APC moves to disqualify opposition candidates in Niger

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State has filed a lawsuit in the Federal High Court in Minna to prevent four opposition parties from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections. The suit alleges that these opposition parties' nominees, including candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, and African Democratic Congress, breached the Electoral Act, 2026.

These opposition parties' candidates, such as PDP governorship candidate Mohammed Mamman Nami and ADC deputy governorship candidate Musa Mamman, allegedly defected from the APC after losing the May 2026 primary elections. The APC claims their participation in opposition parties after losing the party's primaries makes them ineligible for the elections, citing Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

They also question INEC's decision to publish the candidates' names before verifying their eligibility. The APC seeks the court's declaration of the candidates' ineligibility and an order to prevent INEC from recognising them in the 2027 elections.