A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the affected parties failed to secure the minimum electoral performance threshold prescribed by law, particularly the requirement to obtain at least 25 per cent of votes in relevant elections.

The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court further directed INEC not to allow the parties to participate in future elections, including the 2027 General Elections, having failed to satisfy the constitutional conditions necessary for their continued existence as political parties.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the legal status of the parties based on their electoral performance.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC were also joined as defendants in the matter.

The plaintiff argued that the affected parties had failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance and therefore no longer qualified to remain registered political parties under Nigerian law.

Justice Lifu dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the defendants before granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, effectively paving the way for their deregistration.

Proceedings in the alleged corruption case involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, were on Monday stalled following the absence of two co-defendants before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who is facing charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was present in court for the scheduled hearing.

The former governor arrived at the court premises alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police personnel.

However, the matter could not proceed as planned after two co-defendants failed to appear before the court, prompting the presiding judge to adjourn the case.

The court subsequently fixed June 28, 2026, for the commencement of hearing in the matter.
El-Rufai has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence against the allegations.

Prosecutors, on their part, contend that public funds were unlawfully disbursed for projects allegedly either abandoned, unexecuted, or improperly managed during his administration as governor of Kaduna State.

The case is expected to resume later this month as the court moves to begin substantive hearing on the charges.

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has chosen Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The announcement was made on Monday by Gwarzo’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Shuaibu, who disclosed that the decision followed extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders across the state.

According to Shuaibu, the choice of Mustapha reflects the party’s commitment to unity, inclusiveness, and broad-based representation, while positioning the NDC for a stronger outing in the 2027 general elections.

“His selection is aimed at consolidating the party’s growing support base and strengthening our chances in the forthcoming governorship election,” he said.

Mustapha is the son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure whose influence remains significant in Kano politics.

Political analysts believe the development could further deepen the presence of the Kwankwasiyya movement within the NDC and reshape political calculations ahead of 2027.

Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, emerged as the NDC governorship candidate after a series of consultations among party stakeholders.

Detail shortly..

Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who ran as vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has announced his exit from the party and his move to the People’s Redemption Party.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on the “Politics Today” on Channels Television, where he confirmed his decision to adopt a new political platform.

Details shortly ….

The Labour Party has elected Nenadi Usman as its substantive National Chairman, marking a new phase in the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

Usman, who previously served in an interim capacity, emerged alongside other members of the National Working Committee during the party’s national elective convention held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Also elected were Iheanacho Obioma as National Secretary and Hilda Dokubo as National Women Leader.

The convention adopted a consensus-based approach complemented by an affirmative voting process to produce the new leadership, reflecting what party officials described as a unified front.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, praised the convention committee led by Ginger Onwusibe and its secretary, Salisu Muhammad, for overseeing what he termed a credible and inclusive process.

Otti congratulated the newly elected executives and urged them to prioritise reconciliation within the party, stressing the need to bring all members on board as political activities intensify nationwide.

He emphasised that unity and effective mobilisation would be critical, particularly with party primaries and campaigns on the horizon, adding that the leadership must ensure a smooth and dispute-free process.

In her acceptance speech, Usman expressed gratitude to party delegates for entrusting her with the responsibility, pledging to strengthen the party and justify the confidence placed in her leadership.

She also acknowledged the support of party stakeholders, noting the significance of her emergence in a political space often dominated by men, and called for collective effort in building a stronger and more competitive party.

Former Ogun State governor and current senator, Gbenga Daniel, has formally declared his intention to return to the National Assembly, picking up his nomination and expression of interest forms under the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.

Announcing the move via his X handle on Tuesday, Daniel said his decision was anchored on the need to sustain what he described as impactful and people-oriented representation for constituents of Ogun East Senatorial District.

The development comes despite an ongoing push within the party to adopt Dapo Abiodun as a consensus candidate for the senatorial ticket, a move that has triggered internal friction among stakeholders in the district.

The endorsement reportedly followed a stakeholders’ meeting held at Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode, where party leaders, grassroots mobilisers, elected officials, and various interest groups converged and backed the governor’s candidacy as a unified choice.

However, the process was marred by controversy after Daniel was allegedly denied entry into the venue, a situation his supporters have strongly condemned as a calculated attempt to sideline him from the race.

In a widely circulated video, the former governor lamented that he and his supporters were blocked from participating in the meeting despite arriving early.

Further strengthening the consensus arrangement, party figures including Lekan Mustapha were said to have endorsed Abiodun, describing the decision as a collective resolution reached in the interest of unity.

But Daniel’s loyalists, operating under the BATOGD Movement, have rejected the outcome, branding the exercise as exclusionary and inconsistent with established party procedures.

Speaking in Sagamu, the group’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Okunowo, argued that the process undermined internal democracy and disenfranchised legitimate party members.

A former presidential hopeful from Edo State, Stanley Osifo, has intensified the contest for the 2027 presidency after purchasing the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress.

The development, captured in a video shared by a media aide to the party’s national chairman, confirms Osifo’s formal entry into the race, positioning him as a challenger to incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite mounting endorsements in the President’s favour.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Osifo dismissed speculation that his ambition is being sponsored by Tinubu, insisting his decision to run is independent and driven by personal conviction.

He said allegations of political backing by the President were not new, recalling similar claims during his earlier attempt to contest against former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

According to him, he has never received financial or political support from Tinubu and challenged anyone with contrary evidence to make it public.

Osifo maintained that internal endorsements within the party do not override constitutional provisions guiding candidate selection, stressing that he remains undeterred by the growing wave of support for the incumbent.

The APC has scheduled its presidential primary for May 15 and 16, with the nomination process pegged at N100 million, comprising N30 million for expression of interest and N70 million for the nomination form.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are slated for February 6, 2027.

INEC also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of disputes, will take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, with governorship and state assembly campaigns commencing on September 9, 2026.

Former Zamfara Central senator, Kabir Marafa, has again switched political allegiance, joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress barely three weeks after defecting to the African Democratic Congress.

Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, was formally received in Abuja by the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, alongside a delegation of his supporters.

His latest move follows his earlier exit from the All Progressives Congress in August 2025 and subsequent defection to the ADC on April 8, 2026, marking his second party switch within a month.

Explaining his decision, Marafa pointed to ongoing legal disputes within the ADC and the tight electoral timeline as key factors that made his continued stay in the party untenable.

He expressed concern that unresolved litigations could jeopardise his chances of participating in the 2027 elections if deadlines for party activities lapse.

According to him, the uncertainty surrounding court cases—potentially stretching to the Supreme Court—poses a significant risk for aspirants who require a stable platform to pursue their ambitions.

He added that after consultations with his political associates and legal advisers, the decision was reached to align with a more structured platform capable of navigating the electoral process without disruption.

Marafa also pledged loyalty to the NDC’s eventual decisions, including the choice of its presidential candidate.

Welcoming the former lawmaker, Dickson described him as an influential political figure whose entry would strengthen the party’s presence, particularly in the North-West, while also urging him to contribute meaningfully to grassroots mobilisation and the fight against insecurity in the region.

Also speaking, the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the NDC is built on an inclusive and people-focused agenda aimed at offering Nigerians a credible alternative as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Former Zamfara Central senator, Kabir Marafa, has again switched political allegiance, joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress barely three weeks after defecting to the African Democratic Congress.

Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, was formally received in Abuja by the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, alongside a delegation of his supporters.

His latest move follows his earlier exit from the All Progressives Congress in August 2025 and subsequent defection to the ADC on April 8, 2026, marking his second party switch within a month.

Explaining his decision, Marafa pointed to ongoing legal disputes within the ADC and the tight electoral timeline as key factors that made his continued stay in the party untenable.

He expressed concern that unresolved litigations could jeopardise his chances of participating in the 2027 elections if deadlines for party activities lapse.

According to him, the uncertainty surrounding court cases—potentially stretching to the Supreme Court—poses a significant risk for aspirants who require a stable platform to pursue their ambitions.

He added that after consultations with his political associates and legal advisers, the decision was reached to align with a more structured platform capable of navigating the electoral process without disruption.

Marafa also pledged loyalty to the NDC’s eventual decisions, including the choice of its presidential candidate.

Welcoming the former lawmaker, Dickson described him as an influential political figure whose entry would strengthen the party’s presence, particularly in the North-West, while also urging him to contribute meaningfully to grassroots mobilisation and the fight against insecurity in the region.

Also speaking, the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the NDC is built on an inclusive and people-focused agenda aimed at offering Nigerians a credible alternative as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.