Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the North West zone have rejected the reported adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the party.

The decision followed reports that northern PDP stakeholders had endorsed Turaki after a meeting led by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

Addressing journalists after a meeting in Abuja, the North West PDP leaders said the purported endorsement did not represent the collective position of stakeholders from the zone.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of acting unilaterally without consulting other leaders.

Bature explained that the governor had initially called for a meeting to deliberate on possible candidates for the chairmanship position zoned to the North West but later postponed it and went ahead to adopt a candidate on his own.

“We want to make it clear that this zone has not adopted anybody as a candidate for the PDP chairmanship. There is a lot of resentment due to lack of consultation among leaders in this zone,” Bature said.

He added that the process was inconsistent with the principle of consensus, stressing that no meeting had been held to decide on a candidate for the region.

The leaders also questioned the credibility of the so-called “open contest” when a candidate had already been handpicked, describing it as a move that undermines internal democracy within the party.

Present at the meeting were Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido; 2023 Kaduna State governorship candidate Isa Ashiru; 2023 Katsina State candidate Garba Lado; and other party leaders from the zone.

The disagreement is believed to be linked to the ongoing division within the PDP between factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and those aligned with the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, ahead of the party’s convention.

Political observers and stakeholders have aired their views on the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to control the activities of political parties in the country.

There is the belief that laws and regulations are hardly followed, with institutions in the country showing weakness or turning the other way when they are to enforce the laws.

INEC’s approach in managing the excesses of these political parties, especially the ruling party, has been widely condemned.

In a recent roundtable organised by the electoral umpire to discuss ways and possible solutions to these challenges, especially that of premature election campaigns in the country, it became clearer to the electorate that INEC has limited powers in handling some of these issues.

The ruling party has been the biggest offender on the prevailing issue, and this was made manifest after Abuja residents woke up to see gigantic billboards all over the city featuring President Bola Tinubu holding his wife, Remi, with a clear message: “Grassroots Support for Tinubu 2027.”

It was the announcement of the President’s second term three years before the next election.

However, the argument is that the President, or any other aspirant, may not have initiated their campaigns themselves; it could have easily come from third parties doing so without clearance from the aspirants to gain recognition or favours whatsoever.

There also lies the possibility of the aspirants’ political opponents launching premature campaigns to make the aspirant appear to be in breach of the rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, another question has been the failure on the part of advertisement regulatory agencies to ask the necessary questions before approving such billboards or to immediately pull them down if they were not approved.

DAILY POST can report that other billboards reading “Tinubu Continuity 2027,” often alongside Governor Umar Namadi, among others, were mounted on major roads and public places across the country.

Apart from this, social media, especially Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, has been busy with all sorts of campaigns such as songs, skits, and hashtags that project particular aspirants.

Following INEC’s warning at some point, where the attention of some of the aspirants was called to the reckless abuse of the laws of the land, the Presidency came out to deny sponsoring or having anything to do with the campaign materials.

It also demanded that the campaign materials be taken down immediately, but the Presidency’s demand fell on deaf ears.

DAILY POST can further report that aspirants and their supporters make use of the slightest opportunities to campaign during cultural festivals, book launches, flagging-off or commissioning of projects, religious and other gatherings.

Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

Speaking at the Abuja roundtable, the outgone Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, pointed out some challenges and loopholes in the law being exploited by these politicians.

“INEC, as registrar and regulator of political parties, [is expected] to act in the face of the brazen breach of the law on early campaigns. However, the major challenge for the Commission is the law itself. Section 94(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 imposes sanctions, albeit mild (a maximum amount of N500,000 on conviction), on any political party or a person acting on its behalf who engages in campaigns 24 hours before polling day. However, there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election. Here lies the challenge for the Commission in dealing with early campaigns by political parties, prospective candidates, and their supporters,” Mahmood Yakubu said.

Analysts have also questioned another part of the Electoral Act, Section 92(4), which states that “No registered political party in Nigeria, its aspirants, or candidates shall be prevented from holding rallies, processions, or meetings at any time for their constitutional political purposes, and the Police shall, in a consultative manner, resolve any conflict of time and venue between and amongst parties where such arises.”

While all this favours the politicians, there is a call for a much clearer regulatory framework to highlight what constitutes premature or early campaigning to avoid the ambiguities that create loopholes.

Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in a recent presentation, recommended that all election campaign offences, especially premature campaign offences, should be carefully defined, stiff penalties specified, and strictly applied where applicable.

He also said that all candidates and their parties, and especially incumbent officeholders and their political parties, should be vicariously held responsible and penalised for premature campaigns by third parties. EFCC and ICPC should pay special attention to third-party campaigners and thoroughly interrogate their sources of funding.

Professor Jega said that in determining whether candidates’ and parties’ expenditures fall within approved limits, the estimated or determined expenditure by a third-party campaigner for the candidate or party should be taken into consideration.

He said that the Election Management Bodies, such as INEC and the State Independent Electoral Commissions, must work closely and collaboratively to ensure appropriate imposition of sanctions and penalties where necessary.

Making further recommendations, Jega called for the establishment of an Elections Offences Commission and Tribunal, which he said has become even more urgent and important for consideration, and should be addressed in the next round of electoral reforms before the 2027 elections.

Speaking to DAILY POST on the issue of premature election campaigns, the Convener of Situation Room and former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi, lamented that laws, rules, and regulations are not followed in Nigeria.

“Well, you have somebody in authority on election matters that has talked about it, but what does the Constitution say? What is the timeline for the election itself?

“Some people have started posting posters, and others say, yes, the posters are posted by third parties and not by them. They don’t know who is posting them. You hear denials and so on and so forth.

“I think we have a problem with the rule of law. We have a problem with obeying the law. INEC has not announced the timetable yet.

“So is it premature? Or is it not premature? Because INEC has the right to hold them accountable. What are the laws?

“But what should be between one election and the other is a time for the government to show what they are doing, or for the ruling party or those who are leading to show they are worthy of being re-elected.

“What we need to warn against is the use of official time for campaigns. They are going to be using official time, when they’re supposed to be working for the people, for campaigns instead of delivering good governance or democracy.

“So for now, we are watching and waiting to see what INEC would do, when the guidelines will come out, and when the campaign will begin officially.

“If INEC can say it cannot implement or enforce it, then who will enforce it? Who has the regulation? Who has the right to disqualify people? All these things are stated in the law.

“In Nigeria, we don’t keep laws. So what are the rules? What are the current rules that are not working? When we see the violations, we come out and voice them. And that’s why, for the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, we look at the laid-down rules.

“That’s why, when INEC is appointing people, you see us coming out, and we call the sections of the law for you. We are not having sanctions. And a country that does not have sanctions, how do they move?

“Even INEC itself, when they are confused on issues, they will tell you to go to court. Even when they are not confused, when it’s very clear for them to make pronouncements, they will tell you to go to court. So who will save us unless citizens rise and stick to the rules, and demand accountability, for people to obey the rules and regulations, and the Constitution of Nigeria.

“And there must be sanctions, like those who have looted the treasury and all of those things. Many of their cases are before the likes of the EFCC, but nobody can take them to court.

“I think we need more civic education. We need people who are patriotic to Nigeria, and that is what is lacking.”

Also speaking to DAILY POST, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said the law should be strict on what should be done to offenders.

He accused the government of the day and the ruling party of having broken the rules already, saying, “The government is already doing a campaign. It’s completely against the rules and regulations of the Electoral Act, and so they should be held responsible. I don’t think it’s true when INEC said they lack the powers. The rules are there,” insisting that the Obidient Movement is very careful with the way it goes about pre-election matters as it would not like to be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly is proposing moving Nigeria’s next general elections to late 2026, six months earlier than the traditional February 2027 schedule.

The proposal, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, was unveiled on Monday during a joint public hearing organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

The bill, which seeks to repeal the 2022 Electoral Act and enact a new one, has drawn wide input from lawmakers, civil society groups, and electoral stakeholders.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of INEC. He was screened by Senators on Thursday following a request by President Tinubu.

During the screening, the INEC Chairman, among other things, assured that the electoral body would educate Nigerians in a bid to regain the confidence of voters.

The INEC Chairman was appointed to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has completed his two terms.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress Chieftain, ADC, Ibrahim Mani, says the party is not afraid of the spate of defections into the All Progressives Congress, APC, stressing that the size of a party does not decide the will of the people.

Mani, who stated this during an interview on Daily Politics, a programme on Trust TV, maintained that Nigerians know what they want and are not happy about the current economic situation of the country, stressing that the voting population would decide the next government in 2027.

“If you take the defection of a governor as the defection of the entire state into a party, then I’ll agree with you, but you definitely know that that is not the case.

“The people know what they want, and the people are aware of what is happening. The people know that the APC has failed at all levels. So, the defection is neither here nor there.

“It doesn’t really matter per se, and that is why we’re not worried about these defections. We know who will definitely call the shots at the end of the day. It’s not those who defected, but it’s the people of this country, the voting population in this country, the people that are really at the receiving end of things today,” he said.

According to the party chieftain, the ADC does not support any violent takeover of government, maintaining that as a party, it strongly believes the democratic process in Nigeria is getting mature and strengthened.

Mani further explained that the ADC prefers a credible process of change of governments or regimes through the electoral process, through the ballot boxes, through the will and the wishes of the people than through the barrel of the gun.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says those who have abandoned the NNPP or the Kwankwasiyya movement will face the political consequences of their actions in the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso issued the warning in an interview on BBC Hausa during the continuation of activities marking his 69th birthday celebrations.

The former Kano state governor stated that those leaving the movement were doing so at their own peril, stressing that the Kwankwasiyya’s political project will continue to punish betrayal.

“At this point in time, if anyone thinks he can cross over and still come to Kano to win an election, such a person is only deceiving himself. Our movement will continue to take action against those who betray it,” he declared.

According to the former lawmaker, his political philosophy was not driven by enmity, but by principles and loyalty.

The 2023 Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, says that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has failed Nigerians in every aspect of governance.

He alleged that the Tinubu administration has neglected key sectors such as security, education, justice, and poverty alleviation.

“I thought they would recognise that the country needs security and ensure safety across Nigeria, but they haven’t done much.

“New terror groups are emerging, communities in the Middle Belt are turning against each other, and Boko Haram remains undefeated. Today, you’re more likely to see officials taking selfies with terrorists than fighting them,” Adebayo said.

Weighing in on the economy, the former presidential candidate blasted the government’s handling of poverty and development.

He criticised the administration’s student loan policy, noting that poor infrastructure and recurring strikes undermine its purpose.

Adebayo also condemned the recent presidential pardons, describing them as a fiasco.

He urged Nigerians to reject any attempt to re-elect the Tinubu administration, warning that a second term would compound the nation’s disgrace.

Former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola has declared that it would be impossible for the opposition political parties to have merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, the former governor said only the ruling party has successfully conducted a merger that ousted the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to him, those who stood in opposition to the APC when it emerged, are “now trying to form a coalition”, stating that they “are seeing how difficult it is”.

“Those who stood in opposition against our emergence are now trying to form a coalition, and they are seeing how difficult it is to form a merger that produces APC.

“History will tell you that that is the only merger that has occurred in Nigeria’s political history. They said it can’t happen but it happened. The opposition can’t do their own”, he said.

The former governor also said, though members of the ruling party are already warming up ahead of the next election, the campaign is yet to start.

He pointed out that the electoral law stipulated when the campaign is expected to start before the election.

He said, “I know that people are already warming up but the campaign has not started yet. The electoral law stipulates when the campaign should start. Our party is organizing because we are progressives.

“If they ask you why we said we are progressive, it’s because we are determined to improve the human condition”.

The Imo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has dismissed claims suggesting the existence of factions within the party.

The party clarified that it remains one united and indivisible family under the legitimate leadership of Professor James Okoroma, the duly recognised State Chairman.

The national leadership of ADC, which affirmed that there is no faction in the Imo ADC, had directed that all activities, communications, and official engagements are to be conducted solely under the supervision and direction of the Professor James Okoroma-led State Working Committee.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by ADC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Sir Bon Unachukwu, and made available to DAILY POST.

“We advise the public, party faithful, and media to disregard unauthorised statements or actions from individuals or groups not recognised by the national leadership. The ADC remains committed to unity, transparency, and democratic advancement in Imo State and Nigeria,” Unachukwu stated.

Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that individuals with political ties, especially spouses of politicians, are not appointed to sensitive positions within the commission.

Oshiomhole made the call during the Senate screening of the new INEC Chairman, citing personal experiences from Edo State as an example of how conflicts of interest can undermine the credibility of elections.

He said, “One last point, an experience we had in Edo State, because the Senate President said we should speak from our own experiences. The chairman of a political party; one that is dying now had his wife serving as a director or heading the ICT unit of INEC in the state.”

According to the former governor, such appointments blur the line between partisan politics and electoral management, creating room for manipulation.

“The husband, being the PDP chairman at the time, had his wife boasting that she could supply information that would help them deal with accreditation issues,” Oshiomhole alleged.

He urged the incoming INEC leadership to create clear policies that will prevent such conflicts from occurring in the future.

“Will you be able, as you have assured us, to make a policy that says if you are a spouse of a politician, you cannot be given a sensitive appointment? We must avoid turning INEC into a family affair,” he added