The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has vowed never to persecute opposition if he emerges as Nigeria’s president in 2027.

Obi said he would ensure a viable opposition in Nigeria where he would sit with them to discuss issues that affect the country if elected as Nigeria’s president.

In an interview with DW, the former Anambra State governor said his intending administration would ensure that the system works in Nigeria.

He said: “The system must work the way it should function, I would never prosecute anybody politically, I would never do anything wrong while in office.

“I would not go after opponent, I would make sure that we have strong opposition parties that can stand and say no. In times of problems I would invite them.

“If I was president with what is happening in the North, I would invite all opposition parties and I would sit with stakeholders in the North to discuss and come up with a solutions.”

The Imole Campaign Council, the platform coordinating the re-election bid of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to address alleged shortcomings recorded during recent off-cycle and by-elections ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The Director-General of the campaign council, Lere Oyewumi, made the call while speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Monday, where he raised concerns over the credibility of previous elections and urged the electoral umpire to strengthen its processes.

Oyewumi alleged that during some recent off-cycle and by-elections held in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa and Ekiti states, persons suspected to be “mercenary voters” were issued Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, shortly before election day.

He also expressed concerns over the alleged shortage of ballot papers and other sensitive election materials, claiming that some irregularities were recorded during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, including the circulation of pre-thumbprinted ballot papers.

According to him, technical difficulties linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, affected the conduct of elections in Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Area Council polls.

The lawmaker further alleged that during recent elections in Anambra, Ekiti and the FCT, some political parties that did not participate in the contests were listed on ballot papers and result sheets.

Speaking on specific concerns ahead of the Osun governorship election, Oyewumi claimed that the campaign council had received reports of alleged statements by some All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders regarding the possible preloading of BVAS machines ahead of the poll.

“We have been inundated with boastful statements reportedly made by some Osun APC leaders about preloading BVAS machines ahead of the governorship election in the state,” he said.

Oyewumi described the allegation, if proven true, as a serious threat to the integrity of electronic accreditation and a possible indication of an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.

He also raised concerns over INEC’s ongoing distribution of new PVCs, urging the commission to ensure the process remains open, transparent and free from any form of manipulation.

“We have been notified about the commencement of the distribution of new PVCs by INEC. However, we have serious concerns about the transparency of the process, and we hereby warn that any move to disenfranchise Osun voters by withholding their PVCs will not be tolerated,” he stated.

The campaign council insisted that PVC collection must be conducted transparently, warning against any form of proxy collection.

Oyewumi stressed that the concerns raised were not intended to discredit INEC but were aimed at encouraging improvements and ensuring a more credible electoral process through constructive engagement.

He said the Osun governorship election would provide another opportunity for Nigeria’s democratic institutions to demonstrate their commitment to free, fair and transparent elections.

“The people of Osun are peaceful, politically conscious and deeply committed to democracy. They expect nothing short of a free, fair, transparent and credible election that faithfully reflects the wishes of the electorate,” he added.

The campaign council consequently urged INEC to carefully consider the issues raised and take necessary corrective measures before the August 15 governorship election.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday held that Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has no authority to issues licences but can only oversee airtime and data credit services.

The court clarified that the Commission’s powers function alongside those of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, rather than replacing them.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026, determined that the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 fall within the statutory and constitutional powers of the FCCPC.

Furthermore, the judge emphasized that the relationship between the FCCPC and sector-specific regulators is one of complementarity, stating that “concurrency means coexistence, not displacement.”

The court confirmed the precedence of the FCCPC in matters of competition and consumer protection as outlined in Sections 104 and 105 of the FCCPA 2018, while also safeguarding the NCC’s technical, licensing, and prudential duties as defined by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The court ruled that the FCCPC does not possess the authority to issue licenses, and that the DEON Regulations do not establish a telecommunications licensing framework. The NCC continues to be the exclusive authority responsible for licensing entities within the telecommunications sector.

In April 2026, the FCCPC authorized five companies to function as airtime and data credit providers under the DEON framework.

The court’s decision raises pertinent questions regarding the regulatory foundation upon which those approvals were granted.

This ruling marks the first judicial clarification on the oversight of airtime and data credit services between the two regulatory bodies, in a market valued at between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, utilized by approximately 40 million Nigerians on a daily basis.

Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, expressed his approval of the clarity provided by the judgment.

Adebayo said, “The court has done something important. It has confirmed the FCCPC’s authority and, in the same breath, affirmed that the NCC’s role is preserved.

Concurrency means coexistence. The industry now expects both regulators to establish the coordination framework that the court’s reasoning requires.”

Adebayo called on the FCCPC and the NCC to engage the industry in formal consultation before enforcement action is taken, noting that airtime credit services were suspended for three months earlier this year following an enforcement directive and were restored only recently.

“Forty million Nigerians depend on these services.

“The court has made clear that both regulators have a role. The industry is asking them to define how that works before any action that could disrupt access again,” he said.

Adebayo also noted that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council directive of 6 April 2026, which requires all federal agencies to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment before significant regulatory changes, remains in effect.

The judgment is expected to set a precedent for how sector-specific regulators and the FCCPC share oversight as digital products increasingly cross traditional regulatory boundaries.

Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, has charged Abuja residents not to allow any police officer search their phone upon arrest.

Sanusi gave this charge on Monday while addressing newsmen in Abuja, stressing that no police officer has the right to search people’s phones.

He asked FCT residents to quickly raise an alarm when faced with such a situation, assuring that the FCT police operatives would immediately rise to salvage the situation.

“Don’t allow any police officers to search your phone and we’re saying this due to the abuse and extortive tendencies of some of our officers.

“It has been instructed that nobody should search any phone, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road and you start searching the person’s phone, suspecting that he is an internet fraudster.

“This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But of course, before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station, then when trying to uncover some evidence, you can search to see whether the phone or other items are being used to perpetuate the crime.

“But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say bring your phone, let me search, is not legal.

“If any policeman stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, which we are bound to obey to the last of it, don’t open your phone, resist and ask other people to help you call the police. You will see our men there,” he said.

Esther Okoronkwo, Michelle Alozie, and Uchenna Kanu have joined the Super Falcons camp in Casablanca, DAILY POST reports.

The arrival of the trio  increased the number of  players in camp to 22 as the Super Falcons intensify preparations ahead of the competition.

Three more players including Gift Monday, Deborah Abiodun,  and Folashade Ijamilusi are expected to arrive  the team’s Hotel Marriott base later today.

The Super Falcons started their final preparations for the competition last week Monday.

Justine Madugu’s side will hit Rabat, where they will play all their group games this weekend.

The Super Falcons will begin their title defence against the Scorchers of Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium, Rabat on Tuesday, 28 July.