Opposition parties and voters in Niger State have rejected the results of Saturday’s local government elections, citing alleged irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and manipulation in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports from across the state’s 25 local government areas indicated delays or complete absence of electoral officials and materials at polling units.

Opposition parties accused the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) of colluding with the APC to suppress voter turnout and influence outcomes, claims yet to be addressed by the commission or the ruling party.

Although official results were still being collated at press time, the APC appeared to be leading by wide margins in both chairmanship and councillorship races.

Protests erupted in Suleja, Wushishi, Lavun, and other LGAs, where voters alleged intimidation and result manipulation by security agents.

At the Veterinary Polling Unit in Nassarawa A Ward, Chanchaga LGA, voter Musa Usman Wada said the voter register had been altered, excluding hundreds of voters.

“We expected about 1,500 voters, but the register showed under 500 names,” he said. “Voting didn’t start until late, and many left out of frustration.”

In Rijau LGA, opposition parties claimed no election took place. PDP Returning Officer Abdullahi Shehu Mohammed alleged that most electoral materials were withheld.

“Of the 40,000 ballot papers meant for Rijau, only 35,800 were distributed. The Electoral Officer was missing, and no supervisors or presiding officers were present,” he said.

The SDP Chairman for Chanchaga LGA, Hon. Isah Barau, called the exercise “neither credible nor transparent,” noting that only 110,000 of 220,000 registered voters received ballot papers.

PDP Secretary Bello Nasiru Gabas alleged harassment and detention of party officials by security agents.

“Our deputy chairman was arrested, vehicles seized, and shots fired to disperse us. This was daylight robbery, not an election,” Gabas said.

Efforts to reach APC State Publicity Secretary Musa Danjuma Sarkinkaji for comment were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Governor Umar Bago’s convoy was attacked on Sunday in his hometown of Bida by angry youths.

The mob reportedly pelted vehicles with stones, injuring several people, including the governor’s aide Abubakar Mustapha.

The unrest reportedly followed a failed cash distribution exercise allegedly organized by the governor ahead of the elections, which sparked outrage when only a few people received money.

Youths also vandalized the governor’s billboards and vehicles.

Several attempts to reach the governor’s aides for comment went unanswered.

In a related development, Niger State APC suspended Yusuf Kure Baraje, representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, over alleged anti-party activities during the council polls.

The suspension letter, signed by APC Paikoro LGA Chairman Baba Achi, directed Baraje to withdraw from all party activities and stop identifying as an APC member.

Baraje was accused of undermining incumbent council chairman Aminu Umar Yadayi.

The suspension highlights ongoing factional disputes within the party, which date back to a controversial consensus arrangement last year.

A High Court in Oyo State has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its National Convention scheduled for Saturday, 15th, and Sunday, 16th November 2025 in Ibadan, the state capital.

Justice A. L. Akintola, in an interim order delivered on Monday, 3rd November, directed the PDP to conduct the convention and elect new national officers according to its approved guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities.

The order is effective pending the hearing of a Motion on Notice filed before the court.

The court also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, observe, and monitor the convention in Ibadan as scheduled.

The suit was filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, a PDP aspirant for Deputy National Organizing Secretary, who argued that the party had met all statutory requirements to hold the convention.

The defendants include the PDP, its National Chairman and National Working Committee, members of the National Convention Organizing Committee, and INEC.

Justice Akintola said the claimant had demonstrated urgency and merit in seeking the court’s intervention, and granted the interim orders to ensure transparency and adherence to party guidelines.

The development follows a Federal High Court in Abuja ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which had restrained the PDP from holding the convention.

The Abuja court held that the party failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice, violating its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.

Following the Abuja ruling, PDP National Chairman Ambassador Iliya Damagum convened an emergency NWC meeting and suspended four members loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for alleged gross indiscipline.

Those suspended included National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.

Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo was appointed Acting National Secretary, and Jacob Otorkpa took interim charge of the legal department.

In response, the Wike-aligned members led by Samuel Anyanwu suspended Ambassador Damagum and five other national officers, citing incompetence, financial mismanagement, and disobedience to court orders.

Anyanwu named Mohammed Abdulrahman (National Vice Chairman, North Central) as Acting National Chairman.

Others suspended included National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If confirmed, Dr. Udeh will take over the ministerial slot previously held by Uche Nnaji.

The letter, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was read during Tuesday’s plenary session.

President Tinubu described Dr. Udeh, who currently serves as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, as a nominee of “proven integrity and competence.”

In the correspondence, the President wrote:
“I am pleased to forward to the Senate the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s usual expeditious consideration, please accept, Mr. Senate President, and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”

Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration, signaling that the process for Dr. Udeh’s confirmation will begin promptly.

Dr. Udeh is widely regarded as a distinguished legal practitioner and scholar.

Should the Senate confirm his appointment, Dr. Udeh will succeed Chief Uche Nnaji who resigned after allegations of certificate forgery.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially submitted the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, for confirmation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The request was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Dr. Udeh currently serves as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State. President Tinubu described him as a nominee of “proven integrity and competence.”

In the letter, the President wrote:
“I am pleased to forward to the Senate the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s usual expeditious consideration, please accept, Mr. Senate President, and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”

Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

Dr. Udeh, a respected legal scholar and advocate, is expected to contribute his extensive experience in law and public administration to the federal cabinet if confirmed.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of five new Permanent Secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service, strengthening the leadership of Nigeria’s public service.

The announcement was made by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, through a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, on Monday in Abuja.

The new appointees are:

Ibrahim Ozi – Federal Capital Territory

Ezemama Chidiebere – Imo State

Garba Usman – North Central Geo-Political Zone

Mohammed Ishiyaku – North East Geo-Political Zone

Ukaire Chigbowu – South East Geo-Political Zone

According to the statement, the appointments followed a rigorous and transparent selection process, reflecting the administration’s commitment to meritocracy and excellence in the Civil Service.

“The new Permanent Secretaries bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles, which will further strengthen the delivery of public services and support the government’s development agenda,” the statement said.

Mrs. Walson-Jack commended President Tinubu for prioritising transparency, professionalism, and merit-based appointments.

She noted that these selections demonstrate the administration’s dedication to building a competent, results-driven Civil Service that meets the needs of Nigerians.

PUNCH Online reported on September 15, 2025, that the Office of the HOSF had begun the process of appointing five Permanent Secretaries following Tinubu’s approval.

The vacancies included two positions created by recent retirements in Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as three zonal vacancies for North-Central, North-East, and South-East arising from the creation of new ministries.

To be eligible, candidates must be Grade Level 17 officers, have spent at least two years on the grade, and be cleared of any disciplinary issues by their respective Permanent Secretaries, Walson-Jack explained.

“These appointments reflect our determination to maintain a professional and effective Civil Service capable of advancing Nigeria’s development goals,” she added.

Former Ekiti State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Ayodele Fayose, has described the PDP in Ekiti as “dead,” claiming that all its governorship aspirants are merely “fooling themselves.”

He, however, praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), predicting a decisive victory for him in the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Fayose said the PDP in the state lacked a functional structure and had lost its relevance.

“In the first place, where is the PDP in Ekiti? Where are the party members? Where are the PDP meetings being held? The party is completely moribund, just like at the national level,” Fayose said.

He added that while there are four aspirants in the PDP, pursuing the governorship under the party’s current state is self-deception.

“The saddest thing for anyone is fooling themselves. Tell me where you have seen a credible PDP gathering in this state. I am a major stakeholder. Most of those contesting today, I brought them up. The party is dead in Ekiti for now,” Fayose said.

Despite remaining a PDP member, Fayose expressed his support for Oyebanji, commending his performance since taking office.

“Oyebanji is doing well. I am not a member of the APC and will never be, but I will not condemn what is good simply because I’m in the opposition,” he said.

“Oyebanji is the man the people of Ekiti want till 2030, and I stand by that.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026.

Oyebanji has secured the APC ticket, while four candidates are contesting for the PDP nomination: Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mrs. Funmi Ogun, Mr. Funso Ayeni, and Peter Obafemi.

Reacting to Fayose’s comments, Ekiti PDP Chairman Tunji Odeyemi called the claim “unfortunate,” insisting the party remains strong and prepared for the election.

“It is unfortunate for a former governor to make such statements against the party that made him governor twice. The four PDP aspirants are credible, the primary will be fair, and we will produce a strong candidate,” Odeyemi said.

The PDP, APC, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) remain the leading parties in the upcoming Ekiti governorship race.

Members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a key bloc that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, have set conditions for backing President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

They are demanding that the APC cede its 2031 presidential ticket to the ANPP bloc as a prerequisite for their support.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday after a leadership meeting at the Agura Hotel, the Association of Former ANPP Members accused the APC leadership of sidelining its members from political appointments and influence since the merger.

The group’s National Chairman, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, said fairness and equity require that the ANPP bloc be considered for the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure.

“Since the formation of the APC, the CPC bloc ruled for eight years under the late President Buhari, while the ACN bloc is currently in power. President Tinubu should hand over power to the ANPP bloc in 2031,” he said.

Ajumbe also decried the continued exclusion of former ANPP members from key positions, including ministerial roles, ambassadorships, board chairmanships, and leadership of agencies and parastatals.

He added that the office of the Vice President should remain “sacrosanct” for the ANPP bloc, the second-largest contributor to the APC merger.

Despite their demands, the former ANPP members pledged to actively support Tinubu’s 2027 campaign, promising to mobilise grassroots structures across 774 local government areas and organise a major rally in Abuja to demonstrate solidarity.

Prominent attendees included Senators Aliyu Sani and Dahiru El-Katazu, Chief Igaga Ogbonna, Dr. Ibrahim Modibbo, Shuayb Kano, Prince Adebola Ogunleye, Mustapha Ringim, Princess N. Dickson, Chief Geoffrey Yilleng, Ichie Mike Ejezie, Dr. Francis Egu, Hon. Emma Ibediro, and Comrade Benedict Godson.

Reacting to the demand, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East) Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu acknowledged the ANPP bloc’s contributions but advised patience, stressing that the party should focus on the 2027 elections.

Likewise, Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Duru described the call as premature, emphasizing that internal negotiations would happen at the appropriate time.

The ANPP, one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties in the Fourth Republic, produced prominent figures such as the late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

The party merged with the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the new PDP in 2013 to form the APC, ending the PDP’s 16-year rule with Muhammadu Buhari’s election in 2015.

Since then, members of the ANPP have consistently expressed concerns about being marginalised in political power-sharing and federal appointments, despite their contributions to the merger.