In a significant legal move, businessman and politician Pratt Tunde has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over an alleged secret substitution of his candidacy for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 elections. The suit was lodged at the federal high court in Lagos after Tunde discovered that his name had been replaced without his consent.

Tunde, who won the NDC primary on May 29, 2026, claims that the party's leadership, under the direction of Seriake Dickson, removed his name and replaced it with that of another candidate, Tunji Sanni, on August 1, 2026. He asserts that this substitution was done covertly, undermining the democratic process and violating his rights as a candidate.

In his affidavit, Tunde expressed urgency in the matter, noting that he had only a limited time to file his action due to constitutional deadlines. "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 stated.

The businessman highlighted the adverse effects of this substitution, claiming it has caused him significant political and financial harm. He stated, "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."

Tunde's legal team, led by Ajose Abejoye, is pushing for an expedited hearing, arguing that the potential printing of ballot papers with the substituted candidate's name poses a serious risk of injustice. Tunde warned that without immediate court action, the final judgment could be rendered ineffective before it is 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 cautioned.

The case has drawn attention to the broader implications of candidate substitutions in political parties, with Tunde's lawyer, Kaosara Afariogun, emphasizing that this issue extends beyond one individual'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 remarked.

In a message to his supporters, Tunde expressed his disappointment, stating, "My heart breaks not for myself, but for the beautiful, hardworking people of Lagos Mainland whose hopes were traded away in the dark." As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome may have significant ramifications for the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.