Political Tensions Rise Ahead of 2027 Elections in Nigeria

Nigeria's political scene is heating up as parties ramp up plans for the 2027 general elections. There are disputes over who leads the opposition parties and how they mobilize for campaigns.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is looking at its next legal options after getting a certified copy of a court ruling that canceled its leadership structure and decisions. This includes the process that named former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

The ADC has also accused the Kaduna State Government of blocking its political activities, a claim the state government has denied.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has condemned attacks on political gatherings nationwide. They called on security agencies to arrest those behind the violence. This statement follows reports of incidents in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe states, as well as a disruption of a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate

ADC Receives Court Ruling, Plans Next Steps

The ADC has received the certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgement that canceled its leadership structure. This forces the party to think about its next legal steps as the 2027 elections approach.

The party got the document on Wednesday, 11 November, just six days after Justice Peter Lifu made the ruling in Abuja. The court nullified the National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark. The judge said the process that led to its formation did not meet the rules set out in the Electoral Act.

The ruling also affected decisions made by the committee, including how Atiku Abubakar became the party's presidential candidate.

In a key finding, Justice Lifu rejected a resignation letter supposedly written by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former Deputy National Chairman. He compared the signature on the letter with those on Gombe's sworn statements and found the letter unreliable.

The judge did not make Gombe the party’s National Chairman. He said Gombe's claim to automatically succeed was different from whether the Mark-led leadership was formed legally. The court told INEC to recognize Gombe as the only elected member of the party’s National Working Committee whose four-year term is still valid.

The ADC has rejected the court's findings. They insist they have the original resignation letter with Gombe's signature. Bolaji Abdullahi, the party's National Publicity Secretary, said they would appeal the judgement.

The ADC also accused the Kaduna State Government of blocking its political activities. They say the venue for a planned meeting between Atiku and Northern stakeholders was sealed off. This meeting was set for Thursday at the Arewa House in Kaduna.

In a statement on Wednesday, Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, accused the government of using public power to hinder opposition activities. Shaibu said they had chosen Arewa House for the meeting before the government closed it down.

The party linked this incident to a previous disagreement over its campaign activities in Sokoto. They claimed the ruling APC was limiting their ability to mobilize.

But the Kaduna State Government denied sealing Arewa House to stop the meeting. They called the accusation untrue and said it was an attempt to damage Governor Uba Sani’s reputation.

APC Speaks Out Against Violence at Political Events

The APC Presidential Campaign Council has condemned recent violence at political gatherings in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe states. They also mentioned the interruption of an NDC town hall meeting in Lagos.

In a statement released on Thursday and signed by spokesperson iDele Alake, the campaign council said attacks on political leaders and supporters from any party are unacceptable. "We have observed the recent spate of violent attacks at political gatherings across the country. The reported attacks in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe, and other incidents targeting supporters and leaders are condemnable," the statement read.

The council specifically condemned the disruption of the NDC’s town hall meeting in Lagos. They called on security agencies to stop further attacks and arrest those responsible. "We call on the security agencies to be more responsive and alert in preventing political violence of any type and ensure instigators and perpetrators are apprehended and punished in accordance with the law," Mr Alake stated.

The campaign council also urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to be careful and avoid actions that could lead to public disorder as the election season heats up. They asked candidates to focus on real issues affecting Nigerians rather than inciting violence.

The Lagos incident happened at the Classique Event Centre in the Oregun area. Suspected hoodlums reportedly invaded the venue and disrupted the event. This attack is part of a troubling trend of violence against political gatherings and supporters across the country.