Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has urged politicians to refrain from politicising judicial decisions, saying the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, was among those who had benefited from court rulings in the past.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Sani reacted to concerns surrounding the Federal High Court’s ruling affecting the registration of the NDC, stressing that confidence in the judiciary remained critical to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

The governor said politicians should not applaud the courts when judgments favour them and condemn the judiciary whenever decisions go against their interests.

“For some of us that believe in democracy, rule of law, judiciary, we believe we have to be very careful. Politicizing every judicial issue is not healthy for us,” he said.

Recalling Obi’s political history, Sani noted that the former Anambra State governor had secured his mandate through a landmark judicial pronouncement.

“Because many actors that are involved, they were also beneficiaries of some judicial decisions in this country. Whether the leader of NDC himself—I mean the presidential candidate, Peter Obi—remember he was also someone that benefited from a very strong judicial pronouncement when he was governor.

“When it favors politicians, they feel the judiciary is the best place to go. When it goes against them, they feel the judiciary is the worst place to go,” he added.

While acknowledging that no judicial system is perfect, the governor insisted that democrats must continue to place their trust in the courts and other democratic institutions.

“You have to understand, if you’re a democrat, believe in the system. Believe in our judiciary. I have no doubt in my mind. Our judiciary is not perfect. Neither is it perfect anywhere in the world. But in any case, can we have faith in the system?” he said.

Sani also dismissed allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu’s administration was behind the internal challenges confronting opposition parties.

“What is the evidence that the ruling party is involved in what is happening to them? If you ask me, sincerely speaking, it’s simply because they are only jumping from one party to another looking for just a platform to contest the election. They are not organised,” he said.

According to the governor, the recurring crises within opposition parties stem from disagreements over presidential ambitions and power-sharing arrangements rather than external interference.

He argued that political parties built solely as vehicles for elections, instead of on shared ideology, would continue to struggle to remain united.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says nine registered political parties have collected access codes to upload their candidates’ particulars for the presidential and National Assembly elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Malam Mohammed Haruna, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

”As of close of work on Monday, nine politicians have collected the access code for the national elections,” he said.

According to Haruna, the nine political parties are Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), National Democratic Party (NDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he said.

He explained that it was the responsibility of the political parties participating in an election to approach the commission to collect the code, rather than INEC taking it to individual party secretariats.

Haruna added that anyone seeking to collect the code on behalf of a political party must present an authorisation letter from the leadership of the party.

He noted that INEC has issued guidelines for candidate nomination; the national commissioner advised political parties to adhere strictly to the rules, adding that party officials had already been trained by the commission.

Haruna also cautioned political parties against waiting until the last minute before completing and submitting their nomination forms online.

“INEC has been generous by extending the deadline from the close of work to midnight of the deadline date. If any political party decides to wait until the deadline, INEC cannot be blamed for that,” Haruna said.

NAN reports that INEC fixed June 27 to July 11 for political parties to submit nomination forms for the presidential and National Assembly candidates through its designated candidate nomination portal.

NAN also reports that according to the INEC timetable and schedules of activities for the 2027 general election, the submission of nomination forms for the governorship and State Assembly nomination is scheduled from July 18 to Aug 8. (NAN)

By Nwafor Sunday Polycarp, Online News Editor

ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have confirmed the submission of their presidential tickets to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal ahead of the 2027 general election.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced on Wednesday that the party had successfully uploaded the names and particulars of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi.

In a post on his X handle, Abdullahi described the submission as another milestone in the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

“We are pleased to announce that we have successfully uploaded the names and particulars of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar (GCON), and our Vice Presidential Candidate, Rotimi Amaechi (CON), to the nomination portal of INEC.

“This marks another important step in our preparations for the 2027 general election and our commitment to offer Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, unity, and national renewal,” he said.

Similarly, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, disclosed that he had completed his INEC nomination form, using the occasion to call for greater transparency in the electoral process and a renewed focus on governance.

In a post on his Facebook page, Obi said one of the questions on the nomination form, asking whether an aspirant had ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind, prompted him to reflect on the state of leadership in Nigeria.

According to him, the country’s worsening insecurity, widespread hunger and alleged diversion of public funds should be treated as national emergencies rather than allowing politics to dominate public discourse.

“When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?” he asked.

Obi said a “sound-minded leadership” would mobilise all relevant institutions and stakeholders to confront the country’s challenges with urgency.

He also drew attention to another question in the nomination form asking whether a candidate had ever presented a forged certificate to INEC.

The former Anambra State governor urged the electoral commission to publish the academic credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective offices to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

“Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to service,” Obi stated.

Meanwhile, NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also confirmed that his nomination had been successfully uploaded to the INEC portal.

In a post on his X handle, Kwankwaso disclosed that the party’s National Leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, visited him at his Abuja residence, where they reviewed preparations for the 2027 elections.

Kwankwaso said he briefed Dickson on his consultations across the North-West, which he described as productive and encouraging.

“I took the opportunity to brief him on the highly productive engagements and consultations I have undertaken across the North West states, which have yielded very encouraging results,” he said.

According to Kwankwaso, Dickson confirmed the successful submission of his candidacy and announced that his name had been uploaded to the INEC portal as the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate alongside Obi.

“HE Dickson confirmed the successful submission of my candidacy and also announced that my name has been duly uploaded on the INEC portal as the Vice Presidential candidate to His Excellency Peter Obi on the platform of our party.

“We remain steadfast, united, and fully focused on the mission ahead,” Kwankwaso stated.

The announcements by the ADC and NDC come as political parties intensify preparations and conclude candidate nominations in line with INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general election.