Category: PM News

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has claimed that governors, judges and lawmakers are afraid to challenge President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the President has become so powerful that political officeholders cannot openly confront him.

Momodu made the assertion during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, where he also claimed that the opposition had devised a strategy to stop Tinubu from securing a second term in 2027.

‘Governors are scared, judges are scared, legislators are scared. So, Tinubu has become a god that nobody is ready to face and say, ‘Oga, you’ve done your best. Please go home,” he declared.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine alleged that some politicians publicly supporting Tinubu’s re-election were privately hoping for his defeat, claiming they were uncomfortable with his political influence.

Momodu also questioned the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing Tinubu of appointing too many people from the South-West to the electoral body.

‘If you ask an average Nigerian today about Tinubu, do you trust Tinubu to conduct a free and fair election? I can tell you, 90 per cent of them will say no,’ he claimed.

‘Nobody trusts Tinubu to run a free and fair election, including his own supporters.’

However, Momodu did not provide polling data to substantiate his claim that 90 per cent of Nigerians lacked confidence in the electoral process.

Speaking on the ADC’s preparations for the presidential election, Dele Momodu insisted that the opposition was working behind the scenes to prevent Tinubu’s re-election but declined to disclose its strategy.

‘I can’t tell you about strategy in public. What we know is that once upon a time, Tinubu fought for himself to survive the second term as governor of Lagos State. So others are also working very hard behind the scenes,’ he said.

‘We are not going to come in public and say this, but we know what to do to make sure that he does not get that second term.’

Asked about suggestions that Tinubu might refuse to accept defeat, Momodu maintained that Nigerians possessed the determination to influence the outcome of the election.

‘Look, you do not know the determination of Nigerians, and now I’m not resting my confidence on just my party. I’m talking about the ordinary man on the street who cannot imagine Tinubu coming back again,’ he stated.

Momodu’s assertions about the President’s influence over political officeholders and the private intentions of his supporters were not accompanied by independent evidence.

Three men identified Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim have been docked for allegedly impersonating popular Nigerian blogger and social media influencer Tunde Ednut to carry out N18.2 million fraud.

The three suspects were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice S. O. Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday.

They were arraigned on a three count-charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N18,264,700 (Eighteen Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira).

EFCC accused the three men of opening accounts in different banks in Nigeria in the name of Tunde Ednut to carry out the fraud.

Count two reads: ‘That you Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim (now at large) between April and June 2026 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with the intent to defraud, did fraudulently impersonate one Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, popularly known as Tunde-Ednut and in that assumed character opened bank account in different banks in Nigeria and you obtained a total sum of N18,264,700 (Eighteen Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira) from unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section (22)(b)(iv) of the same Act.

They pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi prayed the court for a trial date and remand of the defendants in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Justice Ibrahim ordered their remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja and adjourned the matter till November 17, 2026.

Nigeria’s cultural scene is sustained by more than the artists who take the stage. Behind every memorable concert, theatre production, choral performance and cultural festival is a body of creative decisions that deserves thoughtful examination. Criticism helps audiences understand those decisions, gives artists and organisers room for reflection, and preserves the ideas and cultural significance behind live performance.

Across journalism, theatre, music scholarship and festival assessment, a number of Nigerian professionals have contributed to this important work. Their expertise reflects the different ways criticism can shape cultural understanding, from evaluating artistic execution to documenting performance traditions and examining the relationship between music, society and identity.

Here are ten prominent Nigerian voices whose professional work connects with arts, festival and live music criticism.

1. Jahman Anikulapo

Veteran Arts Journalist, Editor and Cultural Critic

Jahman Anikulapo occupies an important place in Nigeria’s arts journalism landscape. Known for his long-standing engagement with the country’s cultural sector and his experience as a former editor of The Guardian Nigeria, he represents a tradition of arts journalism that places creative work within a broader social and cultural context.

His professional experience spans arts reporting, cultural commentary and the public interpretation of artistic expression. His involvement in cultural initiatives, including serving as jury chair for a Felabration media-reporting competition, also reflects the relationship between journalism, cultural documentation and the evaluation of creative work.

In a cultural environment where performances can disappear from public memory soon after the applause, experienced arts journalists play an essential role in recording what happened, examining its significance and contributing to the historical understanding of Nigeria’s creative industries.

1. Wing Commander Adesola Ismaila Adeyanju

Music Professional, Military Music Leader and Performance Critic

Wing Commander Adesola Ismaila Adeyanju brings a distinctive professional perspective to the intersection of music, performance and institutional discipline. Serving as Deputy Director of Music at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, his background connects musical practice with leadership, training and performance organisation.

His academic and professional credentials span music education and advanced musical study, including a doctoral programme in progress as described in his professional profile. His engagement with music commentary and published writing adds another dimension to his relationship with musical performance.

His perspective is particularly relevant to conversations about musical interpretation, ensemble discipline, performance preparation and the standards through which musical work can be assessed. His professional background illustrates how practical musical experience can inform critical engagement with performance.

1. Timothy Akanni Oludotun Osunsanya, FTA

Theatre Arts Professional, Cultural Administrator and Arts Critic

Timothy Akanni Oludotun Osunsanya, who holds the designation FTA, represents the connection between theatre practice, cultural administration and festival evaluation. His professional history includes service within the National Council for Arts and Culture, where he is associated with the Performing Arts Department and its wider cultural development responsibilities.

With a background in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan and further theatrical studies in Bulgaria, Osunsanya brings formal training and institutional experience to the interpretation of performance. His career has also been associated with national cultural festivals, including the assessment of festival presentations.

His work sits within a critical tradition that looks beyond spectacle to consider performance quality, artistic intention, cultural representation and the effectiveness of theatrical expression. Such perspectives are important to the development of standards for festivals and performing arts programmes across Nigeria.

1. Professor Olugbenga Olanrewaju Loko

Ethnomusicologist, Music Scholar and Researcher in Contemporary African Music

Professor Olugbenga Olanrewaju Loko contributes to the understanding of Nigerian music through academic research, ethnomusicology and the study of contemporary African musical practices. His scholarship provides a framework for examining music not only as entertainment, but also as an artistic form shaped by history, identity, performance traditions and social experience.

His research interests include popular music and contemporary African music. He has also co-authored scholarly work on documenting and archiving live music performance in Nigeria, including research examining the Veentage Band experiment.

This work is significant to the wider conversation about live music criticism because documentation and scholarship help preserve performance knowledge and create a basis for informed analysis. Through research and academic engagement, music scholars such as Loko contribute to a deeper understanding of how Nigerian music is created, performed, transmitted and remembered.

1. Gospel Chimezie

Music Reviewer, Editor and Live Music and Festival Critic

Gospel Chimezie is associated with music reviewing, editorial work and criticism of live music and festivals. His work sits within a field that examines musical performances beyond their immediate entertainment value, considering the delivery, interpretation and overall artistic experience presented to audiences.

The role of a live music critic extends from observing the quality of a performance to examining how the music, performers, staging and audience experience combine to communicate an artistic idea. Festival criticism also provides a way to assess how events curate talent, develop their identities and contribute to the wider cultural environment.

Through music reviewing and editorial engagement, Chimezie represents the importance of critical writing in building a record of performances and helping audiences engage more thoughtfully with the music they encounter.

1. Professor Femi Abiodun

Music Scholar, Ethnomusicologist and Contributor to Music Criticism

Professor Femi Abiodun represents the scholarly dimension of music criticism, where musical works and performance traditions are examined through research, interpretation and informed analysis. Ethnomusicology offers tools for understanding music within its cultural setting, including the traditions, communities and social meanings that shape musical expression.

This perspective is valuable in Nigeria, where musical practices are closely connected to language, heritage, identity, spirituality and social change. Critical engagement informed by music scholarship can help audiences appreciate not only what is heard on stage, but also the cultural knowledge and creative traditions that inform the performance.

Abiodun’s place in this wider conversation reflects the contribution of music scholarship to critical understanding. Academic inquiry and performance criticism can complement each other by connecting artistic execution with deeper questions about musical meaning, cultural continuity and innovation.

1. Jibrin Ahmed

Theatre Practitioner, Director, Scriptwriter and Arts Critic

Jibrin Ahmed brings together theatre practice, directing, scriptwriting and arts criticism. His professional interests are associated with the evaluation of theatrical performances and the assessment of presentations at cultural festivals, including the National Festival of Arts and Culture, commonly known as NAFEST.

With a background in theatre studies and further academic work in the discipline, Ahmed represents a form of criticism informed by an understanding of how performances are developed and delivered. Directing and scriptwriting provide practical insight into the relationship between a dramatic text, its interpretation, performers and the final experience presented to an audience.

Festival assessment also requires attention to artistic execution, thematic clarity, cultural relevance and the effectiveness with which a production communicates its ideas. These areas make theatre practitioners with critical experience important contributors to discussions about performance standards and the development of Nigeria’s performing arts.

1. Nkem Scholastica Aneobonam

Children’s Theatre Professional and Arts Critic

Nkem Scholastica Aneobonam works within the specialised field of children’s theatre and youth performance. Her professional background is associated with the Children and Youth Section of the Performing Arts Department of the National Council for Arts and Culture, as well as initiatives involving children’s cultural festivals.

Children’s theatre requires a critical approach that recognises the needs of young audiences while considering performance quality, storytelling, participation, educational value and cultural relevance. Evaluating such productions involves more than assessing entertainment. It also means considering how theatre supports imagination, communication, social learning and creative development.

Aneobonam’s professional focus brings attention to an important area of arts criticism that can receive less visibility than mainstream music and adult theatre. Her work highlights the need to examine the artistic experiences created for younger audiences and the role of festivals in encouraging the next generation of performers and cultural participants.

1. Jennifer E. Henry, popularly known as Big Energy

Music Critic, Songwriter and Talent Executive

Jennifer E. Henry, widely known as Big Energy, brings experience connected to songwriting, talent development and Nigeria’s contemporary music industry. Her engagement with the music business offers a perspective on the creative and professional considerations that shape artists’ work and the way music reaches audiences.

Music criticism benefits from an understanding of the environment in which music is written, developed, performed and presented. Knowledge of songwriting and talent management can help inform conversations about artistic identity, originality, performance choices and the relationship between creative expression and audience reception.

As Nigeria’s music industry continues to evolve across live performance, recorded music and digital distribution, voices with practical industry knowledge can contribute useful perspectives to the evaluation of contemporary music. Henry’s profile draws attention to the intersection of creative practice, talent development and critical engagement.

1. Oscar Enamino

Oscar Enamino, a Commonwealth Vision Award recipient, brings his interest in live music and festival criticism to the wider conversation about Nigeria’s live entertainment landscape. His profile connects critical engagement with live performance to a broader appreciation of the creative work, production choices and cultural experiences that shape festivals and concerts.

Live music and festival criticism involves examining more than the atmosphere or popularity of an event. It considers musicianship, stagecraft, audience engagement, programming, production quality and the overall artistic experience. Through this lens, concerts and festivals can be assessed not only as entertainment, but also as artistic and cultural expressions.

Enamino’s profile highlights the importance of documenting and critically examining live performances, bringing greater attention to the creative decisions, performers and cultural experiences that define Nigeria’s evolving festival and live music scene.

Beyond the Applause: Why Nigerian Arts Criticism Matters

Arts criticism is an essential part of a functioning cultural ecosystem. It creates space for informed discussion, encourages reflection on artistic standards and helps preserve the record of performances that contribute to a society’s cultural life.

Nigeria’s arts and entertainment industries continue to expand across music, theatre, festivals, film and interdisciplinary performance. As that landscape grows, so does the need for critics and scholars who can interpret creative work, document significant events and give audiences a deeper understanding of what they experience.

The ten professionals featured here represent different approaches to that responsibility. Some bring the experience of journalism and cultural administration. Others contribute through theatre practice, festival assessment, music scholarship, reviewing or creative industry experience.

Their professional paths are not identical, and their contributions should be understood within their respective areas of expertise. Together, they illustrate the breadth of knowledge that can inform critical engagement with Nigeria’s arts and live performance culture.

Recognising these voices is part of a wider effort to give greater visibility to arts criticism and to encourage a cultural environment in which creative work is not only celebrated, but also examined, documented and understood.

Editorial note: The names are presented in an editorial sequence, not as a ranking from first to tenth. Professional titles, appointments, awards, publications and specific reviewing credits should be confirmed against authoritative biographies and published records before publication.

Scores of persons were feared dead and 10 others injured after a petrol tanker fell and exploded at Oluku, along the Benin-Lagos Road in Edo State.

The tanker, which was attempting to make a U-turn near Oluku Market, fell at about 4 am on Thursday, spilling its content on the road.

Witnesses said residents and passers-by trooped to the scene moments after the fall to scoop fuel from the road and drainage channels.

According to witnesses, scooping had begun before security operatives arrived to cordon off the area.

The owner of the truck was said to have brought another tanker to trans-load the remaining product when the fallen tanker exploded, burning several victims beyond recognition.

Ten injured victims were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), while corpses were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

One survivor, who was among those scooping fuel, narrated how he escaped death.

‘I was also among those scooping fuel. I escaped by whiskers. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and the way people rushed to scoop fuel might ignite fire.

‘As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker burst into flames as people scampered for safety. I thank the soldier, if not I would have been burnt by now.

‘Two men who were directly under the tanker were burnt, while stores built on the drainage were burnt. We are yet to know the number of people that died,’ he said.

At UBTH, it was observed that the management had mobilised its emergency team to attend to the victims.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, was seen leading teams across the Accident and Emergency and Burns Units to stabilise casualties and minimise fatalities.

The Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said officers of the FRSC, Police, Fire Service and Edo State Traffic Management Agency were on ground controlling traffic.

On the casualty figure, he said he was still at the scene and would provide an update later.

A suspected bandit leader identified as Wakiyu has reportedly been killed during a joint security operation in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Wakiyu was reportedly killed in Damari during an encounter involving Nigerian Army troops, police personnel and operatives of the Katsina Community Watch Corps.

According to reports, the suspected bandit leader was linked to the criminal network of Kachalla Maha, whose group has been accused of carrying out attacks and other criminal activities in parts of Katsina State.

North-West security affairs reporter Bakatsine disclosed the development on Wednesday, October 14, alleging that Wakiyu had been terrorising residents of Matazu and neighbouring communities.

The reported killing comes amid ongoing operations by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade and other security agencies against armed groups operating across the state.

Details of the encounter, including the circumstances surrounding Wakiyu’s reported death, remain unclear.

Security authorities have yet to independently confirm the killing or release an official account of the operation.

The Kano government has explained how five children from the same family died from diphtheria infection in Danbare Ward, Layin Dutse, Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

The Director-General of Kano Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Adamu-Abbas confirmed the deaths based on the case definition and verbal autopsy.

He attributed the death of the children to late presentation of the case to the health facility, and lack of immunization.

He said the ages of the deceased children range between one year to 13 years.

The KNCDC boss described the report of five child deaths in one household as a serious signal requiring continuous vigilance

‘The investigation confirmed a cluster of six children linked to one family. Tragically, five of the six children died due to late presentation.

‘The sixth child, Ummahabila Ibrahim, four years, was admitted on Oct. 1, 2026, with mild diphtheria and discharged on Oct. 4, 2026. A follow-up on Oct. 12, 2026, confirmed she is completely fine and healthy.

‘Clinical presentations included fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, neck swelling, nasal bleeding/regurgitation, and white patches on the tonsils (pseudomembrane).

According to him, assessments included severe diphtheria, thrombocytopenia, anemia, neuropathy, and risk of upper airway obstruction.

‘Epidemiological Findings showed three of the five deceased children were zero-dose (unvaccinated).

‘The mother reported that two children had been immunised, but there was no evidence of Routine Immunization (RI) cards, as they were reportedly lost during relocation,’.

The DG appealed to caregivers to visit the nearest primary healthcare facility for missed doses, report of unusual illnesses or visit the nearest LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO).

He urged the public not to delay or rely on self-medication, adding that diphtheria is a severe, vaccine-preventable disease spread through respiratory droplets and close contact.

‘It can cause sore throat, fever, neck swelling, and difficulty breathing. Multiple child deaths in one household represent a serious public health signal.

‘The report of five child deaths in one household is a serious signal requiring continuous vigilance,’ he said.

The KNCDC boss urged all residents to prioritise routine immunisation, seek care early, and support public health response efforts in order to prevent diphtheria deaths and reduce outbreaks in Kano State.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of hypocrisy over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s economy.

Keyamo, in a post on X, questioned Atiku’s record in government, accusing the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of abandoning thousands of Nigeria Airways workers without paying their pensions and gratuities.

His response followed Atiku’s call on Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections, blaming Tinubu for rising living costs and insecurity.

‘Bola made life expensive. I will work to make life affordable again and restore the security every Nigerian deserves,’ Atiku wrote.

The former vice-president lamented that parents struggled to feed their children, pensioners faced difficult choices between food and medication, while families lived in fear of kidnapping and attacks.

Responding, Keyamo wrote: ‘Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation.’

He accused the Obasanjo-Atiku administration of liquidating Nigeria Airways in September 2004, leaving thousands of workers unemployed.

‘In September, 2004, when you were Vice-President, your Government woke up one morning and liquidated Nigeria Airways, throwing thousands of Nigerian out of jobs and into sorrow and pain,’ he stated.

Keyamo alleged that the affected workers were denied pensions and gratuities running into billions of naira.

According to him, Tinubu recently approved and released ?36 billion to settle the outstanding entitlements, with beneficiaries already receiving payments.

He also claimed that some former workers had died while awaiting their benefits.

‘Yet you sit down there and pontificate? It’s only the younger ones who don’t know your history you can attempt to hoodwink, but we will expose you to them,’ Keyamo said.

The minister accused Atiku of selectively taking credit for the Obasanjo administration’s achievements while distancing himself from its controversial decisions.

‘When it is convenient for you, you claim some credit of the Obasanjo-Atiku government and when not convenient, you say Obasanjo was in charge and not you as Vice-President,’ he wrote.

Keyamo concluded his response by describing Atiku’s position as ‘The proper posturing of a con artist!’

Nigeria has condemned rising xenophobic attacks against Africans in other African countries, warning that discrimination threatens continental solidarity, integration and peaceful coexistence.

The Federal Government expressed its concern during the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of a new political declaration against racism and racial discrimination.

Speaking in Nigeria’s national capacity, Amb. Bola Asaju urged African governments to confront growing hostility against migrants and foreign nationals within their territories.

The delegation warned that economic hardship, unemployment and social challenges could never justify violence, persecution or discrimination against people because of their nationality.

Nigeria maintained that African countries could not credibly champion Pan-Africanism and continental integration while tolerating attacks against fellow Africans.

Asaju expressed particular concern about incidents of hostility and violence targeting Africans living outside their countries of origin.

According to the delegation, such developments threaten the historical bonds of solidarity that supported Africa’s struggles against colonialism and racial oppression.

Nigeria stressed that the sacrifices made during the continent’s liberation movements should inspire greater unity rather than division among African populations.

The country maintained that governments had a responsibility to protect everyone within their territories, irrespective of nationality or immigration background.

It also called for accountability for individuals and groups responsible for xenophobic violence, intimidation and discrimination.

Nigeria urged African governments to strengthen national legislation, improve regional cooperation and intensify public education against xenophobia.

The delegation also recommended addressing underlying socioeconomic conditions that could be exploited to incite hostility against migrants and foreign nationals.

It warned against collective blame, particularly where economic difficulties were used to portray foreign nationals as responsible for domestic challenges.

Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the international framework adopted in South Africa in 2001 to combat racism.

Asaju said Nigeria supported the latest political declaration and voted in favour of its adoption.

The General Assembly adopted the declaration by 95 votes in favour, five against and 37 abstentions.

The declaration commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and renews international commitments to eliminating racial discrimination.

It recognises the enduring consequences of slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and apartheid, while calling for stronger measures against contemporary discrimination.

The declaration also addresses racial profiling, hate speech, unequal access to justice and discriminatory practices associated with emerging digital technologies.

Nigeria said international commitments against racism must produce practical improvements in people’s lives rather than remain declarations of political intention.

The country urged governments to demonstrate greater political will in confronting racism and xenophobia, including discriminatory practices occurring within their own societies.

Nigeria maintained that protecting human dignity and strengthening solidarity among Africans remained essential to the continent’s integration and development aspirations.

South Africa supported the declaration, while the European Union raised reservations concerning certain provisions relating to neocolonialism and reparatory justice.

The Ondo State Government has directed the fumigation of the site where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state to prevent possible epidemic.

The government also ordered the distribution of nose masks and other essential health kits to residents following complaints about the strong stench emanating from the river.

Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Akure.

Ajanaku said Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the affected area.

According to him, the governor also directed the local government to arrange water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water to residents if the river is found to be severely polluted and unsafe for use.

He said the arrangement was to remain in place pending a lasting intervention to the issue.

The commissioner also explained that the governor reiterated the commitment to provide all necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing evacuation, as well as ensuring the welfare and safety of the affected residents of the community.

The only female governorship candidate in Kano, Furera Ahmad, has said tackling menace of drug abuse and thuggery will be topmost among his agenda if she emerged victorious at the forthcoming general election.

Furera, who is contesting under the platform of Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) party, stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Kano.

Ahmad said as a mother, she knows where the shoe pinches and would proffer solution to the menace.

She detested the attitude of some politicians allegedly engaging some youths into thuggery under the influence of drug abuse during the electioneering period.

‘I will place priority on the plight of women, children and youths especially on the issue of drug abuse and thuggery.

‘We are mothers who are always close to the women and children.

‘We give them proper upbringing. Most men don’t notice drug abuse or bad behavior of their children early until it has gone too far.

‘Based on this, we, the women, are encouraged to contest elections so that if we emerged victorious, we know how to tackle the menace head-on.

According to her, drug abuse and bad behavior is too much. It has become a great challenge to leaders in our society.

She expressed optimism of emerging victorious during the polls, noting that she is gaining support of her female folks and others.

The candidate also urged Nigerians to shun vote buying which tends to deprive them of their rights to vote for candidates of their choice.

Ahmad further urged the electorate to vote for competent candidates and not on the basis of political parties.

‘We should shun vote buying, selling our votes because of spaghetti, rice, and token. We should not sell our franchise,’ she urged.

She also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections, and whoever wins, should be declared winner.