The Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, says no one can stop people from defecting if they believe their actions fall within the provisions of the constitution they signed.

Amadi made this remark on Wednesday during a live appearance in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He was reacting to the anti-defection policy introduced by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, which required candidates seeking elective offices on its platform to sign legal documents committing to vacate their positions if they leave the party after winning elections.

“The NDC cannot solve a political problem through constitutional interpretation. The NDC is trying to solve a political problem through a constitutional question, but that approach is flawed.

“It is not possible to lawfully exclude people from decamping if they believe their actions fall within the provisions of the constitution they signed.

“If individuals choose to change political parties, they are allowed to do so, provided their reasons fall within the exceptions outlined in the constitution. In such cases, the law applies as provided,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has issued an update regarding the collection of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, by eligible voters for the upcoming governorship election in Ekiti State.

The update was provided as the Commission announced the completion of the PVC collection process in the State.

A statement from Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, indicated that after the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the State on Thursday, 15th May 2026, and the subsequent cleaning of the voters’ register, the total number of registered voters in the State has increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.

Furthermore, it was noted that the number of PVCs collected has grown from 958,052 in 2023, which reflects a collection rate of 97.0 percent, to 1,028,929 in 2026, corresponding to 97.1 percent of registered voters.

INEC also reminded that the PVC collection period, initially set to conclude on 11th June 2026, was extended to 14th June 2026 after discussions with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.

“With regards to Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the Commission to make available to registered voters replacement PVCs in the event of the loss, damage or defacement of their original PVC, 14,406 applications were received within the stipulated time and all 14,406 replacement PVCs were printed most of which have been collected,” the statement added.

“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged or defaced Voter Cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed. The option would be available to voters in subsequent elections, especially the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.

“For the Ekiti State Governorship Election, all the PVCs were printed and made available for all eligible applicants, including those who requested a transfer, or applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced cards. A detailed breakdown of PVC collection by Local Government Area (LGA) has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms,” it stated.

INEC called on all registered voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their franchise on election day. 

A Senatorial Aspirant, Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court Sitting in Owerri, Imo State, over the fallout of the party’s National Assembly primaries.

Nwachukwu, in a suit filed through his Counsel, Cajethan Oguzie, accused the party of denying him the Imo North senatorial ticket after emerging a consensus candidate and paying N5m for the nomination form.

The suit also disclosed that Nwachukwu had paid N20m for the support of the party, but his support was unexplainably reduced to N10m when the list of those who supported the party was published.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant, in his prayers before the court, demanded that a declaration should be made that he is the consensus candidate of the party in the state with regard to the Imo North Senatorial Zone in the 2027 General election.

“A declaration that the first defendant, NDC, be restrained from fielding another candidate except the plaintiff in the General election into the Imo North Senatorial Zone as he is the consensus candidate for the said election.

“A declaration that the second defendant, INEC, be perpetually restrained from recognising and accepting the candidacy of another person except the plaintiff in the Imo North Senatorial election pending the determination of the matter,” the suit stated.

In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, Nwachukwu stated that he purchased the expression of interest form to aspire for the position for Imo North senatorial zone, a copy of which is attached in the suit already filed.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant added that upon the purchase of the form, he made a monetary contribution in support of the party’s growth in the tune of N20m into the party’s FCMB account number through his Counsel, receipt also attached in the suit as an exhibit.

“The first sign of irregularity and no compliance with the NDC constitution and electoral act came up when the N20m I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants for my Senatorial District by the name Matthew Omegara, and the N10m that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the Screening Committee headed by Sam Egwu and Buba Galadimma.

” In compliance with NDC’s directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.

After my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as a Candidate for Imo North district. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as Exhibit 1U5,” the affidavit added.

Nwachukwu alleged that his name was substituted with Omegara after he had been declared the winner of the primary election.

The Imo North Senatorial Aspirant claimed that the National leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, had summoned him for a meeting telling him that his candidacy was affected after a party chieftain from his state said he didn’t know him.

Among other demands, Nwachukwu is asking the court to order NDC to issue him a certificate as its candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District.