Abejoye Sues INEC, NDC for Replacing Candidate’s Name in Lagos

Wale Igbintade, a politician and businessman named Pratt Tunde, is seeking urgent intervention from the Federal High Court in Lagos to address a pre-election dispute. Tunde claims that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) secretly replaced his name with that of another candidate, Sanni Kamurdeen Olatunji, on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

This alleged act, filed in Suit No: FHC/LAG/PREM/19/2026, could have profound political and legal consequences if not promptly addressed. The case is being heard by Justice Akintayo Aluko during the court's annual vacation. Tunde's legal team argues that the case should be heard immediately, as any delay might result in the loss of his constitutional right to a speedy hearing.

According to Tunde, the NDC's actions on August 1, 2026, effectively gave Olatunji a mandate to campaign, causing Tunde "permanent political, psychological and financial ruin." Tunde's lawyers argue that the court should hear the matter during the vacation, as the necessary evidence and electronic records are already available. They also point to the Supreme Court's decision in Marwa vs. Nyako, emphasizing that the 180-day period for pre-election matters cannot be extended.

The plaintiff is urging the court to allow the dispute to proceed during the vacation to prevent any potential irreversible consequences for the electoral process.