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2026-07-26 23:02 UTC → 2026-07-27 14:10 UTC ·
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Nigeria opposition turmoil deepens ahead of 2027 vote as PDP fined
July saw the The intra‑opposition split widen. On 22 June Senator Garba Musa Maidoki left the APC for the ADC, citing unresolved primaries, a lingering crisis and a rushed State Police Bill. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin denied any party crisis, but the defection added continued to widen throughout July 2026. After a wave series of northern legislators abandoning defections from the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Within and disputes within smaller parties, the Peoples Redemption Party, the North‑west Stakeholders Forum accused vice‑presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso Democratic Party (PDP) saw its interim National Working Committee, led by Kabiru Turaki, challenge INEC’s refusal to recognise it. On 26 July, Justice Salim Ibrahim of buying nominations for all 69 seats, a claim the party chair dismissed as fiction. NADECO leaders repudiated allegations that the movement once sought to extend military rule. The Nigeria Democratic Congress faced internal disputes over halted elections and imposed candidates; on 28 June Dr Kunle Adegbite condemned a Federal High Court ruling annulling its recognition, warning it threatens multi‑party democracy. In the ruling PDP, dismissed the Turaki‑led interim NWC sued INEC for formal recognition while a rival faction aligned with Governor Nyesom Wike contested suit as frivolous and ordered the same listings; Justice Salim Ibrahim set a 10 July judgment date. Former PDP deputy chairman Bode George denounced a Court Board of Appeal judgment preventing INEC from recognising ADC Trustees, headed by Adolphus Wabara, to pay N150 million in costs – N140 million to the state congresses, calling it an assault on constitutional democracy and a threat N10 million to the opposition’s 2027 campaign. Former senator Sola Akinyede party’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN). Critics warned that perceived judicial corruption undermines confidence in courts handling political disputes. In late July the APC rebuffed former vice‑president hefty penalty could deter opposition groups from seeking judicial redress, adding a new legal and ADC candidate Atiku Abubakar’s allegation that financial pressure to the ₦12.8 trillion Service‑Wide Vote in already strained opposition landscape ahead of the 2026 budget was a slush fund for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election, calling elections. The ruling follows earlier court actions that threatened the claim “highly mischievous.” On 23 July Atiku denied Tinubu’s criticism recognition of the federal pension backlog, defending his record on pension reform ADC state congresses and rejecting claims that the 2026 budget allocation was Nigeria Democratic Congress, underscoring a slush fund. pattern of judicial interventions shaping the opposition’s campaign strategy.