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APC, PDP trade blames on Edo election tribunal shooting

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By Francesca Hangeior

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have traded blame on the shooting incident at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin on Wednesday.

A statement by the APC Chairman in Edo, Jarret Tenebe, described the incident as a “deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence that undermined the sanctity of the judicial process.”

Tenebe accused supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of carrying out what he described as a dastardly act.

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Recall that some gunmen suspected to be political thugs disrupted proceedings of the tribunal shouting, “Give us our mandate,” while shooting sporadically.

The shooting caused panic with lawyers, members of the tribunal, and others at the proceedings fleeing for safety.

However, Tenebe, in a statement, described the tribunal as a sacred space where justice was meant to be administered impartially.

“Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved.

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“Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable.

“We must all condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms.

“Violence has no place in a civilised society, and those responsible for this heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception,” the chairman said.

However, in a counter-statement, the PDP in the state disassociated itself from the shooting incident.

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The PDP chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, described the incident as yet another in the series of clandestine efforts by the APC to frustrate the legal process and tarnish the image of the opposition party.

“The APC in Edo, who are clearly scared of justice, have continued their devious ploy to frustrate our party from reclaiming the mandate duly given to us by the good people of Edo in the last governorship election at the tribunal.

“They have now resorted to deploying thugs disguised in PDP-branded attire to disrupt the legal process while pointing accusing fingers at our party,” Aziegbemi said.

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Politics

OSUN DECIDES: APC studying results across 332 wards, reveal next move

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After the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has disclosed that it is studying the results before determining the next line of action.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, while addressing newsmen after he was declared victorious, disclosed that he is expecting his opponent, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, to call and congratulate him.

However, the APC, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said the party leadership is currently studying the results of the governorship election in each of the 332 wards across the state with a view to exploring further allowed constitutional steps within the window of opportunity.

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His words, “We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of the voters through the primary election to the election proper which extends to the Tribunal, the Appeal Court and terminates at the Supreme Court.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunity to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended.

We commend the steadfastness, sagacity and loyalty of the numerous members and supporters of our party for their contributions in getting to this juncture in the political history of the state.

“We make bold to state categorically that as a progressive party which is founded on the unalloyed principle of the rule of law, fairness and justice, we shall not hesitate without further delay to explore the window allowed by the extant Electoral Act after due consultation with the team of our lawyers based on their professional advice.

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The new development is a beauty of democracy with reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declared governorship election results in the state which would not propel us to deviate from embracing the culture of the rule of law.”

While appealing to members of the party to remain calm and go about their businesses lawfully, he urged the police to be on alert to rescue members of the party, who have become victims of molestation by members of the ruling party.

“As a result of the foregoing, we are imploring our ever loyal members and supporters to remain cool and calm while they carry on with their businesses and refuse to respond to any provocative action or inaction from any of the members of the ruling party across the state.

“It is necessary to assure our members and supporters not to despair about the current situation and have it in mind that it is not over until it is over.

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“While we are appealing to the Nigeria Police Force to come to the aid and rescue of our members and supporters who are being needlessly molested by the ruling party, we are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them,” he said.

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Politics

PDP not part of Osun governorship elections, says INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that despite the Court of Appeal’s judgment that the PDP candidate be included in the Osun State governorship elections, the party will not field any candidate in the elections.

Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told The Nation that they filed a stay of execution and appealed the judgment.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that the candidate sponsored by the Tanimu Turaki camp of the PDP be allowed to participate in the election.

Under the electoral guidelines, only party leadership recognised by the Commission and listed in its database can present candidates for an election, but the Turaki camp is not recognised by the Commission.

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Oketola said the Commission was proceeding with the conduct of the Osun elections, adding that neither of the two PDP camps was presenting any candidate for the election.

National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed National Working Committee, Jagunda Haruna Mohammed, said they were not presenting any candidate for the elections because Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the only person who bought the party nomination form, pulled out of the party.

Oketola said, “Although the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on Thursday directing the inclusion of the PDP on the ballot, I want to make it clear that the judgment does not affect the Commission’s operational arrangements for tomorrow’s election. The Osun State Governorship Election remains scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026.

“INEC has already taken the necessary legal steps by filing an appeal against the judgment, together with an application for a Stay of Execution. The Commission will continue to pursue the matter through the appropriate judicial process while maintaining its preparations for the election.

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“From an operational standpoint, the situation on the ground remains clear. Neither faction of the PDP is presently fielding an active candidate in the election. Accordingly, the judgment does not affect the Commission’s existing preparations or the conduct of tomorrow’s poll.

“There is no postponement or disruption to tomorrow’s election. The Commission’s logistical arrangements across Osun State are in place, and the necessary security arrangements have been made. Voting will commence at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow as scheduled.”

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24hours to guber poll: Osun govt wants police investigate election threats

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Barely 24hours to the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, the state government has initiated legal action seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to investigate statements attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, which allegedly called for violence against members and supporters of the Accord Party.

In the suit filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, on behalf of the state, the government is seeking an Order of Mandamus compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, to investigate the alleged inciting statements contained in a circulating video.

The suit, dated August 12, 2026, was filed at the Osogbo Division of the Osun State High Court.

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The Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police are listed as the first and second respondents, respectively, while Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is named as the Person Affected/Interested Party.

The video allegedly shows Senator Fadahunsi addressing a political gathering in front of the Owa Obokun’s Palace in Ilesha, where he is alleged to have made statements calling for violence against members of the Accord Party.

According to the court documents, the alleged remarks included a call for APC members to kill Accord Party members wherever they encountered them, as well as threats involving their wives and children.

The applicant further alleges that the senator called for Accord Party members to be chased out of hotels and warned that the governorship election would not hold if Accord Party members resisted APC members.

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However, the Attorney-General makes clear that the application is not asking the court to determine Senator Fadahunsi’s criminal guilt.

Rather, the state wants the police compelled to investigate the allegations, secure and preserve the electronic evidence, and take lawful preventive measures where necessary.

The application specifically seeks the complete and unedited version of the video, its authentication and forensic examination, as well as an investigation into its location, date, audience, sponsors, publishers, circulators and other persons connected with the alleged statements.

The documents state that the video was obtained from Facebook on August 11, 2026, by Nurudeen Kareem, Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Legal Matters, who deposed to the supporting affidavit and provided a certificate of compliance relating to the electronic evidence.

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The Attorney-General argues that the police have a statutory responsibility to prevent and detect crime, maintain public order, and protect lives and property, adding that the alleged statements, if authenticated, could amount to serious criminal conduct and threaten electoral peace.

The state is also asking the court to compel the police to take preventive measures to protect Accord Party members, supporters, candidates, agents and officials, as well as voters and other residents who may be endangered by the alleged incitement.

It further wants the police to submit a comprehensive report on the steps taken in compliance with any order of the court within 48 hours, or within such other period as the court may direct.

In its written address, the state argues that “time is of the absolute essence”, given the August 15 governorship election.

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It contends that any delay in the investigation, preservation of evidence and preventive policing could expose innocent citizens to avoidable danger, potentially resulting in loss of life and irreparable harm.

The Attorney-General maintains that the reliefs sought are preventive, rather than an invitation to the court to determine Senator Fadahunsi’s guilt, and asks the court to compel the police to perform their statutory duties in the interest of public safety, electoral peace and the rule of law.

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