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Tag: Inec

  • JUST IN: INEC uncovers deceased persons’ names on voters’ register, plans nationwide verification

    JUST IN: INEC uncovers deceased persons’ names on voters’ register, plans nationwide verification

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Wednesday disclosed that a review of the nation’s voters’ register revealed that the names of several deceased Nigerians remain on the list currently used for elections.

    Amupitan made the disclosure during the commission’s first quarterly meeting with Civil Society Organisations, where he noted that INEC would soon commence a nationwide verification exercise to sanitise the register.

    He explained that the planned verification is aimed at identifying and removing ineligible entries to improve the credibility and integrity of the electoral database.

    He said, “When we look at the Voters Register for Anambra state during the off cycle elections in November, we discovered that the number of registered voters stood at over 2.9 million, but only about 600 came out to vote.

    Read Also: LP crisis deepens as INEC removes Abure-led executive from portal

    “This is just about 20 percent of the registered voters. So, we decided to take another look at the register and we discovered names of prominent Nigerian politicians who have died still on the register. That impact on the integrity of the register and we have to do a clean up because we don’t expect the dead to come from the grave to vote”.

    Prof Amupitan also disclosed that the timetable for the 2027 was ready, but was being delayed in view of ongoing amendment to the electoral act which may affect the timetable.

  • Democracy thrives when media places public interest above partisanship, says INEC

    Democracy thrives when media places public interest above partisanship, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday that globally, democracy thrive when the media places public interest above partisan and personal interest, charging the media to intensify voter education, promote professionalism and uphold ethical standards in election coverage.

    Speaking forum for media executives, producers, reporters and on-air personalities, Supervising National Commissioner for the FCT and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Haruna underscored the central role of the media in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.

    Mallam Haruna said voter participation and responsible reportage remain key to the credibility of elections, urging media Houses to use their platforms to educate and mobilise eligible voters, noting that effective election coverage requires not only a sound understanding of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s Rules and Guidelines, but also integrity, fairness and strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage.

    He said while journalists, like every citizens, may hold personal views, such must never be allowed to interfere with objectivity and professional reporting, adding that democracy thrives when the media places public interest above partisanship.

    Speaking on INEC’s preparedness for the FCT Area Council Elections, Haruna said the Commission had successfully conducted 10 of the 13 key activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. 

    He said the most recent milestone was the publication of the final Register of Voters on January 14, 2026, copies of which have been distributed to all political parties participating in the election, adding that the remaining activities are the publication of the Notice of Poll on February 7, the end of political party campaigns on February 19, and Election Day on February 21.

    He listed critical preparations not listed in the timetable to including the accreditation of observers and journalists, which have been conducted online since the lead-up to the 2023 general election as part of INEC’s technological innovations. 

    While the observer accreditation portal has closed, he noted that the media accreditation portal remains open until February 8, urging media organisations yet to apply to do so promptly to enable timely issuance of accreditation cards.

    He said the Commission has acquired virtually all non-sensitive materials required for the election and batched them according to the six Area Councils, 62 Wards and 2,822 polling units in the FCT, adding that sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, would be printed ahead of time and formally received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), FCT Branch, on February 18, in the presence of party agents, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media.

    Read Also: INEC to begin second phase of CVR in Ondo

    He further disclosed that adequate Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were being configured and prepared for deployment to all polling units.

    Commissioner Haruna explained that although FCT Area Council elections are similar to Local Government elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions, Section 299 of the Constitution applies the Constitution to the FCT “as if it were one of the States of the Federation.”

    “In practical terms, FCT Area Council elections are conducted like governorship elections,” he said, noting that the FCT’s voting population is larger than those of Bayelsa and Ekiti States. He added that the Territory’s status as the political capital of Nigeria naturally attracts national and international attention.

    He stressed that as the first FCT Area Council Election since the Electoral Act extended council tenure from three to four years, the Commission was determined to leave no stone unturned to ensure a free, fair and credible poll.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, described the forum as a strategic platform for strengthening collaboration and aligning expectations between INEC and the media ahead of the elections.

    The REC said public confidence in elections is shaped not only by how the process is conducted, but also by how it is reported, stressing the Commission’s commitment to a peaceful, transparent and inclusive election which he said cannot be achieved without the support of a responsible and professional media.

    He disclosed that the commission has approved the replacement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Igu Ward in Bwari Area Council James Danbaki Zachariah with Danbaki Titus following the death of the former.

    Malam Idris also announced that the Commission would conduct a mock accreditation exercise in selected polling units across the six Area Councils to test election technologies, including BVAS accreditation, voting procedures and dummy result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. 

    He called on the media to give the exercise wide publicity to ensure voter awareness and participation.

    On voter statistics, he said following the revision of the register, the total number of registered voters in the FCT now stands at 1,680,315, adding that the commission has approved the decongestion of large Registration Area Centres (RACs) in select wards of Bwari Area Council and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to enhance efficiency on Election Day.

    Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, commended INEC for organising the eveny, describing it as timely in an era where misinformation spreads faster than facts.

    Ike said elections are not only won or lost at polling units, but also in the information space, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed, reject hate speech and incitement, ensure fairness and balance, and uphold professionalism in their coverage.

    She emphasised the importance of the safety and protection of journalists, calling on INEC, security agencies, political parties and their supporters to respect the media and guarantee the safety of reporters and their equipment before, during and after the elections.

    She further called for sustained transparency and effective communication from INEC to counter rumours and fake results, noting that information gaps often fuel misinformation.

  • LP crisis deepens as INEC removes Abure-led executive from portal

    LP crisis deepens as INEC removes Abure-led executive from portal

    • Faction kicks, vows to upturn judgment of lower court on appeal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the names of the Julius Abure-led executive of the Labour Party from its portal following its sack by the Federal High Court.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

    The party described the decision by the commission as “strange,” vowing to protest it. 

    It said that the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja as well as the removal of the names of its executive from INEC’s portal will not deter its plans to put up a strong show in the 2027 general election.

    The party vowed to ensure that the judgment of the lower court is upturned at the Appeal Court.

    The party called on Nigerians to rise against the strangulation and monetisation of democracy in the country by a few power-drunks in the country, warning that Nigeria may be heading for the precipice if the inordinate ambitions of some politicians are not checked. 

    The statement said: “Some persons who are applauding the impunity by some politicians should retrace and do some introspection, because this was how in the past they applauded injustice in our democracy because they were beneficiaries.

    “At the end of the day when their enthroned leaders began to abuse power, they started complaining.

    Read Also: Court orders INEC to recognise Nenadi-led caretaker as LP national executive

    “For us in Labour Party, our faith is strong that the appellate court will do the right thing and therefore we advise our members to remain calm. We will continue with the struggle to take our party from the godfather.

    “Labour Party is a party that is based on social democracy where no one man is permitted to appoint everybody.

    “It is against the principles of the party that one man will sit at a place and gather everybody and appoint everybody from the National Working Committee to the state, down to the ward executive.

    “That is impunity of the highest order. This, I believe, negates the principles of the party.

    “If we say there is no party ideology in Nigeria, this is how it starts.

    “We are very sure that it will be quashed on appeal.

    “The celebration of the Abia state governor, Alex Otti, Nenadi Usman and their cohorts on the appearance of their names on the INEC portal will be short-lived.

    “It is for a short time. Their victory is pyrrhic and there is nothing to celebrate because the doomsday is closer than they will imagine; which I believe will be very catastrophic for them.

    “Moreover, it is very clear that the appointment of the caretaker committee did not go through the normal procedure. Proper notice was not given in line with the party constitution and the electoral act.”

  • INEC to begin second phase of CVR in Ondo

    INEC to begin second phase of CVR in Ondo

    • …as first phase records over 35,000 new registers 

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ondo State will commence on Monday as part of efforts to capture more eligible voters ahead of future elections.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Akure.

    Mrs Babalola said the first phase of the exercise, which was held between August 25 and December 10, 2025, recorded a total of 35,040 registrations across the state.

    She explained that the new phase was designed to improve access to registration, particularly for residents in hard-to-reach areas and communities located far from existing registration centres.

    According to her, INEC has approved the rotation of the Voter Enrolment Device (VED) across all the 203 Registration Areas spread across the 18 local government areas of the state to ensure wider coverage.

    “The rotation of the devices will last for 50 days, from February 2 to April 10, 2026, excluding weekends and public holidays,” she said.

    Read Also: INEC to begin second phase of CVR in Ondo

    The REC added that a detailed schedule of the movement of the devices had been prepared and made available at all INEC local government offices to guide prospective registrants.

    Providing a breakdown of the first phase, Babalola noted that the exercise produced 18,311 fresh registrations, including 177 persons with disabilities. 

    She added that 9,501 voters applied for transfers, while 2,399 requests were made for corrections of personal details.

    She called on all eligible residents who are yet to register, especially those in remote and underserved communities, to take advantage of the exercise.

    Babalola, however, advised members of the public to contact INEC offices or designated help lines for further information and clarification regarding the registration process.

  • Key messages in 2027 elections

    Key messages in 2027 elections

    Whether the ordinary folks like it or not, the main issue that will be in the front burner of the national discourse henceforth shall be the politics of 2027 general elections. Politicians understand that the few months of campaign period, approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in its guidelines, in accordance with the Electoral Act, are not enough. INEC’s guideline usually provides for a period of 90 days, as the campaign period before elections. For this column, as the campaign ramps up, the core issue should be which of the presidential candidate has the best competence to grow the national economy, which will reduce the poverty level in the country, which will in turn substantially abate the ravaging insecurity across the country.

    So, the core issues should be who has the best competence to improve the national economy and the capacity to deal with the mutating insecurity across the country. Obviously the frontrunner is the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT). Amongst the contenders, the two with some chance of giving the president a run for his money, remains, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, now both of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Their former parties, the PDP and the Labour Party are in disarray and instead of waiting to see whether the political carcasses would fall on them, have joined other aggrieved politicians to seek refuge in ADC.     

    Before Tinubu took over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, this column had argued on occasions that amongst the then three leading candidates (same as now), Tinubu had the best credentials to deal with the staggering national economy. The fact is that he has not disappointed on that score. The twin challenges haemorrhaging the national economy before the 2023 general elections, were the fuel subsidy scam and the multiple foreign exchange platforms. To the shock of many Nigerians, PBAT confronted them head on, and after the initial headwinds, no one can doubt that the national economy is stronger since then.

    The other two candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, agreed with the need to tackle those twin challenges, albeit with a caveat that they would have done it differently. Obi argued that the government should have put forward some palliative before slaying the dragons. I am not sure what Atiku said he would have done differently, apart from the claim that the timing was wrong. Since the deed had been done, the duo should come up with what they can do better to quicken the healing process of the very necessary economic operation the nation went through in 2023. The Tinubu administration would on its part push for stability, through a re-election, to achieve full recuperation for the patient.    

    But to keep themselves in the mind of the electorates, politicians design all manner of subterfuge to engage in campaign well ahead of the period provided by the laws. Of interest, despite the provision of section 977(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the campaigns oscillate around religion and tribe. That section provides: “A candidate, person or association who engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religion, tribal, or section reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction – (a) to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both; and (b) in the case of political party to a minimum of N10,000,000.”  

    Despite the clear provision of section 97(1) of the Electoral Act, most of the campaign materials and argument, especially on the presidential election, have been based “on religious, tribal, or sectional reason”. For many Nigerians, it will be very absurd, if a presidential candidate from the southern part of the country is not allowed to complete eight years as president, when the immediate past president, from the northern part of the country, late President Buhari, spent full eight years, in power. The issue of religion is also on the front burner, the candidates and their supporters have always pushed that issue, especially if they have a presidential and vice presidential candidates from the two main religions in the country. 

    Even the constitution of some political parties, are reputed to provide for rotating the presidency between the north and south, and governorship election between the senatorial zones. Section 7(2)(c) of the constitution of the PDP, provides “The Party shall pursue these aims and objectives – adhering to the policy of the rotation and zoning of Party and Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.” On its part, Article 20(iv)(e) of the constitution of the APC, provides: “Procedure for Nomination of Candidates – Without prejudice to Article 20(u) and (iii) of this Constitution, the National Working Committee shall subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee make Rules and Regulations for the nomination of candidates through primary elections. All such Rules, Regulations and Guidelines shall take into consideration and uphold the principle of federal character, gender balance, geo-political spread and rotation of offices, so as to as much as possible ensure balance within the constituency covered.”

    Read Also: Nigeria, Turkiye kick-start talks on security

    Can it be argued that section 97(1) of the Electoral Act, which prohibits campaigning, based on ethnic or sectional reason offends the principle of federal character, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution? Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), provides: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few state or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

    Perhaps, it is the superiority of the constitution over the Electoral Act that makes the candidates and their supporters to significantly ignore the warning as provided in section 97(1) of the Electoral Act. While section 14(3) is silent on religion, it was explicit on banning persons from a few states, few ethnic or other sectional groups from dominating the government or any of its agencies.

    This column believes that apart from the twin challenges of economy and security, upon which most other things revolve, the question whether it would be fair for northern part of the country to produce another president, when the southern part of the country has not completed eight years, after the eight years of Buhari, would be a fair campaign issue. So, inevitably, the issue of religion, ethnicity and what section of the country, a presidential candidate comes from, would all play a part in shaping the 2027 elections.

  • Court orders INEC to recognise Nenadi-led caretaker as LP national executive

    Court orders INEC to recognise Nenadi-led caretaker as LP national executive

    • I will appeal verdict, says Abure

    Embattled Labour Party (LP) National Chairman Julius Abure yesterday lost his claim to the leadership of the crisis-ridden party.

    His claim was voided by the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, who declared that the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Esther Nenadi-Usman, is the party leader.

    But rejecting the verdict, Abure, a lawyer, vowed to take it up at the Court of Appeal.

    He said the judgment contradicted the judgment of the Supreme Court that no court can exercise the power to appoint a leadership for any political party.

    Hailing the judgment, Nenadi-Usman said in a statement by her Special Adviser, Ken Asogwa, that it was a victory for democracy,  the party, and the Nigerian people.

    ‘Why Abure can’t lead LP’

    Dismissing Abure’s claim to leadership, Justice Lifu, who relied on the April 4, 2025 decision of the Supreme Court, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the Usman-led Caretaker Committee as “the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party,” pending the next national convention.

    The judgement was on suit marked: THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, filed by Usman, which has Abure and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as defendants.

    Justice Lifu held that the evidence before him showed that Abure’s tenure as LP’s National Chairman had since expired.

    The judge rejected Abure’s contention that the subject of the suit related to the internal affairs of the LP as a political party, which are ordinarily non-justiceable.

    Justice Lifu held that the setting up of the Caretaker Committee headed by Usman was “a necessity” that arose from the order of the Supreme Court.

    Following the crisis in the LP, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party resolved to remove Abure as National Chairman.

    To fill the leadership vacuum, the party constituted a 29-member caretaker committee headed by the former Finance Minister.

    The decision was the outcome of an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the party hosted in Umuahia, Abia State capital, by Governor Alex Otti, and chaired by the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

    Otti is the only governor elected on the ticket of the LP.

    Irked by the decision, Abure filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to validate his position as National Chairman.

    Currently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not recognize Abure as the chairman of the LP.

    Read Also: Enugu tops southeast APC e-registration as leaders rally support in Udi

    By this judgment, the INEC is now likely to recognize Senator Usman and her team as leaders of the LP.

    In an affidavit he personally deposed to in support of the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, Abure told the court that following the death of the National Chairman of the LP, he was lawfully elected as Acting National Chairman during a NEC meeting held in Benin City, Edo State, on March 29, 2021.

    He said that at the NEC meeting held in Asaba, Delta State on April 18, 2023 and duly monitored by INEC, it was resolved that the tenures of state chairmen whose tenures had expired should be renewed.

    Abure also said that during the meeting, some members that were engaged in anti-party activities were expelled and replacements for vacant positions created as a result of the expulsion.

    He averred that in line with a consensus that was reached at the meeting, the party subsequently held its National Convention on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi, Anambra State, where he was lawfully elected as National Chairman.

    He said under his leadership, LP produced candidates for governorship elections in both Edo and Ondo states.

    While both the High Court and the Court of Appeal upheld Abure’s case and ordered INEC to recognize him, the Supreme Court nullified the concurrent decisions of the two lower courts

    In its lead judgement, Justice Inyang Okoro of the apex court allowed the appeal that was filed by Chairman, Nenadi-Usman, and Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha.

    The Supreme Court also dismissed a Cross Appeal that was filed by Abure, urging political parties to always abide by their own rules in the appointment of officers.

    It further implored party officials whose tenures have elapsed to learn to vacate their positions.

    It is victory for democracy, says Nenadi-Usman

    Exuding confidence, Nenadi-Usman said the verdict was a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

    She called for dialogue for peace to reign in the party.

    The statement reads: “The Labour Party has received with profound joy and relief the judgment of the Federal High Court, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise Senator Nenadi Usman’s leadership as the only valid, authentic, and legitimate leadership of the Labour Party.

    “The party notes that today’s judgment represents a victory for democracy, for the Labour Party, and for the Nigerian people, and not a personal victory for Senator Nenadi Usman nor for any individual officer of the party.

    “Although the journey to this point was protracted, difficult, and at times turbulent, the Labour Party urges its members and supporters not to celebrate with triumphalism. Rather, this moment should be embraced as a solemn opportunity for genuine reconciliation.

    “For us, it is a no victor, no vanquished moment. Let it be clearly stated: there is only one united and indivisible Labour Party in Nigeria. This judgment must mark a new beginning anchored on unity, healing, and collective progress.

    “Accordingly, the Labour Party calls on all members who may feel aggrieved by the current state of affairs – including those against whom today’s judgment was delivered – to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue in the supreme interest of the party.

    “The party extends an olive branch to all contending tendencies within its fold. We sue for peace, plead for dialogue, and seek sincere reconciliation. There is enormous work ahead in rebuilding the Labour Party into a strong, credible, and virile opposition platform in Nigeria, a task that can only be accomplished in an atmosphere of unity, cohesion, and mutual respect.

    “In furtherance of this commitment to peace and reconciliation, the party shall immediately constitute a Truce and Reconciliation Committee mandated to engage all aggrieved members and restore lasting harmony within the party.

    “Furthermore, as a law-abiding institution and a major stakeholder in Nigeria’s democratic process, the Labour Party calls on INEC to end all unnecessary distractions by fully complying with today’s judgment and according Senator Nenadi Usman’s leadership the formal recognition clearly and unambiguously directed by the court.”

    Abure vows to appeal judgment

    Abure vowed to appeal the judgment,  saying that it is faulty.

    The Abure faction said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, that the court misinterpreted the April 4, 2025, verdict of the Supreme Court, adding that the ground is alien to the Labour Party Constitution.

    The statement reads: “Although we are yet to see the Certified True Copy of the judgment in order to fully make comment about it, our position will become stronger when we see the CTC of the judgement. But generally, from the brief we have gotten so far, it is clear that the party will appeal the judgement.

    “Before today’s judgment, we have been suspecting that it may go this way because of the body language around the court. When the matter was first filed, it was assigned to Justice Omotosho and suddenly, there was a sumarsult, as another matter was filed, which was impari material and the one sent to Omotosho was withdrawn and now sent to Justice Peter Lifu. That was a red flag for us.

    “Secondly, the court refused us the opportunity to respond to issues raised in the counter affidavit filed by other parties and quickly adjourned for judgement. That was the second red flag.

    “Our adversaries were all over the place, jubilating weeks before, over a judgement that had not been delivered, telling everyone that they had already won. The jubilation by our adversaries was all over the social media, that come today the judiciary will hand over the party to Dr. Alex Otti.

    “Now coming to look at the judgement itself, Nigerians should remember that the Court of Appeal pronounced Julius Abure’s National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party. 

    “That pronouncement was what Nenadi Usman took to the Supreme Court to say that the courts (Federal High Court and Appeal Court) were wrong to have pronounced somebody as the Chairman of the Party. Ironically, today, a Federal High Court has summersulted and pronounced somebody as the Caretaker National Chairman of a party. So what is the judiciary turning into?

    “To us, that was a clear contradiction against what the Supreme Court said. Secondly, the Supreme Court said that all matters that have to do with the leadership of the political party are internal affairs of the party and that has been the position of the Supreme Court.

    “The courts have severely declined jurisdiction on matters that have to do with internal affairs of political parties. Looking at the judgement itself, in one breath, the court said the Caretaker Committee was properly set up, in another breath, the court said, it was an internal affair of a political party. In any event, the court was even wrong to be interpreting the decision of the Supreme Court.

    “Secondly, even the Supreme Court never said that our tenure has expired. The Supreme Court simply declined jurisdiction in entertaining the matter because it was an internal affairs of the party.

    “In any event, the tenure of the executive had never expired. The tenure of the executive was to expire in June 2024 but the National Convention was held in March, 2024 before the expiration of the then executive, which created the present leadership of the party. So for the court to have stated that the tenure has expired and a vacuum created are all laughable.

    “It is curious at how this court arrived at holding that there was a vacuum in the leadership of the party when it didn’t go into the validity and legality of the national convention of the party held on March 27th, 2024.”

    Defection understandable, says LP caretaker chairman

    The Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Caretaker Committee, Senator Esther Nenadi-Usman, yesterday said that the defections that hit the platform was understandable.

    She explained that the chieftains, including the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, left because of the prolonged legal battles over leadership.

    Nenadi-Usman said:“Peter Obi and others who have moved have our blessing. We also understand why some of them left. It has been over a year of moving from one court to another to resolve these issues.”

    She insisted LP is not built around any individual, adding that it would continue to reorganise itself to become a formidable political force once again.

    Nenadi-Usman said she had not spoken with Obi on the possibility of his return to the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

    She added: “I have not spoken to Peter Obi on whether he may want to come back to the Labour Party to contest on our platform in 2027, but I wish him well.”

  • Ekiti 2026: INEC lifts ban on campaigns

    Ekiti 2026: INEC lifts ban on campaigns

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lifted the ban on public campaigns, following the release of the final list of candidates for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said this yesterday while addressing leaders of political parties and stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti

    He announced that public campaigns would begin today and end at midnight on June 18, calling on parties to strictly adhere to the approved campaign period and timelines.

    Omoseyindemi formally presented the final list of 12 governorship candidates and their running mates, stressing that the process was concluded following the conclusion of primaries, submission of nomination forms and the resolution of complaints arising from the nomination exercise, in line with the Electoral Act 2022.

    He said the publication of the final list signalled the beginning of a critical phase of the electioneering process, urging political actors to conduct their campaigns with maturity, restraint and strict adherence to the law.

    READ ALSO; Arewa, this has to stop

    Affirming the right of parties and candidates to campaign freely, the INEC boss warned that such rights must be exercised in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the commission’s guidelines.

    He reminded political parties of the need to notify the INEC, security agencies and other relevant authorities ahead of rallies and campaigns, stressing that such was necessary to ensure adequate security and prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Omoseyindemi also cautioned political parties and candidates against the use of hate speech and inciting comments, warning that such conduct could inflame tension and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

    The REC urged political actors to focus on issue-based campaigns and healthy competition, rather than resorting  to personal attacks or statements capable of provoking violence.

    Omoseyindemi said any act of violence, intimidation or breach of public peace would not be tolerated, adding that offenders would be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.

    Following the lifting of the ban on public campaigns, the ruling All Progressives Congress expressed confidence ahead of the poll, hinging its optimism on Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s impressive performance since assuming office.

    The APC state Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, said the party would campaign on the governor’s record in governance, infrastructural development,  workers’ welfare and political stability in the state which he believed have earned Oyebanji widespread acceptance among Ekiti people.

    Dipe expressed confidence that the APC-led administration’s achievements in office would translate into electoral victory for the party and a renewed mandate from the people.

    The party spokesman said APC would adopt issue-based campaigns and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, noting that peaceful engagement with the electorate remained central to its strategy.

    But, African Democratic Congress, the leading opposition party, dismissed the ruling APC, insisting that Ekiti residents were increasingly dissatisfied with the Governor Oyebanji-led administration.

    The party’s state Secretary, Chief Segun Adewumi, alleged that the APC had failed to meet the expectations of the people, accusing Oyebanji of poor performance in key areas affecting the daily lives of residents.

    Akinwumi said he was confident that the growing dissatisfaction across the state would translate into support for their candidate, Dare Abejide, at the polls.

    The party’s secretary added that Ekiti voters were ready to use the ballot to “punish” the APC for what he described as years of underperformance and to chart a new political direction for the state.

  • We’re ready for FCT Area Council polls, says INEC

    We’re ready for FCT Area Council polls, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is fully ready for the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the electoral body, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, announced this yesterday in Abuja.

    The REC said the commission had begun the distribution of about 128,396 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the ward level across the territory ahead of the polls.

    Read Also: ‘Tinubu taking Nigeria out of the woods’

    According to him, the PVC collection (in-person) will run from tomorrow (January 22) to Monday, January 26, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, across all 62 Registration Areas (wards) in the six Area Councils of the FCT.

    The REC explained that the PVC collection will continue thereafter at the INEC Area Council offices.

    He said the PVCs available for collection include cards for newly registered voters, voters who transferred their registration within or into the FCT, those who requested replacements for lost or defaced PVCs, as well as cards from previous registration exercises yet to be collected.

    Idris said the PVCs remain the only valid document for voter accreditation, in line with Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).

  • Ekiti 2026: INEC excludes PDP, SDP from final list

    Ekiti 2026: INEC excludes PDP, SDP from final list

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are missing from the final list of candidates released yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, with the

    According to a document sighted by our correspondent, the names of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede and his SDP counterpart David Bankole, were exempted from the list released by INEC.

    It was reliabily learnt that the exclusion of PDP and SDP candidates were due to the pending court cases over the parties’ leadership, which are yet to be resolved.

    According to the list, 12 political parties met the requirements to participate in the election, following the exclusion of the PDP and SDP from the final list of candidates.

    Read Also: Okpebholo moves to save Court of Appeal, INEC secretariat in Edo

    According to the document released by the electoral umpire, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji (58), with Mrs Monisade Afuye (67), as his the running mate.

    Other candidates include: Opeyemi Falegan (41) of the Accord Party, who is running with Omoyeni Bayode (48); Akande Oluwasegun (36) of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo (42) of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye (35) as his running mate.

    The African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide (66) and Babatola Ayodeji (65), Bidemi Awogbemi (36) and Akinyemi Adewumi (53) of the Action People’s Party; and Joseph Anifowose (65) with Margaret Ilesanmi (68) of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

  • 2026 and the challenges before INEC

    2026 and the challenges before INEC

    Correspondent TONY AKOWE examines the challenges that will face the Independent National Commission (INEC) during the off-cycle Ekiti and Osun States governorship polls and the 2027 general election

    Many challenges will confront the National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the off-cycle Ekiti and Osun governorship and the 2027 general election. While the political parties and their members will be jostling for space in the 2027 elections, the Commission will be busy with several activities that will culminate in the conduct of the exercise. It is significant to say that the year 2026 represents one of the most demanding periods for Nigeria’s electoral umpire. Starting with the resumption of the continuous voter registration to the conduct of the FCT Area Council elections to the conduct of the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States as well as a few legislative by-elections, INEC has a huge work load laced with serious challenges which must be surmounted to give Nigerians a credible election in 2027. In view of the task ahead of the commission, it must be prepared to carry out massive and early groundwork required for the 2027 general elections. From voter registration centres to polling units in remote communities, from courtrooms flooded with post-election litigation to public debates over technology and transparency, INEC’s actions this year will shape not just individual election outcomes but public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic future.

    One of the major challenges that the commission must deal with in 2026 ahead of the general election is the issue of mass mobilization of Nigerians to actively participate in the voter registration exercise, across the states. While the rate of participation of eligible voters has been very encouraging, the participation in some other states have been abysmally low and this has been attributed to low level of public trust. Many see the exercise as just a means to an end as the false narrative has often gone out that you can use it for employment purpose rather than a civic responsibility. Ahead of the general election, the commission has the huge task of working with the National Orientation Agency to carry out series of voter education beginning with the CVR.  For an institution still grappling with controversies from past elections, the coming months will not merely be routine, but a stress test of institutional resilience, technological reliability and democratic commitment.

    Voter registration remains a foundational challenge with far-reaching implications for electoral legitimacy. In 2026, INEC will face pressure to expand access while maintaining the integrity of the voter register. Persistent issues such as multiple registrations, outdated records, and under-registration in rural or conflict-affected areas risk distorting voter representation and creating perceptions of exclusion or bias. There is therefore the need for a constant clean-up of the voter register to remove dead persons and underage. Even though the law provide for the time frame for the voter registration, the commission may need to end the ongoing exercise early enough to allow for a clean-up for the purpose of adequate planning for the 2027 elections. This is so because demographic changes pose serious challenge, particularly the surge in first-time and young voters. If registration processes are slow, inaccessible, or poorly communicated, large segments of the population may remain disenfranchised. This could deepen political apathy which the commission is already grappling with. If this is allowed to happen, the trust gap between citizens and electoral institutions may widen, especially among younger voters who are already skeptical about the political system. Also, the commission must work hard to enhance the credibility of the voter register which is closely linked to post-election stability. Disputes over inflated figures, ghost voters, or regional imbalances often form the basis of election petitions. Failure to address registration challenges proactively may therefore increase litigation, delay election outcomes, and undermine confidence in the entire democratic process. In addition to this, there may be need for the commission to create new polling units, while depopulating large units. The INEC guidelines provide for a maximum of 500 voters per polling unit for easy management and a way of ensuring large participation. But currently, several polling units have close to 1500 voters, making easy participation difficult and elections running into the night.

    The FCT Area Council is the first elections to be conducted by the commission in 2026 and the second under the current chairman of the commission. Although it is directly under the FCT state office of the Commission where logistics and other arrangements are to be made, it will no doubt have its own impact on the general atmosphere in the commission. That explain why the entire commission will be involved in the conduct. While the commission can boast of successful outing during the Anambra elections, preparation for that were largely done by the Mahmood Yakubu led leadership. Tongues are already wagging following the exclusion of the Labour Party from the contest following the judgement of the Supreme Court which nullified the Abure led National Working Commission and by extension of all actions taken thereafter.  But as at the time of this report, INEC still recognizes Abure on its data base as the Chairman of the party. The guideline for uploading candidates on the INEC nomination portal provides that the commission issue an access code to the leadership of the party as contained in its data base.

    Read Also: INEC begins preparation for 2027, reaffirms commitment to electoral integrity

    Like the Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is enmeshed in crisis leading to the exclusion of the party from the list of candidates for the Ekiti off cycle governorship election. The crisis in the party and some others will no doubt pose serious challenges to the commission ahead of the general election, especially as the courts continue to give conflicting verdicts which the commission will be expected to obey leading to the elections. The commission must also be able to deal with the issue of upload of names and particulars of candidates for the elections. They must take a definite position, which must be backed by law on the modality for uploading the names of candidates. The PDP has argued that since the commission issued it with an access code for the Ekiti elections, there was no basis blocking the party from submitting the names. The question then is, does submitting the forms manually and the commission acknowledging receipt amount to submission in line with the guidelines? The commission must deal with this challenge going forward with a view to avoiding needless legal battles which parties often bring to bear on the commission. Beyond that, one question that has continued to agitate the mind of Nigerians is whether the Supreme Court decision on the crisis in the Labour party which as replicated in the case of the Social Democratic Party. The former Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has often said that one of the biggest challenges of the commission is the deluge of cases which the commission is made party to and which often draw back the hands of the commission.

    One other challenge the commission will grapple with is the legal issues surrounding the conduct of elections. The 2022 Electoral Act left so much to be chance, and placed the commission in a disadvantaged position. The defects should be corrected in the 2025 electoral act which is yet to be passed by the National Assembly. For example, the law does not give any legal backing to the use of the BVAS machine, even though it is taken care of by the guidelines drawn up by the commission and given recognition by the Supreme Court.

    In one of his public engagement, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan spoke of the fact that technology plays a critical role in the electoral process, but admitted that network challenges remain a critical challenge. However, it must be said that the growing dependence on electoral technology places INEC at the center of heightened public scrutiny ahead of 2026, especially after the technical glitches that affected the upload of Presidential election results to the INEC Election Viewing portal (IREV) during the 2023 presidential election. That glitch alone affected the credibility of the election results.  Interestingly, tools like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, otherwise known as BVAS which serves as technology for electronic voter accreditation, and result transmission is now perceived as the backbone of electoral credibility. Therefore, any malfunction, delay, or inconsistency, whether caused by technical failure, human error or sabotage could quickly escalate into allegations of electoral manipulation. It therefore raises the stakes for system reliability and therefore exposes the commission to reputational damage even when failures are localized. Beyond the hardware and software issues, the technical capacity of election officials remain a significant challenge and the commission must rise up to the occasion aside from working closely with network providers. It is instructive to say that many ad-hoc staff operate under time pressure with limited technical expertise, increasing the likelihood of misuse the devices or causing breakdown on election-day while The Electoral Institute, the training arm of the Commission often carry out adhoc training for electoral officers, this may not be adequate given the level of literacy of some of those involved because inadequate training and uneven digital literacy across regions could lead to inconsistent application of technology, creating disparities that undermine the principle of equal suffrage and fuel post-election grievances.

    In an era of advances in cyber security, threats arising from such have the potentials to further compound the technological challenge because as electoral systems become more digitized, they become more attractive targets for hacking, data breaches, and disinformation campaigns. Unsubstantiated claims of cyber interference could weaken public trust and so, INEC must therefore balance transparency with security, ensuring that systems are verifiable, resilient, and auditable without exposing them to undue risk. There is also the need for the commission to build a water tight system that will be difficult to penetrate given the insinuations that hackers tried to break into the system during the 2023 general elections.

    In the process of election management, INEC’s logistical operations represent one of the most complex undertakings in nation’s democratic process. This involved the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials from across the country supposedly under tight timelines. But this has often created multiple points of vulnerability especially in the movement from state capitals to the local government headquarters and then to the polling units. Majority of these movement has in the recent times been handled by commercial vehicles, under an arrangement between the commission and the drivers unions. Traversing difficult terrains in some parts of the country, there has often been reported delay in deployment of these materials or missing materials leading to late commencement of voting in some areas. This has the ability to disenfranchise voters and cast doubt on the credibility of affected polling units. Observer believe that security and infrastructure deficits further complicate logistics. Poor road networks, fuel scarcity, insecurity, and adverse weather conditions can disrupt transportation plans, particularly in remote or volatile areas. These challenges often force last-minute improvisation, increasing costs and reducing operational efficiency while exposing INEC to accusations of incompetence or bias.

    The management of the electoral body has often complained about the effect of fake news and misinformation on the electoral process. The spread of fake news no doubt poses a serious threat to electoral integrity in the country. More often than not, there have been false information about voter suppression, rigging, or result manipulation circulate widely and fast especially on social media, outpacing INEC’s ability to respond. In most cases, such false narratives have shaped public perception long before official clarification is issued, damaging trust regardless of the facts. The commission must therefore restrategise and put in place a quick response mechanism as a way of combating false and fake news especially on election days. The delays in responding to issues in the electoral space is largely responsible to why Nigerians believe that the glitch that affected the 2023 presidential election upload was not real. This same principle must be applied dealing with issues of misinformation which has the potential to incite violence and voter apathy. Rumors about attacks on polling units, pre-determined outcomes, or doctored results may discourage voter turnout or provoke unrest. INEC’s silence or delayed response in such situations may be interpreted as confirmation, thereby further escalating tensions.

    While addressing fake news places INEC in a delicate position, there must be an aggressive countermeasures to handle fake news. The challenge lies in developing credible, timely, and transparent communication strategies that reinforce public trust without undermining freedom of expression.

     Political Party Monitoring

    2026 poses a great challenge to INEC in terms of the monitoring the activities of political parties as provided for by the laws of the land. The registration and monitoring of the activities of political parties is one of the constitutional role of the commission. To take away this role from INEC, the National Assembly had proposed an amendment to the constitution to create a separate commission that will take charge of this responsibility. But in the absence of that commission, INEC must play that role which is critical to an effective election. So, INEC’s constitutional role in monitoring political party activities presents significant institutional and political challenges, especially in an election year where parties are expected to conduct party primaries to nominate candidates for elective positions. Interestingly, all party primaries for the Presidential, governorship legislative elections are to be conducted in 2026 and the commission is expected to be privy to and monitor these primaries.  Interestingly, the commission has expressed concern about early campaigns by political parties and political actors with the commission acting helpless in dealing with the situation. Going against the established electoral protocols is a major challenge which can only be dealt with through appropriate legal sanctions. Unfortunately, there appear not to be a specific provisions that grant the electoral umpire specific powers to deal with violators. INEC must rise to the occasion and ensure strict compliance with established electoral protocols in the countdown to the general elections.

    One area that has been neglected is party membership before party primaries and the electoral act 2022 and the constitution has not made specific provisions that allow opposing parties complain about emergency waivers granted to intending aspirants by political parties even though the electoral act makes it mandatory that anybody whose name does not appear in the membership register 30 days before the party primaries is not eligible to run for the election. Also, political parties has always fragrantly violated the provisions requiring compliance with campaign finance regulations, codes of conduct, and internal democratic principles requires robust oversight mechanisms that INEC currently struggles to fully enforce this provisions. Weak monitoring allows impunity, undermining the rule of law within the party system.

    Both the commission and political parties have often complain about lack of internal democracy among the political parties leading the members jumping ship at the last minute and complicating preparation for the commission. The lack of internal democracy in many parties no doubt has broader electoral implications. Candidate imposition, exclusion of stakeholders, and outdated decision-making has often trigger internal conflicts that spill into the general election. When INEC is perceived as unable or unwilling to enforce standards, public confidence in the fairness of the electoral process declines. This is why the commission must ensure effective party monitoring ahead of the general election because it is critical to reducing electoral violence and vote-buying. Sanctions must be brought to bear in offenders because failure to sanction erring parties and their stakeholders normalizes electoral malpractice and weakens political competition.

    Party Primaries

    By the provisions of the electoral act 2022, which provides announcement of a date for election for 360 days before elections, see INEC is expected to release the table of activities for the 2027 general elections before the of February, 2026. The timetable is expected to set timelines for party primaries and other activities leading to the elections. Interestingly, party primaries remain one of the most problematic stages of the electoral process as poorly conducted primaries characterized by violence, exclusion, and parallel congresses create legitimacy crises before the general election even begins. INEC’s limited legal power at enforcement often leave the commission with having to manage the outcome of such primaries rather than preventing the problems. It is on record that disputed primaries have been the major driver of pre-election litigation, with candidates frequently challenge party processes, leading to court-ordered substitutions and uncertainty over valid nominees. These disruptions complicate ballot preparation and voter education, increasing the risk of errors and confusion. This explain why there has often been complaints of omission of names of candidates and their party during elections. However, the overall impact of flawed primaries is a weakened democratic culture because when candidates emerge through undemocratic means, accountability to voters diminishes. So, if party primaries are not reformed and effectively monitored ahead of the general elections, the credibility of the entire electoral cycle will remain under sustained pressure.

    Ekiti and Osun election

    The Ekiti and Osun state governorship election will no doubt be a litmus test for the commission. It will be an opportunity for the commission to address issues of electoral integrity that has plagued the nation’s electoral system. It will be the first major opportunity for the Prof. Amupitan leadership to fully organize a full-fledged election, having inherited the preparation for the Anambra election from Prof. Yakubu. Already, the commission is facing allegations of bias from the Tanimu Turaki led leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party for not including the name of its governorship candidate among those displayed for the Ekiti election. How the commission handle the issue will have either positive or negative impact on the conduct of the election. Expectation from the commission are high as far as the two election are concerned. Some of the technological devices that will be used for the 2027 elections will first be used during the two off cycle election to allow for fine tuning where necessary. Ekiti and Osun are not just any states. They are politically sophisticated, highly competitive, and historically prone to intense electoral contests. Both states have seen elections overturned in the past with prolonged court battles, allegations of vote-buying and heavy security presence. Incidentally, Ekiti State for example has built a reputation as one of the country’s most politically competitive states, with the governorship elections often decided by razor-thin margins, with voting patterns influenced by local networks, political godfathers and a highly vocal electorate. The state, which is the first of the two off cycle elections presents several challenges for the commission. Although not restricted to the state, incidences of vote-buying has become increasingly sophisticated, shifting from open cash distribution to discreet electronic transfers and inducements before election-day. Security deployment is delicate. Heavy security presence is often criticised as voter intimidation, while light deployment risks election-day disruptions. Logistics, especially in riverine and rural communities remain a major concern, especially where bad roads and network coverage affect BVAS functionality and result transmission. In view of this, civil society observers have always warned that Ekiti elections is a major litmus test for whether INEC can curb monetisation of votes without disenfranchising voters.

    Also, the political climate in Osun state has always remained tense following previous legal battles over governorship outcomes. The state has no doubt witnessed deep partisan divisions, with supporters of major parties quick to dispute outcomes of elections. Even though the former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy is not participating in the election, it is expected that there will still be high judicial scrutiny, meaning even minor procedural errors could invalidate results. There will also be public scepticism, as voters increasingly question whether their votes will translate into real outcomes. For INEC, Osun demands not just efficiency but meticulous compliance with the Electoral Act, because the margin for error is slim and litigation almost guaranteed. The question is whether the Ekiti scenario will play out for the PDP and whether they will have access to the access code to upload the name and particulars of their candidate.

    Composition of the Commission

    By law, the body known as the Commission is made up of the Chairman and 12 National Commissioners. The body should ideally be complete when conducting major elections. However, the commission may be faced with either an incomplete commission or forced to work with some that lack the basic experience in election management. From available records, five National Commissioners inaugurated between September and October 2021 will exit the commission after five years as provided by law. These are Prof Sani Adams, Prof. Abdullahi AbdulZuru and Dr Baba Bila who sworn in September 2021, as well as Prof. Kunle Ajayi and Prof Sani Kallah sworn in October 2021. They will be expected to exit the commission after their five year term in September and October 2026. Similarly, four other National Commissioners sworn in February 2022 would have spent five years by February 2027 when the elections would have commenced and also expected to exit the commission. They are Mohammed Haruna, May Abamuche-Mbu, Sam Olumekun and Rhoda Gumus. Another National Commissioner, Major General Moddibo Alkali died in April 2025 and is yet to be replaced. The exit of these National Commissioners will place the Commission at a disadvantaged position. Also, Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran- Anthony will be completing her eight year tenure as Secretary to the Commission having been appointed for the first four years in 2018 and reappointed in December 2022. While the law makes provision for the appointment of an acting secretary to the commission, there is no provision for the appointment of acting National Commissioners. While some of these commissioners have the opportunity of being reappointed, others are completing their second terms as National Commissioners and would need to be replaced outrightly.