The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party also called on eligible voters to support its preferred presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the next election.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Osa Director, following the party’s PVC registration mobilisation exercise.

According to the statement, Osa Director described the PVC as the most important tool for citizens to determine the country’s future through the ballot box.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people and first-time voters, not to miss the opportunity to register and collect their voter cards.

“The PVC remains the most powerful instrument for every citizen to determine the future of Nigeria through the ballot box,” he said.

The NDC spokesman said the country needs citizens who are ready to participate actively in the democratic process, stressing that meaningful change begins with voting.

He added that the time had come for Nigerians to unite in building a New Nigeria, where hope is restored to the hopeless, justice prevails, opportunities are created for all, and good governance becomes the standard.

Osa Director also encouraged Nigerians who desire positive change to vote for the party’s preferred candidates in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, “Peter Obi and Dr. Musa Kwankwaso are leaders with the vision, integrity and capacity to transform Nigeria.”

He reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to promoting credible leadership, national unity, economic growth, security and good governance.

The legal battle over the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election for the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency took a fresh twist on Thursday as the Federal High Court in Minna reserved ruling on an application seeking to amend the plaintiff’s name in the suit challenging the exercise.
Justice Mohammed Aminu Dan-Ige adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, after hearing arguments from lawyers representing both parties.

The suit, instituted by Alhaji Shehu Samaila Auna, seeks to invalidate the APC primary that produced Professor Yakubu Mohammed Auna as the party’s candidate for the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.

Also joined as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/MN/CS/54/2026, are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Shehu Saleh Slow, Safiyanu Yahaya, Emma Alamu and Sani Doma.

The plaintiff is asking the court to declare the nomination of the APC candidate null and void, contending that the party failed to conduct a valid primary election in line with Sections 84, 86 and 87 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Mohammed Danjuma Abubakar, sought leave of the court to amend the plaintiff’s name as contained in the originating processes.

The request was strongly opposed by defence counsel, Philip Adah, who argued that the application amounted to an afterthought and failed to explain why the name the plaintiff initially swore to should now be altered.

He urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as legally untenable.

Following submissions from both sides, Justice Dan-Ige fixed July 16 to deliver a ruling on the application.

Addressing journalists after the hearing, Adah insisted that the application lacked merit.

“You cannot simply seek to change the plaintiff’s name at this stage without giving any cogent reason. We believe the application is incompetent and should be struck out,” he said.

However, counsel to the plaintiff declined to comment on the proceedings.

“It is not yet time for me to speak. I will address the press when it becomes necessary. For now, I have nothing to say because the substantive hearing has not commenced,” Abubakar stated.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Jigawa State, Senator Sabo Nakudu, has rejected calls for his replacement over allegations of an ICPC indictment, describing the petition against him as a calculated attempt to create needless controversy.

A statement signed by his campaign spokesperson, Mati Ali, Nakudu said, “We categorically, unequivocally and unreservedly reject the petition in its entirety. Its contents are false, malicious, defamatory and deliberately crafted to tarnish the impeccable reputation, credibility and political standing of the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State, Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu.”

Senator Nakudu said the latest campaign of calumny bore all the hallmarks of a desperate political conspiracy orchestrated by disgruntled elements who remained uncomfortable with the widespread acceptance and growing momentum of the Sabo Mohammed Nakudu/Mallam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim governorship ticket across Jigawa State.

He said, “Their desperation is further fuelled by the unmistakable reality that the ADC has emerged as the most formidable political alternative ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

“We are not oblivious to the identities of those behind this coordinated smear campaign. They include disgruntled political actors within and outside our party who never reconciled themselves with the outcome of the party’s democratic processes and have chosen to collaborate with vested interests in the ruling establishment to undermine the collective aspirations of the people of Jigawa State.”

He added that their mission was simple: to distract the candidate, weaken the ADC and halt the momentum of a movement that, according to him, has continued to inspire hope across the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu has never been convicted of, nor found culpable for, any act of corruption or misconduct as maliciously insinuated by the petitioners. The allegations they seek to recycle are old political narratives that have repeatedly surfaced during election seasons without resulting in any lawful conviction against him,” he said.