2027 Politics Watch: Atiku fights to stay on ballot, Tinubu backers’ claim 500-plus vehicles

Rauf Aregbesola’s separate appeal emerged as INEC prepared to examine the judgment invalidating Atiku Abubakar’s nomination. Delta State demanded an inquiry into fatal campaign violence, while Tinubu’s supporters claimed a 500-plus vehicle mobilisation network.

Rauf Aregbesola’s separate appeal against the judgement invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) became public on Sunday, adding another legal challenge to a ruling that also voided Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination.

The dispute could affect more than Atiku’s place on the ballot. INEC’s procedures require national party chairmen to receive access codes for submitting polling agents, with the portal scheduled to close on 10 December.

Elsewhere, the Delta State Government demanded an investigation into Saturday’s deadly opposition procession in Asaba, while a group supporting President Bola Tinubu claimed to have distributed more than 500 campaign vehicles.

Sunday also brought a fresh argument over the Ibom Deep Sea Port, with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) questioning whether the president’s latest approval represented progress beyond an earlier federal decision.

The developments put party authority, campaign security, political financing and government promises at the centre of another day of electioneering.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on 5 November that the ADC leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark had been unlawfully constituted.

The court invalidated decisions arising from the party’s disputed 99th National Executive Committee meeting, including the process that produced Atiku as its presidential candidate.

The suit, identified in court reporting as FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman who challenged the leadership succession following Ralph Nwosu’s departure.

The ADC has appealed the ruling and applied for a stay of execution.

On Sunday, details emerged of a separate appeal filed by Mr Aregbesola, the party’s national secretary, through his lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, a senior advocate of Nigeria.

Mr Aregbesola challenged the trial court’s jurisdiction and interpretation of the party’s constitution. His lawyers argued that the court failed to distinguish between an election to fill a leadership vacancy and a temporary appointment permitted under the ADC constitution.

The notice of appeal was filed on Friday, 6 November, while a separate application seeking to suspend enforcement of specified orders was filed the following day.

Neither an appeal nor an application for a stay automatically establishes that the judgment has been suspended.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported the separate appeal, while PREMIUM TIMES previously reported the ADC’s challenge.

INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna told Sunday PUNCH that the commission would study the judgement and discuss its implications at its next meeting.

One administrative question concerns the party’s polling agents.

INEC’s electronic platform states that access codes are issued to national party chairmen, who distribute them to authorised officials responsible for uploading agents’ details.

The portal gives 10 December, at 11.59 p.m. West Africa Time, as the submission deadline for the 16 January presidential election.

The disputed ADC leadership could therefore raise questions about which officials INEC recognises for that process. There is, however, no established evidence that the commission has denied the party access or rejected its polling-agent submissions.

The controversy has a parallel in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On 4 November, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision refusing to compel INEC to recognise the interim leadership associated with Kabiru Turaki.

INEC’s party directory identifies Abdulrahman Mohammed, who leads the rival faction supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, as national chairman.

At a Sunday briefing, Mr Turaki accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of benefiting from judicial decisions against opposition factions.

He also criticised Mr Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, whose members support Mr Tinubu despite belonging to different political parties.

The allegations of political interference remain unproven. The APC has denied responsibility for the ADC’s internal leadership dispute.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Turaki’s allegations.

INEC lists Sandy Onor as the PDP presidential candidate, illustrating the difference between a party’s formal nomination and the presidential preferences of influential politicians within its ranks.

The Delta State Government on Sunday called for an investigation into violence that left one person dead and five others injured during an opposition procession in Asaba the previous day.

The event, organised by the Obidient/OK Movement, was intended to mobilise support for NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.