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INEC Moves to Conduct Re-run Despite Pending Court Case, Stakeholders Cry Foul

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Serious concerns have been raised following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) notice of a re-run election in the Enugu South Urban Constituency, scheduled for August 16, 2025.

Stakeholders and concerned citizens say they are shocked by the electoral body’s decision, describing it as hasty and unlawful under the present circumstances.

At the centre of the controversy is an ongoing legal dispute at the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu — Suit No: FHC/EN/CS/144/2024 — which directly challenges INEC’s authority to conduct the planned re-run. Both INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are parties to the suit, and court documents confirm that briefs of arguments, motions, and counter-motions have already been exchanged by all sides.

Observers have described INEC’s insistence on going ahead with the re-run as puzzling and potentially unlawful, arguing that the Commission ought to wait for the court’s judgment or any order that may arise before making any further moves.

“It is perplexing to any discerning mind why INEC would not await the court’s judgment one way or the other before hastily proceeding with this election,” one stakeholder said. “The palpable effect of INEC’s insistence on this re-run is a clear attempt to overreach the court, rendering any court judgment meaningless and of no consequence.”

Critics now question what influences might be pushing INEC to press on with an election that is the subject of active litigation. Many argue that the Commission, which should serve as a beacon of democracy, constitutionality, and the rule of law, risks acting in a dictatorial manner if it disregards the pending case.

Stakeholders insist that as an institution established by law, INEC must respect the courts and allow due process to take its course. They maintain that the only lawful path forward is for the Commission to wait for the Federal High Court to rule on whether it has jurisdiction to conduct the planned re-run election in the Enugu South Urban Constituency.

They warn that failing to do so could undermine public trust in the democratic process and erode confidence in the rule of law.

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Reps minority whip resigns from PDP

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The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa, on  Tuesday, resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing internal crisis and alleged undemocratic practices within the party.

In a resignation letter April 14, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of Kindiyo Ward in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, Isa said his decision takes immediate effect.

He stated that his exit was “compelled by the way and manner some undemocratic forces have hijacked the party for reasons that are contrary to the founding principles and philosophy of the party, which created a factional leadership.”

The lawmaker, who represents Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, said he took the decision after wide consultations with key stakeholders.

“After a series of rigorous consultations with my family, political associates, friends, and relevant stakeholders, I have arrived at the conclusion that the path to my political future, as well as the political future of the great people who gave me their mandate, lies outside the PDP,” he said.

Isa added that his priority remains the welfare and political future of his constituents, noting that they deserve a more viable platform.

“It is my firm belief that the people of my constituency deserve a platform on which their interests and political future will be better guaranteed,” he stated.

He, however, thanked the PDP for the opportunity to serve.

“I wish to sincerely thank the leadership and membership of the party for giving me the platform on which the people of Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency gave me the wonderful opportunity to represent them at the National Assembly. I will ever remain grateful and wish you all the best,” he added.

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Six months enough to tackle insecurity if FG is serious — Ndume

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Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s insecurity can be decisively tackled within six months if the federal government shows sufficient commitment.

Ndume made the assertion on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he expressed concern over renewed violence in the North-East.

According to the lawmaker, ending insecurity requires decisive action, improved military capacity and strong political will.

He said, “It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me, as a senator, to say why these things. I always believe that if the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria are serious about this, we can end this thing (insecurity) in six months.

“All we need is to train our soldiers, equip them, arm them very well, and then motivate them.”

Ndume also decried the continued loss of military personnel, including senior officers, describing the trend as alarming and indicative of deeper operational challenges. He added that the army is not sufficiently equipped and the morale is down.

Our correspondent  had reported that Brigadier General Oseni Braimah was killed on April 9, 2026, in a midnight attack by terrorists on the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Borno State. Also on Monday, a colonel and six soldiers were killed by Boko Haram insurgents the state.

The senator further blamed the worsening security situation on inconsistent implementation of strategies, urging authorities to match words with action.

“We have to be very serious about this matter; we have to walk the talk,” he said.

On foreign support, Ndume emphasised the need for intelligence, technology and specialised expertise rather than reliance on external forces. He noted that Nigeria lacks adequate drone capacity and called for increased deployment of technology-driven solutions, citing examples from Burkina Faso.

“We have some capable hands on the ground; all they need is equipment, ammunition and motivation. We don’t have enough drones.

“Look at what Burkina Faso is doing; it is technology. We can use it to finish or minimise this within the shortest possible time. If we deploy drones, we have our youths that are specialists and designing it.

“In Borno, if you deploy surveillance cameras, you can see everything that is happening. In these days, you can put up surveillance cameras that can go 100 metres. Once we can escalate our military assets in Borno and everywhere, that will go a long way to reduce our problem.”

Ndume also commended Babagana Zulum for his efforts in stabilising parts of Borno State, noting that the situation would have been worse without his interventions.

“If not for the efforts of Prof Babagana Zulum (the governor) in complementing the efforts of the military in the state, Borno State would have gone down,” he said.

 

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David Mark Files Suit Against INEC Over ADC Leadership

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The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that removed key party officials from its records.

INEC had, on April 1, deleted the names of Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official website and portal, a move that has deepened the party’s internal crisis.

In a motion filed on April 7 by his counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), Mark urged Justice Emeka Nwite to grant a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the names of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He also asked the court to set aside INEC’s refusal to monitor or attend the ADC’s congresses and convention, arguing that such actions undermine the party’s operations

Specifically, Mark is seeking an order directing INEC to immediately reinstate and maintain the names of himself, Aregbesola, and other members of the National Executive Committee in its official records. He further requested that the court restrain the electoral body from recognising or acting on any rival leadership claims until the case is resolved.

The application follows a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe. Mark’s legal team argued that the appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute began.

According to Usman, as of September 2, 2025, when the suit was instituted, Mark was the duly recognised National Chairman of the party, and the leadership structure in question was already in place.

He added that the plaintiff had resigned from his previous position and no longer held any role within the ADC at the time, insisting that INEC’s actions disrupted an already established leadership order.

The court is expected to determine whether to grant the interim reliefs while the substantive case continues.

 

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