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CUPP Blasts INEC-FCDA Deal, Cites Independence Risk

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CUPP Blasts INEC-FCDA Deal, Cites Independence Risk

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly criticized the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to handle the construction of its new national headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the National Secretary of CUPP and former National President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr. Peter Ameh, described the arrangement as “deeply troubling” and a direct threat to INEC’s constitutionally guaranteed independence.

“The recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority to construct its new national headquarters in Abuja is deeply troubling and constitutes a direct assault on the commission’s constitutional independence,” said Ameh.

He condemned the move as “an unacceptable return to practices that undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress,” stressing that Section 158(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees INEC’s autonomy and insulates it from external control.

“Furthermore, Section 81(3) provides for a direct line charge to INEC’s budget, ensuring financial independence through funds drawn directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” he said. “This mechanism, reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022, was designed to eliminate INEC’s reliance on politically controlled entities, thereby curing the historical problem of undue influence over the election management body.”

Ameh also took issue with INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s justification that the FCDA’s involvement is acceptable because it constructed INEC’s previous headquarters when the commission moved from Lagos to Abuja. Ameh dismissed the rationale as “outdated and indefensible.”

“Nigeria’s electoral laws have evolved significantly, and such arrangements are no longer acceptable for an institution tasked with conducting free, fair, and credible elections,” he argued.

He warned that FCDA’s role in the project raises serious questions about political interference, especially given its control under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which is overseen by Minister Nyesom Wike.

“The mere fact that FCDA was allowed to initiate and carry out the construction of the new headquarters speaks volumes. For an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and subject to political oversight by Nyesom Wike, to fund and construct its headquarters, INEC risks compromising its impartiality and eroding public trust in the electoral process.”

Ameh emphasized that INEC’s constitutional financial autonomy was designed to eliminate such dependence and called the current arrangement a contradiction of that purpose.

“This decision contradicts the purpose of the direct line charge, which empowers INEC to independently budget for its operational and infrastructural needs through appropriations by the National Assembly. Public sentiment, as expressed by so many citizens, echoes this concern, with Nigerians questioning the integrity of an electoral body that permits political actors to influence its operations,” he said.

He further criticized INEC for prioritizing a new building project while staff welfare continues to suffer.

“Equally concerning is INEC’s misplaced priority in focusing on a new headquarters while neglecting the welfare of its staff—the bureaucratic backbone of the commission. The employees who manage voter registration, election logistics, and result collation deserve competitive salaries, adequate training, and improved working conditions to enhance their efficiency and resist electoral malpractices,” he stated.

“Diverting attention to a grandiose project at the expense of staff welfare undermines INEC’s mission to deliver credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”

Ameh urged INEC to terminate the deal with FCDA immediately and instead utilize its constitutionally backed financial autonomy to independently manage the construction of its new headquarters.

“The National Assembly must exercise its oversight powers to ensure that INEC’s budget reflects its infrastructural and operational needs without reliance on external agencies. Additionally, INEC must prioritise staff welfare to strengthen the integrity of the electoral system.”

He concluded with a stern warning: “The Nigerian people deserve an electoral body that upholds its constitutional mandate of independence and prioritises the mechanisms that drive credible elections. Any attempt to undermine INEC’s autonomy threatens the foundation of our democracy. We must act swiftly to protect the integrity of our electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Ripplesnigeria.com

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BREAKING: Atiku Picks Running Mate for 2027 Election

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Barring any last-minute change of formation, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has succeeded in setting up a possible ‘AA’ ticket on the presidential ballot of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by picking former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, as his running mate.

Also, yesterday, he declared that the actions by the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration contradicted the spirit, sacrifice and legacy of June 12.

Coming after weeks of rigorous negotiations within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) coalition platform, which was threatened by post-primary recriminations, the choice of Amaechi comes as a bold counter to the OK ticket pairing of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the rival NDC for the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

By settling for Amaechi, Atiku seems to have decided to do what he failed to do in the lead-up to the 2023 election cycle, when he refused to accept former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who emerged as the first runner-up in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.

While the duo of the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Obi, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Kwankwaso, joined the ADC, speculations were rife that the party had a predetermined plan to have Atiku run with the former transportation minister to achieve a North-East/South-South balance on the party’s presidential ballot.

But contrary to those conjectures, Amaechi, shortly after he filled and returned his N90 million presidential nomination form, said he was not positioning himself for a VP slot.

Further, pushing back on the reports of a possible pairing with Atiku after Obi and Kwankwaso left ADC for the NDC, Amaechi, on May 20, ruled out the possibility of a consensus rather than a direct primary.

Speaking to The Guardian on how the former Transportation Minister finally succumbed to pressures and entreaties from highly placed political leaders from both the North-West and South-South, a very close ally of Amaechi said Atiku assured that the “VP nominee would have extensive roles to play in the campaigns and government”.

Before the latest development, ADC chieftain, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, had dismissed comments credited to party stalwart, Dele Momodu, suggesting that Amaechi had rejected the party’s VP slot ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement posted on his verified social media accounts yesterday, Eze described Momodu’s remarks as personal opinion capable of creating unnecessary tension, mistrust and misunderstanding within the party.

According to him, Amaechi’s previous comments after the ADC presidential primaries had only indicated that no one had approached him regarding a VP position.

ATIKU, in a statement which he personally signed and released to commemorate another Democracy Day on June 12, urged citizens to stand up against bad governance, reject the politics of intimidation, and resist every manifestation of democratic backsliding.

He stressed that Nigerians must, once again, summon the courage of those who marched, protested, resisted, suffered and sacrificed for freedom for June 12 to retain its meaning.

The Adamawa politician said, over the past three years, Nigerians had witnessed a deliberate and coordinated effort to weaken, fragment and neutralise opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He added that through manufactured leadership crises, orchestrated defections, political intimidation and the abuse of state institutions, every credible opposition platform had come under sustained attack.

The former VP said institutions that ought to serve the Nigerian people impartially had increasingly been transformed into instruments of partisan warfare, adding that anti-graft agencies, the police, the National Assembly, and even segments of the judiciary had been deployed to harass, intimidate, and coerce opposition voices into submission or defection.

 

Source: The Guardian

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2027 Elections: Former Governor Finally Speaks on Dumping ADC 

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Former Adamawa State Governor, Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, has reacted to an appeal to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Martins Nasir Babale, appealed to Senator Bindow to consider returning to the APC.

Babale made the appeal during his courtesy visit to Senator Bindow’s office in Abuja.

Bindow expressed appreciation for the visit and thanked his former deputy for the concern, goodwill, and confidence demonstrated towards him.

The New Media Aide to Bindow, Shamsudeen Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Ibrahim said Senator Bindow, however, did not make a comment on his future political decisions.

“Former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency Martins Nasir Babale, today paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency, Senator Mohammed Umar Jibrilla Bindow, at his office in Abuja.

“During the meeting, the former Deputy Governor appealed to Senator Bindow to consider returning to the APC. His Excellency expressed appreciation for the visit and thanked his former deputy for the concern, goodwill, and confidence demonstrated towards him.

“Senator Bindow, however, did not make any comment regarding his current political position or future political decisions.” This comes amid reports that Senator Bindom has dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and rejoined the ruling APC.

According to TVC News, Bindow earlier withdrew from the 2027 governorship contest under the ADC platform. The former governor said his withdrawal was based on personal reasons after what he described as deep reflection and careful consideration.

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Political Twist: Nigerians React as NDC Gives Key Appointment to Peter Obi’s Popular Critic

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the appointment of Agada Abuh Theophilus, who is a popular critic of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 general elections, as its director of new media and strategic communications.

The party also announced the appointment of Brian Dennis as the deputy director of new media and strategic communications.

Osa Director, the NDC national publicity secretary, announced the appointments in a statement on Wednesday, June 10. According to him, the appointments were part of the efforts to strengthen the party’s digital operation and media engagement strategy ahead of future political activities.

Theophilus has been a popular voice in the political space in Nigeria since the 2023 presidential election. He consistently criticised Obi and the Obidient Movement on his social media platform, particularly X.

He has been a consistent challenger of the political views of Peter Obi and has questioned the direction and structure of the Obidient Movement since the outcome of the 2023 general elections. The NDC explained that the appointment of Theophilus will bring extensive experience in political communications, public relations, and corporate brand management.

However, the appointment has started generating reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:

Lagospidia said the Obidients would not be happy with the appointment: “Obidients seem to be in a difficult position on this one. Whether they like it or not, they may have to accept the appointment of Theo, a figure widely seen as not being aligned with Peter Obi.”

Nuhu Sada commented on the importance of the appointment ahead of the 2027 general elections:

“Political communication is becoming a key battlefield, and every appointment signals preparation for what lies ahead.”

Good News criticised the appointment: “These political parties are one kind sha. So, of all the people to appoint, it is the one who is a renowned antagonist of the presidential candidate you found. I will never understand this insensitivity.”

Iwu Nna questioned how Theophilus will now market Obi as the NDC presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections: “While everyone is angry, here is the real question. Will he calm down to lick his own vomit? Because he clearly has to market and hype Peter Obi, whom he has clearly disparaged on this app.”

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