2027: NDC Lands in Court Over ‘Swapping’ of Candidate

By Reporter

A politician and businessman, Pratt Tunde, has dragged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged substitution of his name as the party’s candidate for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.

Pratt is asking the court to declare the alleged substitution unlawful, null and void and order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore his name as the NDC candidate for the constituency.

The suit followed his emergence as the party’s candidate at a primary election conducted on May 29, 2026, which he said was monitored and certified by INEC.

Pratt described the alleged substitution as an unlawful act that violated his right to contest the election, insisting that the matter required urgent judicial intervention because of the constitutional timeframe for determining pre-election disputes.

“This is a pre-election matter under Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution. By law, this court has a strict, unextendable window of 180 days to hear and deliver final judgment,” he said.

He alleged that the first and second respondents secretly replaced his valid nomination with that of another candidate.

According to him, allowing the substituted candidate’s name to remain on INEC’s notice board would amount to sustaining an illegality.

Pratt said he discovered the alleged substitution on August 1, 2026, and subsequently approached the court within the stipulated timeframe.

“I discovered the unlawful candidate substitution on Saturday, 1st of August, 2026. By virtue of Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution, I have an absolute maximum of 14 days to file this action,” he said.

He further alleged that the substitution had blocked his access to the INEC nomination portal, resulting in political and financial losses.

“Because of this unlawful candidate swap, I am locked out of the official INEC nomination portal. I am suffering permanent, unrecoverable political and financial damage as I cannot print posters, mobilise structure, or launch my campaigns for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency,” he said.

The plaintiff also drew the court’s attention to what he described as INEC’s newly revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

According to Pratt, the document contains timelines for the publication of candidates’ personal particulars and reinforces the need for the court to determine the matter expeditiously.

He said the original copy of the revised timetable was in INEC’s custody and formally requested that the electoral commission produce it at the trial.

Pratt also maintained that the copy attached to his suit was personally downloaded and printed from INEC’s official website, adding that the electronic devices and internet connection used in the process were functioning properly.

He warned that any delay in hearing the case could render a favourable judgment ineffective if INEC proceeds to print ballot papers bearing the name of the alleged substitute candidate.

“If this suit is not granted an expedited hearing immediately, the 3rd Respondent (INEC) will print final ballot papers using the name of the illegal candidate, which will render the final judgment of this Honourable Court completely useless,” he said.

He argued that an accelerated hearing would not prejudice the defendants because the relevant documentary and electronic evidence was already available.

Pratt therefore urged the court to hear the case on a day-to-day basis to prevent what he described as a miscarriage of justice.

In a message to his supporters after discovering the alleged substitution, Pratt said his concern was not limited to his personal political ambition but extended to the electorate that voted for him.

“My heart breaks not for myself, but for the beautiful, hardworking people of Lagos Mainland whose hopes were traded away in the dark,” he said.

He alleged that the outcome of the May 29 primary represented a clear mandate from the electorate and vowed to challenge the alleged substitution in court.

“I will not give up on you. We are taking this fight to the court, not just to get my name back on the ballot, but to prove that your voices matter and that your votes cannot be erased by backroom deals,” he said.

Pratt urged his supporters to remain peaceful and hopeful as the legal battle proceeds.
His legal team is led by Chief Àjọṣe Abejoye.

A lawyer with Àjọṣe Abejoye Legal, Kaosara Afariogun, said the suit was filed to protect what she described as Pratt’s legitimate mandate.

She said Pratt had complied with the rules and won the party primary fairly, adding that the alleged substitution could not be allowed to stand.

“We are standing up against a cruel injustice. Honourable Pratt played by the rules and won fair and square,” Afariogun said.

She added that the case was also aimed at ensuring that alleged political arrangements behind closed doors did not override the will of party members and voters.

The suit lists INEC and the NDC as defendants and seeks an order compelling the electoral commission to restore Pratt’s name as the NDC candidate for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency.