Category: Daily Trust

Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary of the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), speaks on Nigeria’s micronutrient deficiency and why the government should give tax incentives to manufacturers to make fortified bouillon cube products affordable and safe for consumers.

Nigeria has a voluntary standard for fortifying bouillon cubes with folic acid and vitamin B12, but implementation remains a challenge. What should the government and manufacturers do to accelerate adoption?

Nigeria’s option of a voluntary standard in 2024 was a step in the right direction. It established a technical pathway for adding nutrients, including iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12, to seasoning cubes.

However, the challenge with a voluntary approach is that some manufacturers may comply while others may not.

There is also a commercial consideration. Fortification comes with additional costs. A manufacturer that invests in adding micronutrients may have to charge more for its products than a competitor that does not. This could put companies that comply at a disadvantage, particularly in a price-sensitive market such as Nigeria.

Consequently, some manufacturers may be reluctant to fortify their products, even when they understand the potential public health benefits.

I believe it is time for Nigeria to move from voluntary to mandatory bouillon cube fortification. Given the country’s high malnutrition burden and the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age, we need a more consistent approach that ensures consumers can access these essential nutrients.

Mandatory fortification would also create a level playing field for manufacturers. If all companies producing bouillon cubes are required to meet the same fortification standards, no company would be commercially disadvantaged simply because it chooses to comply.

However, the government must complement this policy with practical support for manufacturers. It should consider tax incentives, including reducing or removing taxes on nutrient premixes and other essential fortification inputs.

These measures could help reduce production costs and prevent fortified products from becoming too expensive for low-income households.

Affordability is critical. Bouillon cubes are widely consumed in Nigeria, including by poorer households. If fortification significantly increases prices, some consumers may reduce their consumption or stop buying the products altogether. That would undermine the very public health objective the policy is intended to achieve.

The government must therefore balance mandatory fortification with incentives that encourage compliance while keeping products accessible.

Beyond making fortification mandatory, what regulatory measures are needed to ensure manufacturers comply with the standards?

Enforcement is critical. It is not enough to require manufacturers to fortify their products; the government must ensure they actually do so and that the products meet the required standards.

Regulatory authorities should verify that the nutrients declared on product labels are genuinely present in the products and that the quantities meet the prescribed specifications.

Manufacturers must also provide accurate information on their labels so consumers know what they are buying.

This requires effective monitoring, testing and enforcement of existing regulatory standards. If a company claims that its product has been fortified, there must be a reliable mechanism for confirming that claim.

At the same time, the government should work with the private sector to address the cost of fortification. Enforcement alone may not be sufficient if manufacturers face significant financial barriers to compliance.

A combination of mandatory standards, credible monitoring, tax incentives and affordable access to nutrient premixes would provide a more sustainable approach.

Our objective should be to reduce malnutrition and improve the health of women and children, while ensuring that manufacturers can comply without making fortified products unaffordable.

One argument against bouillon cube fortification is that these products already contain salt, and increasing their consumption could worsen sodium intake and raise the risk of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. How do you respond to this concern?

That is one side of the argument, and it is important not to dismiss it. Excessive sodium intake is a public health concern because it can contribute to high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases.

However, we must also consider the other side of the argument. Bouillon cubes are already widely consumed in Nigeria, so they offer an opportunity to deliver essential micronutrients through a familiar food product.

The goal of fortification is not to encourage people to consume more bouillon cubes or increase their salt intake. It is to improve the nutritional value of a product people already use.

Moderation and public education are therefore essential. People need to understand how much seasoning to use and how to reduce excessive sodium intake. For example, someone who habitually uses two cubes in a meal may be able to use one instead, depending on the recipe and dietary needs.

Manufacturers must also comply with appropriate technical and regulatory standards when incorporating micronutrients into their products. Fortification should be implemented in a way that considers both nutritional benefits and potential health risks.

Public education must accompany the policy so consumers understand the importance of moderation and healthy dietary practices.

Ultimately, the discussion should consider both the risks associated with excessive sodium intake and the potential benefits of addressing widespread micronutrient deficiencies. These concerns should be managed together rather than treating them as mutually exclusive.

Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the opportunity to improve nutrition, particularly among women and children who may not have access to a sufficiently diverse diet.

The priority should be to develop a responsible fortification programme that follows established standards, maintains product affordability, monitors compliance and educates consumers about healthy consumption.

The Sokoto State Government has sealed one of the offices of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, who announced the sealing of the building on Monday, said the action was taken to protect lives and property following a recent disturbance involving supporters of party and some miscreants.

Dantsoho alleged that the government reviewed the available documents relating to the property and discovered that it was originally owned by the defunct Savannah Bank, with no official change of ownership reflected in the records.

He said the government had written to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he described as the custodian of the property, seeking clarification on its current ownership but was yet to receive a response.

‘Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to the Savannah Bank, and that ownership has not changed as of today.

‘We have written to the NDIC, the custodian of this building, to clarify its present ownership, but we are yet to receive a response,’ he said.

The commissioner said the government decided to seal off the premises pending the NDIC’s response, stressing that the measure was necessary to prevent further disturbances and safeguard lives and property.

He appealed to anyone claiming ownership of the building to present relevant documents to the government for verification and proper documentation, after which the property could be released to its rightful owner.

Dantsoho, however, maintained that the property would remain under the control of the state government until the ownership issue was resolved.

He warned that anyone who attempted to forcefully gain access to the sealed premises would face appropriate legal action, including prosecution.

The development comes amid rising political tension in Sokoto following allegations of attacks involving supporters of the ADC and operatives of state-owned security outfit.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria, saying God has answered his prayer to continue in office.

The President stated this on Monday while reflecting on his spiritual journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, during which the Custodian of the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, granted him a rare privilege of leading Nigeria’s delegation to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah.

At the Ka’abah, Tinubu offered prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for the privilege of serving as Nigeria’s President.

Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Ka’abah.

Tinubu thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation the opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah and offer prayers to Almighty Allah.

The President described the honour as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual experience, reflecting the longstanding bonds of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

‘I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Ka’abah is in Green-White-Green, which reminds us of the Nigerian identity.’

‘I thank the Crown Prince and all the administrators of the holy land. I thank them for the hospitality and recognition given to me as the leader of the delegation and the country.

‘We are all facing challenges and hostility around us. We will overcome them with faith in God Almighty. I’m grateful forever. I thank the King and the royal Crown Prince.

‘It is an honour that I enjoyed, and it is gracious of them to have allowed me to enter inside the Ka’abah. This is history. Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted. Before the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my Umrah then, and He did.

And I promised that I would come back to thank Him.’

Reflecting on the message from the Holy Qur’an in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26, which affirms that Almighty Allah is the Owner of all sovereignty, granting power and authority to whom He wills and taking them away from whom He wills, the President said power is a trust that must be exercised responsibly, with humility and in the service of the people, recognising that no position of authority is permanent and that ultimate sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah.

‘There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority. He says, ‘ If I give you, use it well. If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only One who has that authority,’ the President said, quoting the words of the Qur’an.

Tinubu said faith in Allah had strengthened his conviction that his emergence as Nigeria’s leader was an extraordinary blessing that must be matched with dedicated service to the country.

‘I have faith in that, and I believe extremely well that He has done me and my country a great favour. Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,’ he stated.

Tinubu emphasised that his commitment to Project Nigeria had become even stronger, assuring Nigerians of his resolve to pursue policies and programmes that would promote prosperity, national development and shared progress.

‘My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people.

‘It is important to put Allah first, then move on. Follow your conscience. Follow the right path that will lead Nigeria to that greatness,’ the President said.

On the nation’s economic outlook, Tinubu expressed optimism about the ‘progress made under his watch’, describing the economic foundation as solid and the country’s emergence from a difficult period as encouraging.

‘The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,’ he said.

He maintained, however, that nation-building requires sustained investment in young Nigerians’ future, noting that today’s leaders’ decisions will determine how future generations remember them.

‘We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now? That’s the main thing. So this is a rare privilege to lead the country,’ the President added.

Kaduna State has increased basic school enrolment from 2.17 million in 2022 to more than 2.57 million in 2025, Governor Uba Sani has said.

The governor disclosed this through his deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, at the close-out event of the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE) programme in Kaduna.

He said the achievement reflected the state government’s commitment to expanding access to education and ensuring that more children had the opportunity to acquire basic education.

Sani called on state governments to sustain the gains recorded under PLANE, stressing that the programme’s closure should not lead to a reversal of progress in education.

‘PLANE has done its part. It is now up to us, the state governments, to keep the progress going and to make sure that every child in our respective states has the opportunity to go to school and learn,’ he said.

The governor said the programme had made significant contributions to improving access to education, particularly for vulnerable children and those affected by emergencies.

He urged stakeholders to continue investing in education and strengthening systems that would improve school enrolment, attendance and learning outcomes.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, said PLANE had reached more than two million children and supported the training of over 25,000 teachers and facilitators across northern Nigeria since its launch in 2019.

He said the programme had strengthened education policies, systems and institutions at federal and state levels.

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria will examine the growing threat artificial intelligence (AI) poses to media integrity and explore how newsrooms can use AI-powered verification tools to detect and counter misinformation at its 2026 conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).

According to a statement jointly signed by the organisation’s Deputy President, Fidelis Mbah, and Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, the two-day conference, themed ‘Truth Under Pressure: Journalism, AI and Information Integrity,’ will be held on December 2 and 3, 2026, at the Bolton White Hotel, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.

The conference will examine emerging challenges confronting the Nigerian media industry, particularly the impact of AI on journalism, information integrity, disinformation, press freedom and journalists’ safety.

It will also provide a platform for deliberations on critical national and industry issues, with a view to advancing the cause of free, independent and responsible journalism.

A key focus of the gathering, the statement added, will be strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies.

The event is expected to attract policymakers, subject-matter experts, media executives, journalists and media freedom advocates.

Participants will examine how AI-generated deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media threaten public trust in journalism, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

Speaking ahead of the conference, IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed said the gathering would also explore how journalists could use AI-powered tools and transparent verification processes to safeguard the accuracy and integrity of information in their reporting.

Mojeed said the conference would further provide an opportunity to assess the state of media freedom and journalists’ safety in Nigeria, discuss policy and legal reforms needed to strengthen independent journalism, and foster constructive engagement between the media and government on transparency and accountability.

He added that the gathering would facilitate the exchange of best practices and global perspectives on protecting press freedom and promoting responsible journalism.

The conference will also feature the induction of new members into IPI Nigeria, further expanding the organisation’s network and strengthening its commitment to defending press freedom and promoting responsible journalism in the country.

The second day, December 3, will be devoted to the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, an exclusive session for IPI Nigeria members.

The AGM will provide an opportunity to receive and deliberate on reports from the Executive Committee, review the organisation’s activities and strategic direction, and consider new initiatives and partnerships to strengthen press freedom and journalists’ safety in Nigeria.

Founded in 1950, IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists spanning more than 100 countries. For over seven decades, the organisation has championed the promotion, protection and defence of press freedom and independent journalism around the world.

Gunmen, on Saturday night, attacked troops of Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, at a checkpoint in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing a soldier and carting away two weapons.

The incident occurred at about 8pm at the Sopp Checkpoint in Ungwan Boka community, Riyom LGA.

Sources revealed that personnel of the operation were on duty when gunmen suddenly opened fire on them, killing the victim and taking away his rifle.

The attackers, according to security sources, opened fire from different directions, leading to an exchange of gunfire before they fled into the surrounding bushes.

The sources said, ‘The attack occurred while the troops were keeping vigil at the checkpoint.

‘The gunmen opened fire from different directions, forcing the troops to engage them in a gun battle.’

Confirming the incident, spokesman of OPEP, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, described the attack as deliberate and unprovoked, saying troops have been deployed there to restore normalcy.

Oteh said, ‘It was a deliberate and unprovoked attack on troops at Sopp Check Point, Ungwan Boka in Riyom Local Government Area.

‘Troops have restored normalcy in the area and are maintaining aggressive pursuit of the perpetrators in order to apprehend them and recover the carted-away weapons.

‘The situation remains under control, while troops continue to sustain heightened vigilance to prevent any further security breach and reassure residents of their safety.

‘The public is urged to remain calm, go about their lawful activities and volunteer credible information that could assist security agencies in their ongoing efforts, ‘ Captain Oteh added.

A man, identified as Elisha Baba, has sustained machete injuries, while his 29-year-old son, Mathias Elisha, lost his left hand in a fresh clash between farmers and herders in Kabusa community, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The incident occurred barely two weeks after five people were killed and several shops, alongside goods, were burnt in Paikon-Kore community in Gwagwalada Area Council following an escalation of a farmers-herders conflict.

A Kabusa resident, Zuwana John, who confirmed the latest incident to our reporter on Sunday, said it occurred on Friday at about 5pm after some cows allegedly strayed into a farm and destroyed beans planted by the community.

He said some residents had spotted the cows feeding on the beans while two herders stood nearby.

According to him, the residents immediately alerted the farm owner, who rushed to the farm with his son, Mathias, and found the cows destroying the crops.

John said trouble started when Mathias confronted the herders for allowing the cattle into the farm, prompting one of them to flee while the other allegedly brought out a machete.

He said Mathias managed to disarm the herder.

However, the fleeing herder reportedly went to alert his kinsmen at a nearby camp and later returned to the farm with others.

‘They came back in their numbers and started attacking Elisha’s father with machetes.

‘When Mathias realised that the herders had overpowered his father, he also confronted them. In the ensuing struggle, he fell to the ground, and one of the herders used a machete to cut off his left hand, leaving him and his father in a pool of blood,’ John said.

Mathias, who also spoke to our reporter by telephone from his hospital bed, said the incident occurred at about 5pm on Friday after he received information that some cows had entered his father’s farm and were destroying beans yet to be harvested.

He said he immediately rode his motorcycle with his father to the farm, where they found the cattle feeding on the crops.

He said he confronted one of the herders and succeeded in seizing his machete and stick, while the other herder fled.

Mathias said a few moments later, about four herders from a nearby camp arrived and began attacking his father with sticks and machetes, inflicting serious injuries on him.

‘When I saw how they were attacking my father with sticks and machetes, I could not control my anger. I confronted one of them and managed to seize his machete and stick,’ he said.

He said one of the herders subsequently attacked him with a machete, and his left hand was severed while he tried to defend himself.

‘Even after I fell to the ground, I was still trying to defend myself as one of the herders continued attacking me with a machete, while my father was already lying unconscious in a pool of blood,’ he said.

He added that the herders fled with their cattle, leaving him and his father seriously injured.The incident was subsequently reported to the police station in Kabusa.

Mathias said his father was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Staff Clinic in Jabi, Abuja, where both of them were receiving medical attention.

The Secretary of the FCT chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mohammed Usman, said he was unaware of the incident.

He, however, promised to contact the Ardo Fulani in Kabusa to establish what happened and provide further information.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Zaka Maikalangu, has condemned the clash, which left a father and his son seriously injured.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Madaki, the chairman expressed sadness over the incident.

He said that upon receiving information about the clash, he immediately directed security operatives and vigilantes to move to Kabusa to restore calm and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.

The statement added that the council had also informed the FCT Police Command about the incident.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, CSP Josephine Adeh, did not answer calls or respond to text messages sent to her phone for comments.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the suspension of examinations at all Nigerian Law School campuses following alleged harassment, intimidation and exclusion of female Muslim students wearing hijab from examination halls.

The Islamic human rights organisation also demanded an investigation into the incidents, which reportedly occurred during the final examinations for candidates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

MURIC warned that it would mobilise parents, Muslim youths and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses nationwide if its demands were not met.

The Nigerian Law School had not responded to the allegations in the statement at the time of writing.

The organisation’s position was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

According to Akintola, several hijab-wearing female candidates were allegedly prevented from entering examination halls in different parts of the country because of their religious attire.

He said some candidates were reportedly made to stand outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.

‘There was harassment and intimidation of hijab-wearing female Muslim students in some Law School examination halls across the country yesterday, Saturday, October 31, 2026,’ Akintola said.

‘Hijabites who came hoping to sit for their call-to-bar final examinations were disallowed from entering the examination halls. In some places, they were forced to remain standing outside for about one hour until they removed their hijabs before they were allowed to enter and start the examination.’

The MURIC director said the organisation received numerous telephone calls, text messages and online messages from distressed candidates, their parents and concerned Muslims during the incidents.

‘While this was going on, our office was inundated with telephone calls, text messages and chats. We heard the cries of traumatised candidates, the lamentations of distressed parents hundreds of kilometres away from the examination centres and the agitation of concerned Muslims around the country,’ he said.

Describing the alleged incidents as an infringement on the candidates’ rights, Akintola said the organisation strongly condemned what it considered an unjustifiable disruption of their educational and professional pursuits.

‘MURIC strongly condemns the wanton disruption of the lawful educational pursuit of innocent Muslim ladies. It is crude, irrational and sadistic,’ he said.

The organisation expressed particular concern that ‘it is the Law School, the bastion of law education and the centre of legal excellence, that is involved in the denigration of court pronouncements.’

He cited Section 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and propagate religious beliefs.

MURIC also referenced the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Lagos State Government and Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem, which it said affirmed that banning or restricting the hijab amounted to discrimination.

The organisation further argued that the alleged treatment of the candidates violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination.

Akintola also cited Section 34(1)(a), which protects the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

‘The forceful undressing of our daughters at Law School examination centres in Nigeria is an open contravention of Section 34(a), which upholds the dignity of the human person by declaring authoritatively, unequivocally and emphatically that no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment,’ he said.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 11 kidnapped victims in two separate operations in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North West, Capt. Sinivie Tamuno, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Tamuno said the first operation occurred on Friday, following a distress call about terrorists blocking the Ribah-Dirindaji road.

He said the terrorists were attempting to invade Ribah town when troops of Sector 2 responded to the distress call.

According to him, troops discovered that the terrorists had fled with seven residents upon their arrival.

He said the troops pursued the fleeing terrorists towards Rambo village, forcing them to release the captives under sustained pressure.

‘The rescued victims were Sa’adu Bala, 53; Nura Musa, 25; Dantami Yahyi, 57; Nasiru Muhammad, 21; Abdulakeem Abubakar, 23; Abdulahi Maikudi, 32; and Zaki Gambo, 56.

‘The victims, all indigenes of Ribah, had been reunited with their families,’ he said.

Tamuno said another operation occurred when troops conducting routine patrols in the Wasagu-Falfala area came under fire from terrorists.

He said the terrorists had laid an ambush along the troops’ route before opening fire on the advancing security personnel.

He added that the troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to flee in disarray.

‘During a follow-up search, the troops discovered four kidnapped victims abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

‘The rescued victims were identified as Lawali Ali, 20; Samaila Shaibu, 14; Kasimu Shaibu, 20; and Aliyu Bala, 18,’ he said.

Tamuno said the rescued victims, who were residents of Wasagu village, had been handed over to the village head.(NAN)

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has condemned what it described as a ‘sustained, coordinated and state-sponsored assault on democracy, freedom of association and the constitutional right of Nigerians to political participation under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’

The Council said the unfolding incidents across the country went beyond ordinary political rivalry, alleging that they represented a disturbing pattern of intimidation, harassment and suppression of opposition voices.

These are calculated ‘atrocious actions skewed to scare Nigerians ahead of the general elections.’

In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC recalled a series of incidents, including ‘attacks on its leaders and members in Kaduna, the reported assault on its Sokoto State governorship candidate, Alhaji Munir Dan Iya, by operatives of the Sokoto Marshals along Airport Road, Sokoto, and alleged attacks on other opposition figures.’

ADC also cited the reported demolition of its governorship campaign office in Kebbi State and the alleged denial of a campaign venue in Enugu State to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

The Council further referenced the reported attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and other opposition voices, describing the incidents as part of what it called an ’emerging pattern of political intolerance.’

According to the ADC-PCC, the alleged attacks, denial of campaign venues, arrests, harassment and intimidation of opposition figures raise serious concerns about the state of democratic freedoms and political pluralism in Nigeria.

The Council maintained that no government, regardless of its political or institutional strength, could successfully suppress the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, recalling that popular resistance contributed to the collapse of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.

ADC also argued that President Tinubu and the APC enjoyed the benefits of political participation and opposition politics when they were outside government, insisting that those same democratic freedoms must be guaranteed to all political parties and their members.

The ADC-PCC expressed concern over the continued detention of its Vice Chairman and former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that he was being unlawfully held and denied his right to bail.

It warned that the circumstances surrounding his detention would not weaken the party, adding that the international community was watching developments in Nigeria.

‘The world is watching, and the burden of this illegality rests squarely on those responsible,’ the Council stated.

The campaign council further alleged that financial inducements were being deployed to compromise individuals and weaken opposition ranks, but insisted that Nigerians would not surrender their constitutional rights for monetary or material benefits.

The ADC-PCC called on Nigerians to remain committed to defending democratic values, freedom of association and the right to political choice, regardless of political affiliation.