Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are gradually taking shape, with political parties intensifying preparations amid defections, nomination disputes and changing political alliances.
Recent developments across Adamawa, Imo and other parts of the country have highlighted the changing political landscape ahead of the polls.
In Adamawa State, a group of politicians led by former Yola South Local Government Chairman, Umar Barkindo, has defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Allied Peoples Movement.
Barkindo announced his defection on Friday, October 30, alongside supporters reportedly numbering more than five thousand, citing unresolved disagreements within the APC.
The development comes months after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, alongside all 21 local government chairmen and 226 councillors elected on the PDP platform.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission has indefinitely postponed the local government elections earlier scheduled for November 7.
The commission said the decision followed consultations with political parties and the Inter-Party Advisory Council. However, a new date for the exercise has yet to be announced.
At the national level, the Independent National Electoral Commission has released revised candidate lists following its review of petitions arising from governorship and State House of Assembly nominations.
The commission received 130 petitions, upheld 66 and rejected 64.
In Gombe State, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has been included in the updated list as the PDP governorship candidate, alongside his running mate, Haruna Ahmadu Hasan.
However, in Ogun State, the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, remains excluded from the list after INEC rejected his petition seeking reconsideration.
In Kano State, the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, is also absent from the updated list due to an existing court order restricting his publication.
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Beyond the candidate disputes, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November to test voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results.
The commission is also processing more than 4,800 claims and about 600 objections relating to the preliminary voters’ register ahead of its planned certification on December 15.
As preparations continue, attention is turning to outstanding court cases, political defections, party organisation and the readiness of the electoral commission.
The developments suggest that while the process of determining candidates for the 2027 elections is progressing, political alignments and electoral preparations remain fluid.
