Candidates' omission: INEC gives October 24 as lifeline for political parties | Daily Champion | Voice of the Nation, Champion of the Truth.

. Keyamo blames Atiku for Nigeria Airways collapse, workers’ fate

. Oyo APC, APM trade accusation over destruction of Alli’s billboards

Kasie Abone, Awka with agency report

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that the omission of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship election followed the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming the mandatory nature of provisions requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.

The Commission said political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

INEC stated this in a press release issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

The clarification followed the Supreme Court’s judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026.

According to the Commission, the judgment arose from its appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.

INEC explained that the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the provisions, affirming that compliance was mandatory for all political parties.

The Commission added that the apex court also upheld Item 2 of its Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

Consequently, INEC said it applied the Supreme Court’s decision while finalising the list of candidates for the governorship election, excluding political parties that failed to meet the statutory requirement.

The Commission, however, noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

It further stated that, under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission.

INEC fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for such notifications.

The Commission assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.

The clarification comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, with political parties and their candidates expected to comply with electoral laws and the Commission’s guidelines.

Meanwhile, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, of hypocrisy over his comments on the state of the country, citing the liquidation of Nigeria Airways and the unpaid entitlements of its former workers.

Keyamo stated this in a post shared on his X handle on Wednesday, stating that the administration in which Atiku served as vice-president liquidated the national carrier in September 2004, leaving thousands of workers jobless and without their pensions and gratuities.

“Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation,” the minister wrote.

The minister claimed that the former workers were left to struggle for their entitlements, which he said amounted to billions of naira.

Keyamo said President Bola Tinubu had approved and released N36bn to settle outstanding payments owed to the former Nigeria Airways workers, adding that beneficiaries had started receiving payment alerts.

“Twenty-two years later, after many of them have died out of frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now clearing the mess you left behind,” he stated.

“Over a month ago, Mr President approved and released the total sum of N36bn to bring succour to these families. They have started receiving alerts and praying for Mr President. In fact, the President was given an award for this by the workers’ union a few weeks ago,” Keyamo added.

The minister accused the former Vice President of attempting to mislead younger Nigerians who might be unfamiliar with the history of the defunct national carrier.

“Yet you sit down there and pontificate? It’s only the younger ones who don’t know your history you can attempt to hoodwink, but we will expose you to them,” he wrote.

Keyamo further accused the former vice-president of taking credit for decisions made by the administration he served in when politically convenient, while distancing himself from responsibility at other times.

“When it is convenient for you, you claim some credit for the Obasanjo-Atiku government, and when not convenient, you say Obasanjo was in charge and not you as Vice-President,” he said.

Atiku had criticised the rising cost of living and insecurity in Nigeria, promising to make life affordable and restore security if given the opportunity to lead the country.

Atiku made the pledge in a post on his official X account on Wednesday, where he urged registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the next general election.

Meanwhile, Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State and the state chapter of Allied People’s Movement, on Wednesday, traded words over the vandalisation of Alli’s billboards in Ibadan.

While Alli of APC campaign organisation accused supporters of APM governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, of vandalising Alli’s billboards in many parts of Ibadan, the APM said it has become a norm for APC to constantly spread falsehood and unfounded allegations in its bid to secure the confidence of the people of the state.

The accusations were contained in their separate statements issued by SSACO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, and the state Director of Communication/Spokesperson for APM Governorship Campaign Council, Yinka Oladoyinbo, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Oladele said, “The billboards of Senator Alli and his running mate, Soji Adedeji, have been vandalised by Adekanmbi’s supporters in Mokola, Sango, Monatan-Olodo road, Odo-Ona and Toll Gate-Iwo road section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, among others.

“The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation is raising the alarm over vandalisation of our candidates’ billboards in many parts of Ibadan by supporters of Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate in the state. This came after Senator Alli’s wife and two other APC candidates were attacked in Ibadan last week.

“This sad development, once again, confirms the fear within the circle of Governor Seyi Makinde and his stooge – Adekanmbi – of the impending loss they’ll face in the forthcoming election.

“Despite the reality of their potential rejection by the good people of Oyo in the 2027 elections, there is absolutely no justification for Adekanmbi’s supporters to attack our candidates or vandalise APC candidates’ billboards. It is barbaric and completely unacceptable. Nigerian democracy has gone beyond this barbaric act, and our people are wiser now.

“We warn APM hoodlums to desist from this reprehensible act, and refrain from stoking tension in the polity. Oyo is a peaceful state. Governor Makinde and Hon Adekanmbi should immediately call their goons to order. Oyo does not deserve violence from them.”

SSACO, therefore, called on the state Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies to fish out perpetrators of this act and ensure they face the wrath of the law.

“Democracy guarantees freedom of every candidate to campaign in an election. And APC candidates will not surrender this democratic right. This latest development brings to the fore, sadly too, our earlier warning of the APM’s destructive venture, in a statement we issued last week.

“Now that they (the APM) have shown that they are a bunch of reckless and lawless individuals, with no regard whatsoever for the law, we call on security agencies to immediately swing into action to prevent a recurrence of these vandalisms, which is a sad reminder of the dark days of brigandage.”

The campaign organisation then urged all APC members and supporters in the state to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands, adding that they should resist provocation by Adekanmbi’s hoodlums, as he who is down fears no fall.

“When elected, Alli’s governance blueprint christened Oyo AHEAD will restore the glory of the state and put our dear state on a faster development lane for the benefit of all,” the SSACO promised.

In his reaction, the state Director of Communication/Spokesperson for the APM Governorship Campaign Council, Yinka Oladoyinbo, said the latest from the APC came when it tried to blame APM and its governorship candidate, Adekanmbi, for the alleged destruction of its billboards.

Oladoyinbo said, “The state APM Governorship Campaign Council says unequivocally that it has nothing to do with whatever happens to the campaign materials of the APC, and should not be dragged into such if it ever happens.

“The party hereby strongly warns the APC and its candidate to desist from linking Adekanmbi and the APM with any act of violence involving the APC and its members, as the last seven years of the leadership of the state under Governor Seyi Makinde have been characterised by peaceful coexistence and development.

“The APC should stop raising unsubstantiated allegations against Adekanmbi, a well-known man of peace, who has never been associated with any activity that can lead to the destruction of other people’s properties.

“We want the APC and its handlers to know that no amount of falsehood and unfounded allegations against Adekanmbi and the APM can stop their being defeated at the polls in 2027.

“The people of the state are well aware of the tactics of the APC and its candidate and are familiar with their act of spreading lies and falsehood in order to endear themselves to the people, a development that has been recurring since electioneering gained momentum.

“It is obvious that the APC governorship candidate and his party have no tangible issue and programme with which they can convince the people to vote for them at the polls, hence their resort to deception and blackmail.

“However, the people that have experienced good governance with excellent service delivery under Governor Makinde in the last seven years will not return to the dark era as they are wiser and convinced that continuity is the best option that can further sustain and extend the development of the state.”

Oladoyinbo also appealed to security operatives in the state to thoroughly investigate the allegation to ascertain the authenticity of the claim and expose those behind the act.

“We also want to appeal to our members to continue to be peaceful and go about their electioneering activities without fear, believing that the security agencies are capable of ensuring the security of their lives and property,” the spokesperson for the APM governorship candidate urged.

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