The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of its National Working Committee (NWC), led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidating the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party described the judgment as a threat to democratic participation, insisting that it would challenge the decision through every available judicial process.

The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed the party’s position in a statement issued on Thursday, questioning the timing and implications of the ruling amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

In the statement titled, ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the party argued that the judgment could affect thousands of its members seekineg elective positions across the country.Another lawyer representing the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the decision effectively left the ADC without candidates for the 2027 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

The ADC’s planned appeal is expected to determine the next legal steps in the leadership dispute and its implications for the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.

Two members of the Delta State House of Assembly have faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged changes to the ward structure in Warri South Local Government Area, warning that the development could create confusion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers, Austin Uroye, representing Warri South Constituency I, and Benson Obire, representing Constituency II, called on the commission to urgently review the arrangement and address concerns raised by political stakeholders.

They made the call on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by INEC in Asaba to discuss preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers alleged that INEC had introduced a new arrangement increasing the number of wards in Warri South to 20 after political parties had conducted their primaries and their candidates had been screened and cleared.

Uroye said information recently uploaded to INEC’s portal indicated that some wards had been moved between the two constituencies, while additional areas had been incorporated into the electoral structure.

He expressed concern that the development had created uncertainty because polling unit coordinates and other electoral information previously available to stakeholders no longer aligned with the new arrangement.

“How are we expected to conduct an election under these circumstances? Where will voters be expected to cast their ballots? How can we properly organise the election when the existing electoral records do not align with the new arrangement?” he asked.

He warned that affected political parties could seek legal redress if the commission failed to resolve the matter.

Obire supported his colleague, arguing that political parties had conducted their primaries based on the existing ward structure, with candidates subsequently screened, cleared and issued certificates before the new information emerged.

“How can this happen at this stage? Is this the way to prepare for a credible election? The answer is no,” he said.

He appealed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, to engage INEC’s national headquarters to ensure that the concerns were addressed.

INEC warns against electoral violence
Responding to broader concerns about the 2027 elections, Umoren warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against violence, vote-buying, intimidation and the circulation of fake election results.

He stressed that political competition must not threaten public peace, insisting that no political ambition justified the loss of lives or destruction of property.

“No political ambition is worth the loss of human life, the destruction of property or the disruption of public peace,” he said.

The REC also cautioned political parties against announcing election results outside the authority and procedures established by law.

He urged party leaders to educate their supporters against circulating fabricated results, misleading reports and unverified allegations against electoral officials and security agencies.

Umoren said INEC was intensifying preparations for the elections through improved logistics, technological readiness, staff training, security coordination and voter education.

According to figures contained in the address of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, in October 2026, Delta State has 3,525,988 registered voters.

He said the figure made it necessary for the commission to maintain an accurate voters’ register, ensure effective collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and strengthen transparent election administration.

The REC disclosed that INEC had concluded the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026, subject to applicable verification processes.

He urged eligible voters to collect their PVCs through designated channels and participate in the display of the voters’ register to identify errors and raise objections in accordance with the law.

He also warned that multiple voter registration, impersonation and unlawful possession of more than one voter’s card were offences punishable by law.

INEC to strengthen electoral technology
On the use of technology, Umoren said the commission would continue strengthening the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to improve transparency and public confidence.

He, however, noted that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without adequate training, infrastructure and proper implementation.

“Technology must strengthen confidence, not become a source of confusion or misinformation,” he said.

He assured political parties that INEC would remain neutral and provide a level playing field for all candidates.

The REC also warned electoral officials against partisanship, inducement and any conduct capable of undermining the commission’s integrity, adding that established cases of misconduct would be addressed in line with applicable laws and disciplinary procedures.

On security arrangements, he called on security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to sustain consultations, conduct risk assessments and strengthen measures to protect voters, electoral personnel, election materials and collation centres.

He said security planning should cover the pre-election period, campaigns, PVC collection, voting, collation and the post-election period.

Umoren further expressed concern over the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate photographs, fabricate audio recordings and produce misleading videos capable of deceiving voters.

He urged journalists to verify election-related information before publication, warning that false reports could trigger confusion, distrust and violence.

“Delta State will need a media environment that values accuracy as much as speed,” he said.

The REC called on political parties, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and community leaders to promote peaceful participation and voter education at the grassroots.

He also highlighted the geographical challenges associated with conducting elections in Delta, particularly in riverine communities, which require early logistics planning and appropriate transportation arrangements.

He directed electoral officers to assess their facilities, storage arrangements, power supply, communication equipment and accessibility ahead of the elections.

The commission, he added, would strengthen the recruitment, screening and training of ad hoc personnel to ensure that only qualified and competent officials were deployed.

He urged women, youths and persons with disabilities to participate actively in the electoral process, stressing that no eligible citizen should be excluded because of barriers to electoral information or polling facilities.

Police, government promise peaceful elections
Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, assured residents that security agencies would work together to ensure peaceful elections.

Erale said the police and other security agencies would monitor political activities, protect citizens’ rights and provide a level playing field for all political parties.

He warned that anyone found violating the law would be dealt with, irrespective of their political affiliation or preferred candidate.

The state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Senior Political Adviser, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, said the government would support INEC in conducting free, fair and peaceful elections.

Aguariavwodo urged political parties and candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and respect the rights of others, warning that the government would not tolerate violence or lawlessness during the campaign period.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Delta State, Rev. Lucky Osagbakhoe, represented by Dongo Gyang, urged politicians not to treat elections as a do-or-die affair.

“Leadership comes from God, and we must all recognise that political positions are not matters of life and death. Elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair,” Gyang said.

Similarly, the Chief Imam of IPG Central Mosque, Asaba, Dr Adekola Yinusa Adekunle, called on politicians to regard public office as a trust from God and remain accountable to the people.

He condemned electoral malpractice and urged politicians and voters against falsifying or selling votes and election results.

Adekunle also called on candidates to accept election outcomes peacefully and demonstrate magnanimity in victory, pledging that Muslim leaders would discourage their members from participating in electoral violence.

The Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, represented by Chief Anthony Ozele, said traditional rulers had an important role to play in promoting peaceful elections because of their closeness to the people.

He urged political actors and voters to focus on issues rather than violence, describing political power as temporary.

Azinge also pledged the support of traditional rulers for voter education and sensitisation on the use of BVAS and voting procedures.

He expressed hope that the 2027 general elections would be free, fair and properly conducted.

The stakeholders’ engagement was organised by INEC in Delta State to strengthen collaboration among political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, is expected to lead the party’s campaign flag-off in Sokoto State on Wednesday as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The campaign event is scheduled to take place at the party’s state secretariat, located at No. 1 Ilorin Road, Sokoto.

The ADC State Presidential Campaign Coordinator, Senator Ibrahim Lamido, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, announcing that Atiku would arrive at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, at 9 am.

Lamido called on party supporters and members of the public to turn out at the airport to welcome the former Vice President before proceeding to the campaign venue.

He also urged party executives across the 23 local government areas and wards, mobilisation coordinators, support groups, women and youth organisations to mobilise their members for the event.

“All local government area and ward executives, mobilisation coordinators, support groups, women and youth organisations are urged to activate their respective structures and ensure maximum participation,” he said.

The planned campaign flag-off comes amid heightened political tensions in Sokoto State following disagreements between the ADC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged intimidation and restrictions on opposition activities.

The ADC had accused the Sokoto State Government of sealing its campaign office along Ahmadu Bello Way, prompting the opposition party to demand its immediate reopening.

The party also raised concerns over the safety of its members and supporters, alleging attacks and political intimidation in the state. The allegations have attracted reactions from political stakeholders.

The Wednesday event is expected to provide the ADC with an opportunity to strengthen its grassroots mobilisation, consolidate its support base and communicate its political agenda to voters in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 presidential election.