….Their academic credentials and personal details were made public for scrutiny ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday released the personal details, academic credentials and supporting documents submitted by candidates for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

The move, in line with INEC’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election and the Electoral Act, opens the statutory window for public scrutiny of the candidates’ qualifications. The EC9 forms and accompanying documents of the presidential aspirants are now available for inspection.

So far, the personal particulars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Gregory Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other contenders — along with those of their running mates — have been published in INEC offices nationwide.

The documents contain each candidate’s personal particulars, educational qualifications, occupation, work history, sworn declarations and supporting certificates submitted during the nomination process.

The publication marks the start of the period in which members of the public may inspect the documents and challenge any information they believe to be false in court.

Section 33 of the Electoral Act provides that any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that information contained in a candidate’s affidavit or other documents submitted to INEC is false may institute legal action against such a candidate.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.‎‎

In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the June 15 order issued by the Federal High Court was a nullity. ‎‎

The court ruled that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction over an incompetent suit filed by a non-juristic entity and that no valid case existed to justify the consequential orders against the parties.‎‎

The appellate court further found that the high court failed to properly evaluate evidence before it, including proof that the parties had won seats in previous elections.

It also held that the trial judge acted in defiance of an earlier appellate order directing a stay of proceedings.‎‎

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, the Court of Appeal declared that the five political parties remain duly registered.

It allowed the separate appeals filed by the parties and awarded costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which instituted the original suit.‎‎

The parties whose registration was restored are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).‎‎

The appellate court had earlier, on June 16, ordered a stay of execution of the high court judgment.

It strongly criticised Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for proceeding to deliver judgment despite an order made on May 22 directing him to stay proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal. ‎‎

The panel described the trial judge’s action as “a form of judicial impertinence,” noting that the Supreme Court had previously held that such conduct amounts to judicial rascality and renders a judge unfit for the bench.

‎‎The Federal High Court had earlier directed INEC to deregister the five parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). ‎‎

It also barred INEC from recognising the parties, accepting their candidate nominations, or giving effect to their activities for the 2027 general elections, and ordered them to stop presenting themselves as registered political parties.

‎‎The NFFL had filed the suit (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026), arguing that the parties failed to meet the constitutional thresholds, including winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing an elective seat at national, state or local government level.

The group claimed the parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections.‎‎

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, supported the plaintiffs’ position, contending that retaining the parties violated constitutional provisions and undermined electoral integrity.‎‎

All the defendants, including INEC, appealed the judgment.The Court of Appeal has now fully set it aside.

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THE Presidential standard bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, says his decision to commit to a single term of four years in office if he wins the 2027 presidential election is to ensure that people trust public officers.

Obi, made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s evening programme, Sunday Politics

He maintain that he will not try by any means to extend his tenure by as much as one day.

Obi dismissed the claims by a former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, that he would split Nigeria if elected President.

The NDC presidential runner said that all what Sheriff stated were opposite of what he is currently doing and have done in the past.