The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says nine political parties have so far collected access codes to upload their candidates’ particulars ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This was made known by INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Malam Haruna, on Tuesday in Abuja.

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

He listed the political parties as Accord, 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.

The INEC senior official said rather than the commission taking the codes to individual party secretariats, the political parties ought to approach the commission for collection.

He also declared that there must be an authorization letter from the leadership of any political party, who wants the codes to be collected on their behalf.

According to him, INEC has issued guidelines for candidate nomination, advising political parties to adhere strictly to the rules.

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA — The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dropped former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and 24 other National Assembly candidates from the party’s final list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The affected candidates include seven senatorial nominees and 19 House of Representatives candidates who emerged from the party’s primary elections held in May.

The changes were conveyed in a letter jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and forwarded to INEC.

According to the correspondence, the replacements followed the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.

Titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” the letter stated that the NWC reviewed and approved the Appeal Committee’s report, making it the party’s final position on the affected constituencies.

The letter read in part: “Following the determination of appeals from the recently concluded primary elections, the reports of the Appeal Committee were reviewed and subsequently considered and approved by the NWC of the APC as the party’s final position on the affected constituencies.

“In accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC’s regulations and guidelines, we hereby transmit the enclosed list of the approved candidates for seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies for your records and necessary action.”

Among the changes in the senatorial category, Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West, while Prince Paul Ikonne took over from Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu in Abia South.

In Benue North-East, Suswam lost the ticket to Emmanuel Memga Udende, while Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber in Benue North-West.

Shuibu Isa Lau replaced Mohammed Kabir Bello in Taraba North, Adeniyi Adegbonmire succeeded Taiwo Fasoranti in Ondo Central, while Elegbeleye lost the Ondo North ticket to Olajide Ipinsagba.

Benue recorded the highest number of changes in the House of Representatives category, with five constituencies affected. Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa in Makurdi/Guma, Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in Vandeikya/Konshisha, Terser Ugbor succeeded Kohol Shedrach Iornem in Kwande/Ushongo, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku, while Austin Asema Achado displaced Nongo David in Gwer East/Gwer West.

In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah replaced Sanusi Mohammed Galadima in Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency.

Niger State also witnessed two changes, with Abubakar Lado Abdullahi replacing Adamu Tanko in Suleja/Tafa/Gurara, while Adamu Suleiman replaced Adamu Usman in Lavun/Edati/Mokwa.

In Kwara, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi in Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, while Mohammed Mamman succeeded Bello Tauheed Abubakar in Edu/Patigi/Moro.

Ondo State recorded six changes. Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Festus Olarewaju succeeded Rasaq Obe in Idanre, Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaced Kayode Ijalana in Owo/Ose, Okunjinmi John Odimayo displaced Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele, Michel Olamidotun Akintomide replaced Abiola Makinde in Ondo West/Ondo East, while Festus Ayodele Adefiranye succeeded Oyerinmade Matthew in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo.

Other changes include Abdulazeez Kaka replacing Samaila Abdu Suleiman in Kaduna North, Samuel Okezie taking over from Chris Nkwonta in Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State, and Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replacing Iduma Igariwey Enwo in Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.

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.