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Primaries fallout: Labour Party grapples with two guber candidates in Akwa Ibom

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The governorship primary election held by the Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State has set the stage for another round of crisis in the opposition party.

DAILY POST reports that at the end of the exercise held on May 30, 2026, two gubernatorial candidates, Emmanuel Ben and Micheal Bush emerged from different venues.

The election that saw the emergence of Emmanuel Ben was conducted at Port Harcourt Street, off Abak road, under the supervision of supposed INEC officials led by one Mrs Vivian Oladipo.

State Party chairman, Comrade Lincoln Charles told journalists that Mr Ben was the only authentic governorship candidate of Labour Party in the state as he was the only person that purchased the party’s form and was cleared by the National body, describing the candidature of any other person as illegitimate.

“I understand that there are imposters which INEC does not recognise. The governorship candidate of this Party is Emmanuel Friday Ben who has just emerged from the just-concluded primaries.

“So, anyone who’s not here is not known by INEC or Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State”, he said.

However, in a swift contrast, the electoral committee chairman of Senator Nenadi Usman’s led Labour Party, Dr Kingsley Okundaye dismissed the election of Emmanuel Ben as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, upholding that of Mr. Micheal Bush which was conducted at the party secretariat same day, Saturday.

He said Ben may not even appear on the ballot as he was not cleared by the national screening committee in the first place.

This came amid claims by some analysts that Ben was sponsored by the ruling party in the State to destabilize the opposition party.

Speaking on telephone with the election committee chairman, Okundaye about the legitimacy of Micheal Bush’s primary election in the state, he said the authenticity of the process hinged on the judgment of the Supreme Court that sacked Abure, and all his state exco and affirmed Nenadi Usman as the legitimate National chairman of Labour Party.

“There was only one legitimate and authentic state primary which I chaired at the instance of the national chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.

“To present candidates for the forthcoming election is the national chairman of the Labour Party as known by law and as recognized by INEC,” he said.

Meanwhile, many other opposition parties in Akwa Ibom State may also suffer a new wave of wrangling as primary elections draw to an end.

For instance, in the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, Barrister Mfon Peter, a gubernatorial aspirant, was alleged to have been sponsored by the ruling party to destabilize the opposition party.

However, his contender, Senator John Akpanudoedehe later defeated him at the primary election to emerge the party’s governorship candidate.

Peter has since dismissed the insinuations during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, secretariat, insisting that he was eminently qualified financially, intellectually and academically to run his campaigns and eventually be the governor of the state.

He rejected the outcome of the election, alleging fraudulent activities and disenfranchisement of his supporters.

He said he had already filed a petition before the party’s governorship election appeal committee, while calling on the leadership of ADC to nullify the exercise and order a fresh primary.

A House of Representatives candidate under APM for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency, Dr Tom Fredfish is among those who have raised the alarm over the level of alleged infiltration of opposition political parties by officials of Akwa State Government, urging them to allow democracy to thrive.

He tasked the judiciary to remain firm, dispensing justice without fear or intimidation even as he called on genuine candidates not to be deterred as the people would have the final say.

‘’Remain focused, the people are the ones that have the say but in a situation where the people are being deprived of alternatives, it’s very dangerous for democracy. With time, the fake ones will fade away,’’ he stated.




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Labour Party sets date for NEC meeting to ratify primary election results

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The Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party, LP, has fixed its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting to ratify the results of recent primary elections conducted across the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ken Asogwa, in a statement on Thursday, said the NEC meeting will be held on June 11.

According to him, the NEC is also expected to approve the list of candidates who emerged from the exercise for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The spokesman disclosed that the move is in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

“The party also wishes to inform all successful candidates from the primaries that the presentation of Certificates of Return to candidates for the offices of President, Governor, Senate, and House of Representatives shall commence immediately after the ratification of the primary election results by the NEC,” the statement reads.

Asogwa noted that the meeting, which would be the first NEC session since the party’s convention, is of strategic importance to its overall preparations and mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recall that the party held its primary election nationwide on May 30.

The Labour Party on Saturday, announced Chibuzo Okereke, a governance expert and policy strategist, as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.




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Ebonyi ADC crisis: Jennifer Adibe’s tenure expired since May – Silas Onu faction claims 

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The Silas Onu-led African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Ebonyi State has said that Mrs Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor is no longer the chairman of the party in the state.

It claimed that her tenure elapsed on 19th May, 2026. 

In a statement signed by Prince Igu Idika, State Publicity Secretary of the party and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, he said that persons parading themselves as “ADC candidates” from a purported meeting of the party held in Abakaliki, the State Capital did not participate in the ADC Primary Elections held in Ebonyi State on 21st and 22nd of May, 2026. 

“Any statement, endorsement, or announcement made by Mrs. Jennifer Adibe Nwafor after that date, is personal and does not bind the African Democratic Congress, Ebonyi State.

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication titled ‘2027 Polls: Ebonyi ADC backs Atiku, launches party unity drive’, and claims of resolutions from an all-stakeholders meeting allegedly held at Vigo Event Centre, Abakaliki.

“For public record, party members, and the media, we state clearly that the authentic ADC primaries for the 2027 general elections were conducted by the duly recognized party structure in line with the ADC Constitution and Guidelines. 

“Anyone claiming candidacy without participating in those primaries is an impostor and has no mandate from the party.

“The meeting convened by one Hon. Tobias Nnabike Oriji is not an ADC meeting. It is an APC-aligned gathering masquerading as an opposition meeting. No notice, approval, or mandate was issued by the recognized ADC leadership in Ebonyi State for that meeting. 

“Consequently, all resolutions, committees, endorsements, and caretaker arrangements announced there are invalid and have no effect within the ADC,” he said.

The State Publicity Secretary noted that the ADC, Ebonyi State, under its legitimate leadership, remained committed to due process, internal democracy, and building a credible opposition ahead of 2027.




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Lagos 2027: APC supporters protest candidate switch in Eti-Osa, seek Tinubu’s intervention

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A group of All Progressives Congress, APC, members and political support organisations in Eti-Osa Constituency I, Lagos State, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the party’s leadership to intervene in the controversy surrounding the APC ticket for the Lagos State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections.

The appeal follows the release of the party’s official list of candidates for the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly polls, which named Saheed Bankole as the APC candidate for Eti-Osa Constituency I.

The development has generated discontent among supporters of the incumbent lawmaker and Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Noheem Adams, who insist that he emerged victorious in the constituency primary election.

According to the results announced after the primary conducted in Ajah, Adams secured 7,638 votes, while Bankole polled 1,225 votes. Election officials subsequently declared Adams the winner of the exercise held across the constituency’s wards.

However, when the APC published its final list of candidates on May 25, Bankole was listed as the party’s flagbearer for the constituency, sparking protests among party loyalists and community stakeholders.

Expressing their dissatisfaction during a demonstration at the Second Toll Gate area of Lekki on Thursday, members of the Noheem Adams Support Group, alongside party faithful, youth organisations, women groups and community leaders, called on the party to respect the outcome of the primary election.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Owolabi Yisa urged the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, to ensure that the mandate freely given by party members is protected.

He argued that the wide margin recorded in the primary reflected the overwhelming preference of party members for Adams and warned that any attempt to overturn the result could create unnecessary divisions within the party.

According to the stakeholders, Adams enjoys broad support among party elders, traditional institutions, market associations, youth groups and residents across the constituency due to his performance in office, empowerment initiatives and sustained engagement with constituents.

“The will of party members was clearly demonstrated during the primary election. This was not a marginal victory or a disputed contest; it was a decisive endorsement of Hon. Noheem Adams by APC members across the constituency,” Yisa said.

The protesters cautioned that disregarding the outcome of the exercise could undermine party unity and discourage grassroots supporters who participated in the democratic process.

They also appealed directly to President Tinubu to intervene in the matter and ensure that the principles of fairness, justice and internal democracy are upheld.

Amid the growing controversy, Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, maintained that the candidates’ list already published by the party remains the official record of the primaries.

Ojelabi explained that the state chapter merely released the results submitted by the committee appointed by the APC national leadership and had no authority to alter or manipulate the outcome.

“The state chapter only published the outcome of the primaries conducted by the committee constituted by the national headquarters,” he said.

He insisted that the list remains valid despite objections from some stakeholders.

Nevertheless, the aggrieved party members urged the APC leadership to revisit the issue, arguing that respecting the wishes of party members would strengthen unity and confidence in the party’s internal processes.

While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC and the administration of President Tinubu, the protesters maintained that lasting cohesion within the party can only be achieved through transparency, fairness and respect for democratic decisions.




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