A faction of the Action Alliance AA led by Chief Kenneth Udeze has questioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged involvement of the party’s listed 2027 presidential candidate, Mr Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje, in the campaign activities of another political party.

INEC’s final list of presidential candidates for the 2027 election, published in September, names Omo-Aje as the presidential candidate of AA.

However, the Udeze-led faction has challenged the commission’s position, maintaining that Mr Joseph Oluwadare Fadojoe, popularly known as Fadojoe, emerged as the presidential candidate from its primary.

The faction alleged that Omo-Aje was simultaneously presenting himself as the AA presidential candidate while serving as the South-West coordinator of the presidential campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In a statement signed by Udeze, the faction asked INEC to explain how an individual listed as the presidential candidate of one political party could allegedly coordinate the campaign of another party.

The faction described the alleged situation as contradictory and said it raised questions about the basis on which Omo-Aje’s name remained on INEC’s list.

It also questioned whether the alleged activities could amount to anti-party conduct and called for scrutiny of Omo-Aje’s political activities ahead of the 2027 election.

The Udeze-led faction further accused INEC of failing to recognise what it described as the authentic leadership structure of AA, despite its reliance on court decisions which it said affirmed Udeze as national chairman.

The faction said Fadojoe emerged from a legitimate presidential primary conducted by the leadership under Udeze and demanded that INEC publish his name as AA’s presidential candidate.

It consequently called on INEC to delist Omo-Aje and recognise Fadojoe instead.

The dispute is part of a prolonged leadership crisis within AA, with rival factions relying on different court decisions to support their claims. INEC’s current register lists Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as AA national chairman by court order.

Fadojoe has also challenged INEC’s recognition of Omo-Aje as the party’s presidential candidate, with the dispute over the party’s leadership and nomination process continuing in court.

The Udeze-led faction urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, to address the competing claims and ensure transparency in determining AA’s legitimate presidential candidate.

It said the controversy should be resolved before the 2027 elections to protect confidence in the electoral process.

The faction maintained that it would continue to pursue constitutional and legal avenues to defend its position on the party’s leadership and presidential nomination.