As the race for political office intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled between 2025 and 2027, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken decisive action against several aspiring political parties.

On Thursday, INEC announced a noteworthy decision regarding the registration status of these parties, effectively disqualifying them from participating in the electoral process.

This information was confirmed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, who addressed the matter in an official statement, shedding light on the dynamic landscape of political participation in the country.

The commission held its regular meeting on 30th October 2025 to review progress since an earlier update on 11th September.

Fourteen associations had been pre-qualified to participate in the process, which began with a briefing on September 17.

A dedicated portal for submitting required documents was open from September 18 to October 18.

As of October 19, eight associations had submitted all the necessary documents.

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The commission said, “As of Saturday, 19th October 2025, eight out of the 14 pre-qualified associations successfully completed the upload of all necessary information and documentation.

“The associations are: All Democratic Alliance, Citizens Democratic Alliance, Abundance Social Party, African Alliance Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, Green Future Party, National Democratic Party, and Peoples Freedom Party.”

The commission further stated that the next step involves a detailed verification of the submitted documents to determine compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s regulations for political parties.

“The next step in the registration process is the detailed assessment and verification of the information and documents submitted by each association.

“This stage will ensure conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022),” the statement explained.

Olumekun added, “The commission wishes to reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic culture.”

INEC previously received a total of 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.

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The Deeper Life Bible Church has been prominently featured in the media recently due to the ongoing succession race following the leadership of Pastor William Kumuyi, the church’s founder.

The controversy has evidently taken a toll on Pastor Kumuyi, who expressed deep emotional distress while addressing the matter from the pulpit, coming close to tears.

Many have found this development quite unusual. This is because the Deeper Life Bible Church has been a closely-knit conventional church that rarely gets involved in controversies.

This is because the church runs a system that is both conventional and rigid, which leaves very little room for frivolities to infiltrate the church’s structure and doctrines. In many ways, the entire operation of the church revolves around the church’s founder and General Superintendent, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi and it has been working perfectly for the ministry until recently when the leadership crisis erupted.

The troubles began a few months ago when some senior church members speculated that Pastor Kumuyi had relocated to England. His absence resulted from attending various conferences and crusades abroad. During his time away, the church found itself without a leader, as noted by a youth pastor who spoke to us confidentially. He explained, “Deeper Life is a unique church where activities are closely monitored from the top. However, things began to decline while the General Overseer was away for several months. Without his guidance, branches and pastors started to act independently; everyone was doing as they pleased.”

The youth pastor further elaborated that some senior pastors, who have contributed significantly to the church’s growth alongside the General Overseer, felt they deserved more authority and respect. They believe they should hold more prominent positions within the church hierarchy. Some members expressed concern about Pastor Kumuyi’s age and felt the church needed a new direction to expand beyond its current operations.

According to the youth pastor, while Pastor Kumuyi was away, some senior members convened to discuss the necessity of having a leader to coordinate church activities. Some even suggested that the General Overseer could pass leadership to a younger individual.

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In response to these developments a few weeks ago, Pastor Kumuyi spoke from the pulpit and was visibly emotional about the situation.

He has expressed significant displeasure regarding subtle agitations within the church concerning his potential successor. He questioned whether church members are tired of him and emphasized that no one can exert control over him.

During a recent Bible study program, which was shared online, Pastor Kumuyi appeared visibly agitated while addressing the congregation. He stated that he would not be stampeded into yielding to the demands of certain elements within the church.

He confronted the issue directly before the audience, asking, “Are you tired of me?” to which the congregation responded with a resounding “Nooo.” The 83-year-old pastor took particular issue with comments made by an unnamed young preacher the previous week, who repeatedly stated, “There is no leadership without a successor.”

“The brother who spoke last Tuesday kept saying there is no leadership without a successor,” Kumuyi noted. “He mentioned it twice, which I found excessive, especially since your father is still here. God will give a successor in His own time,” he asserted.

Pastor Kumuyi emphasized that Biblical precedents illustrate that it is God—not human pressure—who appoints successors. He firmly stated, “You are not going to fight your shepherd, your pilot. I reject any member of the church, whether you are a worker, choir member, or security personnel, who tries to control me. I won’t even take that from my wife because I am the head of my home. I stand where I stand, and nobody will put me under pressure.”

He urged church members not to undermine his mission and warned against any attempts to sway him. “Don’t try to kill my conviction. It will only make me resist you so that when you get to the other side, you won’t say I didn’t warn you. I will continue to remind you of this until I leave,” he said.

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Pastor Kumuyi explained that he has deliberately created opportunities for many gifted individuals within the church to preach, but he insisted that the matter of his successor is ultimately “in the hands of God.” He stated, “If God has provided you with a pastor who is still active at this age, with a strong voice, preaching the gospel everywhere, and you are clamoring for a successor, it makes me think you are tired of seeing me around. You don’t want me to feel like I’m imposing myself on you.”

While acknowledging that there will eventually be a successor, Kumuyi maintained that this transition will occur on divine terms. He added, “When the time comes, God will choose a man after His own heart. Don’t try to drive me away, even though I know…”

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has warned against vote-buying ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, assuring that the commission is fully prepared to deliver a free, fair and credible poll.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Tuesday at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security held in Abuja.

Warning against voter inducement, Amupitan vowed that INEC would work closely with security and anti-graft agencies to curb the menace of vote-buying.

“We would like to warn that any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election will be met with the full force of the law. Together, we must combat vote-buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections,” he cautioned.

Reaffirming his commitment to credible elections, the INEC Chairman said, “For INEC, this represents a new chapter. I wish to reiterate my personal commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that genuinely reflect the will of the Nigerian people.”

He disclosed that INEC was taking urgent steps to resolve the network challenges encountered during last weekend’s mock accreditation exercise in the state.

The exercise was conducted to test the functionality of the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the efficiency of result transmission through the INEC Result Viewing Portal.

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“We recently conducted a mock accreditation exercise in 12 selected polling units across six local government areas in Anambra State. Although we encountered some network issues, efforts are underway to ensure a seamless exercise on November 8, 2025. The commission is ready for large-scale deployment on Election Day,” he said.

Amupitan stated that about 24,000 INEC personnel would be deployed across 5,718 polling units, with results collated at 326 ward centres, 21 local government areas, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.

On the issue of voter readiness, Amupitan disclosed that the commission had extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Anambra from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, to allow more eligible voters to collect their cards.

“We are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised,” he added.

The INEC boss commended security agencies for their collaboration in ensuring a peaceful electoral environment, stressing that inter-agency synergy was crucial to maintaining public confidence in the process.

“Synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable, particularly at a time when the credibility of our elections is paramount,” he said.

He also revealed that the commission had finalised logistics arrangements with transport unions, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, for the movement of election materials and personnel.

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“We have hired 200 buses and 83 boats to ensure the smooth transportation of personnel and sensitive materials,” he said.

The meeting, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the Director of Internal Security in his office, Hassan Abdullahi, brought together top security, intelligence, and law enforcement officials to fine-tune strategies for a smooth and incident-free election.

Amupitan expressed optimism that collective commitment among stakeholders would make the Anambra governorship election a benchmark for electoral integrity.

“The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” he said.

INEC noted that about 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election. Of the 13 activities on the timetable, 11 have already been concluded, with political campaigns ending on November 6 and the governorship poll scheduled for November 8.

The BVAS technology, introduced during the 2023 general elections, is designed to authenticate voters biometrically and transmit results electronically in real time via the IReV portal.

However, challenges experienced during the last general election prompted the commission to strengthen its systems ahead of the Anambra poll.

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The People’s Democratic Party is currently navigating a tumultuous period, beset by crises erupting from multiple factions within the organization.

After Nyesom Wike, another prominent stakeholder, felt increasingly disenchanted with the party’s direction, he is poised to take drastic steps that could jeopardize its political future.

Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa State, has threatened to drag the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to court if the party fails to sell the nomination form for the position of the national chairman ahead of its forthcoming national convention.

The former governor stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to obtain the nomination form on Monday, October 27. However, he was informed by the PDP national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the national organising secretary, Umar Bature, that they had no information concerning the availability of the forms.

Lamido expresses dissatisfaction with PDP

Lamido then expressed dissatisfaction with the development, adding that, being a founding member of the leading opposition party, he has the right to be part of the internal democratic process of the PDP.

The former governor’s move came after some northern leaders of the PDP endorsed former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15-16 in Ibadan.

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The endorsement came after a closed-door meeting of northern PDP stakeholders, including governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and other party leaders, held on Wednesday, October 22, in Abuja.

Fintiri: Decision followed wide consultation

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state said the decision was reached following “extensive consultations and deliberations” among party leaders from the North.

“We have met this evening to deliberate and take a decision on the office of the chairman of our great party, the PDP, which was zoned to the North,” Fintiri said.

“After deep reflection and wide consultation, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North and by extension, Nigeria, as the chairman of the PDP. That gentleman is KT Turaki, SAN.”

He added that the consensus choice represented all 19 northern states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Aspirants free to contest, says Fintiri Governor

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Fintiri clarified that the endorsement did not preclude other aspirants from contesting at the convention.

“Anybody who still feels he wants to contest any position is free to do so. We are not excluding anybody. “Altogether, we have 10 positions zoned to the North. We have simply agreed on a consensus for the chairmanship position,” he said.

Source: Legit

Whispers have been circulating regarding the prospects of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, casting doubts on his intentions for the 2027 election. A new development has surfaced.

Obi has been grappling to secure the Presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a situation complicated by the ambitions of Atiku Abubakar. The atmosphere among coalition members suggests a wavering commitment to granting the ticket to Obi, heightening concerns about his future political aspirations.

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These uncertainties have fueled rampant speculation surrounding his ambitions for 2027, intensified by the Labour Party’s explicit announcement that Obi will not be the party’s nominee in the upcoming election cycle.

However, a source close to the former Governor of Anambra State has hinted at a bold and strategic maneuver. There are indications that Obi is considering adopting an already established party, albeit one that currently lacks prominence, to mount a spirited campaign against formidable rivals like Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the race for the presidency in 2027.

A source, who requested to remain anonymous, indicated that the former governor is contemplating making a significant address to the Obidient Movement. In this upcoming speech, he may outline his recommendations on which political party to endorse as the movement prepares for the crucial 2027 elections.

“His Excellency, Peter Obi, has not dropped any hope of contesting in 2027; as a matter of fact, political stakeholders are meeting tirelessly to ensure he becomes the next president in 2027. Peter Obi wants the best for Nigeria as a country and the youths who have been supporting his political career. He will contest but on the existing party. There are three parties, but likely to be the Zenith Labour Party, but the likes of Action Peoples Party and African Action Congress are under consideration.”

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A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, says the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has now become a new haven for fugitives fleeing from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Babachir made this statement during the ADC stakeholders’ meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, declaring that both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would be defeated in the 2027 general elections.

The National Vice Chairman of the ADC accused the APC of being delusional, claiming that its only mantra was to write election results even before elections begin.

“This is pure delusion because it will not happen. Nigerians will back us to frustrate any criminal manipulation of the 2027 election results,” he stated.

The ex-SGF, however, warned that not every politician defecting from other parties would be accepted into the ADC, lest they corrupt its ideals with attitudes imbibed from their corrupt, undemocratic home parties.

He described the ADC as a party of visionaries and patriots who are fed up with the direction of the country under the leadership of the PDP and APC.

“Every patriotic Nigerian now understands that our country has reached the edge of a cliff. The ADC offers Nigerians an opportunity to make a U-turn, recalibrate, and redirect our governance toward a progressive, people-centric system,” he stated.

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