Nigeria's new Electoral Act challenges political defection ahead of 2027 elections
via Punch Nigeria9 min read
Nigeria's political landscape is undergoing a significant shift as the April 2026 deadline for submitting digital party membership registers approaches, impacting the 2027 general elections. For decades, Nigerian politicians have frequently switched parties, often without seeking a fresh mandate from voters. This practice, fueled by ambition and perceived strategic necessity, has been criticized for undermining the electoral process and turning parties into temporary lodgings rather than stable institutions. Notable figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and several state governors, including Dave Umahi, Ben Ayade, and Bello Matawalle, have previously moved between parties, often citing various reasons such as seeking federal connections or addressing internal party issues. However, the new Electoral Act 2026 aims to curb this trend. Section 77 mandates parties to maintain digital membership registers linked to the National Identification Number, to be submitted to INEC at least 30 days before primaries. Once submitted, these registers are frozen, preventing late entries or emergency adoptions. Additionally, Section 115 criminalizes multiple nominations, and Section 33 limits substitutions to cases of death or voluntary withdrawal. This legislation has created a "Freeze Zone," causing panic among politicians who relied on fluid allegiances. The Supreme Court's reserved rulings on leadership crises within parties like the PDP and ADC further complicate matters, leaving aspira
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Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo. This demand follows alleged defamatory statements made by Okonkwo during a television interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Monday, June 8. Obi's lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme SAN, sent a letter dated June 9, 2026, accusing Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations. These allegations, subsequently published by various media, included claims that Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants, that Obi compiled candidate lists from a hotel room, and that he was involved in criminal activities and collecting money from people abroad. Obi's legal team stated these remarks falsely portrayed him as engaging in bribery, extortion, fraud, and criminal conduct, describing the allegations as "false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact." They have given Okonkwo seven days to withdraw the statements, publish an "unequivocal and unreserved" apology with similar prominence, and pay the N5 billion for damages to Obi's reputation. Failure to comply will result in legal action, including claims for damages and injunctive reliefs. In response, Okonkwo dismissed the demand on his X handle, stating he had not yet read the letter and suggesting Obi was seeking campaign funds. He warned that any
Must ReadTwelve people were killed in a mass shooting at an informal settlement near Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday night. South African police reported that more than 10 armed individuals arrived in a vehicle, stormed the settlement, and opened fire on residents at multiple locations before fleeing. Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi stated that eight adult males and three adult females were pronounced dead at the scene, with one additional person dying later in the hospital. The incident occurred in Cleveland, approximately six kilometers east of Johannesburg city center. The motive for the attack is currently unknown, and no arrests have been made. This event is the latest in a country that experiences a high rate of homicides daily, often linked to gang rivalry and competition among informal businesses.
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