Nigerian businessman and social media commentator, Uche Rochas, has claimed that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, will not be on the ballot in 2027.

He was reacting to the controversy surrounding the recent court ruling on NDC registration.

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to register NDC as a political party.

‎Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the controversial ruling, held that the court’s earlier judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo being used by NDC.

The decision of the court is currently generating backlash with opposition parties accusing President Bola Tinubu-led administration of plotting to contest the 2027 election unopposed.

Obi’s supporters have also been worried over the alleged plot to de-register the NDC, the party fielding him.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Rochas claimed that Obi will be missed in the election, insinuating that the NDC will not participate in the election.

He wrote, “Peter Obi will not be on any ballot in the 2027 general election. We will certainly miss him, and the noise.

“I also feel sorry for those he deceived into spending their time and money on the NDC. Now, there will be no refunds.”

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared that the state is fully committed to ensuring the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The governor made the declaration during an interactive meeting with elected and appointed government officials at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Yusuf said Kano would play a leading role in delivering massive votes for President Tinubu in the next presidential election.

He said the APC-led administration in the state had no regrets about supporting the President.

“We have no apology for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His re-election is a collective responsibility of every party member and government official,” the governor said.

Yusuf also directed all political appointees serving in his administration who are yet to register with the APC to do so without delay.

He stressed that every elected and appointed official must identify with the party and actively contribute to strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing victory for the APC in the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Assembly and local government elections.

As part of efforts to appreciate political office holders, Yusuf approved the allocation of plots of land to more than 300 political aides, including senior special assistants, special assistants, senior special reporters, special reporters and personal assistants.

He also approved the payment of N100,000 to each of the beneficiaries.

Speaking at the meeting, Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Ismail Falgore, said, “The APC owes no apology for marketing the achievements of President Tinubu in Kano.”

He added that constituency projects carried out by members of the State Assembly, with the support of Governor Yusuf, had strengthened the party’s popularity and positioned it for victory in 2027.

Also speaking, the Kano APC Chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, declared that the party was ready for the political contest ahead.

“The battle line has been drawn with the Kwankwasiyya movement,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections.

Investment banker and economist, Atedo Peterside, says ‘judicial rascality’ in Nigeria can be stopped through disciplinary action.

In a post on his verified X handle on Saturday, Peterside said reliance on appellate courts alone to do right would encourage judges to plunge into delivering what he described as ‘procurable obnoxious judgements’.

He was reacting to the ruling by the  Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja which set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

“The cure for Judicial Rascality is disciplinary action. Glossing over rascality whilst relying on Appeal Courts alone to overturn obnoxious judgements encourages more judges to go into the lucrative business of delivering procurable obnoxious judgements,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NDC has rejected the ruling, vowing to head for the Court of Appeal.