Popular Nollywood actor, Azubuike Michael, widely known as Zubby Michael, has officially stepped into the political arena, becoming a registered member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State.

The actor completed his registration on Saturday in his hometown of Ozubulu, marking a significant shift from the entertainment industry to active political participation.

His move was made public through a video shared on his Instagram page, where he was seen receiving his membership card from his ward chairman.

In a caption accompanying the video, Zubby Michael hinted at his readiness to go beyond social media commentary and engage directly in the political process.

“I dey my village, enough of the talking online, I don involve,” he wrote, signaling a more hands-on approach to national issues.

Although voices in the background of the video suggested a possible ambition for elective office, including a potential run for a seat in the House of Representatives, the actor has yet to make any formal declaration regarding his political aspirations.

Zubby Michael’s entry into politics reflects a growing trend of Nollywood personalities transitioning into public service, leveraging their popularity and influence to connect with grassroots communities.

His decision is seen by observers as part of a broader realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development also comes at a time when the ADC is experiencing increased visibility and membership growth across the country, positioning itself as a formidable opposition platform in the evolving political landscape..

Fresh controversy has emerged over alleged past social media posts linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, sparking renewed debate about his political neutrality.

The claims suggest that the electoral chief may have made comments perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.

However, INEC has firmly denied the allegations.

The issue gained public attention after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, published a column referencing archived posts from an X account allegedly bearing Amupitan’s name.

He argued that the posts raise concerns about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire and called for the chairman’s resignation.

Among the quoted posts was a message expressing excitement over electoral outcomes, including claims of strong performance in local polling units and praise of youth collaboration during elections.

These excerpts have since circulated widely online, fueling heated discussions.

The allegations have divided public opinion.

Some Nigerians insist the posts, if authentic, raise serious ethical questions about the neutrality expected of the head of an electoral commission.

Others, however, argue that the evidence is inconclusive, pointing out that the account in question appears to have undergone changes and may not be directly linked to the INEC chairman.

INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the claims, describing them as misleading and warning against misinformation spread by impersonators and cybercriminals.

The commission reiterated that Prof. Amupitan does not operate the X account being referenced.

While the debate continues online, some commentators have used the controversy to call for broader electoral reforms to strengthen transparency in the appointment and independence of electoral officials.

INEC maintained its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, urging the public to rely only on verified official communication channels.

The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State took a dramatic turn on Saturday, as three separate factions of the party conducted parallel congresses, each producing its own state chairman and deepening concerns over the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The leadership tussle is believed to have been fueled by longstanding disagreements that emerged following the recent coalition of political interests into the ADC, a development that brought together members from different parties under a unified platform reportedly led at the national level by former Senate President, David Mark.

However, rather than strengthening the party, the coalition appears to have intensified rivalries among competing blocs within the state chapter.

At the heart of the crisis is the struggle for control between legacy ADC members and new entrants, particularly those aligned with the Labour Party bloc.

The newcomers had reportedly mounted pressure to displace the existing state chairman, Mrs. Stella Chukwuma, whom they met on ground upon joining the party.

However, Chukwuma’s position was initially defended by original ADC stakeholders and other loyalists, who insisted on maintaining continuity in the party’s leadership structure.

Despite this resistance, mounting pressure from influential interests and shifting alliances at the national level reportedly forced Chukwuma to realign with a faction linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, which claims to represent the authentic structure of the ADC.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from Mrs. Chukwuma were unsuccessful, as she informed DAILY GAZETTE that she was aboard a flight and unable to speak at the time.

Meanwhile, one of the factions, believed to be loyal to former Anambra State Governor and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, held its congress in Emene, Enugu.

At the end of the exercise, Prof. Austin Akubue emerged as the factional state chairman.

The Akubue-led group is said to enjoy the backing of prominent political figures, including former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; ex-Senator Gil Nnaji; and former Head of Service, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, alongside several governorship and National Assembly aspirants within the party.

Notably, Senator Gil Nnaji briefly attended the Emene congress but reportedly exited the venue in protest over disagreements surrounding the composition of the party’s executive list, an indication of underlying tensions even within the faction.

In a parallel development, another bloc within the party, allegedly aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, convened its congress at a hotel located in Independence Layout, Enugu.

The faction elected retired General Chris Eze as its state chairman through a voice vote.

Other executives that emerged include Prince Acharabuagu Kingsley as Vice Chairman for Enugu North Zone and Lolo Queen N. Nwankwo as State Organising Secretary, among others.

General Eze, who previously served as the State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria’s Ambassador to India, pledged in his acceptance speech to foster unity and inclusiveness within the party.

He assured members and aspirants of a transparent and level playing field in the build-up to the party’s primaries.

Further reinforcing the faction’s stance, a statement issued by Comrade Adolphus Udeh quoted Eze as expressing confidence in the ADC’s prospects in Enugu State.

He emphasized the party’s determination to wrest power in 2027 by building a grassroots-driven movement capable of delivering effective governance and tangible democratic dividends to the people.

With three different leadership structures now in place, political observers warn that the ADC in Enugu State faces an uphill task of reconciliation, as failure to resolve the internal divisions could significantly undermine its competitiveness in the next electoral cycle.

Fresh controversy has emerged over alleged past social media posts linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, sparking renewed debate about his political neutrality.

The claims suggest that the electoral chief may have made comments perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.

However, INEC has firmly denied the allegations.

The issue gained public attention after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, published a column referencing archived posts from an X account allegedly bearing Amupitan’s name.

He argued that the posts raise concerns about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire and called for the chairman’s resignation.

Among the quoted posts was a message expressing excitement over electoral outcomes, including claims of strong performance in local polling units and praise of youth collaboration during elections.

These excerpts have since circulated widely online, fueling heated discussions.

The allegations have divided public opinion.

Some Nigerians insist the posts, if authentic, raise serious ethical questions about the neutrality expected of the head of an electoral commission.

Others, however, argue that the evidence is inconclusive, pointing out that the account in question appears to have undergone changes and may not be directly linked to the INEC chairman.

INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the claims, describing them as misleading and warning against misinformation spread by impersonators and cybercriminals.

The commission reiterated that Prof. Amupitan does not operate the X account being referenced.

While the debate continues online, some commentators have used the controversy to call for broader electoral reforms to strengthen transparency in the appointment and independence of electoral officials.

INEC maintained its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, urging the public to rely only on verified official communication channels.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of political bias linked to past social media activity.

The opposition party issued the demand while reacting to claims that archived posts on an X account allegedly associated with the INEC chairman contained expressions perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The controversy intensified after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, referenced the alleged posts in a published column, arguing that they raise concerns about the neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

His claims triggered widespread debate on social media, with users divided over the authenticity and interpretation of the alleged tweets.

In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, cautioned against misinformation and warned of impersonators and cybercriminals using fake identities to spread false narratives.

He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to delivering credible elections under Prof. Amupitan’s leadership.

However, the ADC maintained that the allegations, if not properly addressed, undermine public trust in the electoral process.

Speaking on behalf of the party, spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the situation as a serious threat to democratic integrity, insisting that an electoral umpire must be beyond suspicion.

The party argued that recent revelations and public discussions surrounding the alleged posts have cast doubt on the chairman’s neutrality.

It further alleged attempts to manipulate digital records, describing such actions as unacceptable for someone entrusted with overseeing elections.

The ADC therefore demanded Amupitan’s resignation and warned that it would escalate its actions, including renewed civil disobedience campaigns, if he remains in office.

The party also stated that it would forward petitions to relevant local and international institutions over the matter.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of political bias linked to past social media activity.

The opposition party issued the demand while reacting to claims that archived posts on an X account allegedly associated with the INEC chairman contained expressions perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The controversy intensified after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, referenced the alleged posts in a published column, arguing that they raise concerns about the neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

His claims triggered widespread debate on social media, with users divided over the authenticity and interpretation of the alleged tweets.

In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, cautioned against misinformation and warned of impersonators and cybercriminals using fake identities to spread false narratives.

He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to delivering credible elections under Prof. Amupitan’s leadership.

However, the ADC maintained that the allegations, if not properly addressed, undermine public trust in the electoral process.

Speaking on behalf of the party, spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the situation as a serious threat to democratic integrity, insisting that an electoral umpire must be beyond suspicion.

The party argued that recent revelations and public discussions surrounding the alleged posts have cast doubt on the chairman’s neutrality.

It further alleged attempts to manipulate digital records, describing such actions as unacceptable for someone entrusted with overseeing elections.

The ADC therefore demanded Amupitan’s resignation and warned that it would escalate its actions, including renewed civil disobedience campaigns, if he remains in office.

The party also stated that it would forward petitions to relevant local and international institutions over the matter.