Udeze-led AA Faults INEC’s Recognition Of Omo-Aje As Party’s Presidential Candidate 

The Action Alliance (AA), led by Chief Kenneth Udeze, has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its purported recognition of Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party leadership questioned how Omo-Aje could be listed as AA’s presidential candidate while allegedly serving as the South-West coordinator of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential campaign.

In a press addendum issued by Udeze, who described his leadership as the authentic and Court of Appeal-affirmed leadership of the party, the AA accused INEC of bias and irregularities in its handling of the party’s presidential candidacy.

The statement described the alleged dual political role of Omo-Aje as contradictory and questioned his affiliation with the AA.

“How can a man be a Presidential Candidate of AA and at the same time be coordinating another party’s presidential campaign?” the statement asked.

The party further alleged that Omo-Aje and his associates were being used to destabilise the AA, describing the situation as an attempt to undermine its internal political structure.

However, the allegations against Omo-Aje and the claims concerning his alleged role in the SDP presidential campaign were not independently verified in the statement.

The AA leadership also questioned INEC’s neutrality, arguing that the commission’s purported recognition of Omo-Aje raised concerns about its handling of the party’s candidate selection process.

The statement specifically called on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, to address the controversy, insisting that the commission’s position on the AA candidacy required urgent clarification ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party outlined three demands, beginning with a call for INEC to immediately remove Omo-Aje from its list of presidential candidates for the AA.

It also urged the commission to recognise Joseph Oluwadare Fadojoe as the party’s authentic presidential candidate.

According to the statement, Fadojoe emerged from a primary election conducted by the leadership headed by Udeze, which the latter described as having been affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

The AA further called on Amupitan to intervene, arguing that the controversy could undermine public confidence in the electoral commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election.

“You cannot conduct a World Press Conference on 2027 elections while harbouring such illegality,” the statement said.

The party maintained that INEC’s handling of its candidate list must be addressed to prevent further disputes over its internal leadership and presidential nomination.

The dispute highlights the importance of resolving disagreements over party leadership and candidate nominations before the 2027 general election.

The AA leadership warned that the continued recognition of a disputed candidate could undermine confidence in the electoral process.

It called on INEC to review its position and publish what it described as the party’s legitimate presidential candidate.