Politics

INEC Timetable Nullification: ADC Predicts Mass Defections From APC

Published

2 months ago

May 22, 2026

BREAKING: Court Orders Deregistration of ADC, Four Other Political Parties

INEC Timetable Nullification: ADC Predicts Mass Defections From APC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the nullification of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable will trigger mass defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) .

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, May 21, 2026, voided the electoral body’s strict timetable on political party primaries and other pre-election activities.

The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, held that INEC lacked the statutory power to fix or prescribe the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The ruling came in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, filed by the Youth Party against INEC as the sole defendant.

Justice Umar declared that the timelines earlier issued by INEC were inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which remains the supreme legal framework governing election conduct in Nigeria.

“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the party said in a statement by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The ADC added that the ruling, which removed the impediment placed by the guidelines on politicians who wish to seek alternative platforms to contest elections, was a positive development that promotes freedom of association.

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC,” the ADC stated.

“Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party.”

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The party welcomed the ruling of the court, viewing it as a vindication of its vehement objections to key aspects of the electoral body’s guidelines at the time they were issued.

The ADC also recalled its specific objections to the strict timelines on party membership registration, as well as the conduct of party primaries, which it had argued were designed to stifle competition and entrench the ruling party’s advantage.

The court’s judgment nullified key portions of INEC’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections.

The court ruled that the electoral body exceeded its powers by shortening timelines expressly guaranteed under the Electoral Act, 2026.

Specifically, the court declared that INEC cannot lawfully abridge or limit the statutory 120-day period for political parties to submit candidates’ particulars.

INEC also cannot shorten the 90-day window for withdrawal and substitution of candidates, or the 60-day minimum period before publishing final candidate lists.

The judge consequently set aside the portions of INEC’s Revised Timetable that were found to be inconsistent with the Electoral Act, 2026.

At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation of Sections 29, 31, 32, 33, 82, 84(1) and 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026, which outline timelines for candidate nominations, substitutions, party primaries and campaign activities.

The court held that while INEC retains powers to supervise and observe party primaries, those powers do not include altering statutory timelines enacted by the National Assembly.

Speaking earlier at the launch of the Rise Up Naija Movement (RUN) at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Abdullahi had declared that the ADC represents the future of politics in Nigeria.

He said the party is built on the philosophy of egalitarianism where conversations are tolerated.

Abdullahi expressed confidence that the only thing holding the APC together today is power.

“When you take political power, government power out of APC, you don’t have a political party,” Abdullahi asserted.

The ADC’s prediction has been echoed by other stakeholders across the political spectrum.

The Movement for Credible Election (MCE) described the judgment as a victory for internal democracy and wider political participation.

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The National Coordinator of MCE, Wale Okunniyi, said the ruling would particularly benefit opposition parties by giving them more time to negotiate alliances, accommodate defectors, resolve internal disputes, and strengthen their structures before the elections.

Okunniyi added that politicians who feel shortchanged in their parties now have enough time to move to other platforms and pursue their ambitions without being unfairly locked out by artificial deadlines.

Similarly, the President of the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, claimed that several aggrieved members of the ruling APC who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s recent primaries had already begun exploring alternative political platforms, including the African Democratic Congress.

Malaolu argued that the judgment would reduce post-primary tension and anti-party activities within the APC.

He explained that aggrieved aspirants now have more time to defect legally and participate in other parties’ processes without being shut out by INEC deadlines.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) also welcomed the judgment, stating that the ruling restores critical responsibilities that political parties believe were previously taken over by INEC.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Bello Ishaq, said the ruling broadens the scope for political parties to make decisions independently.

Ishaq added that it removes what he described as “unhealthy regimentation” of party activities.

The embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also welcomed the judgment.

Its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, described the verdict as a major affirmation of the rule of law and internal democratic rights of political parties.

Ememobong said the verdict would strengthen democratic practices and allow political parties adequate room to organize their internal processes.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) escalated the matter by calling for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

HURIWA alleged that the court ruling had further deepened concerns over the electoral body’s neutrality.

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said INEC must immediately comply with the judgment and adjust its electoral schedule in line with the court’s pronouncement.

Reacting to the judgment, former presidential candidate and business mogul, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, described it as a victory for the rule of law and constitutional order.

Hashim specifically applauded Justice M.G. Umar for what he termed a courageous and principled decision that checked administrative overreach.

“I have consistently argued that INEC must act within the confines of the Electoral Act,” Hashim stated.

“Unfortunately, those warnings were not heeded. This judgment has now vindicated that position.”

He urged INEC to fully comply with the judgment and ensure that future electoral guidelines strictly conform to the provisions of the law.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also urged INEC to immediately revise its 2027 election timetable in line with the court ruling.

The Acting National Chairman of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said the ruling expands democratic space by restoring party autonomy over internal processes that INEC had sought to regulate through its timetable.

According to CUPP, the exemption of substitution primaries from the strict timelines of the Electoral Act stands out as a major gain of the ruling.

The nullification of the 21-day membership register submission requirement is another key victory.

The affirmation that INEC cannot unilaterally shorten the statutory windows for candidate submission is also a significant win for opposition parties.

As of the time of this report, official court documents and a certified true copy of the judgment were yet to be publicly released.

INEC had not issued an official response to the development as of press time.

The decision is expected to compel INEC to undertake an immediate review of its election schedule to align it with the Electoral Act.

This could potentially reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.

Political campaigns are expected to commence in August 2026.

The ruling provides opposition parties and aggrieved politicians within the APC a renewed window of opportunity to reorganize, form strategic alliances, and prepare for what promises to be a highly competitive election cycle.

INEC Timetable Nullification: ADC Predicts Mass Defections From APC

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Politics

Deregistration: Court adjourns hearing on ADC, four other political parties’ appeal

Published

8 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Deregistration: Court adjourns hearing on ADC, four other political parties’ appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned until Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the hearing of an appeal challenging the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The appellate court granted the adjournment after lawyers representing the parties informed the court that although some legal processes had been filed and served, they were yet to receive and respond to all outstanding briefs necessary for the hearing of the appeal.

The appeal seeks to overturn a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the five political parties over their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral performance.

When the matter came up on Monday before a three-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Mohammed, counsel for all parties jointly requested more time to complete the exchange of legal documents.

The lawyers explained that they had filed and served some of their processes but were still awaiting response briefs from other parties before the substantive hearing could proceed.

After listening to the applications, the appellate court granted the request and fixed July 14 for hearing.

The court also directed all parties to ensure that every outstanding brief of argument is filed and served before the adjourned date to avoid further delays and enable the appeal to proceed on its merits.

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The latest adjournment follows an earlier postponement from June 25 to July 7, which was granted after counsel to the Accord Party, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), informed the court that the record of appeal and the certified copy of the Federal High Court judgment had only recently been transmitted to the Court of Appeal.

According to the senior advocate, the transmission of the court records was necessary before parties could prepare, file and exchange their respective briefs of argument.

None of the parties opposed the request for an adjournment at the time, prompting the appellate court to grant additional time for the completion of the legal processes.

The legal dispute originated from a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.

Justice Lifu held that the affected political parties failed to satisfy the constitutional threshold stipulated under Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regarding electoral performance in previous general elections.

The trial court ruled that the parties did not secure the minimum constitutional requirements to remain registered political parties and consequently directed INEC to remove them from its register.

The judgment further restrained the electoral commission from recognising the affected parties, accepting candidates nominated by them or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general elections.

Justice Lifu also ordered the parties to stop presenting themselves as registered political parties in Nigeria after upholding a suit instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).

However, the ruling immediately generated legal challenges after the affected parties argued that the Federal High Court proceeded to deliver its judgment despite an earlier order of the Court of Appeal directing the trial court to stay proceedings pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal already before the appellate court.

In an earlier unanimous ruling, the Court of Appeal strongly criticised the action of the lower court, describing it as a breach of judicial hierarchy and constitutional procedure.

Justice Abubakar Mohammed observed that once a superior court issues an order, lower courts are constitutionally bound to comply with it until it is set aside.

He stressed that the appellate court has a duty to preserve the integrity of the judicial process and ensure obedience to its orders.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal ordered a stay of execution of Justice Lifu’s judgment pending the determination of the substantive appeal.

The decision effectively suspended the enforcement of the deregistration order, allowing the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party to retain their legal status until the appeal is finally determined.

The outcome of the appeal is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly following recent political realignments involving opposition parties.

The ADC, which has recently attracted several prominent opposition politicians, is widely regarded as one of the parties that could play a major role in the build-up to the next presidential election.

The Court of Appeal is expected to begin substantive hearing of the appeal on July 14, provided all parties comply with its directive to file and exchange all outstanding briefs before the adjourned date.

Deregistration: Court adjourns hearing on ADC, four other political parties’ appeal

Politics

Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff

Published

9 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff

Former Borno State governor and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has explained why he believes Peter Obi will struggle to win Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former Anambra State governor lacks the broad national support needed to secure victory.

Sheriff made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he also defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, praised the removal of fuel subsidy, and urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to respect the principle of power rotation by shelving any presidential ambition until after 2031.

His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the January 2027 general election, with Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Atiku of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) widely seen as leading contenders for Nigeria’s highest office.

Sheriff said he was convinced that Peter Obi would struggle to win substantial support across Northern Nigeria, insisting that the region would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the election.

According to him, Obi has repeatedly criticised President Tinubu’s administration but has failed to publicly condemn the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which Sheriff accused of pursuing Nigeria’s disintegration.

“Peter Obi never condemned, up till today, those in Eastern Nigeria who wanted to divide the country and called for sit-at-home. I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi. They have known better now,” Sheriff said.

The former governor also alleged that Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State created resentment among many Northerners, claiming this would affect his electoral prospects in the region.

Sheriff further claimed that some political stakeholders in Kano had expressed reservations about supporting any presidential ticket involving Obi. These are allegations made by Sheriff during the interview and have not been independently verified.

The APC chieftain also questioned Obi’s movement across different political parties, arguing that politicians seeking Nigeria’s presidency should demonstrate consistency and commitment to national unity rather than pursue what he described as sectional political interests.

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He maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must build trust across all regions, religions and ethnic groups, stressing that the country’s diversity requires inclusive leadership and broad-based political alliances.

Responding to recent criticisms of President Tinubu by Obi over insecurity and economic hardship, Sheriff defended the administration’s policies.

He described the removal of fuel subsidy as one of the most important economic decisions taken by the current government, arguing that it prevented Nigeria from facing severe fiscal challenges.

According to Sheriff, the policy has significantly increased monthly allocations to state governments, giving governors more resources to invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other developmental projects.

He noted that some states now receive monthly allocations running into tens of billions of naira, compared with what many states received over several years before the subsidy removal.

On insecurity, Sheriff acknowledged that security remains a constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government but argued that state governments also have important roles to play.

He said governors, local government authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders must work together with federal security agencies to tackle insecurity effectively.

According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges predate the Tinubu administration and should not be blamed solely on the President.

Sheriff also commented on the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as qualified to lead Nigeria but insisting that the country should continue to observe the informal principle of rotating the presidency between the North and the South.

He argued that following former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, the South should be allowed to complete another eight years before power returns to the North.

“Atiku Abubakar is eminently qualified to be president, but this is not the North’s turn,” Sheriff said.

Expressing confidence in the ruling party, Sheriff said the APC would intensify its mobilisation efforts to secure President Tinubu’s re-election.

He described democracy as “a game of numbers” and said the ruling party would not take victory for granted despite its confidence.

Sheriff added that he enjoys regular access to President Tinubu and would continue to offer what he considers sincere advice whenever necessary.

Sheriff’s comments are expected to generate fresh debate within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties continue consultations, coalition talks and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

While his remarks reflect his personal assessment of the race, they also highlight the key issues likely to shape political discourse in the coming months, including national unity, security, economic reforms, regional support and the principle of power rotation.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Peter Obi nor the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had issued an official response to Sheriff’s remarks.

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Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff

Politics

Sokoto: 2023 PDP governorship candidate defects to APC

Published

16 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Sokoto: 2023 PDP governorship candidate defects to APC

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Malam Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing his decision to the leadership of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and the performance of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

The high-profile defection is widely seen as a significant boost for the APC in Sokoto and another major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties continue to reposition themselves across the country.

Ubandoma, a former Commissioner for Finance and Secretary to the Sokoto State Government under former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was formally received into the APC by Senator Wamakko at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Wamakko’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashar Abubakar.

Welcoming the former opposition governorship candidate into the APC, Wamakko described the defection as evidence of the party’s growing acceptance among political stakeholders and residents of Sokoto State.

According to the former governor, the decision by prominent political figures to join the APC reflects increasing confidence in the party’s leadership and commitment to the development of the state.

“This defection is a significant boost to our party and a clear demonstration of the confidence that political leaders continue to have in the APC’s leadership and development agenda,” Wamakko said.
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He assured Ubandoma and his supporters of fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities within the ruling party, stressing that the APC remains open to every citizen committed to promoting peace, unity and sustainable development in Sokoto State.

“The APC is a home for all well-meaning citizens who are genuinely committed to the unity, peace and development of Sokoto State. You and your supporters will enjoy a warm reception and equal opportunities within the party,” he added.

Explaining why he left the PDP, Ubandoma said he was impressed by Senator Wamakko’s political maturity, inclusive leadership style and the developmental projects being executed by Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration.

According to him, the government’s investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, rural development and social welfare have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of residents across the state.

“I was inspired by the quality of leadership and political maturity demonstrated by Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as well as the remarkable performance of Governor Ahmed Aliyu in delivering people-oriented projects across Sokoto State,” he said.

Ubandoma maintained that the administration’s achievements across key sectors convinced him that the APC offers the most credible platform to sustain development, economic growth and prosperity in Sokoto State.

“The achievements recorded across critical sectors convinced me that the APC remains the most credible platform to sustain the development and prosperity of Sokoto State,” he stated.

Ubandoma contested the 2023 Sokoto State governorship election on the platform of the PDP before later aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following internal disagreements within the opposition party. He is regarded as one of the prominent political associates of former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, making his latest move one of the most notable political developments in the state in recent months.

Political observers believe the defection could strengthen the APC’s influence in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 elections while further weakening the opposition’s political structure in the state.

The development also reflects the growing wave of defections and political realignments across Nigeria, with several politicians changing party affiliations as preparations gradually gather momentum for the next electoral cycle.

Analysts say such movements are expected to shape alliances, determine party strategies and influence electoral calculations as political parties intensify efforts to consolidate their support base before the 2027 general elections.

Sokoto: 2023 PDP governorship candidate defects to APC