Makinde charged Nigerians to stand firm and rally behind the APM.

He stated that the 2027 election was a historic opportunity to rescue Nigeria from what he described as the failed leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“With unity, courage, and determination, we will reclaim Nigeria’s destiny and deliver the future our people deserve,” Makinde affirmed.

Meanwhile, the APM has alleged that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are afraid of the growing popularity of its 2027 presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

The party, which spoke against the backdrop of the exclusion of Governor Makinde from the flag-off ceremony of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road project on Monday, said the federal government and the APC were afraid that Makinde’s growing popularity would eclipse their presence if he had been invited for the event.

The APM, in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, added that the presidency and the APC are uncomfortable with the governor’s rising profile ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to the APM, “The Tinubu Presidency and the APC were scared that Makinde’s presence at the event would have further exposed President Tinubu’s failures, as the APM presidential candidate has done far better than the President in the last three years, including in the execution of road projects.”

The party claimed that while Tinubu, who hails from the South-West, had been unable to point to the initiation, execution and completion of up to 250 kilometres of roads across the region since assuming office in 2023, Makinde had executed more than 360 kilometres of roads in Oyo State alone.

It added that more road projects executed by the Oyo governor were awaiting commissioning.

The APM also accused the APC of being uneasy about Makinde’s ability to unite governors, political leaders and other stakeholders across the country on major national issues.

Pratt challenges NDC candidate substitution.

In the affidavit, Pratt told the court that his inability to access INEC’s nomination portal had already begun causing him concrete harm.

“Because of this unlawful candidate swap, I am locked out of the official INEC nomination portal. I am suffering permanent, unrecoverable political and financial damage as I cannot print posters, mobilise structure, or launch my campaigns for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency,” he said.

He also pointed to INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections as evidence that the court needed to act without delay, warning that ballot papers could be printed with the substituted candidate’s name before any judgment was delivered.

“If this suit is not granted an expedited hearing immediately, the 3rd Respondent (INEC) will print final ballot papers using the name of the illegal candidate, which will render the final judgment of this Honourable Court completely useless,” he said. 

Pratt asked the court to declare the substitution illegal and void and to direct INEC to restore his name as the party’s candidate. He also urged the court to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis to avoid what he called “a complete miscarriage of justice.

INEC, NDC face Pratt’s legal challenge.

Pratt’s legal team is led by Ajose Abejoye. One of the firm’s lawyers, Kaosara Afariogun, stressed that the case was about more than one man’s candidacy.

“Honourable Pratt played by the rules and won fair and square. To see his dedication and the mandate of everyday people allegedly stolen by a secret political plot is unacceptable,” she said.

In a message to his supporters, Pratt said:

“My heart breaks not for myself, but for the beautiful, hardworking people of Lagos Mainland whose hopes were traded away in the dark.”

Enyi alleged that Chike had openly identified with the coalition and claimed that the vice-chancellor was recommended by Wike for the UNIPORT position.

He further alleged that Chike was “imposed” on the university by the former Rivers State governor.

Enyi said the alleged connection between the vice-chancellor and the coalition could be seen at the entrance of the university.

“To show the public that he is truly Wike’s product, at the entrance of the university, what you will see is the signpost of the VC with the caption, ‘Academia Rainbow Coalition of the Renewed Hope,’ with his picture on it,” he alleged.

The ADC spokesman further alleged that members of the Rainbow Coalition could be nominated as INEC returning officers for the election, Daily Voice reports.

“Those he will nominate as INEC returning officers for the election must be members of the coalition,” Enyi claimed.

He questioned the alleged activities of the vice chancellor ahead of the election, arguing that the process had not yet commenced but concerns were already being raised.

“It’s not even election time yet, but see what he is doing. During the election, all those who will be recommended are definitely going to come from the coalition,” he said.

Enyi challenged Professor Chike to demonstrate that the allegations against him were unfounded when the time came for the appointment of returning officers.

“Professor Chike, only God knows what you have come to do in Port Harcourt. Let us see those you will recommend. Let us see whether they will rig the election,” he added.