By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress has uploaded the names and particulars of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s nomination portal ahead of the 2027 general election.

The development was announced on Tuesday night by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a post shared on his verified X handle.

He wrote, “We are pleased to announce that we have successfully uploaded the names and particulars of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar (GCON), and our Vice Presidential Candidate, Rotimi Amaechi (CON), to the nomination portal of the @INECNigeria.

“This marks another important step in our preparations for the 2027 general election and our commitment to offer Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, unity, and national renewal.”

The upload is one of the statutory requirements in the build-up to the presidential election, enabling political parties to formally submit the particulars of their candidates to the electoral commission within the stipulated timetable.

Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate after defeating former Minister of Transportation, Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen at the party’s presidential primary in May. Amaechi subsequently accepted his nomination as Atiku’s running mate, completing the party’s presidential ticket.

The ADC has positioned itself as a major opposition platform for the 2027 election, with Atiku seeking another shot at the presidency after previously contesting under the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, despite the ongoing legal battle over the party’s status.

Dickson disclosed the development in a post on his X account on Tuesday.

He described it as a positive step after the party filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution against last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

He said the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on the electoral commission with a covering letter urging it to act in accordance with the law.

According to him, the NDC remains a duly registered political party and has validly conducted its primaries under INEC’s supervision.

“Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as a stay of execution/injunction, which has been served with a covering letter to the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria which has participated in all the political processes so far.

“Nomination processes have already been concluded and, in the eyes of the law, candidates have already emerged from the party for all offices across the country in primaries observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.

“What is left is the administrative process of submitting the names to INEC, and we have been granted access to the portal to upload our qualified candidates,” he said.

Dickson disclosed that his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate had already been uploaded to the commission’s portal.

“My name and that of the presidential candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice presidential candidate will be done tomorrow upon completion of the deposition. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he stated.

The Senator urged party members not to panic, noting that there was still sufficient time to complete the nomination process within INEC’s timetable.

“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while those of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on the 17th of July.

“So there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he added.

The former Bayelsa State governor also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to support the party, saying reconciliation efforts had commenced.

“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone. We assure them that all those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party,” he said.

Dickson thanked INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for what he described as the commission’s professionalism and urged the judiciary to determine the appeal in accordance with the law.

“We thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path.
“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” he said.

The development comes days after the NDC filed an appeal challenging the Federal High Court judgment that sparked uncertainty over the party’s registration, insisting the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party.

The opposition party has maintained that it remains legally recognised pending the determination of its appeal.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The presidential candidate of the Africa Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was granted N200 million bail on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

In his ruling, Justice Umar ordered Mr Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja.

The judge directed the prosecution to verify the sureties.

The judge also ordered Mr Sowore to deposit his passport with the deputy chief registrar of the court pending the determination of the case.

He adjourned the case until Monday to commence the defence.

The State Security Service is prosecuting Mr Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post on X and Facebook.