Atiku: If You Elect Me in 2027, I Will End Election Rigging in Nigeria

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has outlined a series of electoral and economic reforms he says he would pursue if elected president in 2027.

Atiku made the commitments on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the ADC national headquarters during an address marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

He said improving the credibility of elections would be a priority under his proposed administration, with plans to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ensure that results from polling units are published promptly.

The former vice president also pledged to prosecute individuals involved in vote buying or the manipulation of election results, regardless of their political affiliation.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, Atiku urged Nigerians to take steps to protect their votes and resist intimidation. He also advised voters to examine the candidates and their programmes carefully, arguing that campaign promises should be backed by measurable plans.

“The coming election offers us a peaceful way to choose our course. This country is yours,” he said.

Turning to the economy, Atiku promised to pursue policies aimed at making food, petrol and electricity more affordable, while improving healthcare, education and transportation.

He also listed insecurity, unemployment and transparency in public spending among the issues his proposed administration would address.

On petrol, Atiku proposed a budgeted and capped subsidy for products refined locally, including petrol from modular refineries, while excluding imported fuel from the arrangement.

He said the proposed framework would help lower the pump price of petrol for consumers.

“We will publish the costs, independently audit the payments and cut government waste to help fund the programme,” he stated.

Atiku also raised concerns over the application of the law in some cases, citing the detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Malam Nasir El-Rufai as examples he said raised questions about due process.

He further maintained that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s right to appeal his conviction should be respected.

The ADC presidential candidate called on Nigerians to demand greater accountability from elected officials, particularly in relation to government budgets, project implementation and governance.

He said his proposed administration would prioritise economic relief, public safety, job creation and the protection of democratic institutions.

AAC Lagos West Chapter Disowns Circulated Suspension Notice, Says Some-Fun Remains Candidate

The Lagos West Senatorial District chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has distanced itself from a recently circulated publication announcing the suspension of Comrade Alfred O. Some-Fun and the withdrawal of his candidacy for the Lagos West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a press release signed by Comr. Ayinde Olawale, Deputy Chairman of the Lagos West Senatorial District of the AAC, the chapter said the circulated publication should not be regarded as an official position or communication of the party pending proper clarification and confirmation through its appropriate structures.

The chapter advised members of the public, party members, supporters, candidates and other stakeholders to disregard any unverified information concerning the purported suspension or withdrawal of Some-Fun’s candidacy until an official statement is issued by the duly authorised party leadership.

The statement further maintained that Some-Fun remains the AAC candidate for the Lagos West Senatorial District for the 2027 general election, pending any duly authorised communication through the party’s appropriate channels.

The Lagos West chapter said the AAC remains committed to due process, internal party procedures, discipline, transparency, accountability and respect for the established structures of the party.

It also urged party members, supporters and members of the public to rely solely on official communications from the appropriate party authorities and refrain from circulating unverified information capable of creating confusion, misunderstanding or division.

“Any further clarification, where necessary, will be communicated through the appropriate official channels,” the statement said.

The development comes after a separate statement purportedly announcing the immediate suspension of Some-Fun and withdrawal of his candidacy was circulated publicly.

The latest press release, however, says that publication should not be treated as an official communication pending clarification through the AAC’s authorised structures.

Sowore Questions Tinubu’s Absence From UNGA, Alleges President Is Receiving Treatment in France

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, alleging that the President is receiving medical treatment in France.

Sowore made the claims in a post on X while reacting to Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the UN General Assembly, where Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation.

The Presidency has described Tinubu’s European trip as an annual leave and working vacation. Official statements also show that the President held engagements in Paris, including a meeting with businessman Vincent Bolloré and a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on September 18.

However, Sowore disputed the official explanation, alleging that Tinubu was receiving treatment in France rather than simply taking a vacation.

“There is something inherently wrong with Nigeria,” Sowore wrote, before questioning what he described as the President’s activities in Paris and his absence from the UN General Assembly.

Sowore also alleged that Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UN gathering was connected to what he described as fears that the United States government could order his arrest over what he referred to as a past drug-dealing case.

He did not provide evidence in his post establishing that Tinubu is currently receiving medical treatment in France or that U.S. authorities plan to arrest the President.

The allegation about a possible U.S. arrest has previously been disputed. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, said the Nigerian mission had received no notification from the U.S. government indicating restrictions on Tinubu and argued that representatives attending UN activities have protections under the UN-U.S. Headquarters Agreement.

Sowore further criticised supporters of the administration, accusing them of accepting what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the President’s activities.

He compared the situation with controversies surrounding the overseas medical treatment of former presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that Nigeria had previously witnessed secrecy and carefully managed public appearances around presidential health matters.

The Presidency has not publicly stated that Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France. Its recent official statements have instead described his activities in Paris as part of his working vacation.

Sowore concluded his post by calling for what he described as freedom from the practices and mentality that, in his view, sustain the current political system.

The comments come as Nigeria prepares for the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly, with Vice President Shettima representing the country at the gathering in New York.

Sowore Says AAC Will Not Join Utomi-Led Talks for Single 2027 Opposition Candidate

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has said neither he nor his party is participating in talks being led by Professor Pat Utomi to produce a single opposition presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

Sowore made the position known in a public statement on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after reports emerged that a Political Commission led by Utomi would hold consultations with selected opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders.

The Movement for Credible Elections, MCE, said the consultations were part of efforts to facilitate an opposition coalition around a single presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Sowore was among the candidates listed for engagement.

“For the avoidance of doubt, neither I nor the African Action Congress (@AACParty) is part of these talks, and we will not be joining any such coalition,” Sowore said.

He said the AAC represented what he described as a fundamentally different political and ideological direction, arguing that its programme was based on ideological clarity rather than what he called political convenience and elite horse-trading.

Sowore also said the AAC could not enter a coalition with what he described as the political establishment it had consistently opposed.

He alleged that politicians presenting themselves as alternatives had, at different times, operated within the APC, PDP, Labour Party and other political formations that, in his view, had failed Nigerians.

Sowore further said his opposition extended beyond President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to what he described as the broader political system and governing practices responsible for Nigeria’s challenges.

These characterisations of the political establishment and its record were made by Sowore as part of his explanation for rejecting the proposed coalition.

He said the AAC would instead pursue what he described as a “revolutionary break” from the existing political order, with a programme centred on social and economic justice, equal rights, accountable government and redistribution of political and economic power.

“We will not abandon that program for an arrangement whose principal objective is simply to replace one set of establishment politicians with another,” he said.

The MCE Political Commission, chaired by Utomi, is expected to hold closed-door meetings with shortlisted opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders before a tactical session scheduled to take place in Ibadan. 

The candidates listed for consultation include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and Sowore of the AAC.

The commission says its consultations are intended to address disagreements that have affected previous attempts to form a united opposition platform.

Sowore, however, maintained that the AAC would not participate in the proposed coalition.

“The AAC is different. We know what we stand for, and we know the Nigeria we are fighting to build,” he said.

Ogun APC Has No Definite Governorship Candidate Yet, Says Aspirant Abayomi Hunye

Abayomi Semako Hunye, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, has claimed that the party does not yet have a legally established candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Hunye made the statement during an interview on Arise News, where he discussed the process through which the party should select its governorship candidate.

According to the aspirant, the people of Ogun State should be aware that the question of who will represent the APC in the governorship election remains subject to legal and procedural processes.

“The people of Ogun State should be aware that, as far as the court is concerned, the APC does not have a definite governorship candidate yet,” Hunye said.

He alleged that a candidate had been imposed on the party, arguing that the APC must follow the procedures prescribed by law in selecting its candidate.

“They imposed a candidate on us, but there are procedures prescribed by law,” he said.

Hunye further alleged that none of the aspirants who purchased the party’s governorship nomination forms was invited to participate in the process he was referring to.

He argued that the nomination process should comply with the procedures provided by law, including options such as consensus and an open ballot.

“Under the consensus arrangement, only those who purchased the nomination form become aspirants, and they must agree in writing before the process can be concluded,” he said.

According to Hunye, the participation of those who obtained the nomination forms is therefore important to the legitimacy of any consensus arrangement.

His comments come amid discussions within the Ogun State APC over the process for selecting the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

The claims made during the interview represent Hunye’s position on the party’s nomination process.

2027: INEC Urges Traditional Rulers to Mobilise Voters, Promote Peaceful Campaigns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to use their influence to encourage voter participation and promote peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace in Lagos.

The visit formed part of INEC’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session, which marks the beginning of the Commission’s nationwide engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said the South-West was selected to begin the exercise because of the strategic role played by Lagos and the region in Nigeria’s electoral and democratic processes.

According to him, the exercise is designed not only to assess the Commission’s operational preparedness but also to engage key stakeholders whose support can contribute to increased participation and peaceful elections.

The INEC Chairman formally informed the Oba of Lagos of the dates fixed for the 2027 General Election.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

Amupitan said INEC was working towards delivering a technologically driven, transparent and inclusive election, with continued improvements to its electoral processes, including online voter registration and result management.

However, he stressed that technology alone would not be sufficient to guarantee a successful electoral process.

“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” the INEC Chairman said, stressing the importance of citizens taking ownership of the democratic process through active participation.

He urged traditional rulers to use their moral authority to mobilise eligible Nigerians to complete the required voter registration processes and collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the statutory deadlines.

Amupitan also appealed to the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council to support efforts to ensure that political campaigns ahead of the election remain focused on issues and policies.

He urged traditional rulers to discourage politicians and their supporters from engaging in character assassination, hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric and campaigns of calumny.

The INEC Chairman said political actors should concentrate on presenting their policies and programmes to voters rather than attacking opponents, warning that the preservation of peace in Lagos and across Nigeria should take priority over political ambitions.

He also said the Commission’s nationwide readiness assessment was intended to ensure that INEC personnel remain professional, neutral and impartial in carrying out their responsibilities.

According to him, INEC had already engaged Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers and Heads of Departments across the South-West, reminding them of the laws and regulations governing the conduct of elections.

Amupitan said the Commission remained committed to delivering a 2027 election capable of strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and contributing to national unity.

Responding, the Oba of Lagos welcomed INEC’s decision to commence its zonal readiness assessment in Lagos and expressed optimism about the Commission’s leadership under Amupitan.

The monarch urged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, firm and committed to their responsibilities.

Akiolu also called on politicians to move away from short-term patronage and focus instead on genuine capacity building and policies that improve the lives of citizens.

The monarch similarly backed the call for issue-based campaigns, urging political actors to avoid hate speech and inflammatory statements during the election season.

He called on traditional rulers to continue guiding their communities and encouraging eligible citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

Akiolu also appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate and timely funding for the 2027 elections, stressing that INEC should receive the resources required to effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

The meeting with the Oba of Lagos preceded INEC’s wider engagements across the South-West as the electoral body intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.

President Tinubu Begins Three-Week Vacation, Heads to Europe Ahead of 2027 Campaign

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to leave Abuja on Sunday for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu’s first destination will be London, United Kingdom.

The President is expected to spend the period on what the Presidency described as a working vacation before returning to Nigeria.

His return is expected to coincide with preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the President scheduled to join the campaign activities ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.

The Presidency did not disclose further details about Tinubu’s itinerary or the specific activities planned for his three-week stay in Europe.

The President’s departure comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with various political parties and presidential contenders already stepping up their campaigns.

Tinubu, who is seeking another term in office, is expected to resume his official and political engagements upon his return to Nigeria.

The announcement of the President’s vacation was contained in a statement signed by Onanuga and dated August 30, 2026.