Yiaga Africa has confirmed that the official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election align with its independent tally, but raised concerns over widespread vote buying and discrepancies in voter turnout figures. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the election observer group said its Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology showed that INEC’s declared results were consistent with ballots counted at polling units across the state. Yiaga Africa commended INEC for improvements in election logistics and administration, including the early deployment of materials and personnel, prompt accreditation and voting processes,…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the outcome of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the exercise over alleged electoral irregularities. In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Joseph, the NDC alleged that its logo was omitted from official election materials despite being a duly registered political party participating in the poll. The party claimed that although a logo appeared on the ballot paper, it did not belong to the NDC, a development it said may have confused voters…
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has appealed to party chieftain, Chief Bode George, to return to what it described as the party’s mainstream leadership structure in order to strengthen the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections. The appeal was made by the State Organising Secretary of the faction, Hakeem Olalemi, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday. George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, is aligned with the National Working Committee led by Dr…
The internal crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has deepened, with a delegation loyal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq set to meet the party’s national leadership in Abuja over the controversy surrounding the emergence of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The move follows a petition reportedly submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by 10 governorship aspirants who rejected the primary election that produced Salihu as the APC candidate. InfoStride News recalls that members of the party’s elders’ caucus in the state, led by Chief James Bamisaiye, alongside some…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on his re-election, describing the victory as a clear vote of confidence in continuity, stability and people-centred governance. Tinubu stated this in a congratulatory message following Oyebanji’s victory in Saturday’s governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the election. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the people of Ekiti State for their peaceful and orderly conduct during the election and for renewing…
The camp of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has explained why former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is yet to be officially unveiled as the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election. One of Atiku’s media aides, Abdulrasheed Shehu, said the delay was due to the former vice president’s current travel schedule. Shehu made the clarification in a post on X on Saturday amid speculation that all was not well within the ADC and that Amaechi had yet to accept the party’s offer to serve as running mate. Responding to the claims, Shehu dismissed…
Rights activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of turning a blind eye to vote-buying and other electoral malpractices during elections. Yesufu made the allegation on Saturday while reacting to reports of vote-buying during the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State. In a post on her X handle, the activist suggested that vote-buying should be decriminalised if authorities continue to fail in enforcing existing laws against the practice. According to her, law-abiding citizens are often disadvantaged in elections, while those involved in vote-buying allegedly gain political advantage.…
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described the ongoing by-election in the Ondo South Senatorial District as peaceful and orderly, expressing satisfaction with the level of voter turnout across the six local government areas participating in the exercise. The by-election is being conducted to fill the vacant seat left by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The election is taking place across Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo and Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government areas of the state. Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 05, Ward…
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the poll at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, citing challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and alleged voter intimidation. Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, Ugele/Arokun Ward, on Saturday, Oluyede said many eligible voters at his polling unit were yet to vote due to difficulties encountered with the BVAS. The PDP candidate also alleged incidents of voter harassment and intimidation in the ward. Despite his concerns,…
Director of the Abuja School of Social Thought and Politics, Sam Amadi, has said attacks against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, have failed to diminish his popularity because there are no credible allegations of corruption or scandal against him. Amadi made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday while reacting to a debate sparked by comments from actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, regarding Obi and his supporters. An X user, identified as @RealQueenBee, had referenced recent remarks by Okonkwo in which he allegedly threatened to release information that could damage Obi’s political career…
Many public schools in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, recorded low or zero attendance on Friday following a false alarm about an alleged bandits’ invasion raised by a woman on Thursday. A visit to several schools across the metropolis showed that although teachers and other school staff were present, classrooms remained largely empty as parents kept their children at home over security concerns. A parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she decided not to allow her children to attend school because the alarm had left her traumatised. Schools located in Oke-Oyi, Eleko-Afeyin, Zango-Kulende, Danialu and Agbabiaka communities were…
The Diaspora Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Osun State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately freeze bank accounts allegedly linked to a reported N13.7 billion ghost workers’ salary scheme in the state. The committee made the call in a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo by its Secretary, Tunmise Ajiboye. According to the group, a consultant engaged by the Osun State Government in 2023 to conduct a workforce audit allegedly uncovered irregular salary payments amounting to about N13.7 billion annually. The committee claimed that the audit revealed instances…
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has predicted a difficult re-election battle for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Momodu made the assertion during an interview on Nevon Media with Oseni Rufai on Friday, expressing confidence that the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has a strong chance of winning the election. According to him, Atiku would emerge victorious if he maintains a strong showing in the South while securing dominance in the North. “As I predicted, Atiku will win the majority of the North, and if he is able to compete favourably in the…
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed reports claiming that its governorship candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade, has withdrawn from the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday. The denial follows reports suggesting that Alade had stepped down from the race ahead of the election. However, the SDP described the report as false and fabricated, alleging that it was designed to mislead voters and distract the electorate ahead of the poll. According to the party, the withdrawal claim was linked…
Members of the Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused the Osun State Government of deliberately instigating crises over the control of local government councils in the state. Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Friday, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, speaking on behalf of the party, alleged that the state government had misinterpreted a recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in a manner capable of causing public disorder. Ogunsola explained that the suit, filed by reinstated APC chairmen and councillors on September 12, 2025,…
YIAGA Africa has alleged that food items and other inducements are being distributed ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026. The Head of Knowledge Management and Learning at the organisation, Safiya Bichi, made the claim during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday. According to Bichi, reports from the field indicate that various items are being shared with voters ahead of the election. “Items such as rice, money, Indomie, and various food products are being distributed, along with promises made ahead of the election,” she said. She noted that the competitiveness…
Activist and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has urged her supporters to remain focused on ensuring the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wins the 2027 general election and is sworn into office. Yesufu made the appeal in a message posted on her X handle on Thursday, calling on supporters to avoid distractions and concentrate on the party’s presidential campaign. According to her, discussions that do not relate to Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition should be disregarded for now. “My dear supporters, remember, we have moved on and focused on the bigger picture. “Any conversation that is not…
A fresh legal battle has emerged over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship primary in Benue State, as one of the aspirants, Chief Joseph Waya, has dragged the party’s governorship candidate, Herman Hembe, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the validity of his emergence. In the suit, Waya is seeking the nullification of the governorship primary allegedly conducted between May 22 and May 24, 2026, with the result declared on May 25. According to court documents, the plaintiff contended that the primary election was not conducted by the competent organ of the party as required by the ADC…
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to receive divine guidance in leading Nigeria and advancing the country’s development agenda. Umahi stated this on Thursday during an inspection tour of ongoing bridge projects in Lagos State, including the Carter Bridge, which is scheduled for reconstruction beginning next week. According to the minister, the Tinubu administration will continue to receive support in addressing the nation’s challenges, particularly insecurity. “The same God that brought him is going to be there to solve all the problems,” Umahi said. He appealed to Nigerians to support and…
The Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned aspirants and party stakeholders against purchasing nomination forms through unauthorized channels, stressing that the sale of such forms has not yet commenced. The warning was contained in a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Agile Ordedoo Bem, on behalf of the State Chairman, Mr. Ohini Ojegbe. The party urged aspirants who had earlier purchased intent and expression of interest forms and participated in the primary election process to remain patient pending further directives from the party leadership. According to the statement, only intent and expression of interest…