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APC, Labour, NNPP Reject Internal Replacements, Call For Transparent INEC Conducted Bye-Elections
APC, Labour, NNPP Reject Internal Replacements, Call For Transparent INEC Conducted Bye-ElectionsMajor political parties in Nigeria have reiterated their call for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue conducting bye-elections to fill legislative vacancies resulting from resignations or deaths, rejecting a proposal by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, advocating for internal party replacements.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Falana argued that electoral votes belong to political parties, empowering them to decide replacements for their representatives who resign or pass away.
However, the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) insist that INEC is better suited to manage these elections, citing global democratic standards.
Despite concerns from INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu about the financial and logistical burden of bye-elections, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, emphasized that bypassing elections could undermine grassroots representation. He stated, “Democracy is all about representing the people. People must have a say in who stands in for them.”
NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, also rejected Falana’s proposal, describing it as inappropriate.
In contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supports Falana’s suggestion, with its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, asserting that allowing parties to fill vacancies could alleviate INEC’s financial strain.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took a more cautious stance, calling for broader consultations. APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, noted, “Under democracy, things should be done according to the wishes of the majority. This issue should be thrown for wider deliberation and debate.”
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu previously highlighted the challenges posed by bye-elections, noting that since the current legislative assembly began in 2023, 23 vacancies had emerged, necessitating costly, unpredictable elections. He urged legislative reforms to adopt more cost-effective solutions, citing international best practices.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu said, “Over the last one and a half years since the inauguration of the current national and state Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies have occurred in 23 constituencies due to deaths or resignations. The commission has conducted nine bye-elections early last year, with 14 more vacancies emerging since then. These elections are unpredictable, costly, and divert the commission’s focus from broader electoral duties.”
Despite INEC’s concerns, LP’s Ifoh maintained that the commission could reduce costs using existing materials like card readers and digital platforms. He warned that allowing parties to fill vacancies could lead to candidates who lack grassroots support, compromising democracy’s core principles.
Speaking with The PUNCH on the way forward on Wednesday, Labour Party’s Ifoh said, “In most democracies, when there are vacancies, bye-elections are conducted. Democracy is about representing the people. Allowing parties to unilaterally fill vacancies may result in candidates who do not resonate with the grassroots.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in its ongoing leadership dispute, describing the legal body’s position as a validation of its long-standing claims of judicial abuse.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the NBA’s caution against forum shopping and abuse of court processes supports its stance that attempts to challenge its leadership in court are legally flawed.
The ADC said the NBA had clarified that courts do not have jurisdiction over internal affairs of political parties and that seeking interim or interlocutory orders in such matters contravenes the Electoral Act.
According to the party, this position aligns with its belief that the legal process is being manipulated for political purposes rather than genuine dispute resolution.
It described the situation as a coordinated attempt to weaponise the judiciary, which the NBA had reportedly condemned as abuse of court process driven by forum shopping and malicious litigation.
The ADC further linked the crisis to broader political tensions, alleging that it reflects anxiety within the ruling party amid insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party warned that any court orders obtained contrary to due process would be legally defective and unenforceable.
While commending the NBA for urging disciplinary action against erring legal practitioners and judicial officers, the ADC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain strictly neutral.
It stressed that INEC must not take any action that could legitimise what it described as unlawful judicial interference in party affairs.
The party added that the matter goes beyond internal politics and concerns the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy, vowing to pursue all lawful means to defend its position.
An aspirant for the 2027 Lagos governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has said the party has not adopted any consensus or anointed candidate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Gbenga Ogunleye, Jandor aligned with the official position of the Lagos APC leadership, stressing that no aspirant has been selected ahead of the party’s primary election.
He insisted that all interested aspirants will participate in a credible and competitive primary to determine the party’s flagbearer.
However, he noted that if the party leadership eventually opts for a consensus arrangement, he would respect and fully support the decision regardless of who emerges.
According to the statement, Jandor reaffirmed his commitment to the race, saying he is actively strengthening his grassroots support base and engaging widely with party stakeholders across Lagos State.
He also cautioned against mistaking individual campaigns or group endorsements as the official position of the APC leadership.
Jandor maintained that only an official pronouncement from the party leadership would determine its final choice of candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District and a 2027 governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari Abdulfatai, has urged Nigerian women to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said Tinubu’s continuity in office was necessary to sustain ongoing reforms and promote equity, justice, and fairness across the country.
Buhari made the call while speaking with journalists at the end of a three-day women’s capacity-building programme held in Oyo North.
He commended the President for creating an enabling environment that allowed lawmakers to initiate empowerment programmes targeting women, especially in small and medium-scale enterprises within agricultural value chains.
The senator disclosed that 120 women from across Oyo State benefited from the training, with each receiving ₦100,000 to support their businesses.
He urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to improve their livelihoods and continue supporting the administration’s policies.
Buhari also encouraged participants to pray for the President, describing him as committed to improving the welfare of women and youths.
He explained that beneficiaries were drawn from all three senatorial districts in Oyo State, expressing confidence that Tinubu would emerge as the APC presidential candidate in 2027.
According to him, both he and the President recognise the crucial role of women in securing electoral victory for the party.
He added that more empowerment and capacity-building programmes would be rolled out in the near future to further support women and small business owners.
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