News
2027: INEC throws out Adebutu's petition as Pantami, Kano NDC candidate make list
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed a petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship hopeful in Ogun State, over his exclusion from the list of candidates for the 2027 elections.
DAILY POST gathered that the commission took the decision at its meeting on Thursday, where it considered complaints from political parties and candidates omitted from the published list.
While Adebutu failed to secure a reprieve, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami and Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate in Kano State, were cleared to contest, pending the determination of court cases.
A top INEC source said the commission received 69 petitions concerning the omission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates, with about 36 succeeding.
According to the source, Pantami was cleared outrightly, while Gwarzo’s clearance was conditional on the outcome of litigation instituted over his exclusion.
Adebutu, however, was unsuccessful.
“The Ogun PDP candidate did not succeed,” the source said, confirming that his name would not be restored to the list.
The development is linked to INEC’s enforcement of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates political parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission’s position was strengthened by a Supreme Court judgement delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld the provision as constitutional.
It was learnt that Gwarzo, in a suit filed on October 20, 2026, asked the court to declare his exclusion and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates in Kano State.
Pantami’s case is also before the court, with a hearing expected on Friday.
Adebutu had argued that he was a bona fide member of the PDP and had complied with all membership registration requirements.
2027: INEC throws out Adebutu’s petition as Pantami, Kano NDC candidate make list
The Police Service Commission, PSC, has approved the promotion of more than 3,800 senior police officers, including two Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, DIGs, 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, AIGs, and 17 Commissioners of Police, CPs.
Torty Njoku Kalu, Head of Protocol and Public Relations at the Police Service Commission in Abuja, disclosed this in a statement, saying the promotions followed the officers' successful performance in promotion examinations and oral interviews conducted by the commission.
The approvals were granted at the commission's plenary meeting in Abuja, presided over by its chairman, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu.
Among those promoted were AIG Olaolu Adegbite, Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, and AIG Dankombo F. Morris, who heads Zone 4 Headquarters in Makurdi. Both were elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
Adegbite holds a BA in Russian Language from the University of Lagos and an MA in Philology from the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. He is a recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, and an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School. He previously served as Director of Operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In another development, the 10 officers elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police included Omosanyin Olusegun (CP Administration, FCID Annex, Ikoyi, Lagos); Ogbodo Ugobueze (CP Anti-Fraud, FCID Annex, Enugu); Ohagwu Felix Ndukwe (CP, Ondo State); Taylor Lennox Olanrewaju (AIG/ES, Nigeria Police Cooperative); Regina Cosmas Udoette (CP GI, FCID Annex, Enugu); and Afolabi Wilfred Olutokunbo (CP, Abia State Command), among others.
Similarly, officers promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police included DCP Nache Bashir Liman (DC ZCID); Sirajo Lawal Salihu (DC FMIU); Ayeleye Adegboyega E. (DC AHTU, FCID); Isiaka O. Salau (DC SID, Ibadan); Usman Shaik Adamu (DC CID, Jos); Aminu Maiwada Garba (DC DFA, NGS); Abdulkarim Musa Waziri (DC DFA, Yobe); Muhammad Yusuf Adamu (DC Administration, FCID); Sani Adamu Nufawa (DC Inter School, Kwara State); Bello M. Adamu (DCA, Zone 2); Okezie Chikezie C. (DC Anti-Fraud, FCID, Abuja); and Aminu Usman Gusau (DC DFA, Katsina), among others.
Congratulating the newly promoted officers, PSC Chairman DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu urged them to see their promotions as motivation to perform their duties more diligently, particularly in protecting lives and property and enforcing the law.
He noted that much was expected of them.
Goals by Oluebube Umejiaku and Mary Dunstan made all the difference for Nigeria on Thursday, as the Flamingos defeated Mexico 2-1 in the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup round of 16, Sports247 reports.
Coach Akeem Busari and his lasses will now turn attention to a clash with Venezuela in the quarter-finals, with an understanding that their next opponents shocked title favourites Germany 1-0 on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, Busari’s squad will be spurred on by the euphoria of Thursday’s win, as the Flamingos gave yet another thrilling display of attacking flair to overcome the Mexicans, with Umejiaku opening scoring in the 40th minute and Dunstan later hit target midway through the second half.
Mexico pulled one back 10 minutes to into added time, to set up a tense finish, but Busari’s wards held firm to book their place in the last eight and now turn their attention on how to defeat Venezuela, as they continue their quest to improve on Nigeria’s bronze medal finish of the 2022 edition in India.
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