Businessman and politician Pratt Tunde has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging what he describes as the unlawful substitution of his name as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections. The suit names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the NDC as respondents.
Pratt Claims Victory in NDC Primary, Alleges Secret Swap
According to a report by The Nation on Monday, August 24, Pratt stated that he won the NDC primary held on May 29, 2026, an exercise he said was monitored and certified by INEC. He alleged that the party's leadership subsequently removed his name and replaced it with that of Tunji Sanni without his knowledge or consent.
Pratt said he discovered the change on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and immediately began challenging it within the constitutional deadline.
"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, which means my right to sue expires on Saturday, 15th of August, 2026," he said in an affidavit filed alongside his application.
Concrete Harm Cited in Affidavit
In the affidavit, Pratt told the court that his inability to access INEC's nomination portal had already begun causing him concrete harm. He said the alleged swap had locked him out of the official portal, preventing him from printing posters, mobilising structure, or launching his campaigns for the constituency.
"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.
Pratt also pointed to INEC's revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections as evidence that the court needed to act without delay. He warned that ballot papers could be printed with the substituted candidate's name before any judgment was delivered.
"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.
Court Asked to Declare Substitution Illegal
Pratt asked the court to declare the substitution illegal and void, and to direct INEC to restore his name as the party's candidate. He also urged the court to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis to avoid what he called "a complete miscarriage of justice."
Pratt's legal team is led by Ajose Abejoye. One of the firm's lawyers, Kaosara Afariogun, stressed that the case was about more than one man's candidacy.
"Honourable Pratt played by the rules and won fair and square. To see his dedication and the mandate of everyday people allegedly stolen by a secret political plot is unacceptable," she said.
In a message to his supporters, Pratt said: "My heart breaks not for myself, but for the beautiful, hardworking people of Lagos Mainland whose hopes were traded away in the dark."
The suit names INEC and the NDC as respondents. The outcome of the case could determine whether Pratt or Tunji Sanni appears on the ballot for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the 2027 elections.
