Two court cases involving governorship candidates for the 2027 elections made news on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

Nasarawa ADC candidate sacked

A Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly nullified the nomination of retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nasarawa State. Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the primary election that produced him was inconclusive, and ordered the party to hold a fresh primary in Karu Local Government Area within 14 days. The court also barred INEC from recognising Angbazo as the party's candidate. The case was filed by former Minister of Environment Mohammed Abdullahi, who took part in the primary along with Angbazo and Senator Mohammed Onawo. Angbazo can appeal the judgment.

Rivers APC case adjourned

In Port Harcourt, a Federal High Court fixed 10 December for hearing in a suit seeking to disqualify Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State. The plaintiff, Samuel Amatonjie, argues that Chinda did not properly leave the PDP for the APC under the Constitution, and has asked the court to compel INEC, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the National Assembly to produce documents on his defection. Chinda has not commented publicly on the case.

Background

The 2027 party primaries have produced many disputes, and courts have already ordered changes to several candidacies, including the Imo West senatorial ticket. INEC recently removed some candidates from its list, citing a Supreme Court ruling on party membership registers.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has distanced itself from a cleric who presented himself as its general secretary and tried to link the body to support for a candidate in the 2027 elections.

What CAN said

In a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and reported on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, CAN said Archbishop Chivir Chianson does not hold any position in the association and has no authority to speak or act on its behalf. It said he had tried to identify himself as CAN's general secretary and to associate the body with what he described as a church mobilisation in support of a political candidate. Okoh warned the public and the media to disregard any claim that Chianson or his group represents CAN.

Neutrality

The statement was widely read as reaffirming CAN's position that it does not endorse any candidate in the race between President Bola Tinubu of the APC, Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and Peter Obi of the NDC.

Background

Religious leaders and groups have become increasingly involved in the 2027 campaign. A bishops' conference has reportedly endorsed Tinubu for a second term, while a video of a Catholic priest leading his congregation in a song for Obi and Kwankwaso went viral this week. Religion has long been a sensitive issue in Nigerian elections, especially after the APC's Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.

Why it matters

CAN is the umbrella body for most Christian denominations in Nigeria, and its position can influence many voters.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has named the venue for the official launch of Atiku Abubakar's 2027 presidential campaign in Sokoto.

The venue

According to reports, the campaign will be flagged off at the party's secretariat on Ilorin Road, Sokoto, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. Senator Ibrahim Lamido, who coordinates the ADC presidential campaign in the state, said Atiku was expected to arrive at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport at about 9am, and invited supporters and members of the public to welcome him before moving to the venue. He urged party executives in all 23 local government areas of the state to mobilise supporters.

Why the venue was kept quiet

The party had earlier withheld details of the venue, citing alleged intimidation, an attack on the convoy of its governorship candidate and the sealing of one of its campaign offices. On Tuesday, Atiku accused the Department of State Services of recruiting protesters to disrupt the rally, a claim the DSS had not publicly answered. The Sokoto State Government said it sealed the office over questions about who owns the building and to prevent further disturbances.

Background

Atiku, a former vice-president, is the ADC's candidate after the party became the platform of an opposition coalition. Sokoto is in the North-West, a region with a large share of Nigeria's voters, and is governed by the APC. Other candidates, including President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Peter Obi of the NDC, have also been holding rallies and town halls across the country.

What happens next

Security agencies are expected to be deployed in Sokoto for the event, and the ADC plans further rallies in other states.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has defended President Bola Tinubu's academic record, describing him as a genius.

What he said

Speaking on a television politics programme on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Alausa reportedly said Tinubu graduated with a first class degree in accounting from Chicago State University in the United States. He said he knew the university well, had visited it many times, and had met many of the President's former classmates in person. He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as the opposition's claims about the President's credentials, and called Tinubu the first internationally exposed president.

Background

Questions about the President's academic records were raised by opponents before and after the 2023 election. Chicago State University released records confirming that Tinubu graduated in 1979, and the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging his election, including claims about his certificates. Opposition figures have continued to raise the issue in political debates. Supporters say the matter has been settled by the courts and the university.

Background on the minister

Alausa, a medical doctor who practised in the United States, was appointed Minister of Education in 2024. He has introduced several policy changes in the sector.

How people reacted

APC supporters welcomed the comments, while critics said the minister's remarks would not end the debate and that voters care more about the economy than academic records.