The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed Nasiru Sule-Garo as its senatorial candidate for Kano North Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The affirmation followed the party’s decision to substitute Sunusi Danbatta as its substantive candidate for the senatorial election.

Usaini Mai-Riga, the Chairman of the party in Kano State disclosed this at a ceremony held at the party’s senatorial office on Sunday in Bichi.

He said the decision followed extensive consultations and consideration of Sule-Garo’s experience as a former member of the National Assembly.

Mai-Riga, who was represented by the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Bello Yandadi, said the affirmation marked the conclusion of the party’s internal process for selecting its candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

In his remarks, Danbatta described his withdrawal as voluntary and pledged his full support and cooperation to the candidate.

He promised to work for the success of NDC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Accepting the nomination, Sule-Garo pledged to carry all members of the party along and provide effective representation if elected.

He appealed to voters across the district to support his candidacy and the party’s political agenda.

Sule-Garo was a three-time member of the House of Representatives representing Gwarzo/Kabo Federal Constituency.

The State Organising Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sunusi Kwankwaso, said Sule-Garo’s candidacy would strengthen the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 election in Kano North.

Kwankwaso said the party’s campaign would focus on issues affecting constituents, including economic empowerment, agricultural development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and improved representation.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

It was a dark day for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Friday when the party’s local government chairman, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, reportedly slumped and died during a reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the council headquarters.

The meeting, convened by a former chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Funsho Olumoko was aimed at bringing together party stakeholders and leaders to promote unity and reconciliation within the APC ahead of the coming elections.

According to an eyewitness account, Solomon was actively participating in the meeting held at Iyara Town Hall when he suddenly slumped, throwing participants into confusion and panic.

Efforts were reportedly made to revive him and secure medical attention, but he was said to have died shortly afterwards in a hospital in Kabba, where he was rushed to.

The development sent shock waves through the gathering, with party leaders and other participants said to have been left devastated by the sudden death of the APC chairman.

The meeting came against the backdrop of recent efforts by APC leaders and stakeholders in Ijumu to address disagreements within the party and strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Our Correspondent gathered that earlier this month, APC stakeholders in the LGA had held a meeting in Iyara at which they endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for second terms.

The stakeholders had also called for greater unity among party members, although the earlier meeting was reportedly marked by disagreements over the leadership of the local government, where the deceased and some other top government functionaries were said to have walked out of the Local government council chairman.

Olumoko, who convened Friday’s meeting, was a former chairman of the Local Government and has previously been tasked by the Ijumu Consultative Forum with helping to unite political stakeholders in the area.

The meeting was expected to bring together selected political leaders, local government and ward executives, women and youth leaders as well as government appointees from Ijumu’s 15 wards, according to the earlier notice announcing the gathering.

The death of Solomon is expected to cast a fresh shadow over ongoing efforts to reconcile the various tendencies within the Ijumu APC, coming barely two weeks after party stakeholders publicly canvassed unity and support for the APC leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s sudden death had not been officially disclosed, while attempts to obtain an official statement from the party on the incident are ongoing.

From Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, has rejected the local government election being conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), describing the exercise as unconstitutional, legally defective and a violation of subsisting court judgments.

The party made its position known in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary and spokesperson, Darlington Peter Onwe, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The PDP alleged that the election could not be regarded as a genuine democratic exercise, claiming that the process was being conducted against the backdrop of previous court judgments nullifying local government elections in the state.

According to the party, the constitutional guarantee of democratically elected local government councils means that the conduct of a local government election must comply with the principles of democratic participation, political competition and the rule of law.

The opposition party cited Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils, as well as Section 14(2), which recognizes popular sovereignty and participation in government.

The PDP also relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Others, arguing that only democratically elected local government councils are constitutionally entitled to recognition and direct receipt of federal allocations.

The party further challenged the legality of the two-year tenure prescribed for local government chairmen and councillors under the Amended Ebonyi State Local Government Law No. 005, arguing that the provision is inconsistent with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on local government tenure.

It recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had, on August 25, 2022, nullified the local government election conducted in the state on July 30, 2022, over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and denial of a level playing field to contestants.

The PDP said the judgment was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, in May 2025, but alleged that EBSIEC nevertheless conducted another local government and council election on July 20, 2024.

According to the party, the 2024 election was also nullified by the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, on October 21, 2025, with the court allegedly sacking the 13 local government chairmen and 171 councillors elected through the exercise.

The party further claimed that the court restrained EBSIEC and the state government from conducting another local government election except in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, alleging that the order remained subsisting.

Describing the alleged conduct of another election despite the court order as a contempt of court and an assault on the rule of law, the PDP warned that any local government structure produced through what it described as a defective process could face legal and financial consequences.

The party also raised concerns over the possible impact of the dispute on federal allocations to the state’s 13 local government areas, citing the Supreme Court’s position on democratic legitimacy and local government funding.

The PDP called on EBSIEC to suspend the election and comply with all outstanding judicial pronouncements affecting local government administration in the state.

It also urged the Ebonyi State Government to amend the relevant local government law to bring the tenure of elected council officials into conformity with the Constitution and ensure what it described as transparent and verifiable participation by all registered political parties.

The party further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of the development and urged relevant federal agencies responsible for the administration of public funds to ensure compliance with applicable judicial decisions.

The PDP said it reserved its right to challenge the election in court and pursue contempt proceedings against individuals or authorities it believes proceeded with the exercise in conscious disregard of subsisting judicial pronouncements.

Onwe maintained that the party’s position was not merely political but was rooted in what he described as constitutional provisions, judicial precedents and the need to protect democracy and the rule of law in Ebonyi State.

The PDP spokesperson urged stakeholders to prioritize the interests of the people and ensure that local government administration in the state is anchored on a lawful, credible and genuinely democratic electoral process.