The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to candidates who emerged victorious in the bye-elections conducted on June 20, 2026, across Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Kano states.
The presentation ceremony was carried out on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, by the Supervising National Commissioner for Rivers State, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Addressing the elected officials during the event, Agbamuche-Mbu congratulated them on their electoral victories and urged them to prioritize the welfare of their constituents. She emphasized that beyond winning elections, the ultimate responsibility of public office holders is to effectively represent the interests of the people who entrusted them with leadership.
She further disclosed that INEC would also present Certificates of Return to winners of the Zuru State Constituency election in Kebbi State as well as the Ekiti State Governorship election.
National Commissioners assigned to the affected constituencies subsequently presented the certificates to the successful candidates, formally confirming their status as duly elected representatives following the conduct of the elections.
Court Orders Accelerated Hearing in PDP Leadership Dispute
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has directed an accelerated hearing in a suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, against INEC over the lingering leadership crisis within the opposition party.
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Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the order after counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), informed the court that the matter required urgent attention due to INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
According to Uche, the electoral body’s timetable includes critical deadlines expected to be reached by July, making the resolution of the dispute time-sensitive.
The plaintiffs, comprising members of the Wabara-led BoT and the PDP, are seeking a court order compelling INEC to recognise the interim National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Kabir Turaki and reflect the leadership structure on the commission’s official records and website.
They are also asking the court to direct INEC to update its database and publish the names of members of the Turaki-led interim NWC, which they claim were officially submitted by the party’s National Executive Committee.
The plaintiffs maintained that details of the interim leadership were forwarded to INEC through letters dated May 4, and are seeking judicial intervention to ensure the electoral commission acknowledges the committee as the legitimate leadership of the party pending the resolution of its internal crisis.
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