₦airaland Forum

Pantami: Why many candidates may still face crises before 2027 polls — Lawyers, analysts

The Supreme Court’s latest intervention in Nigeria’s electoral law has opened a fresh legal and political battlefield ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the fate of several candidates who crossed from one political party to another now attracting renewed scrutiny.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, on Thursday restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.

The apex court overturned the July judgment of the Court of Appeal which had voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act following a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party.

Donald Duke, Chinda, Omo-Agege — candidates whose nomination may be affected by s’court’s ruling on Electoral Act

On Thursday, a seven-member panel of the supreme court upheld an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and restored sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The supreme court, in its lead judgement delivered by Adamu Jauro, held that the provisions voided by the appeal court in July are not inconsistent with the 1999 constitution.

The apex court consequently set aside the appellant court’s verdict and restored the federal high court’s ruling, which had dismissed the suit filed by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) challenging the provisions.

The supreme court also awarded N2 million in costs against the ZLP.

https://www.thecable.ng/donald-duke-chinda-omo-agege-candidates-whose-nomination-may-be-affected-by-scourts-ruling-on-electoral-act/

You that is using Diesel to on traffic lights dey talk here. Radarada ilu Apala

Electoral Act: S’Court ruling unsettles PDP, opposition candidates

By Clifford Ndujihe & Luminous Jannamike

The Supreme Court’s restoration of key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 has opened a fresh legal front over the nominations of some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other opposition parties’ candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

With the apex court’s verdict other parties affected include the Social Democratic Party, SDP; Allied Peoples Movement, APM; People’s Redemption Party, PRP; and a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The judgment does not automatically disqualify the affected candidates. Rather, it restores statutory requirements that could expose individual nominations to legal challenges where evidence shows that membership, registration or nomination procedures did not comply with the law.

In its unanimous judgment of September 24, 2026, the apex court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act, holding that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and setting aside the earlier Court of Appeal decision that had voided them.

The restored provisions require parties to rely on the membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at least 21 days before a primary. A party cannot use a different register, while nominations are to be conducted through direct primaries or consensus.

That means candidates could face challenges where evidence shows that they were not on the relevant register, joined a party after the register was submitted, participated in another party’s primary or emerged through a process that did not comply with the applicable requirements.

PDP candidates in the eye of the storm

Although, the Supreme Court made no candidate-specific findings against PDP candidates, those in the eye of the storm include Senator Saliu Mustapha, Kolo Jiya, Professor Iyabo Obasanjo and Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi.

Pantami’s case already before court

In Gombe State, the case involving former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, predates the Supreme Court judgment.

A Federal High Court had nullified the PDP governorship primary that produced Pantami and ordered the party to conduct a fresh exercise in accordance with its constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral laws. The court also barred Pantami from continuing to present himself as the party’s candidate.

The PDP has fixed Tuesday (tomorrow) September 29 for the fresh governorship primary, with Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed.

Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry cleared to participate.

Pantami’s case is, therefore, not a consequence of the Supreme Court judgment alone. It is already governed by a separate Federal High Court order.

His movement into the PDP after failing to secure the APC governorship ticket had featured in the dispute over the earlier primary, including questions around the process through which he emerged as the party’s candidate.

The fresh exercise now provides another opportunity for the party to establish compliance with the applicable membership and nomination requirements.

Mustapha, Jiya face register questions

Questions have also been raised over the PDP senatorial candidacies of Senator Saliu Mustapha in Kwara Central and Kolo Jiya in Kwara North.

Both politicians were previously associated with the APC before moving into the PDP camp, backed by the Saraki-led G15 alliance, which is working with the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition.

The central questions concerned whether their names appeared on the PDP membership register submitted to INEC within the prescribed period and whether waivers granted them were sufficient to qualify them for participation in the party’s nomination process.

The Kwara PDP has rejected suggestions that the Supreme Court judgment automatically invalidated their candidacies.

The party said Mustapha did not participate in the earlier PDP senatorial primary and became the candidate after the withdrawal of the initial nominee.

It also maintained that the affected new members obtained the required waivers before taking part in party activities.

The PDP maintains that the waivers regularised their membership and made them eligible for the relevant processes.

Any challenge, however, would turn on the documentary record; the PDP register submitted to INEC, its date of submission, the terms of the waivers and the process through which each candidate emerged.

Iyabo Obasanjo’s return under scrutiny

The candidacy of Dr Iyabo Obasanjo in Ogun Central has also come under scrutiny, following the judgment.

Obasanjo resigned from the APC on May 31, 2026, after losing the party’s governorship ticket, returned to the PDP on June 15 and was presented as its Ogun Central senatorial candidate two days later.

The timing has prompted questions over whether her name was contained in the PDP register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before the relevant nomination exercise.

There is, however, no Supreme Court ruling directly disqualifying Obasanjo.

Her media aide, Dr Odun Agbalajobi, rejected suggestions that the judgment had invalidated her candidacy.

“Senator Iyabo Obasanjo was not a party to that case,” her media aide said, adding that the judgment did not issue any order disqualifying her from contesting the Ogun Central senatorial election.

A PDP chieftain in Ogun, Adeoye Adewale Adeniran, also accused the APC of twisting the judgment in relation to Obasanjo’s candidacy.

“The APC is twisting the Supreme Court judgment to stop Iyabo Obasanjo,” Adeniran said, accusing the opposition of using misinformation and political propaganda over her eligibility.

Those are political claims and do not constitute a judicial finding on Obasanjo’s eligibility.

Fadeyi rejects disqualification claim

In Osun, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi has rejected reports that the Supreme Court judgment had ended his bid to return to the Senate.

Fadeyi said no court had issued an order disqualifying him and described reports to that effect as speculative.

“For clarity sake, there is no clear evidence on Fadeyi’s disqualification from any court sitting, hence, the report of his alleged disqualification remains speculative and unfounded,” Fadeyi said.

He also defended the process through which he obtained the PDP ticket.

“The processes to bestow the PDP ticket on Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi for second term in office is clear, legal and approved by all relevant party executives,” he said.

Fadeyi further maintained that the PDP complied with the electoral law and its own rules.

“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP followed the provisions of electoral law and everything was done in accordance with the law and party’s laid down rules,” he said.

The Supreme Court made no specific finding concerning Fadeyi’s membership status or nomination.

The emerging disputes will, therefore, turn on the records behind individual nominations rather than on the Supreme Court judgment as an automatic disqualification order.

The critical documents are the membership registers submitted to INEC, their dates of submission, any waivers granted to new members and the records showing how candidates emerged through the relevant primary or consensus process.

Where those records establish non-compliance, they could provide grounds for candidate-specific litigation. Until such a defect is established, political strategists believe the Supreme Court ruling itself does not invalidate the PDP nominations.

Other opposition parties’ candidates that appear disqualified include formee IGP Adamu Idris, SDP; Nasarawa; Abdulrahman Haske, APM, Adamawa; Sen. Shehu Buba, PRP, Bauchi; Lawal Daura, APM, Seyi Makinde’s running mate; and Farouk Mustapha, APC, Bauchi deputy governorship candidate.

Prominent Nominated Candidates Affected bY the Supreme Court Judgement:

1. Mohammed Adamu — SDP — Nasarawa State governorship candidate.

2. Kingsley Chinda — APC — Rivers State governorship candidate.

3. Saliu Mustapha — PDP — Kwara Central senatorial candidate.

4. Kolo Baba Jiya — PDP — Kwara North senatorial candidate.

5.Iyabo Obasanjo — PDP — Ogun Central senatorial candidate.

6. Olubiyi Fadeyi — PDP — Osun senatorial candidate.

7. Isa Ali Pantami — PDP — Gombe State governorship candidate.

8. Abdulrahman Haske — APM — Adamawa State governorship candidate.

9. Shehu Buba — PRP — Bauchi State governorship candidate.

10. Lawal Daura — APM — Vice Presidential Candidate of APM

11. Farouk Mustapha — APC — Bauchi State deputy governorship candidate.

Among others ...

The Supreme Court ruling does not automatically disqualify these candidates. Rather, it potentially provides grounds for legal challenges upon which their candidacies can be invalidated.
Where evidence shows that a party's membership register, nomination process, primary election or other statutory requirement did not comply with the Electoral Act.
The ultimate fate of any affected candidate would therefore depend on the specific facts of each case and any subsequent litigation before the appropriate courts.

Prominent Nominated Candidates Affected bY the Supreme Court Judgement:

1. Mohammed Adamu — SDP — Nasarawa State governorship candidate.

2. Kingsley Chinda — APC — Rivers State governorship candidate.

3. Saliu Mustapha — PDP — Kwara Central senatorial candidate.

4. Kolo Baba Jiya — PDP — Kwara North senatorial candidate.

5.Iyabo Obasanjo — PDP — Ogun Central senatorial candidate.

6. Olubiyi Fadeyi — PDP — Osun senatorial candidate.

7. Isa Ali Pantami — PDP — Gombe State governorship candidate.

8. Abdulrahman Haske — APM — Adamawa State governorship candidate.

9. Shehu Buba — PRP — Bauchi State governorship candidate.

10. Lawal Daura — APM — Vice Presidential Candidate of APM

11. Farouk Mustapha — APC — Bauchi State deputy governorship candidate.

Among others ...

The Supreme Court ruling does not automatically disqualify these candidates. Rather, it potentially provides grounds for legal challenges upon which their candidacies can be invalidated.
Where evidence shows that a party's membership register, nomination process, primary election or other statutory requirement did not comply with the Electoral Act.
The ultimate fate of any affected candidate would therefore depend on the specific facts of each case and any subsequent litigation before the appropriate courts.

2027: APC Deputy National Chairman Faults Wike’s Rainbow Coalition Initiative

https://thewhistler.ng/2027-apc-deputy-national-chairman-faults-wikes-rainbow-coalition-initiative/

Parties must submit registers 21 days before primaries — SAN

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oba Maduabuchi, says parties must submit membership registers to INEC 21 days before primaries, following a Supreme Court rul...

Dr Monday Ubani says Supreme Court’s ruling on Electoral Act provisions settles party autonomy and validates INEC membership register requirements. http://ow.ly/EJMf106FqPN

They won't listen to him. Obi will never caution them too.

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it will review the Supreme Court's Certified True Copy of its judgment on disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 before deciding how to implement it. INEC’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, said this while responding to newsmen's questions on the implications of the judgment.

The development comes as some candidates whose political mandates may be affected by the Supreme Court ruling insist the judgment does not affect them. Ifogah said INEC will first receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment before meeting to study it and decide on its next steps.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld INEC’s appeal against a July 16 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which voided some provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.

Credit: Nigeria info

ZombieDredd:
Na same formation he's been playing

Arsenal won't lose this game though

Abegi

I don't know why Arteta didn't start gyokores

This defeat from Arteta

I don't see the reason why Arteta shouldn't start gyokores in the first place. No shot on target. Chaiii

Arteta formation in the first half is very bad.

Arsenal players should help here. We need goals oio

Abeg increased the electricity more

More wins for Arsenal team

More wins for Arsenal FC.

More wins for Arsenal

Victory for Arsenal in today's game.

I don't see the reason why arteta shouldn't start gyokores in today's match. Eberechi eze is in bench.

dominique:
It's only posts that portrays Africans and people of colour in a negative light that this Elon shines torchlight on. As if his grandfathers didn't forcefully obtain thousands of hectares of land from indigenous South Africans, racist swine🐷

he's a clueless racist

UNIOSUN hospital workers threaten strike over proposed privatisation plan

Workers at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, UNIOSUNTH, have threatened to shut down the facility from Monday over a proposed Public-Private Partnership arrangement covering several medical and support services.

The threat followed a protest staged by members of the Joint Action Committee of unions at the teaching hospital in Osogbo on Thursday.

The unions said they were opposed to the proposed privatisation of services in departments including the laboratory, Intensive Care Unit, radiology, kitchen, morgue and security.

They warned that failure by the hospital management to address their concerns would trigger an indefinite strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the authorities.

According to the unions, the ultimatum will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, leaving Monday as the proposed commencement date for the industrial action.

Speaking during the protest, Olumide Faniran, an elder of the unions and a member of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, said the workers were resisting an attempt to introduce the PPP without adequate consultation.

“Actually, the agitation is over a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, which the leadership of the Teaching Hospital is embarking on.

“When you are undertaking something of that nature, you carry stakeholders along. The reverse is the case here,” he said.

Faniran said the unions had met with management several days earlier and reached an understanding that the existing arrangement would remain pending further discussions.

He, however, alleged that management proceeded to interview prospective employees for a private laboratory despite the understanding reached at the meeting.

“We had a meeting with them a few days ago, where we agreed that the status quo should remain. But to our surprise, they conducted interviews yesterday for the intending workers they want to engage for the private laboratory,” he said.

The union representative questioned the need for a private laboratory when, according to him, the existing laboratory was generating more than 100 per cent revenue.

“Yes, they want to set up a private laboratory when we already have our own laboratory that is generating over 100 per cent revenue,” Faniran said.

He also accused the hospital management of blaming workers for shortages of laboratory consumables and reagents, arguing that the existing facility could perform better if adequately supplied.

The unions’ position hardened after a proposed meeting with the hospital’s governing board failed to take place as expected on Thursday.

Faniran said the workers had assembled for the meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. but were later informed around 2:30 p.m. that the board would not meet them and that they should submit their position in writing.

“This morning, we were told that we would have a meeting with the board by 10 a.m. We converged since 10 a.m., only to be told around 2:30 p.m. that they were not interested in seeing us,” he said.

He said the development prompted the unions to convene a congress, where members resolved to stage the peaceful protest.

Faniran said the unions wanted management to abandon the PPP proposal and instead strengthen the existing hospital services through the provision of necessary equipment, reagents and consumables.

“Our demand now is that we do not want Public-Private Partnership. Let us maximise the opportunity that is on ground. Provide reagents and consumables to us, and we are ready to work,” he said.

He warned that radiology, ICU, morgue, kitchen and security services were also affected by the proposed arrangement and reiterated that the unions would commence an indefinite strike if their demands were not met before the ultimatum expired.

“That is why we are now resisting. Radiology, ICU, Morgue, Kitchen and Security are all affected.

“If they fail to adhere to our demands, we have no option than to embark on strike on Monday because the 14-day ultimatum given earlier will expire by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday,” he said.

However, the Chairman of the Governing Board of UNIOSUNTH, Niyi Owolade, said the dispute would be resolved through discussions with the unions.

Owolade said the PPP arrangement was not an unusual model in Nigeria’s healthcare sector and disclosed that discussions on its implementation were still ongoing.

“We are meeting with the unions next week. The issue will be resolved next week,” he said.

He explained that the board reached its decision following approval from the Osun State Government, adding that discussions surrounding the partnership had not been concluded.

“The board came into the conclusion after an approval by the governor that we should have a Public Private Partnership and we have started the discussion but not yet completed the discussion,” Owolade said.

According to him, “PPP arrangements have already been introduced in some major hospitals, including facilities in Ife and Ibadan.

“This is not the first place where PPP will be implemented. They have started in Ife, Ibadan. Most teaching hospitals in Nigeria have PPP. There is no much ado about it,” he said.


https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/11/uniosun-hospital-workers-threaten-strike-over-proposed-privatisation-plan/

More wins for Arsenal by God's Grace 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Victory for Arsenal team. Starting gyokores isn't a bad Idea

More wins for Arsenal

TheStoriesOfMan:
Gyok should come later in the second half.

ok

Why they no accept the score. Which kind of referee is this

Calafiori scores

We need more goals Arsenal. Gyokores should have been started