Political parties preparing for the 2027 general elections are racing to meet the May 30 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for concluding party primaries.

The primaries are to produce candidates for the January 16 presidential and National Assembly elections, as well as the February 5 governorship and State House of Assembly polls.

Despite a court ruling by Justice M. Umar, which nullified aspects of the election timetable and schedule of activities, many political parties have continued with their primaries.

The move, it was gathered, is to avoid being caught off guard should INEC’s appeal against the ruling succeed.

On Friday, the National Rescue Movement (NRM), the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), and the Action Democratic Party (ADP), among others, held national conventions in Abuja to select their presidential candidates.

At the NRM convention, Dr Esther Okereke emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, while the DLA adopted its National Chairman, Barrister Samuel M. Memeh, as its consensus candidate.

As of the time of filing this report, the ADP convention, expected to produce a new National Working Committee and its presidential candidate, had yet to commence. (The Nation)