Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani is to face 17 other candidates in the 2027 governorship election, following the publication of particulars of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The full list of the gubernatorial candidates and their running mates for Kaduna State was yet to be pasted at the INEC office in Kaduna as of Monday.

INEC had on Saturday begun the publication of the personal particulars and credentials of gubernatorial candidates nominated by political parties.

Available reports indicate that 18 political parties have fielded candidates for the Kaduna governorship election, with Sani seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Some of the candidates whose names have so far been identified include Isa  Ashiru of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bawa Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammad Jamilu of Accord Party and Adamu Ahmed of the Action Alliance (AA).

Others are Tukur Rabiu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Idris Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aminu Abdulfatah of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Auwal Tafoki of the Labour Party (LP).

Sani is expected to run alongside Jerry Adams as his running mate.

Meanwhile, the complete identities of the remaining candidates and the deputy governorship candidates are still being awaited from the official INEC publication in Kaduna.

Public Relations Officer of INEC in Kaduna State, Ramatu Mohammad, said that the list had yet to be pasted at the commission’s office in Kaduna.

Mohammad appealed for patience, assuring that the publication would be carried out soon.

She said the public and journalists would have access to the details once the process was completed.

The development has heightened political activities in Kaduna, one of the key states expected to witness keen competition in the 2027 governorship election.

The publication of candidates’ particulars is part of the electoral process, allowing political parties, candidates and members of the public to scrutinise the information submitted to the electoral commission.

The full Kaduna list, particularly the identities of all deputy governorship candidates, is expected to provide a clearer picture of the emerging political alliances and calculations ahead of the elections.

From Yagana Ali, Yola

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, Ambassador (Engr.) Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, has strongly condemned what he described as an alleged attempt to replace him as the party’s governorship candidate through the backdoor.

Omarana, who addressed journalists in Yola at the weekend, expressed outrage over the alleged role of former Vice President and national leader of the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in moves to recognise another aspirant, Modibbo Tukur Ribadu, as the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

He insisted that he remains the duly elected candidate of the party following the governorship primary election, warning that no political leader, regardless of influence or national standing, has the right to overturn the decision freely made by party members.

The controversy followed an alleged statement or post attributed to Atiku, which reportedly presented Ribadu—who Omarana said emerged second during the party’s governorship primary—as the ADC candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State.

Omarana said he was particularly disturbed that Atiku, whom he described as a prominent political figure who has consistently projected himself as an advocate of democracy and popular participation, could be linked to what he termed an attempt to override the will of party members.

According to him, the development was not merely a disagreement over political ambition but a serious test of the credibility of the democratic process within the party.

The ADC candidate maintained that the governorship primary election in Adamawa State was conducted in the presence of party members and other stakeholders, with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supervising the process.

He said he emerged victorious at the end of the exercise, while Modibbo Tukur Ribadu came second, adding that his name was subsequently submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate in accordance with the outcome of the primary election.

Omarana stressed that a mandate freely given by party members through a recognised electoral process could not be withdrawn or transferred based on the preference of any powerful political figure.

In a move aimed at preventing what he described as an unlawful substitution, Suleiman disclosed that he had approached the Federal High Court to seek judicial protection over his candidature.

He said the legal action was intended to restrain INEC from accepting any purported attempt to replace his name with that of another aspirant pending the determination of the matter by the court.

According to him, the relevant court processes had already been served on INEC as well as the ADC at both the national and state levels.

He further claimed that the former Vice President had been formally informed about the pending legal action, insisting that all parties should therefore exercise restraint and allow the court to determine the issues before it.

Omarana warned that any attempt to alter the outcome of the primary election before the conclusion of the legal process would amount to a disregard for due process and an assault on the democratic rights of the party’s members.

He called for the immediate withdrawal of the alleged post presenting Ribadu as the ADC governorship candidate, urging the party’s national leadership and other influential political actors to avoid actions capable of further escalating the controversy.

The former diplomat and engineer said the unfolding controversy had raised fundamental questions about internal democracy and the extent to which the decisions of ordinary party members are respected within political parties.

He argued that leadership must be founded on fairness, restraint and respect for established rules, particularly by political leaders who present themselves as champions of democratic governance.

According to him, the governorship ticket of the ADC is not a personal property that can be allocated at the discretion of influential politicians or political godfathers.

Omarana appealed to members and supporters of the ADC across Adamawa State to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that he would continue to pursue the matter through lawful and democratic means.

He expressed confidence that the rule of law would prevail, insisting that the outcome of a properly conducted primary election must be respected.

Suleiman added that the controversy had placed a major responsibility before the leadership of the ADC, questioning whether the party would uphold the verdict of its members or allow political influence and personal preference to override the collective will expressed at the primary election.

As the dispute continues, Omarana said his focus remains firmly on defending what he described as the mandate freely entrusted to him by members of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has hailed the mayor of Idemili North Local Government Area, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka over his victory in the just concluded local government election in the area.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the election result was declared at the local government headquarters, Ogidi, Mefor noted that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is on course for a clean sweep of all 21 Local Government Areas in the state.

“I am very happy that our party, APGA, has been returned not only in this local government, but across the state.

“The indications show the party is coasting to victory everywhere. Even in Anambra East, where there is a contest with YPP, the result is very good. What this translates to is 21 over 21 for APGA.”

He attributed the landslide to the performance of Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, saying the governor’s re-election with about 73% of the votes created momentum for APGA at the grassroots. 

“A lot of gratitude must go to the Solution Governor. That was an absolute vote of confidence from Ndi Anambra. That momentum rubbed off on this local government election. Other parties stayed away because they knew this was not a contest. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra. Anambra has been ‘APGA-nised.’”

The Commissioner, an indigene of Idemili North, commended voters for the massive turnout despite APGA running unopposed in the LGA. He said over 31,000 voters participated in the affirmation process. 

“I was pleasantly surprised. The turnout was almost like a normal contested election. This shows the sophistication of voters in Idemili North. They understood that under the Electoral Act, even a sole candidate must get an affirmative ‘Yes’ vote,” Mefor said.

He added that the vote of confidence means Ndi Idemili North wants the Mayor to continue and deliver more. “He performed fantastically well in his first term, and we expect greater dividends of democracy for Idemili North and for Anambra State in general,” he said.

Also speaking, the re-elected Mayor, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, appreciated the governor and pledged to do more.

“I sincerely appreciate Mr. Governor for his efforts. His outstanding performance made everything easier for us at the local government level. For this second tenure, we have a clear project and agenda for Idemili North, and we are not looking back. Just as I performed in my first tenure, I am determined to do even better.”