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Court Halts PDP National Convention, Citing Electoral Breaches

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho declared that the PDP cannot proceed with the convention until it provides a proper framework for electing delegates.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16.

The court ruled that the party failed to comply with key provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines in the build‑up to the convention.‎‎

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho declared that the PDP cannot proceed with the convention until it provides a proper framework for electing delegates.

He stressed that the conditions for a valid national convention had not been met.‎‎

The judge noted that congresses to elect delegates were not held in several states. Where they were held, the notices were signed only by the national chairman of the party, excluding the national secretary.

This, he said, was a clear breach of INEC regulations and provisions of the Electoral Act.‎‎

Justice Omotosho also invalidated the submissions made by PDP counsel Chris Uche and Eyitayo Jegede of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party, ruling that they were not properly authorized by the party’s national legal adviser.‎‎

The judge held that it is only the National Legal Adviser that has the constitutional mandate to appoint legal representation. He explained that even though they were assigned by the national chairman, such authorization was invalid without the legal adviser’s approval.‎‎

The court further clarified that the case was not about the internal affairs of the PDP, but about compliance with electoral laws and laid down guidelines.

Justice Omotosho said the suit was aimed at ensuring democratic principles are upheld in the build up to the convention, adding that adherence to INEC guidelines helps forestall impunity.‎‎

He emphasized that the PDP’s failure to issue valid postponement notices for congresses in affected states rendered the process arbitrary and invalid.

As a result, the party is not entitled to hold a national convention until proper congresses are conducted in line with the law.‎‎

In addition, the court restrained INEC from accepting the results of any congress conducted in breach of electoral regulations.

It directed the PDP to issue fresh notices for congresses, jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary, as required by law.‎‎

With this ruling, the PDP’s national convention has been put on hold.

The party must now return to the drawing board, comply with electoral guidelines, and conduct valid congresses before it can reconvene its highest decision‑making gathering.

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Obafemi Hamzat promises to end ‘unauthorised levies’ in Lagos if he is elected

“Nobody should stand at junctions to collect anything from anybody,” he said.

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Obafemi Hamzat, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, says his administration will end arbitrary levies in the state if elected.

Hamzat, the Lagos deputy governor, spoke on Thursday during an appearance on The Platform, an Independence Day programme organised by Covenant Christian Centre.

” What we will do is to make sure that any levy that is unauthorised, that is not known, that even we can’t track, must go,” Hamzat said.

He said the state government would establish an economic council to coordinate with the local governments, because they “are attending to the same citizens”

.According to the deputy governor, businesses in the state should know exactly what they are required to pay in so they can plan their budgets accordingly.

“Nobody should stand at junctions to collect anything from anybody,” he said

(The Cable)

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BREAKING: AAC sues Tinubu, NASS over Europe vacation

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The African Action Congress (AAC) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Attorney General of the Federation over the President’s prolonged Europe vacation.

In an originating summons filed on Monday, September 28, 2026, the party alleges that Tinubu breached Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution by leaving the country without transmitting a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The suit, variously reported under suit numbers including FHC/ABJ/CS/2358/2026, lists Tinubu, the AGF, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the National Assembly as defendants.

According to the AAC, Tinubu departed Nigeria for Europe on August 30, 2026, and remained abroad as of the date the suit was filed. The party claims the failure to notify lawmakers before the trip was undemocratic and a gross violation of the Constitution. It further argues that the National Assembly failed in its duty under Section 145(2) by not passing a resolution to authorise Vice President Kashim Shettima to act as President after the absence exceeded 21 days.

The AAC is seeking declarations that Tinubu’s actions and the National Assembly’s inaction were unconstitutional, as well as a perpetual injunction restraining the President (and future presidents) from embarking on any vacation—within or outside Nigeria—without first transmitting the required written declaration. The suit was filed through the party’s National Legal Adviser, Inibehe Effiong.

Tinubu’s trip, initially described by the Presidency as a three-week working vacation that began in London and continued in Paris, was later extended. The development has drawn criticism from opposition figures who question compliance with constitutional handover provisions.

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2027: Atiku, ADC Move to Amend Suit Challenging Tinubu’s Eligibility

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are set to amend their lawsuit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Legal sources close to the matter confirmed that the planned amendment seeks to strengthen the grounds of the suit, which questions Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to run for a second term.

The original filing is expected to be updated with additional arguments and supporting documents before the next court hearing.

Atiku and the ADC have maintained that the challenge is rooted in constitutional provisions regarding eligibility. The move comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures intensifying scrutiny of the president’s candidacy.

Tinubu’s camp has previously dismissed similar eligibility challenges as baseless and politically motivated. No formal response to the planned amendment has been issued yet.

The case is being closely watched by political observers as parties position themselves for the next electoral cycle.

Further details on the amended suit are expected in the coming days.

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