Author: Gabby

The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially rejected the outcome of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election. The party is urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the exercise, citing multiple electoral irregularities.

In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Joseph, claimed that the NDC’s logo was missing from official election materials, despite the party being a registered participant. According to the party, the logo that appeared on the ballot paper was not theirs, which they believe confused voters and negatively impacted their performance.

The NDC further alleged that its logo was absent from result sheets used during the election, and party agents were reportedly denied the opportunity to sign at ward, local government, and state collation centers. “The logo printed on the ballot paper does not belong to our party. This appears to be a deliberate attempt by INEC to mislead our supporters and undermine our participation,” the statement read.

Additionally, the party claimed that the logo used in the Nasarawa by-election differed from the official symbol INEC used in another by-election held in Enugu State on the same day. Beyond the logo issue, the NDC reported that several polling units experienced malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, further undermining the credibility of the process.

The party also alleged instances of result manipulation and mutilation favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, though no specific evidence was provided. In light of these issues, the NDC declared it does not recognize the election results and will pursue legal avenues to challenge the process. “Given these irregularities, the NDC rejects the conduct of the by-election in Nasarawa North and will explore legal options to protect our democratic rights and the will of our supporters,” the statement added.

The by-election was held to fill the vacant Nasarawa North Senatorial seat following the death of former Senator Godiya Akwashiki. INEC has not yet responded to the allegations.

Jonathan Vatsa, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Niger State Commissioner, has raised alarms that Nigeria could be heading toward chaos before the 2027 general elections. He pointed to the judiciary’s questionable conduct and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) attitude as potential catalysts for this crisis.

Speaking to journalists in Minna following a church service for his 64th birthday, Vatsa emphasized that the nation’s democracy could collapse if these institutions fail to operate without bias. He also predicted that internal conflicts within the APC would explode, overshadowing disputes in any opposition party.

According to Vatsa, the prolonged silence on primary election results—almost two months after the polls—proves that the APC is sitting on a powder keg. He warned, “Once those results emerge, the APC will face its biggest internal war yet.”

He dismissed opposition party crises as “manufactured,” insisting that the APC’s problems are homegrown and far more dangerous. Vatsa held INEC and the judiciary responsible for any political fallout, stating that their partiality could “plunge the country into anarchy and end democratic rule.”

The former publicity secretary accused the party of abandoning real elections during its primaries, claiming that roughly 80% of candidates in Niger State were selected through a consensus forced by the state government. He labeled this “the most significant political fraud since 1999” and argued that such impositions would eventually backfire.

He questioned why some politicians could pursue a sixth term while others seeking a second term were made to step aside, warning that these injustices could lead to anti-party activities. “The anger is simmering beneath the surface because people fear losing their livelihoods, but it’s there,” Vatsa said.

Recalling his role in creating the APC, Vatsa lamented that founding members have been pushed aside by “tenants” who took control after the party assumed power. “We revived a broken vehicle called APC in 2015, but now latecomers occupy the house. I helped build this party; I won’t surrender it to strangers,” he added.

Yiaga Africa, a prominent election monitoring group, has officially endorsed the results of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The group’s independent tally, conducted through its Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, confirmed that INEC’s announced outcomes matched votes counted at polling units across the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Yiaga Africa commended INEC for notable improvements in election logistics, including the timely deployment of materials and personnel, smooth accreditation and voting processes, and a generally peaceful environment throughout the election day. However, the group did not shy away from highlighting several critical concerns that marred the exercise.

Among the most pressing issues identified were widespread vote buying, weak management of sensitive electoral materials, poor public communication regarding late administrative and judicial decisions, and discrepancies in voter turnout figures. Yiaga Africa noted that while the official turnout announced by INEC stood at 38.7%, their independent projection estimated a range between 34.1% and 38.2%. This gap, they suggested, may stem from INEC using the 2022 voter register instead of the updated 2026 register.

According to Yiaga’s statistical projections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was estimated to secure between 83.9% and 87.1% of the votes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 8.5% and 11.7%, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) between 2.9% and 4.1%. All these figures fell within INEC’s announced results, reinforcing the accuracy of the election outcome.

Despite this validation, Yiaga Africa called on INEC to urgently clarify the turnout discrepancy and tighten quality control for sensitive materials ahead of future elections, particularly the 2027 general elections. The organization also urged security agencies to intensify efforts against vote buying and voter intimidation. Political parties were advised to better train their polling agents on electoral laws and guidelines, while the government was urged to regulate incumbency powers and the use of state resources to ensure a level playing field.

Concluding their statement, Yiaga Africa stressed that although election administration has seen improvements, the persistence of vote buying and management lapses poses a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has leveled accusations against Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that he seized 69 nomination forms for multiple political offices in Kano. This, they claim, has thrown the party into disarray and confusion.

Addressing journalists at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano, the PRP State Chairman, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, revealed that he had traveled to Kaduna for a party retreat and had obtained forms for various aspirants from Kano who had paid for them. However, upon his return, he was informed that all the forms had been purchased by someone else.

Musa Guza explained that when he pressed for details, the party’s national secretary identified Kwankwaso as the buyer, adding that the party was in discussions with him about a possible defection. After days passed with no sign of Kwankwaso joining the PRP, suspicions grew that his actions might be part of a deliberate scheme to disrupt the party.

The chairman further stated that Kwankwaso cannot legitimately hold forms from another party while still being a member of his own, and described the situation as a mischievous mission. He expressed deep concern for the hundreds of aspirants who now face uncertainty, unsure if they can contest under the PRP banner.

Musa Guza warned that legal steps will be taken if Kwankwaso does not return the forms before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for submitting candidates’ names. He added that other political parties are experiencing similar troubles, indicating a broader issue.

The internal strife within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is reaching new heights as supporters of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq prepare to visit the party’s national headquarters in Abuja this Monday. This action follows growing tensions over the alleged imposition of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 elections.

Reports indicate that a delegation from the governor’s camp, led by state party chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, will meet with national party leaders to present the governor’s stance on the crisis. The delegation also includes former PDP secretary Razaq Lawal and Abdullateef Alakawa, chairman of the Niger River Basin Development Authority.

According to sources, the team intends to engage with the national chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Additionally, they plan to consult with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to seek support for the governor’s position.

This development comes after ten gubernatorial aspirants petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, rejecting the primary election that produced Salihu as the party’s candidate. Earlier, the elders’ caucus, led by Chief James Bamisaiye, had also opposed Salihu’s emergence, accusing the governor of imposing him.

Sources revealed that the delegation will travel from Ilorin via a chartered flight early Monday morning to maintain confidentiality. “We want to ensure that nobody knows who is travelling. So, we are leaving by 6 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, through a chartered flight,” a source said.

While the governor’s supporters maintain that the party is united and can resolve internal issues, political observers believe these events highlight deepening fractures within the Kwara APC.