The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected 64 petitions filed by political parties over the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates’ lists, following a review that also led to the removal of some candidates.

The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, on October 30, 2026.

INEC said 12 political parties filed 69 petitions across 26 states over governorship candidates.

It approved 41 of the complaints but dismissed 28.

For the State Houses of Assembly elections, 61 petitions were submitted by 11 political parties across 11 states.

The commission upheld 25 and rejected 36.

The complaints involved political parties allegedly omitted from the lists, candidates whose names were included despite not appearing in their parties’ membership registers, and cases of multiple nominations.

Following its review, INEC approved the inclusion of candidates and parties whose complaints were justified.

It also removed names that were wrongly published and candidates whose nominations did not meet legal requirements.

The commission said the revised lists would be published on its website, with details of the affected candidates, political parties and states.

“The Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process,” the statement added.

A media team member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Segun Showunmi, has revealed why the North-Central geopolitical zone has not produced a president in Nigeria.

Speaking during a political event in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday, Showunmi said the region has been left behind because of division among its leaders.

According to him, North-Central has qualified and capable leaders but they have failed to unite and present a common front to demand the presidency.

He said other zones like North-West, South-West and South-South have produced presidents because their leaders were united and spoke with one voice.

“North-Central has not produced president because of disunity. Our leaders are not united. That is why we have been left behind,” Showunmi said.

He called on the people of the North-Central to come together and speak with one voice to enable the zone produce a president in the near future.

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has confirmed Nigeria’s Samson Adamu as its substantive General Secretary,

Adamu made history as the first Nigerian to occupy the post in the organisation’s 70-year history.

The football administrator, who is the son of Amosu Adamu, a former member of the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, Executive Committee previously occupied the role in acting capacity.

He was named as CAF’s Acting General Secretary on Sunday, 29 March

2026 following the resignation of Swiss-Congolese Veron Mosengo-Omba.

Adamu has previously served as CAF’s Director of Competitions and Director of Tournaments and Events.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has already congratulated him on his appointment.

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme is optimistic Adamu will make the country proud.

The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, has resigned from his position.

This is following his nomination by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for appointment as a commissioner.

Malumfashi announced his resignation during a farewell address to commissioners and staff of the electoral commission, where he expressed gratitude for their cooperation and support throughout his time in office.

In a statement issued by Bashir Habib Yahya, his media aide, the outgoing chairman appreciated the commission’s staff and commissioners for their contributions to the successful conduct of the 2024 local government elections in the state.

He acknowledged their commitment to the commission’s work and urged them to maintain the same spirit of cooperation with whoever takes over the leadership.

“I urge you all to extend the same cooperation and support to the incoming leadership to ensure that the commission continues to carry out its responsibilities smoothly.

“I also seek forgiveness from anyone I may have offended in the course of my service, as I hold no grudges against anyone,” he said.

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has reacted to allegations that he ordered the denial of a private facility to the Obi-Kwankwaso movement for its town hall meeting in the state, describing the claim as false.

Mbah described the allegation as false, insisting that he did not issue any such directive.

The governor disclosed this in a post on his Facebook handle while reacting to a video circulating on social media platforms over the alleged incident.

Recall that Princess Ada Ogbu, the Enugu East senatorial candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, had raised the alarm over alleged attempts to prevent the meeting, which is expected to feature former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

In a video circulating online, Ogbu alleged, “They are trying to stop Peter Obi’s town hall meeting in Enugu State for political reasons. It can never happen. We paid N3.5 million for the hall and an additional N500,000 for the outside space, but now they are trying to prevent us.”

However, reacting to the allegation, Mbah said he had no involvement in the reported development.

He said “My attention has just been drawn to a video circulating on some social media platforms, alleging that I gave an order denying a political party use of a private facility for their town hall event. This is preposterous and utter falsehood, because I did not.”

Mbah accused the opposition of adopting a desperate pattern to attract public attention.

He acknowledged that democracy guarantees freedom of expression but maintained that such freedom does not give anyone the right to defame others.

“Democracy also offers avenues to seek redress. So, let it be known that there are redlines that should never be crossed,” the governor added.

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has demanded an independent investigation into suspected AI-generated photographs and questionable records in the preliminary voter register released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso questioned how the suspicious images entered the register and whether the identities linked to the records were properly verified.

In a statement shared on X, Kwankwaso said INEC’s decision to investigate the matter was welcome but insisted that the probe must be transparent and conducted independently of the commission.

“The investigation must be thorough, transparent and independent,” he said, demanding that the findings be made public and anyone found culpable be held accountable under the law.

Nigeria National League, NNL, side Eko United have completed the signing of experienced forward Olalere Dauda,

The Uga Boys announced Dauda’s arrival at an unveiling ceremony in Lagos.

Dauda previously featured for NNL side Osun United.

He has also played for Crown FC, Ekiti United, Gateway United, Abia Comets and Gombe United in the past.

His arrival is expected to add experience and firepower to Eko United’s attack.

Eko United will be making their maiden appearance in the second-tier league.

The new season will start on Sunday, November 1st.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, has responded to criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fresh $21.7 billion external borrowing request, describing the proposed loans as an investment in the country.

Oyedele made the remarks on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

His comments come amid growing criticism of Tinubu’s request to the Senate for approval to secure fresh external loans.

Among those leading the opposition to the borrowing plan is former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had urged the Senate not to approve Tinubu’s loan request.

Reacting to the criticism, Oyedele explained that the proposed borrowing was intended to fund investments rather than merely increase the country’s debt burden.

According to him, the loans would finance productive investments capable of driving economic growth and improving Nigerians’ living standards.

“This is investment, not borrowing,” he said.

He added that the proposed financing should be assessed based on the assets it would create and their expected economic returns, rather than being viewed simply as an addition to Nigeria’s debt burden.

Oyedele further disclosed that transportation infrastructure accounts for about $10.6 billion under the proposed borrowing plan.

He said the allocation would cover major projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry and Lagos-Calabar highways, as well as the Kano-Kaduna rail project.