The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in Osun State was validly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.

The court also ordered INEC to list the PDP logo on the ballot ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.

The Court held that access code is neither a creation of the Constitution nor the Electoral Act; rather, a creation of INEC’s guidelines and cannot, in any way, override the provisions of the Constitution.

Section 288 of the Constitution does not specify the method for nominating candidates; it only states that the names of candidates should be forwarded to the Commission.

The court further held that the defendant (INEC) should take steps to include the name of the appellant on the ballot paper.

Additionally, the court ruled that the primary election conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was a valid primary election in law.

The three-man panel of justices—Justice Mahmud, Justice Jaro, and Justice Ankawere, was unanimous in its judgment.

The national Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has set up a situation room to monitor and document all incidences of hate speech, intimidation and threat to life by politicians and other actors ahead of the 2027 general election.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.

He said the situation room would enable the Commission harvest data, analysis and document persons, agencies and others involved in the negative statements in order to ensure they are properly tracked and brought to book by relevant agencies.

Ojukwu also took journalists on a tour of the newly set up situation room.

Details later…..

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has urged the senate, to suspend the senator representing Osun West, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi for threatening to kill Accord Party members and supporters if they come out to vote on Saturday.

The senator, while addressing party supporters at Ilesha on Saturday, threatened Accord Party members and urged his party loyalists to kill them if they come out to vote in the coming governorship election August 15.

“From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too. This is a Federal Government election. On election day, even if they come with voter cards, we won’t allow them to vote,” the PDP senator said.

Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said the statement was capable to setting the nation ablaze and lead to abuse of rights of citizens as well as loss of lives.

He described this remarks as incitement to murder, electoral violence, and voter intimidation, saying no well meaning Nigeria should sit by and allow such rhetoric to be tolerated without consequences from the law enforcement authorities.

Ojukwu said it was not enough for the Senator to attempt explaining what he meant by the threat after the massive rebuke from the public, adding that many of his followers have already taken his directives to heart.

In a statement Wednesday, Ojukwu also urged all party chairmen to issue directives to their members to desist from any hateful , inciting, intimidating and call to violence statements ahead of all coming up elections.

“Any candidates or party faithfuls who violate these directives should be called out for violating constitutional and electoral frameworks for peaceful elections and should be surrendered to law enforcement authorities for prosecution,” Ojukwu said.

“This is not politics. This is a licence to kill. A public officer who tells citizens to murder other citizens because of party affiliation must not be allowed to remain in office for one more day,” Ojukwu said.

“The Senate leadership is hereby called upon to suspend Senator Fadahunsi immediately pending conclusive investigation by the police.

The Police and DSS must also arrest, investigate, and prosecute him now. We cannot wait until blood is spilled in Osun before we act. Prevention is the duty of the state and the leadership of the NASS is part of the state.”

The alleged remarks come days before the August 15 Osun governorship election

The NHRC said that given the gravity of the statements attributed to the Senator in the video, the matter requires urgent investigation by security agencies under due process.

The Commission is calling on authorities to immediately suspend Senator Fadahunsi from all Senate duties pending investigation.

The Commission urged citizens of Osun to remain peaceful and to report any threats to the Commission and relevant authorities as it has set up a situation room to report and document such incidents during the election period.