News
BREAKING: Anxiety As INEC Declares Primaries Election Invalid; Gives Reason
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a warning to political parties regarding the conduct of primary elections, stating that any such elections held after the May 30 deadline will be deemed invalid unless a higher court provides a different ruling, according to Naija News.
This information was shared by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, during an interview with Punch.
Haruna emphasised the importance of adhering to the Electoral Act 2026, highlighting that this compliance is necessary while INEC’s appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal. He reiterated that any primaries conducted beyond the stipulated deadline will currently not hold validity.
Haruna said, “Obviously, for now, any primary held outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will be invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment in INEC’s appeal against the ruling that the timetable breached the Electoral Act 2026 in some of its provisions.
“In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act.”
Court Nullified Timetable Provisions
Haruna’s position followed the legal dispute over INEC’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general election.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, had nullified aspects of INEC’s electoral guidelines and schedule for the 2027 elections.
The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP) against INEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026.
YP is a recognised political party in Nigeria, officially registered by INEC. It was founded by young professionals and activists to expand the democratic space, challenge “money politics” and godfatherism, and promote a new generation of accountable leadership.
Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten timelines provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
The court also held that the commission acted outside its statutory powers by abridging timelines already provided in the Act.
INEC has appealed the judgment and sought a stay of execution. The commission insisted that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
Before the ruling, INEC had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for political parties to conduct primaries for the 2027 general election.
The commission also directed parties to comply with other timelines in its revised election schedule.
Less than 24 hours after INEC appealed Justice Umar’s judgment, another Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed the commission’s power to issue and alter election timetables.
Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026.
He held that INEC was constitutionally empowered to issue election timetables and schedules of activities.
The judge, however, ruled that the commission must exercise those powers within the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.
ADC Orders Reruns In Kaduna
Naija News reports that the clarification comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election appeals committee in Kaduna State ordered reruns in several federal and state constituencies.
The committee chairman, Dr Muhammed Fagge, said the panel reviewed petitions, documentary evidence and submissions by aggrieved aspirants.
He said the committee found irregularities and fraudulent practices in some primaries.
The panel declared several primaries inconclusive and ordered reruns where it found substantial irregularities, procedural breaches, omission of aspirants from ballot papers and insufficient evidence that voting took place.
In Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, the committee ordered a fresh primary after finding that Ibrahim Kubau, a duly screened aspirant, was omitted from ballot papers.
It also ordered a rerun in Kaduna South Federal Constituency after investigations allegedly showed no credible evidence that elections were held across all wards.
Fagge said reruns would be held in affected wards and constituencies across Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi, among others.
He said the decisions were aimed at protecting the credibility and integrity of the party’s nomination process. The committee also ruled on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary.
It said any attempt to adopt consensus or affirmation would be invalid unless all parties involved consented.
Fagge stressed that no aspirant should be denied a fair opportunity due to procedural lapses or electoral irregularities.
Tension and sorrow have gripped the Iluke Bunu community in Kogi State following a deadly bandit attack that reportedly claimed the life of the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke.
According to reports, the victim, identified as Mr. Gani Anifowose, was brutally killed on Wednesday morning during an attack carried out by armed bandits.
Residents said the community is currently facing heightened security concerns, with fear and panic spreading across the area.
In another disturbing development, reports indicate that students from three neighbouring communities, who were scheduled to sit for the English Language WAEC examination on the same day, were allegedly abducted amid the worsening insecurity in the region.
The incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of students, teachers, and residents in vulnerable communities across Kogi State.
A representative of the community association called on security agencies and relevant authorities to urgently intensify efforts to restore peace, secure the affected communities, and ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.
“An hour is gone and no sign of rescue efforts from the security agencies despite placing several calls for help. We urge citizens to remain calm and continue praying for divine intervention, protection, and lasting peace in our communities.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly stepped up its investigation into former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to a report by Premium Times, the anti-graft agency has begun efforts to locate the former minister after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations issued in connection with the ongoing investigation.
The publication reported that sources familiar with the matter said the ICPC had invited Nnaji for questioning through different channels, including telephone calls, emails and WhatsApp messages, but he did not appear before investigators.
One of the sources quoted by the newspaper claimed that the commission could declare the former minister wanted if attempts to secure his appearance are unsuccessful.
The latest development is said to be part of an investigation that followed a lengthy inquiry by Premium Times into Nnaji’s academic records and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) documents.
The newspaper had earlier alleged that the former minister submitted forged degree and NYSC certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
According to the report, the ICPC has also sought information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as part of its investigation.
Another source cited by Premium Times alleged that Nnaji’s failure to respond to the invitations may be linked to his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
The newspaper recently reported that the former minister moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later emerged as its governorship candidate.
Neither Nnaji nor his media aide, Robert Ngwu, had publicly responded to the latest allegations as of the time of filing this report. Premium Times said calls and messages sent to his spokesperson were not answered.
The controversy surrounding the former minister began after investigations into his academic qualifications were published in 2023.
According to the newspaper, Nnaji had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in a bid to stop the release of his academic records by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
However, Premium Times reported that university authorities later informed the newspaper that although Nnaji was admitted into the institution, he did not graduate or obtain the certificate attributed to him.
The publication also stated that the National Youth Service Corps disowned the discharge certificate allegedly presented by the former minister.
Nnaji eventually resigned from his position shortly after the allegations became public.
The matter has continued to attract public attention, with several lawyers and civil society groups calling for a thorough investigation and, where necessary, prosecution in line with the law.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA also reported earlier this year that an investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education examined the matter as part of a broader review of the allegations surrounding the former minister’s credentials.
The ICPC has yet to release an official public statement detailing the current status of its investigation
Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior is set to declare a nationwide public holiday across all sectors to mark Democracy Day 2026, potentially granting a one-day break for both private and public sector employees.
The federal government’s announcement regarding Democracy Day will be the only national public holiday observed in Nigeria in June 2026.
Democracy Day commemorates the 1993 presidential election and the nation’s struggle for democratic freedom. June 12, 2026, falls on a Friday.
On June 6, 2018, the late former president Muhammadu Buhari, in a public statement, changed the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, in honour of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and its winner, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in prison.
Abiola was born on August 14, 1937 and passed away under suspicious circumstances on July 7, 1998. A popular Ogun businessman, publisher, and politician of the Egba clan, he is often referred to as MKO Abiola.
He ran for the presidency in 1993 and was widely regarded as the presumed winner of the election, which was annulled by former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Some southwest states had been celebrating June 12 as a public holiday and are holding ceremonies in Abiola’s honour until Buhari officially declared the day as Nigeria’s real democracy day. The former president, on Monday, June 10, 2018, signed the Public Holiday Amendment Bill into law.
The law, according to the former president’s ex-senior special assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, allows a public holiday to be declared on June 12 every year, while May 29 is to be a handing-over date.
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