By Abigail David

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has selected Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The development was confirmed on Monday by Gwarzo’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Shuaibu, who said the decision followed extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders.

According to Shuaibu, the choice of Mustapha Kwankwaso is aimed at strengthening the party’s electoral prospects and expanding its support base across Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The governorship candidate of our great party, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has selected Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election in Kano State,” he said.

He added that the selection reflects the party’s commitment to unity, inclusiveness and effective representation.

Mustapha Kwankwaso is the son of the National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. His nomination is expected to bolster the influence of the political movement within the NDC as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, emerged as the NDC governorship candidate following consultations among party stakeholders.

Political observers believe the ticket could shape alliances and influence the political landscape in Kano State ahead of the governorship poll.

By Abigail David

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord, for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties after finding that they failed to secure the required electoral threshold in the last general elections.

The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court also restrained INEC from allowing the parties to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, on the grounds that they did not satisfy the constitutional criteria for political party recognition.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, with INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation joined as defendants.

The plaintiff argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional requirements on electoral performance and spread, maintaining that they did not secure the minimum level of votes required to retain their status. The court held that the parties failed to effectively challenge the claims.

By Abigail David

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.

In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s legal team, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8.

The lawyers said Okonkwo alleged that Obi and other NDC leaders demanded bribes from party aspirants and engaged in fraudulent and criminal activities. They described the claims as “false, baseless, malicious and wholly unsupported by any fact.”

According to the letter, the statements damaged Obi’s reputation by portraying him as a dishonest and corrupt political figure.

Obi is demanding that Okonkwo withdraw the allegations, issue an unequivocal public apology with similar or greater prominence than the original publication, pay N5 billion in general and exemplary damages, and provide a written undertaking to refrain from making further defamatory statements.

The legal team warned that failure to comply within seven days could lead to court action seeking damages, injunctive reliefs and legal costs.

Responding on his X account, Okonkwo dismissed the demand, saying he had yet to review the letter. He challenged Obi to pursue the matter in court and indicated he would formally respond after reading the document.