2027: SDP guber primary breached electoral act, void ab initio – Wadada’s associate

Legal expert Obere A. Kana, an associate of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has declared the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship primary election in Nasarawa State invalid on September 5, 2026. Kana claims the election contravened sections 33 and 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026. According to Kana, the SDP filed Musa Adamu Angba’s name as its governorship candidate with INEC in August 2026, but Angba later withdrew his candidacy via affidavit sworn before the Federal High Court on June 10, 2026.

Kana argues that Section 33 of the Electoral Act mandates a party to hold a fresh primary within 14 days of a candidate’s withdrawal to nominate and submit a replacement. He maintains that the SDP’s decision to conduct a replacement primary 14 days later breached this requirement, rendering the election "null and void ab initio."

Additionally, Kana challenges the notice given by the party to INEC, pointing out that the SDP provided only 13 days’ notice instead of the required 21 days, as stipulated in Section 82(1). He argues that failure to comply with this notice requirement invalidates the primary, citing Section 82(6). Kana also references Section 88(3), which prevents a candidate produced through an invalid process from contesting the election.

He urges stakeholders to review the circumstances surrounding the election in light of the Electoral Act and judicial precedents.