The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that the Commission currently lacks the legal authority to penalize politicians and political parties engaging in early campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “The Challenges of Premature Political Campaigns in Nigeria”, held in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu acknowledged that although Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 clearly prohibits campaigns starting earlier than 150 days before the election, the law does not include penalties for violating this provision.

He pointed out that the only punitive measure in the law is under Section 94(2), which allows for a fine of up to ₦500,000 for campaigning within 24 hours to polling day, a penalty he described as weak and inadequate to deter violators.

“Political parties and candidates are in constant campaign mode, even when INEC hasn’t released the election timetable,” Yakubu said.

“We’ve observed rallies, billboards, media adverts, and other campaign activities taking place far outside the legal campaign window.”

He noted that these premature campaign activities not only violate the spirit of the law but also hinder INEC’s efforts to monitor campaign finance, as funds are being spent unofficially and outside the regulated campaign period.

Despite public expectations for INEC to act as the regulator of political parties, Yakubu emphasized that the lack of legal sanctions ties the Commission’s hands.

“There are no legal consequences for starting campaigns too early. That’s the core issue,” he added.

Yakubu warned that the absence of enforcement tools has encouraged political actors to continue early campaigning with impunity, mounting billboards, sponsoring media campaigns and organizing rallies well before INEC announces its official timetable.

He urged lawmakers to consider criminalizing premature campaigns to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“We’re glad to have key stakeholders here, including former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who will share his insights. We’ve also invited the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives Electoral Committees,” Yakubu said.

He expressed confidence that with input from experts, political party leaders, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), new legal provisions can be drafted to close the current gaps.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned attempts to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from returning to the Senate, warning that any further obstruction amounts to abuse of power and a threat to democratic governance.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the Senate leadership for defying both legal and moral obligations by preventing the Kogi Central lawmaker from resuming after her six-month suspension.

Senator Natasha was suspended on March 6, 2025, over alleged insubordination, which resulted in the loss of her salary, aides, and office privileges.

She claims the suspension was politically motivated, following a petition she submitted accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation the Senate dismissed.

Despite a court ruling in her favour, the Senate insisted on enforcing the full suspension.

In July, she was denied entry into the chamber by security personnel, prompting public outrage.

Although her legal team has indicated plans for her to resume on September 23, a letter from the Acting Clerk dated September 4 reiterated that her suspension remains, pending an appeal.

The ADC said the continued denial of access to the chamber is unconstitutional and violates the rights of both the senator and her constituents.

“This is not discipline, it is institutional mugging,” Abdullahi stated.

“Senator Natasha has served the full term of her suspension. Any effort to prolong it is illegal, politically motivated, and a threat to the foundations of our democracy.”

The party called the Senate’s stance a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic representation and silences dissent.

Highlighting gender inequality in politics, the ADC expressed concern over the implications for women in governance.

“Senator Natasha is one of only four women in a 109-member Senate. Nigeria’s already poor 2.7% female representation cannot afford further setbacks through intimidation and exclusion,” the party said.

The party demanded immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha, stating:

“The Senate must not be seen as operating above the law. A pending appeal is not grounds to suspend a citizen’s constitutional rights. Democracy requires dissent, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.”

The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for allegedly siding with political interests by refusing to process her resumption, warning that administrative neutrality is vital to institutional credibility.

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to defending democracy and supporting women in politics, urging Senate leadership to act in accordance with the law and democratic values.

“Denying Natasha her seat is not just an attack on her—it’s an attack on the people who elected her. The Senate must do the right thing.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), now headed by former Senate President David Mark.

In a list published on INEC’s official website on Wednesday, David Mark was named National Chairman, with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

Other officials listed include Mani Ibrahim Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

This formal recognition follows weeks of resistance and legal uncertainty after INEC initially declined to acknowledge the ADC’s newly formed leadership coalition.

The new leadership emerged from a major political shift in July 2025, when an opposition coalition comprising prominent political figures adopted the ADC as its unified platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

At a high-profile event in Abuja, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were announced as interim chairman and secretary, respectively.

The event was attended by several influential politicians, including Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State and several other political heavyweights.

New information has surfaced regarding the dismissal of Fegho Umunubo, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and Creative Economy, who worked under the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

According to sources within the presidency, Umunubo was removed from his position after being linked to a series of fraudulent deals in Nigeria’s creative sector.

These scams reportedly involved false promises of government support for various creative projects.

One of the most notable incidents involved a sponsorship agreement with Arese Ugwu, author and producer of The Smart Money Woman series.

Documents reviewed by the press indicate that Umunubo, in his official capacity, pledged ₦10 million in support for the premiere and promotion of Lara Unlimited, a spin-off of Ugwu’s earlier work.

The agreement also promised branding and visibility for the digital economy office on event materials, screening ads, podcast features and influencer promotions.

However, Umunubo allegedly failed to deliver on these terms.

On August 30, Ms. Ugwu took to Instagram to publicly accuse Umunubo of fraud.

“Just so it’s clear that I’m not crashing out over 5 million naira as Fegho Umunubo would like you to believe,” she wrote in her post.

Sources claim this was not an isolated case. Several figures in Nollywood were reportedly deceived into similar fake sponsorship deals, with Umunubo allegedly using his presidential title to gain trust and access.

“He scammed multiple people in the industry using that office,” a source told Premium Times.

Although he was quietly removed from office in August, Umunubo allegedly continued to present himself as a serving presidential aide.

This prompted the State House to release a formal public statement on Monday, officially confirming his disengagement, the first such public disclaimer under the Tinubu administration.

When contacted for comments, Umunubo did not respond to messages sent via Instagram. However, he acknowledged his exit from government service in a post, writing:

“It’s been an honour to serve this great country and the creative industry.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, to appear before it following his failure to attend a hearing on the recent Kaduna-bound train derailment.

The train, which was carrying 618 passengers, derailed last week, prompting the committee to launch an investigation.

Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Blessing Onuh, expressed disappointment over the minister’s absence, describing it as a snub to the Nigerian people during a time of crisis.

“We are on recess, but many of us travelled from across the country to attend this hearing. Our brothers and sisters were endangered. This is not a joke,” she said.

“We are suspending this meeting and mandating the Minister to appear within 48 hours.”

Other lawmakers were equally critical. Deputy House Spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, said the minister’s absence was a sign of incompetence and disregard for Nigerians.

“This shows he is not competent to hold office. It’s clear he does not care about the lives of Nigerians or the reputation of this government,” Agbese stated.

“If he fails to appear, Nigerians should know they effectively have no Minister of Transportation.”

Hon. Cyril Hart, also a committee member, noted the irony of Alkali, himself a former lawmaker, disregarding a legislative summons, especially in the wake of a potentially deadly incident.

“Over 618 Nigerians could have died. For a former lawmaker to shun this committee at a time like this is a betrayal,” he said.

The committee suspended its hearing and warned that any further act of defiance by the minister would be escalated to the President.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized what it described as an attempt by the Clerk of the National Assembly to prevent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties, following a six-month suspension from the Senate.

In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said the Clerk’s action appears to be a coordinated move by the Senate leadership under Senator Godswill Akpabio and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to silence opposition voices in the National Assembly.

The party described the move as unconstitutional and a violation of the Senate’s Standing Rules, saying it undermines the democratic rights of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District, whom Senator Natasha represents.

“This action is provocative and poses a threat to democracy and national stability,” the statement said.

The PDP further accused the APC-led government of using institutions of state to stifle the opposition, alleging that the Clerk’s actions reflect ongoing efforts to suppress women’s voices in politics.

The party also referenced past allegations of harassment against Senate President Akpabio, urging him to address those issues rather than allegedly using official channels to target Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The PDP demanded the immediate withdrawal of the letter barring the senator from resuming, advising the Clerk to remain neutral and not allow himself to be used for political purposes.

It also called on the international community, human rights groups, and pro-democracy organizations to speak out against the development.

The PDP reaffirmed its support for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging her to disregard the reported letter and resume her duties as an elected senator without fear.