Two leading civil‑society groups have lodged separate petitions with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking to disqualify a Bayelsa‑based academic from contesting the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections.
The petitions, dated 7 May 2026, were filed by the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development and the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA). Both organisations allege that Prof Princewill Woyinbrakemi Igbagara, an indigene of Isoni community in Sagbama Local Government Area, is in breach of constitutional and public‑service rules that prohibit a public servant from standing for elective office while retaining paid government employment.
According to the petitions, Prof Igbagara holds a full‑time professorship at the Federal University, Otuoke and, simultaneously, serves as Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Science and Technology. The groups claim he occupied both positions as recently as 20 April 2026, thereby receiving double remuneration from public funds.
The complaints cite Section 66(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which bars “any person employed in the public service of the Federation or of any State” from being qualified for election to the Senate or House of Representatives unless they have resigned, withdrawn or retired at least thirty days before the election. The petitioners argue that Prof Igbagara’s concurrent roles constitute a conflict of interest and contravene established public‑service regulations as well as ethical guidelines governing the use of public resources.
PAACA’s executive director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, signed the petition on behalf of the organisation, describing PAACA as a non‑partisan body dedicated to electoral integrity, democratic accountability and adherence to Nigeria’s constitutional and electoral framework. In the filing, Nwagwu wrote that the dual employment “may constitute a violation of constitutional provisions relating to public officers seeking elective positions while retaining public employment or appointments.” He urged the APC, INEC and ICPC to address the matter promptly, emphasizing the need to safeguard the rule of law, transparency and democratic integrity.
The Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development submitted an identical set of grievances, reinforcing the claim that the professor’s simultaneous public‑service roles give him an unfair advantage and raise the risk of abuse of office.
If the petitions succeed, Prof Igbagara could be barred from the APC ticket for Sagbama/Ekeremor, and a replacement candidate would need to be nominated ahead of the 2027 polls. The matter highlights ongoing scrutiny of public‑office holders who seek elective positions, and underscores the role of civil‑society organisations in monitoring compliance with Nigeria’s electoral and constitutional standards.
