The Civic Action for Democracy (CAD) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately sustaining the deregistered Action Peoples Party (APP) to orchestrate political instability ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group said the commission’s conduct amounts to a calculated attempt to contaminate the electoral process and provoke a constitutional crisis.

Addressing journalists in Owerri, the Executive Director of CAD, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, said INEC’s continued recognition of APP was not an error but a pre-arranged operation by what he described as an “electoral cartel” working within and around the commission. According to him, APP ceased to exist in 2020 and was affirmed dead by the Supreme Court in 2022, making any further recognition of the party legally impossible.

Ngoforo accused INEC of misleading the public by claiming there was a subsisting court order stopping APP’s deregistration. He maintained that no such injunction was ever issued, and no judge in Nigeria delivered any ruling in favour of APP after its deregistration. He insisted that INEC’s explanation was a fabrication designed to keep the defunct party alive for ulterior motives.

He argued that even if such an injunction existed, interim orders in Nigerian jurisprudence do not survive beyond fourteen days unless renewed. According to him, the claim that a non-existent injunction has remained valid for six years is further proof that INEC’s explanation cannot withstand legal scrutiny.

The CAD director noted that concerns around APP’s status did not begin today. He recalled that in 2020, after the deregistration exercise, Lagos-based lawyer Eunice Atuejide had demanded evidence of the supposed court order. INEC, he said, failed to produce any documentation then and has continued to avoid addressing the matter transparently.

Ngoforo stated that the controversy resurfaced in 2024 when APP suddenly participated in a local election in Rivers State, despite its deregistration being upheld by the apex court. He said this development prompted another legal challenge from senior lawyer Barrister Ukpai Ukairo, who filed a suit demanding that INEC expunge APP from its register permanently.

According to him, the lawsuit has now exposed deeper internal compromise within INEC, revealing actors who are allegedly manipulating the commission’s systems to keep APP active for political purposes. He claimed that the illegal recognition of APP is being driven by a powerful political network, including a serving federal lawmaker and an influential INEC contractor.

Ngoforo cited the controversial councillorship seat reportedly awarded to APP in Jigawa in 2024 as further evidence that INEC was sustaining the party artificially. He said that seat “did not come from a legitimate electoral contest” but was created to give APP the appearance of political activity ahead of the 2027 elections.

He warned that the objective of this manoeuvre is to use APP’s illegality as grounds to challenge the credibility of the 2027 polls. According to him, the plan is to field APP candidates nationwide, wait for them to lose, and then secure a post-election ruling that INEC erred by allowing a deregistered party onto the ballot.

Ngoforo argued that such a ruling could be weaponised to discredit the entire election, triggering demands for cancellation or judicial intervention. He described the scheme as “a premeditated setup designed to manufacture chaos and throw Nigeria into avoidable turmoil.”

He warned that foreign-backed political actors may also leverage the APP controversy to push narratives of electoral illegitimacy, thereby igniting national tensions. According to him, countries like Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire had experienced major political breakdowns caused by similar manipulation of party lists and electoral procedures.

Ngoforo said the implications go beyond political competition and touch directly on national security. He called for urgent intervention by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the network sustaining APP.

He stressed that while the INEC Chairman did not originate the anomaly, the responsibility for restoring credibility now rests squarely on his shoulders. According to him, the commission must immediately declare APP deregistered, remove it from all records, and expose those responsible for keeping the party alive.

Ngoforo concluded that failure to act swiftly would confirm that a conspiracy to derail the 2027 elections is already underway. He said CAD and other pro-democracy groups will intensify pressure until INEC cleans up its system and restores public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his intention to mobilise political support in the state for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections, signalling a significant shift in the political dynamics of the state.

Fubara made the declaration following his decision to align with the All Progressives Congress, the ruling party at the federal level. He explained that the move was informed by the need for political stability, stronger collaboration with the Federal Government, and faster development for Rivers State.

According to the governor, he is confident that his political structure and grassroots influence across the state will ensure overwhelming support for President Tinubu in the next presidential election. He noted that aligning the state with the centre would help create a more harmonious political environment and improve governance outcomes.

Fubara further stated that cooperation between the Rivers State Government and the APC-led Federal Government would open doors for increased federal presence, infrastructural development, and economic opportunities in the state. He described his decision as one taken in the best interest of Rivers people.

The declaration has been welcomed by leaders and stakeholders of the APC, who view the governor’s move as a major boost to the party’s strength in the South-South region. They believe his involvement will significantly alter the political landscape of Rivers State, long regarded as a stronghold of the opposition.

Political analysts say the development reflects early positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, as parties and key actors seek to consolidate influence in strategic states. In Rivers, the governor’s pledge is expected to reshape alliances and intensify political activities as the election season approaches.

With Fubara’s vow to deliver Rivers State for President Tinubu, attention is now focused on how the unfolding political realignment will impact voter sentiment and electoral outcomes in the state ahead of 2027.

By Our Correspondent

The Peoples Democratic Party has announced the formation of caretaker committees for its chapters in Enugu, Delta and Rivers states, marking a new phase in the party’s effort to strengthen its internal structures and ensure effective administration ahead of upcoming political activities.

According to the party leadership, the decision follows the expiration of the tenures of the previous state executive committees and the need to maintain uninterrupted organizational stability. The newly appointed caretaker teams are expected to oversee party affairs, coordinate administrative functions and prepare the ground for fresh congresses that will eventually produce substantive state executives.

Party officials explained that the committees were selected to reflect broad representation, balance and experience, ensuring that the party remains cohesive during the transition period. They added that the appointments are part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, unity and strategic planning within the party.

The national leadership called on members in the affected states to cooperate fully with the caretaker committees. It assured them that the interim structures will work closely with stakeholders to sustain party activities, mediate internal disputes where necessary and strengthen engagement at the grassroots level.

The PDP restated its commitment to internal democracy and expressed confidence that the temporary leadership arrangements will support a smoother and more inclusive process as preparations continue for electoral and organizational programs across the country.