Politics
Appeal Court restores INEC’s timetable for 2027 elections
The three Justices unanimously agreed that Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, who on May 20 nullified the guidelines on the ground that they violated some provisions of the Electoral Act, did so in gross error and occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday validated the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by the justices , the appellate court voided and set aside the May 20 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had nullified the guidelines and barred their implementation.
In the lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, the Court of Appeal held that the Youth Party (YP), which instituted the case against INEC, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to do so.
Justice Banjoko stated that the party did not explain how the guidelines affected it and its members in the conduct of its primary elections for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 polls.
The Court also held that the YP failed to establish how the guidelines affected the submission of its nominated candidates to INEC.
The three Justices unanimously agreed that Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, who on May 20 nullified the guidelines on the ground that they violated some provisions of the Electoral Act, did so in gross error and occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
INEC, which filed the appeal against the High Court decision, had argued that the lower court erred in law when it failed to pronounce on the jurisdictional issue of the suit being hypothetical and academic, and a denial of fair hearing to the appellant.
INEC, through its lead counsel, Alex Izinyon SAN, had asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court which nullified part of the election guidelines put in place by the agency for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The lawyer said the lower court erred in law when it held:
“It is clear from the wording of Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates political parties to submit the names of candidates first in the prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries, which such political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General election.
“What is required of political parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses, or conventions, conference, or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies, or nominating candidates.
“The defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries, provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
Politics
Breaking: Tinubu orders EFCC to unfreeze Osun Govt account
Tinubu said that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the freezing order, he believed the timing of the action was inappropriate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President’s directive followed the controversy generated by the EFCC’s move to freeze the state government’s accounts, coming days before the Osun State governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he was concerned about the timing of the action, noting that steps taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him as President, even when he may not have prior knowledge of such actions.
Tinubu said that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the freezing order, he believed the timing of the action was inappropriate.
” Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” he said.
The President said that he was compelled to intervene in the matter in the overriding public interest to preserve confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process.
Politics
Atiku Condemns Freezing Osun Govt’s Account On The Eve Of Election
” The decision could disrupt governance, delay the payment of workers’ salaries, affect the delivery of essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation ahead of the polls,” said Atiku.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the timing of the action, arguing that freezing the state’s principal operational account just days before the election raises concerns about the neutrality of institutions expected to uphold the rule of law.
” The decision could disrupt governance, delay the payment of workers’ salaries, affect the delivery of essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation ahead of the polls,” said Atiku.
“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election,” he said.
The former vice president maintained that while anti-corruption agencies have a duty to investigate alleged wrongdoing, such actions must follow due process and should not create the impression that state institutions are being used to influence political contests.
Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), has advocated for peaceful and violence-free elections in Osun State.
He made the call while addressing the leadership of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, including representatives of student unions and youth parliaments, at the Imole Campaign House in Osogbo.
Davido urged contestants and their supporters to embrace peace and allow the votes of genuine electorate to determine the winner of the election.
He also appealed to the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun APC National Campaign Committee, to uphold democratic principles and ensure electoral integrity during the polls in the state.
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