The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has pledged to at least double the votes secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election during the 2027 general elections.

The party also emphasised the need to reciprocate the support given by Tinubu, whom it credited with creating political platforms for members across the board to thrive, as well as driving monumental development through the creation of additional council areas in the state.

The State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, gave the assurance during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected state executives held at the party secretariat in Acme, Ogba, Lagos. Ojelabi said the executives were assuming office at a critical time as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections and the emergence of its candidates.

According to him, all eyes are on the new leadership, and the key question is whether they will strengthen the party’s achievements and sustain its dominance since 1999. He called for unity of purpose among party leaders, urging them to set aside factional interests and work collectively for the overall success of the party at the polls.

The APC chairman also advised members of the executive council to regularly attend ward and local government meetings, stressing that the party must operate as one family in order to secure victory in 2027. Ojelabi further assured that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, would provide an enabling environment to boost the party’s performance in the forthcoming elections.

Meanwhile, 37 executive members of the party were endorsed during the recently conducted State Congress held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has strongly condemned the move by the Kano State House of Assembly to impeach the state’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, describing the action as a politically motivated attempt to undermine the mandate freely given by voters.

In a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said the development reflects what he described as desperate tactics by political actors determined to wrest control of the state through means other than the ballot box.

Johnson alleged that the deputy governor was being targeted because of his refusal to abandon the party and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing some political figures of betraying the mandate given to the NNPP by the people of Kano State during the 2023 elections.

According to him, the impeachment process being initiated in the state assembly is a calculated move aimed at facilitating what he termed a political takeover of the state’s mandate by the APC.

“This is not just about one individual. What we are witnessing is an attempt to undermine the will of the people of Kano who voted for the NNPP,” Johnson said, adding that the party views the process as a political manoeuvre disguised as a constitutional procedure.

The NNPP reaffirmed its support for the deputy governor and the electorate in Kano State, insisting that the mandate given to the party in the 2023 Nigerian general election remains valid for the four-year term.

The party also urged residents of the state to remain calm despite what it described as a major provocation.

Johnson further warned that political actors involved in what he termed the subversion of the electorate’s mandate would ultimately be held accountable by voters in future elections.

He stressed that while legislators may wield authority within the assembly, the ultimate power rests with the people through the ballot box.

“The NNPP remains firm and undeterred,” the statement concluded.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has raised serious concerns over certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that political parties may boycott the 2027 general elections if the National Assembly fails to amend what it described as problematic sections of the law.

The warning was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the IPAC General Assembly meeting held on February 26 at the council’s national secretariat in Abuja.

In the statement jointly signed by IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf M. Dantalle, and National Secretary, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, the council acknowledged the efforts made in enacting the Electoral Act 2026, which was intended to address shortcomings observed in the Electoral Act 2022. However, it expressed concern that some provisions in the new law could undermine the development of political parties and weaken Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

According to IPAC, certain sections of the Act are inconsistent with its guiding objective of deepening democracy in Nigeria and may limit the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs.

One of the council’s major objections is the exclusion of indirect primaries under Section 84(2) of the Act. IPAC argued that the removal of indirect primaries infringes on the constitutional right of political parties to determine how they select candidates for elections.

The council stressed that judicial precedents in Nigeria have consistently affirmed the autonomy of political parties in administering their internal affairs, including the process of nominating candidates.

IPAC also recalled its role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process during the tense period surrounding the collation of results in the 2023 presidential election, when it said the council resisted attempts by some actors to disrupt the democratic order.

Given the current situation, IPAC said it would draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community—including the United Nations, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and diplomatic missions such as the United States and United Kingdom embassies—to its concerns.

The council maintained that urgent amendments to the Electoral Act are necessary to ensure that the 2027 general elections are free, fair, credible, and inclusive. It also stated that it reserves the right to challenge some provisions of the Act in court.

IPAC warned that if the National Assembly fails to address the identified issues, political parties under its umbrella may boycott the 2027 general elections and reject the outcome as illegitimate.

Among the key areas IPAC wants amended is the restoration of indirect primaries, which it said should remain an option for political parties in selecting candidates.

The council also called for the removal of the requirement for party members to provide their National Identification Number (NIN), arguing that the provision could disenfranchise many Nigerians who do not yet possess the identification number.

It further demanded the expungement of Sections 77(4), (5), (6), and (7) of the Act, stating that the provisions infringe on citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of association.

Another major demand is the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of election results after their announcement at polling units. IPAC noted that the absence of this provision was a major flaw during the 2023 presidential election and should not be repeated.

The council also advocated stronger penalties for vote buying, describing it as one of the most serious electoral malpractices that undermine the credibility of elections.

In addition, IPAC called for the restoration of the presentation of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions. According to the council, removing this provision creates an opportunity for individuals with questionable credentials to hold public office and undermines the integrity of the democratic process.

It urged the National Assembly to align the Electoral Act with constitutional provisions that disqualify individuals with forged credentials from holding elective offices, warning that failure to do so could lead to avoidable legal disputes and damage Nigeria’s democratic image.