The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged midnight arrest and detention of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Martin Aghaji, describing the incident as a disturbing violation of the rule of law and citizens’ fundamental rights.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Obi expressed concern over reports that security operatives allegedly stormed the 74-year-old professor’s residence in Independent Layout, Enugu, at about 2 a.m., arrested him in the presence of his visiting daughter and transported him to Lagos, where he was reportedly detained for three days before being informed that his arrest was a mistake.

The former Anambra State governor questioned the growing trend of security agencies resorting to force against law-abiding citizens, insisting that due process and respect for human dignity must remain the cornerstone of law enforcement.

According to Obi, Professor Aghaji was neither invited nor contacted before security operatives allegedly invaded his residence, stressing that every Nigerian deserves to be treated with dignity regardless of social status or profession.

He described the professor as an internationally respected cardiothoracic surgeon, accomplished academic and elder statesman whose contributions to medicine and national development have earned him widespread recognition.

Obi said it was unacceptable that after the trauma of being taken from Enugu to Lagos and held in detention for three days, the professor was reportedly told that his arrest had been made in error.

He warned that such incidents could further discourage professionals from remaining in Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country is already grappling with the migration of skilled medical personnel.

The NDC presidential candidate noted that the public reaction to the incident reflects growing concern over the conduct of some security agencies and underscores the need for professionalism, accountability and respect for fundamental human rights.

Recalling the earlier harassment of a medical doctor in Akwa Ibom State, Obi argued that the repeated mistreatment of respected professionals and innocent citizens weakens public confidence in state institutions and threatens the nation’s democratic values.

He therefore urged security agencies to carry out their constitutional responsibilities with restraint, professionalism and full respect for the rights and dignity of every Nigerian.

Obi concluded by reiterating his call for a nation governed by justice, accountability and the rule of law, maintaining that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has claimed that former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, declined his invitation to a public debate because he could not defend his performance in office.

Umahi made the assertion in a statement issued on Saturday through his media aide, Francis Nwaze, insisting that the proposed debate was never about politics or the 2027 presidential election but about comparing their records in public service.

According to the minister, the debate was intended to give Nigerians an opportunity to objectively assess the achievements of two former governors based on verifiable facts and governance records.

He dismissed Obi’s explanation that he declined the invitation because he is a presidential candidate of a national political party while Umahi is not, arguing that electoral status was never the issue.

“It was never about electoral status. It was about accountability. Two former governors presenting their records before Nigerians to determine who delivered more,” Umahi stated.

The former Ebonyi State governor also described his political journey as more extensive, noting that he had served as a businessman, party chairman, deputy governor, governor, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Co-Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, senator and now Minister of Works.

He maintained that Obi’s highest elective office was governor, adding that he had never served as a party chairman, senator or minister.

Highlighting his achievements in Ebonyi State, Umahi listed the construction of concrete roads, bridges, flyovers, an international airport, a teaching hospital, a university of health sciences, an ecumenical centre, a shopping mall, government buildings and several water projects.

He also pointed to major federal infrastructure projects currently under his supervision, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Calabar-Abuja Super Highway and the rehabilitation of key federal roads across the country.

Umahi further criticised Obi’s emphasis on fiscal discipline and savings, arguing that prudent financial management should be complemented by visible infrastructure and lasting institutional development.

He also alleged that Obi relied on caretaker committees for much of his administration instead of conducting local government elections.

Reaffirming his position, the minister said he remains willing to engage Obi in a public debate on any credible platform, insisting that leadership should ultimately be judged by tangible results and the impact made on the lives of the people.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about ₦800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds for political campaign purposes.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

According to the organisation, media reports alleged that APC governors have been making monthly deductions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

As part of its court filings, SERAP attached a May 17, 2026 opinion article by Premium Times columnist Festus Adedayo, which referenced claims that approximately ₦800 billion earmarked for the President’s re-election campaign was misappropriated and funded through contributions from APC-controlled states.

In the suit, SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to investigate the allegations and require both the APC and the affected governors to disclose the identities of donors, details of contributions, and the lawful sources of all funds paid into any campaign account.

The organisation also wants the court to direct INEC to commence a comprehensive review of political campaign financing by all political parties and candidates in line with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, with particular emphasis on the sources and scale of campaign funds ahead of the 2027 general election.

SERAP argued that the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

It maintained that the opaque use of public funds for political activities, if established, would undermine public confidence in democracy and compromise the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate in free and fair elections.

The group further contended that the Electoral Act empowers INEC to regulate political donations, enforce disclosure requirements, prescribe donation limits and impose sanctions on individuals or political parties found to have violated campaign finance regulations.

According to SERAP, where allegations involve the possible diversion of public resources for political campaigns, INEC has both constitutional and statutory responsibilities to investigate and enforce compliance with the law.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced the successful submission of its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Candidate Nomination Portal for the 2027 general election.

The disclosure was made on Sunday by the faction’s National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who described the development as a significant milestone in the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.

According to Mohammed, the successful upload reflects the party’s determination to participate fully in the 2027 polls and fulfil its commitment to members and supporters across the country.

He revealed that the presidential candidate, running mate, and National Assembly candidates have all been uploaded to the commission’s portal, while the process of submitting governorship and State House of Assembly candidates is expected to be concluded shortly.

A screenshot released by the party from the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal indicated that 410 candidate nomination forms had been generated, with 367 already submitted and 42 still awaiting completion.

The PDP chairman congratulated party members nationwide on the progress made so far, expressing confidence that the party would emerge stronger and more united ahead of the 2027 general election.

The development follows INEC’s decision to extend the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online nomination portal.

It also comes shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced the successful upload of its 471 candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate candidates and House of Representatives candidates.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has completed the submission of its candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, uploading a total of 471 names to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal.

The submission includes the party’s presidential ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside 109 Senate candidates and 360 House of Representatives candidates.

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, announced the completion of the exercise in a statement on Sunday, describing it as a major milestone for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda congratulated the party’s candidates, leaders and members, saying the successful completion of the nomination process demonstrated the party’s readiness for the electoral contest.

“I congratulate our candidates, leaders, and members of APC on the successful 100 per cent upload of our Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.

He added that the party would now shift its attention towards mobilisation, grassroots engagement and preparations for the election campaign.

The development also formally confirms the continuation of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket, ending speculations over possible changes to the APC’s leadership combination for the 2027 election.

The completion of the process followed the deadline set by INEC for political parties to submit nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates through the online platform.

Under the commission’s timetable, political parties were granted access codes to the nomination portal on June 26, while submission of the relevant nomination forms commenced on June 27 in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The controversy surrounding the alleged establishment of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has intensified, with civil society organisations, lawyers and political stakeholders calling for a more independent investigation into the matter.

The calls followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations and submit its report within 30 days.

Some critics have argued that an ICPC-led investigation may not sufficiently address public concerns because the allegations involve individuals linked to the Presidency.

They urged that those connected to the matter should step aside to allow for a transparent and credible process.

The controversy began after Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be associated with the PFIPC, alleged that he received appointment documentation through the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He also claimed the organisation’s budgetary allocation was captured in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, with about N1.3 billion earmarked for its operations.

The alleged agency was said to have operated with hundreds of staff at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, before questions emerged over its legitimacy.

Gbajabiamila has denied any involvement with the alleged organisation and threatened legal action against Adeyemi over claims he described as defamatory.

Reacting to the development, some civil society groups insisted that only an investigation perceived as independent and transparent could restore public confidence.

The Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, said officials whose actions are linked to the allegations should temporarily step aside to prevent any perception of interference.

He stressed that the credibility of the process would depend not only on the institution conducting the investigation but also on the transparency and independence of the exercise.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, said while ICPC has the legal authority to investigate corruption allegations, an independent inquiry would have been more suitable given the public interest generated by the matter.

Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, also called for a credible and evidence-based investigation, urging that the process must be conducted without fear or favour.

He said Nigerians were interested not only in the outcome but also in whether the process would command public trust.

However, some legal experts maintained that ICPC remains the appropriate statutory body to investigate corruption-related allegations, provided it is allowed to carry out its duties without interference.

Human rights lawyer Idris Faro argued that the ICPC investigation should proceed and lead to sanctions if anyone is found culpable.

Another lawyer, Toluwa Odekhe, said the President’s directive was within his powers but noted that the anti-graft agency must ensure transparency by making its terms of reference and findings available to the public.

Meanwhile, activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju renewed calls for an independent investigation and urged the government to ensure that no individual connected to the allegations influences the outcome of the probe.

He argued that public confidence would only be restored if the investigation was conducted by individuals without perceived links to those involved.

As the ICPC begins its assignment, stakeholders insist that the outcome must go beyond resolving the immediate controversy and address broader concerns about accountability, transparency and the integrity of Nigeria’s public institutions.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists and personal details of their candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission said the new deadline had been moved from Saturday, July 11, 2026, to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

INEC explained that the extension followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of political parties that were unable to complete the upload of their candidates’ names and required personal information within the initial timeline.

According to the commission, the decision was taken in line with its commitment to promoting inclusiveness and ensuring that eligible political parties are given adequate opportunity to comply with electoral requirements.

“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices, while acting within the ambit of the law,” the statement read.

INEC urged all political parties to take advantage of the additional window and ensure that all outstanding details of their candidates are uploaded before the expiration of the revised deadline.

The commission had earlier released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election, with the submission of candidates’ lists forming a key part of the electoral process.