Politics
Party Registration Hitches: INEC Finds Issues with Names, Requests

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday, said it received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties.
It, however, flagged clashing names, and irregularities in the registration requests by most associations.
The list of the 110 parties, including proposed names, acronyms, addresses, and names of their protem chairmen and secretaries, was published on INEC’s website and social media platforms on Wednesday.
One of the proposed parties, the All Democratic Alliance, is reportedly supported by a coalition of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Another group, believed to be backed by supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, submitted a registration request under a similar name, raising concerns about potential acronym duplication.INEC noted that some of the proposed associations used identical acronyms, which violates the commission’s guidelines.
Additionally, 40 applications were missing a protem national secretary, five lacked a protem national chairman, and seven were missing both. Four submissions did not include an official address, while one application was submitted without a party logo.
Three applications—New Green Generation Party, New Green Congress, and New Green Coalition Party—listed the same individuals, Mallam Idris Abdulkarim and Amb Crystal Ikechukwu Ogu, as protem national chairman and secretary, respectively.
INEC also discovered that the Republican Party of Nigeria submitted two separate applications, each with different leadership and addresses. One was led by Col Vincent Enemoma Abu and Buhari Yakubu with an office in Mabushi, Abuja, while the other, led by MD Coma and Chief Abu Ali, listed an address behind Utako Market.
Also, there were two separate applications to register a party under the name Obidient Peoples Party.
Some applications had acronyms similar to those of previously deregistered parties, and several submissions were made by legal representatives or conveners without including the names of party officers, contrary to INEC’s regulations.
The list of proposed party names included a wide range of entities such as Key of Freedom Party, Absolute Congress, All Grassroot Party, Congress Action Party, United Social Democrats Party, National Action Congress, New Nigeria Congress, United People’s Victory Party, Allied Conservative Congress, Peoples Freedom Party, Abundant Social Party, All Nigeria’s Party, Citizens Party of Nigeria, National Freedom Party, Patriots Party, and Movement of the People.
Also included are the Peoples National Congress, Alliance of Patriots, African Union Congress, Socialist Equality Party, About Nigeria Party, Africa Reformation Party, Accelerated Africa Development Association, Obedient People’s Party, Zonal Rescue Movement, Zuma Reform, Party for Socialist Transformation, Liberation Peoples Party, Progressive Obedient Party, and Great Nigeria Party.
Other submissions feature names such as National Youth Alliance, National Reform Party, Patriotic Congress Party, Community Alliance Party, Grassroot Alliance Party, Advance Nigeria Congress, All Nigerians Alliance, All Labour Party, Team New Nigeria, About All Nigeria, Nigeria Liberty Movement, National Democratic Party, and Citizen United Congress.
Additional proposed parties include All Gender Party, Polling Units Ambassadors of Nigeria, Village Intelligence Party, Great Transformation Party, Alliance Social Party, Nigeria Democratic Alliance, New National Democratic Party, Nourish Democratic Peoples Congress, All Youth Reclaim Party, Marina Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alliance Youth Party of Nigeria, The True Democrats, Democratic People’s Congress, National Democratic Movement, Economic Liberations Party, and Grassroot Ambassadors Party.
Other applications were filed under names such as All for All Congress, Peoples Democratic Alliance, United Youths Party of Nigeria, Peoples Liberations Party, Democratic Union for Progress, Citizen Democratic Alliance, Africa Action Group, Patriot Alliance Network, Democratic Leadership Party, Pink Political Party, Young Motivation and Awareness for Development Forum, Access Party, and Young Progressive Empowerment Initiative.
Further entries include the Republican Party of Nigeria, Sceptre Influence Party, Young Democratic Congress, Patriotic Nigeria Party, Far Right Party, Democratic Peoples Party, United Citizens Congress, Reset Nigeria, New Nigeria Democratic Party, Save Nigeria People Party, Above All, Alliance for Youth and Women, and Rebuild Nigeria Group.
The remainder of the proposed names comprise the Citizens Progressive Party, Guardian Party, Abiding Greatness Party, Patriotic Party, Development and Freedom Party, Peace, Unity and Prosper Culture, The Populist, New Nigeria Leadership Party, All Allies Alliance, National Action Network, Coalition for Nigerian Democrats, Abundance Africa Alliance, Free Will Humanitarian Party, People’s Emancipation Party, Peoples Liberations Congress Party, and Peoples Democratic Congress.
Speaking earlier during a consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated that as of June 23, 2025, the commission had received 110 letters and was diligently processing them in accordance with electoral laws and guidelines.
“As of Monday, 23rd June 2025, the commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties.
“We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law, as well as our regulations and guidelines.
“We have acknowledged all requests received so far except six of them received recently, which will be done before the end of the week,” he said.
Addressing concerns about impartiality, Yakubu dismissed claims that the commission was compromising its independence.
“We will treat all requests fairly, irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens,” he said.
The INEC chair said the commission had acknowledged all but six of the letters received, adding that the handbook containing the 2022 regulations and guidelines for political parties was available on the commission’s website.
He also announced that the commission was ready to conduct outstanding by-elections and resume nationwide Continuous Voter Registration.
“I am glad to announce that the commission is now in a position to conduct the by-elections and to resume the nationwide CVR.
“The commission met yesterday and we are finalising the details of the two activities which will be made public in the next 24 hours,” he added.
He thanked the media for their continued support, adding, “We look forward to your support.”
The meeting also covered current electoral activities.
The INEC chairman noted that primaries for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory were ongoing and scheduled to conclude by June 30, 2025.
He said elections would take place across 68 constituencies, covering chairmen and deputies for six area councils and 62 wards.
“As you are aware, the election will be held in 68 constituencies made up of chairmen and their deputies for the six area councils, namely Abaji, the Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, as well as 62 wards drawn on the basis of 10 wards for each area council, except AMAC, which has 12 wards on account of its population.
“The full delimitation details for the FCT are available on our website,” the chairman noted.
The upcoming Anambra State governorship election, set for November 8, 2025, was another major focus during the meeting.
Campaigning began on June 11 and will continue until midnight on November 6.Yakubu urged media personnel to promptly apply for accreditation to facilitate election coverage.
“I wish to appeal to you to promptly upload your applications for accreditation of media personnel for the Anambra State governorship election as soon as the portal opens,” he said.
Politics
Federal Court declares Pat Utomi’s shadow govt illegal
In the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court held that the concept or formation of a shadow government/cabinet is alien to both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the presidential system of government that the nation is practising.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday declared the decision of a former presidential candidate, Prof. Patrick Utomi, to form a shadow government in the country as illegal and unconditional.
In the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court held that the concept or formation of a shadow government/cabinet is alien to both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the presidential system of government that the nation is Federal
Consequently, it issued an order, restraining Prof. Utomi and his associates from proceeding with the plan, saying they could not hide under their right to criticise or hold the government accountable, to engage in unlawful activities.
The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, which was brought before which was brought before the court by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The court held that the agency acted appropriately by approaching it to stop an action capable of posing a threat to national security.
Politics
2027: Jonathan will contest presidency, return to Villa — Jerry Gana
Gana confidently told journalists shortly after the PDP Congress in Minna, Niger State, at the weekend , that Nigerians have experienced two other leaders after Jonathan and were now yearning for his returns.

The former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that the former President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gana also expressed optimism that Jonathan would defeat President Bola Ahned Tinubu to reclaim power after 10 years.
Gana confidently told journalists shortly after the PDP Congress in Minna, Niger State, at the weekend , that Nigerians have experienced two other leaders after Jonathan and were now yearning for his returns.
He said : ” In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.
“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Gana said.
“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.
Politics
Senator Natasha Resumes Back to Legislative Duties While Court Proceedings Continue October 7
Senator Natasha’s office was sealed since the 6th of March, when the Senate slammed a six months suspension on her for alleged gross misconducts and violation of senate rules.

The National Assembly on Tuesday unsealed the office of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ohibaba.com gathered that the Deputy -Director, Sergeant-at-arm, Alabi Adedeji effected the removal of the seal.
Senator Natasha’s office was sealed since the 6th of March, when the Senate slammed a six months suspension on her for alleged gross misconducts and violation of senate rules.
It was however not clear who directed the removal of the seal as her official resumption is still pending until the outcome of her case against the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio, is settled in court.
Nevertheless, Senator Natasha stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday few hours after her office was unsealed to resume legislative duties.
The Kogi Central lawmaker arrived the National Assembly complex at exactly 12:30pm accompanied by hundreds of her supporters amid heavy resistance from the Police and Sergeants-at -arms who were trying to stop many of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters from gaining entrance along with her into the National Assembly.
Akpoti-Uduaghan went straight unhindered to her office that was already cleaned up and decently prepared for her arrival after the doors were unsealed earlier in the day.
Addressing journalists, Natasha narrated the ordeal she passed through in the last six months; -with particular reference to alleged blackmail from Professor Mgbeke on FACEBOOK and insisting that her suspension is illegal.
Unfazed and defiant, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she has no apology whatsoever to tender to the leadership of the National Assembly regarding her alleged misconduct and violation of senate rules.
To the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she can’t be beaten to submission or treated like his house maid.
Meanwhile, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has fixed 27 October to address the issue of jurisdiction regarding the ongoing defamation trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
At the resumption of proceedings, the prosecutor, David Kaswe, was set to begin trial but Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team headed by Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) raised an objection.
The legal team challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court to hear her criminal defamation case.
The key arguments by her lawyers are that the charges are unconstitutional and politically motivated, intended as a witch-hunt to intimidate opposition voices.
The defense team contends that defamation is a civil matter and that criminalizing it via the Federal Government’s prosecution is an abuse of prosecutorial power by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The defense also noted that the AGF lacks legal right to prosecute private defamation claims and argues that the selective enforcement of these charges violates her constitutional rights and suppresses free speech.
Her legal team insists the court must determine the jurisdiction issue before any further trial proceedings.
This therefore prompted an adjournment by Justice Chizoba Orji.
This particular case stems from allegations connected to statements she made concerning Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is also on trial at the Federal High Court over cyber crime charges.
That case too is at the stage of determining whether the court has jurisdiction or not.
At the court a section of the senator’s supporters spoke on the reopened of her office at the National Assembly complex.
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