The National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by National Chairman Senator David Mark, on Wednesday held a meeting with the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and its vice-presidential candidate, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

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The party announced the meeting in a post on its official X account on Wednesday, accompanied by photographs of David Mark, Atiku and Amaechi at the gathering.

The meeting comes as political parties and their candidates continue preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

See photos below:

The Obidient Movement has demanded answers from the Independent National Electoral Commission over the whereabouts and official engagements of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following his absence from a key meeting on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The demand was contained in a statement released by the movement’s Media and Communications Directorate on Wednesday.

The group’s reaction followed the appearance of National Commissioner, Rhoda Gumus, as Acting Chairman of INEC at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, where she represented Amupitan during a meeting with an African Union Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission.

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The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, is assessing Nigeria’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 elections.

The mission is examining issues including voter registration and register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.

At the meeting, Gumus reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to an independent, neutral and professional electoral process, saying the Commission was working towards a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 election.

However, the Obidient Movement said Nigerians had not been adequately informed about the circumstances surrounding Amupitan’s absence.

The group consequently demanded that INEC disclose Amupitan’s current location, his official schedule and the circumstances under which Gumus assumed responsibility for representing him at the AU engagement.

The Obidients specifically asked INEC to explain when the chairman left Abuja, the purpose of any official trip, who authorised his absence and whether he had travelled outside the country.

They also demanded disclosure of his official meetings and engagements since his reported absence, including whether he had met, or was scheduled to meet, President Bola Tinubu, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, or representatives of the ruling party who, according to the group, had also travelled outside the country.

“INEC must tell Nigerians where its chairman is and what he is doing,” the group said.

According to the movement, the questions have become necessary because of the strategic importance of INEC and the increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections.

It argued that the leadership of the electoral commission should operate with maximum transparency, particularly as preparations for the next general elections intensify.

The group also questioned what it described as the absence of a publicly communicated handover arrangement before Gumus represented Amupitan at the AU engagement.

The Obidient Movement said the AU meeting underscored the importance of INEC’s leadership and its responsibility to maintain public confidence as the country approaches another election cycle.

The group said INEC’s assurances about an independent and credible electoral process would carry greater weight if the commission’s leadership also demonstrated transparency in its own official activities.

It said Nigerians should not be left to speculate about the whereabouts or engagements of the person constitutionally responsible for leading the nation’s electoral body as the country approaches another crucial election cycle.

The movement further urged INEC to make public the circumstances surrounding the chairman’s absence and provide Nigerians with sufficient information to dispel questions over his official activities.

It maintained that electoral credibility was not only about conducting elections but also about ensuring that the institution responsible for organising them remained accountable to the Nigerian public.

The Obidients also alleged that concerns over the perceived political neutrality of the electoral commission had contributed to a crisis of confidence and argued that INEC should take steps to avoid any situation capable of deepening public suspicion.

The group maintained that the electoral commission belonged to Nigerians and that its leadership should therefore be accountable to the public.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the development has placed renewed attention on INEC’s leadership, its public communication and the steps being taken to assure political parties, civil society groups and voters of the Commission’s independence.

The Obidient Movement therefore challenged INEC to provide answers to the questions surrounding Amupitan’s absence, insisting that transparency was essential to building confidence in the electoral process.

“INEC must tell Nigerians where its chairman is and what he is doing,” the statement concluded.

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be allowed to continue in office, saying the President deserves the opportunity to complete what he described as his good work.

The monarch made the remarks on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’azeez Yari, led a delegation of leaders of the ruling party to the Benin Palace for consultations and prayers.

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The delegation included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former governors, senators and other senior party leaders.

The remarks were disclosed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications and Spokesperson to the President, in a post on X.

The Oba appeared to tacitly back Tinubu’s bid for a renewed four-year mandate, saying it was the prayer of the people that a leader who was doing well should be given the opportunity to continue.

“For somebody who is doing well, it is our prayer that he gets a renewed mandate,” the monarch said.

He added in Pidgin English, “As he Dey pain them. He Dey sweet us…”

The Oba also urged Nigerians and political leaders to focus on the President’s achievements and support areas where his administration was making progress.

“If one is doing well, why not join hands with the President to do what he is doing well. Let President Tinubu finish the good work,” he said.

The traditional ruler further quoted the Bible in making his case, saying, “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

The monarch also asked the delegation to convey his best wishes to President Tinubu and thanked him for receiving him warmly in Abuja.

“Convey my best wishes to Mr. President. Give my appreciation to the President receiving me so warmly in Abuja,” he said.

The Oba’s comments come amid increasing political consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with President Tinubu’s potential second-term bid expected to remain a major issue in the coming political season.