unilaterally declare him the PRP’s 2027 Bauchi governorship candidate.

 

“The committee found Muazu guilty of disobeying the executive committee and improperly delegating his official responsibilities to the National Publicity Secretary.

 

“Effective immediately, Muazu is barred from representing the PRP, using its insignia, or making public statements on behalf of the party.

 

“The executive committee has unanimously appointed the State Youth Leader, Tijjani Abubakar Aliyu, to take over the interim leadership of the state chapter,” he said.

 

In his  remarks, Acting Chairman Aliyu declared that the party would not recognise the controversial nominations put forward by Muazu’s faction.

 

“We have had candidates for various positions for a long time, but we will not accept new entrants from the APC contesting under our platform without proper consultation with party leaders,” Aliyu stated.

 

Aliyu assured members that the interim leadership would immediately begin consultations to review, determine, and ratify the legitimate candidates for the upcoming 2027 elections.

ADC: Hayatudeen Steps Down From Presidential Primary

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Muhammad Hayatudeen

African Democratic Party, ADC Presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has alleged irregularities in the ongoing presidential  primaries being conducted by the party across the country.

As a result, the presidential hopeful said he would not be participating in the next state of the primary because he has no confidence in the process.   

According to a statement he issued on Tuesday, Hayatu-deen said he has observed wide spread irregularities in the ongoing ADC presidential primary election, to chose who to represent the party in next year’s election, as such he’s stepping down from the exercise.

He stressed in the statement that he will also not take part in the announcement of results of the outcome of the primary.

“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” he said.

Three aspirants are contesting for the ADC sole ticket. Apart from Hayatudeen, the other two aspirants include former vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi.

Pantami, Fmr. Minister Of Communication, Dumps APC, Emerges Gombe PDP Governorship Candidate

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Professor Isa Pantami

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has emerged the Gombe State Peoples Democratic party,  PDP’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections.

 

His emergence is coming six days after his resignation as a member of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

 

His defection from the APC was preceded by his sudden decision to withdraw from the party’s Governorship primary which he alleged was heavily manipulated and compromised.

 

In a statement announcing his withdrawal on May 20, 2026, Pantami, who served as a Minister under the administration of the late President Mohammadu Buhari cited alleged breaches of both the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act and the APC guidelines as major reasons for his action.

 

He expressed serious concern over what he described as a gross violation of due process in the handling of the APC primaries in Gombe’s State.

 

However, not a few were of the strong belief that his decision to withdraw from the APC primaries ,as well from the party ,was a direct fall out of the Gombe State Governor’s controversial endorsement of a successor, Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna.

 

The endorsement meant that other aspirants, including Pantami had no chance of realizing their  gubernatorial ambition on the APC platform, hence his decision to join forces with the PDP.

 

“The process has become unsafe and illegitimate” Pantami had then protested.

 

But his defection to the PDP was not well received by a section of his political organization, the Pantamiyya Movement, which has since pledged its allegiance to Dr Gwamna, the Gombe Governor’s preferred choice, and the APC Governorship candidate for Gombe state.

 

According to  Sanusi Hamisu Usman, the leader of the factional Pantamiyya Movement, the decision to endorse  Dr Gwamna and also not to follow Prof Pantami to the PDP, was arrived at after much consultations across the structure.

 

He emphasized that the decision has the backing of over 100 field coordinators of the Movement spread across all the wards in the eleven local councils that make up Gombe state.

 

He further cited the growing level of Gwamna’s acceptability within the ranks of the APC as another compelling reason for the Movement’s decision to support his ambition.

 

Prof Pantami, who emerged on Tuesday, May 26, as the PDP Governorship candidate, through a voice vote by stakeholders and members said his ambition is only driven by service to the people of Gombe state.

 

This was as he pledged to govern with the fear of God and fairness if elected as the Governor of the State.

 

Instructively, Pantami was the only aspirant that participated in the PDP selection process on the day.

 

Four other gubernatorial aspirants had, earlier, on Sunday May 24, vehemently the attempt to smuggle Pantami into the PDP primaries after exiting his original political platform,the APC.

 

The aspirants namely Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki , Usman Aliyu Garry and Monica Kaltho had in a statement, warned against a development that could spark a chain of litigations and, in the process, undermine the integrity of the party’s internal processes.

 

“We condemn in the strongest terms the alleged attempt to smuggle into the PDP primaries an aspirant who by law and established democratic principles is ineligible to participate”, the aspirants stated.

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