The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to the commission could be barred from contesting the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The warning follows the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment, which affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The apex court also upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday, INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would not permit political parties to benefit from violations of electoral laws.

Haruna explained that parties would not be allowed to substitute candidates affected by the membership register requirement, arguing that such a move would amount to benefiting from their own violation.

He said, “It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it. You remember cases that we had of some in Zamfara, you remember Plateau? The same thing.

“And the law was very clear. Once you do that kind of thing, you cannot benefit from it. You are benefiting from it, if you are able to substitute a candidate.”

According to the commissioner, the implications of the Supreme Court judgment could extend beyond individual candidates, with some political parties potentially unable to field candidates in certain governorship elections.

“Some parties may not be able to finish with even governorship candidates,” he said.

Haruna said the membership register requirement applied to candidates contesting from the presidential level down to the state Houses of Assembly.

“All the candidates, all the way to the Houses of Assembly, we interviewed them. If their names are not on the party register, they were not members of the party at the time that they contested for those tickets,” he stated.

The INEC commissioner acknowledged the concerns generated by the Supreme Court ruling but said the commission needed to carefully examine the certified judgment before taking a final position.

He explained that INEC had only recently obtained the Certified True Copy of the judgment and would consult its legal experts before making a definitive pronouncement.

“You can’t be too careful with these things because even when you see copies, and they tell you it’s a CTC, it may be forged,” Haruna said.

He recalled previous instances in which individuals allegedly forged Supreme Court judgments, stressing that INEC must ensure that the document it relies upon is authentic.

Haruna said the commission expected to issue a clear position on the matter by Tuesday next week.

The commissioner also expressed concern over threats being made during political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that threatening political opponents or other actors was unacceptable regardless of the number of people involved.

“Those kinds of things, even if it’s a minority, it’s a cause for concern, because nobody should be threatened at all,” he said.

He described such rhetoric as “not reassuring at all” and said it should concern all Nigerians, including supporters of the ruling party.

Haruna further disclosed that INEC was working to secure the funds required to conduct the 2027 elections.

He said the commission was facing increasing pressure due to the limited time available and could no longer afford delays in making the necessary preparations for the polls.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has challenged African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Rotimi Amaechi, and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi to disclose whether their private businesses have made progress under the Tinubu administration.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Bwala made the statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday night.

According to the presidential aide, the commercial bank where Peter Obi serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees recorded profits under the current administration.

Bwala also criticised those who questioned President Tinubu’s recent statement that prosperity in Nigeria would begin on October 1.

He argued that the President’s comment should be understood in the context of the administration’s ongoing reforms and programmes, rather than as an indication that Nigerians would only begin experiencing prosperity from that date.

Bwala said, “Anybody who sat, watched the President’s speech and left the room would think that, within the context of what the President was saying, he meant that it was from October 1 that people would start to see prosperity.

“I would classify that kind of person as a member of ADC or NDC that has divided the brain into four; three parts are locked, and the one that is functioning is the one that wants to project their point.

“Otherwise, one million families whose children have benefited from the NELFUND programme, what they are benefiting from is called prosperity.

“Otherwise, they could not afford the funds to go to school. You can relate that with any part of the economy.

“If you go to an environment or a place where there has been no road and we have established infrastructure there, what has come to them is prosperity, and it didn’t start on October 1.

“Go to the bank that Peter Obi chairs and look at the profit they posted last year; that’s prosperity.

“If you look at Rotimi and Atiku, if they have private enterprises and they can be truthful before God, let them tell you that they have not made progress and profit in the last two years.”

Super Falcons interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed confidence that Nigeria can overcome Comoros in their 2028 Olympic qualifying fixture despite several late withdrawals from the squad.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Nigeria will host Comoros in the first leg on October 9, with the return fixture scheduled for October 13. Both matches will be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, as Comoros do not have a standard football pitch suitable for the fixtures.

Eguavoen confirmed the withdrawals of Asisat Oshoala, Ashley Plumptre and Oluwatosin Demehin but insisted that their replacements have the quality and experience required to help Nigeria secure a favourable result.

“It is true that we have a number of withdrawals, notably Asisat Oshoala, Ashley Plumptre and Oluwatosin Demehin. However, I have confidence in their replacements, as these ones also have the quality and experience to contribute meaningfully to the team’s success against Comoros,” he said.

The coach also revealed that the squad had settled well in camp ahead of the two matches, with Belarus-based forward Blessing Okpe the only late invitee yet to arrive at the team’s camp in Ijebu-Ode.

“Everyone has settled in well in camp as we have a full house now, and our focus is to present a strong and competitive squad for the two matches,” Eguavoen said.

Nigeria must secure an aggregate victory over Comoros to progress to the third round of the five-stage African Olympic qualifying series, which is scheduled to take place in March 2027.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade will lead the Super Falcons as they target a second consecutive appearance at the Olympic football tournament, having featured at the Paris 2024 Games.