Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has threatened to institute legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the party prevents him from purchasing the nomination form for the national chairmanship position ahead of its forthcoming national convention.

Lamido, one of the founding members of the PDP, visited the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday to obtain the nomination form but said he was told by officials that they were unaware of its availability.

According to the former governor, both Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s national secretary, and Umar Bature, the national organising secretary, said they had “no information” about the forms or their sale.

“I went to the office of the national organising secretary, which is normally where the forms are sold, and the office was locked,” Lamido told journalists at the PDP headquarters.

“I met him with the secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both of them said they had no idea where the forms were or even how they were printed. So, I found it a little weird that the custodian of the system is also being locked out.”

Lamido expressed dissatisfaction with the development, describing it as “unacceptable” for a party that claims to uphold internal democracy. He maintained that as a founding member, he has every right to take part in the PDP’s internal leadership selection process.

The former governor warned that he would not hesitate to approach the courts to enforce his right if the situation remains unresolved.

Reports later emerged that the chairmanship nomination forms were being controlled by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who also serves as the chairman of the party’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).

Lamido’s complaint comes amid growing tension within the PDP over preparations for its national convention, where new national officers are expected to emerge.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is fully prepared for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra state.

In a bulletin issued on Monday, the commission said the declaration followed a week-long readiness assessment of the state, led by Rhoda Gumus, national commissioner for election planning and monitoring.

The high-level delegation from INEC headquarters in Abuja included national commissioners Sam Olumekun, Kenneth Ukeagu, and Baba Bila. The team inspected facilities, logistics, and security arrangements across different parts of the state.

According to the bulletin, the delegation arrived in Awka, the state capital, on October 21 and met with the resident electoral commissioner and other key officials to review operational and security plans.

Gumus said the visit was meant to ensure that every logistical and operational component for the election was in place and functioning properly.

During field visits to local government areas such as Dunukofia and Oyi, the team monitored the batching and deployment of non-sensitive materials and observed the ongoing permanent voter card (PVC) collection exercise.

Speaking with voters, Gumus assured them that INEC’s process was inclusive and designed to ensure that every eligible voter participates.

“This process is designed to be smooth and inclusive. No voter will be left behind,” she said.

The delegation also held strategy sessions with the 21 electoral officers (EOs) responsible for managing the election across the LGAs. Discussions focused on logistics, early activation of registration area centres (RACs), and timely deployment of personnel and materials.

Olumekun, chairman of INEC’s information and voter education committee, urged officials to maintain transparency throughout the process.

“Keep the process clean and transparent. Professionalism remains INEC’s strongest currency,” he said.

Ukeagu, the national commissioner representing the south-east geopolitical zone, warned against any breach of agreement or act of sabotage.

“This is not business as usual. Stick to the agreed vehicles and arrangements. Payment will be prompt, but accountability must be total,” he said.

Ukeagu added that the commission was “99 percent ready” for the polls, noting that all major components — from logistics to security and voter sensitisation — were in place.

At the end of the tour, Gumus expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness and stakeholder cooperation observed during the visit.

“Our visit has shown that Anambra is ready, INEC is ready, and the people are ready. We look forward to delivering an election that reflects the true will of the electorate,” she said.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has appointed former Editor of The PUNCH newspaper, Adedayo Oketola, as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

The appointment was announced by the commission on Monday. Oketola succeeds Rotimi Oyekanmi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

A multiple award-winning journalist and newsroom leader, Oketola brings to the commission nearly two decades of professional experience across Nigeria’s media industry.

Before his appointment, Oketola served as News Editor and Business Editor at The PUNCH. He had earlier worked as Assistant Editor, News and Politics, for Saturday PUNCH, a position he held for over three years.

During his tenure as Editor of The PUNCH, Oketola won the Editor of the Year prize at the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in December 2023, leading the newspaper to clinch the Newspaper of the Year award at the same ceremony.

He was also named Editor of the Year at The Industry Awards in 2022 and is a two-time recipient of the Zimeo Excellence in Media Awards, held in Johannesburg (2015) and Nairobi (2016), among several other honours.

Meanwhile, the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, has pledged to uphold integrity, transparency, and discipline in the management of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Speaking shortly after his swearing-in, Amupitan said his appointment was a divine calling to serve and contribute to the country’s democratic development.

“I am here for a purpose. Maybe if I had a choice, I would have said I would not come here. But from all indications, I can see that God is moving this country, and my coming is divine. With God saying go, who am I to say no? I am here because I have a role to play to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed,” he stated.

He emphasised the importance of teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to credible elections, noting that the success of the commission depends on synergy among its departments and staff.

Amupitan also stressed the need to restore public confidence in the electoral process, assuring Nigerians that their votes would count.

“Our mandate is very clear. That is to deliver free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the people. The integrity of our elections is not negotiable. Every voter must feel confident that their vote counts,” he said.

The INEC Chairman further pledged to prioritise staff welfare, saying effective performance requires an enabling environment.

“For me, staff welfare is going to be a priority. We will expect a lot from you, and because of that, you also deserve to be well-equipped and supported to deliver. We will work assiduously to ensure that your working conditions are conducive and that you have the necessary resources to excel,” he added.