Politics
Ekiti poll controversy deepens as SDP accuses INEC of frustrating opposition participation
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A fresh controversy has engulfed the Ekiti State governorship election less than 24 hours before voters head to the polls, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of actions it claims are capable of undermining the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
The opposition party on Friday alleged that despite officially receiving access credentials from INEC to upload its polling unit agents, the electoral umpire failed to activate the portal required for the exercise, effectively preventing the party from deploying agents across polling units in the state.
The allegation comes amid growing political tension and follows the circulation of reports claiming that the SDP had withdrawn from Saturday’s governorship election—claims the party has strongly dismissed as false, malicious and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP insisted that its candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade, remains the duly nominated and INEC-recognised governorship candidate and is fully participating in the election.
The party described reports of its withdrawal as a calculated attempt to mislead voters, suppress support for the SDP and create confusion ahead of the poll.
However, it was the party’s allegations against INEC that drew the strongest reaction.
Questioning the Commission’s handling of its polling agents’ accreditation process, the SDP asked why access credentials were issued if the party would ultimately be denied the opportunity to use them.
“Why issue access codes if there was never any intention to permit their use?” the party queried.
It further argued that denying a recognised political party the ability to deploy agents across polling units raises serious questions about fairness, transparency and equal participation in the electoral process.
The SDP warned that any election conducted under circumstances where opposition parties are allegedly prevented from effectively monitoring the voting process risks losing public confidence and legitimacy.
Political analysts say the allegations could heighten concerns over the management of the election if the issues raised are not promptly clarified by the electoral commission.
The development has also intensified scrutiny of the governorship contest, with stakeholders closely watching whether INEC will respond to the claims before voting begins.
The SDP maintained that Ambassador Alade’s participation in the INEC-sponsored Peace Accord and his inclusion among recognised candidates remain incontrovertible evidence that the party is actively contesting the election.
As Ekiti voters prepare to decide who governs the state for the next four years, the latest dispute has injected fresh uncertainty into an already closely watched election, placing INEC under pressure to address concerns over the integrity of the process and reassure stakeholders of a level playing field.
In a rare political development that has sent shockwaves through Sokoto State, the Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Isa Kalanjeni, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and simultaneously stepped down from his elected position as council chairman.
The twin resignations were contained in two separate letters made available to journalists in Sokoto on Tuesday.
In a letter dated May 5, 2026, addressed to the APC Ward Chairman of Kalanjeni Ward in Tangaza Local Government, Kalanjeni announced his immediate departure from the ruling party.
I wish to formally inform you of my decision to resign from the APC with immediate effect. This decision is borne out of purely personal reasons. I appreciate the opportunity given to me to be part of the party.”
Resignation from Office
In a separate letter dated July 7, 2026, addressed to the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kalanjeni formally resigned as Executive Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area with immediate effect.
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as Executive Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, effective immediately from today.”
Reasons Cited
The embattled chairman explained that the “difficult decision” followed extensive consultations with family, political associates, and community stakeholders.
He also cited administrative constraints, stating:
“Due to recent unavoidable administrative challenges, I find that I am no longer able to execute the responsibilities of this office to the high standard expected of me.”
Despite the abrupt exit, Kalanjeni expressed appreciation to the people of the council:
“I am incredibly grateful to the electorate, the council’s legislative arm, and the entire staff for the privilege and opportunity to serve our people. I wish the incoming leadership and administration continued success.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is on course to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) July 11 deadline for the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.
A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the upload of candidates’ details was at an advanced stage, with the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate expected to be uploaded by the middle of the week.
“We are progressing smoothly with the uploading of the details of our National Assembly candidates,” the source said.
“We hope that on or before next Wednesday, we shall upload the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate. We are completely sure of meeting the July 11 deadline for uploading all our candidates on the INEC portal.”
Checks at the APC’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department at the Muhammadu Buhari House headquarters in Abuja on Sunday indicated that the party’s technical team has continued to interface with the INEC portal without disruption.
Sources in the department said the details of most principal officers of the 10th National Assembly and several serving lawmakers had already been uploaded.
They added that the details of four serving governors — AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State — had also been uploaded to the INEC portal.
The race to meet the deadline followed a review of the party’s primary elections. The APC recently submitted a revised list of candidates to INEC after the NWC removed six senatorial and 19 House of Representatives candidates who had earlier emerged from the party’s May primaries.
The changes affected constituencies in Abia, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger and Kwara states and followed the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The revised list was forwarded to INEC in a letter jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party received more than 700 petitions from aggrieved members after the conclusion of its primaries.
“The party received over 700 petitions from aggrieved members following the conclusion of our shadow elections,” Morka said.
He declined to state when the final list of candidates would be released publicly, saying the party’s immediate focus was to ensure compliance with INEC’s nomination requirements.
“Our absolute immediate priority right now is ensuring that our designated candidates properly complete and return their Form EC9 nomination documents for upload ahead of the strict INEC deadline, rather than focusing on the public release of the list,” he said.
Despite the changes made by the appeal committee, the final list submitted to INEC retained many of the party’s leading figures, including four serving governors who secured the party’s tickets to contest Senate seats in the 2027 general elections.
Lawmaker representing the Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, has officially resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His resignation was contained in a letter dated July 2, 2026, and addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman in Galadimawa Ward, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The lawmaker attributed his decision to the party’s lingering internal crisis and protracted legal disputes at the national level.
In the letter sighted on Sunday by our correspondent, Onawo said his resignation takes effect from June 15, 2026.
The lawmaker said the persistent internal wrangling and legal battles within the party made it difficult for him to pursue the developmental mandate entrusted to him by the electorate.
“It is driven by my firm belief that the prevailing circumstances within the current party structure and the endless legal battles it is currently embroiled in no longer provide the cohesion, support, and enabling environment for me to focus squarely on effectively representing my constituents and to fully realise the developmental and progressive mandate they entrusted to me,” he said.
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