Media Must Not Choose Nigeria’s Candidates for 2027 Elections — Mẹkunnu Kọya

LAGOS — The Convener of Mẹkunnu Kọya, Comrade Wale Balogun, has called on Nigerian media organisations to ensure equitable and inclusive coverage of all candidates contesting the 2027 presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

Balogun, in a statement issued on Thursday, warned that disproportionate media attention to a small number of prominent political figures could restrict the democratic choices available to Nigerian voters.

He acknowledged the responsibility of the media to scrutinise established political figures, including their records, policies and controversies, but argued that media organisations should not, through selective coverage, determine which candidates Nigerians get to hear and consider.

According to him, all candidates should be given meaningful opportunities to present their programmes, explain their records and respond to questions on issues affecting the country.

He particularly criticised the practice of organising political debates and inviting only a limited number of candidates without sufficiently transparent and inclusive criteria.

“If the purpose of a debate is to help Nigerians make an informed decision, then the process should be genuinely inclusive,” Balogun said.

He argued that candidates with limited financial resources, political structures or name recognition should not automatically be excluded from national political discourse.

Balogun said the media's democratic responsibility should include exposing voters to political alternatives rather than concentrating attention on candidates who are already prominent within the political establishment.

He urged journalists and media organisations to subject candidates across the political spectrum to rigorous questioning on the economy, insecurity, corruption, unemployment, wages, education, healthcare, constitutional reform, federalism and public debt.

He also called for scrutiny of candidates' records, policy proposals, sources of campaign funding and their capacity to implement their promises.

“This is not a demand for favourable coverage of any candidate. It is a demand for fair and inclusive coverage,” he said.

Balogun maintained that Nigerians should be allowed to assess candidates on the basis of their records, programmes and responses to public scrutiny rather than having the media determine in advance who should be regarded as a serious contender.

He therefore called on media organisations to provide equitable opportunities for candidates to participate in interviews, debates, town-hall meetings and other election-related programmes, subject to reasonable and transparent editorial criteria.

“Let every candidate be heard. Let every record be examined. Let every programme be interrogated. Then let Nigerians decide,” he said.

Balogun said the media had a significant responsibility ahead of the 2027 elections to either expand public access to political choices or inadvertently narrow the democratic space through selective coverage.

He stressed that the choice of Nigeria's elected representatives ultimately belongs to the electorate and not to media organisations.

Comrade Wale Balogun
Convener, Mẹkunnu Kọya
September 24, 2026

Civil Society Coalition Demands Immediate Release of Detained Rights Activist Daniel Ezekiel

 

LAGOS, September 21, 2026 — A coalition of civil society organisations, human rights groups and community advocates has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Niger Delta rights activist Daniel Ezekiel, while calling for an independent investigation into serious allegations he reportedly made against powerful individuals and entities operating in the region.

The coalition, in a statement issued on Monday, said Ezekiel was allegedly taken from his residence in Life Camp, Abuja, on Friday, September 18, by men whose identities and authority he could not verify.

According to the coalition, Ezekiel was subsequently held at the Agwa Cement Police Station before being transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) in Abuja.

It said no charge had been publicly disclosed as of the date of the statement and called on the Nigeria Police Force to clarify the legal basis for the arrest.

The coalition linked the arrest to a petition dated September 3, 2026, reportedly submitted by lawyers representing businessman Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh to the Inspector-General of Police and the National Cybercrime Centre.

The petition reportedly accused Ezekiel and another individual of publishing defamatory posts on Facebook in late August. The coalition stressed that the allegations contained in the petition remain untested and that Ezekiel is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

However, the groups said the arrest had raised broader concerns because Ezekiel had, for several months, publicly alleged that he witnessed unlawful detention, torture, forced labour and intimidation involving Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and individuals he alleged were linked to him and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The coalition said Ezekiel had submitted petitions to security agencies, government institutions and national and international human rights organisations, alleging the existence of facilities in the Niger Delta where, according to his claims, torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and forced labour occurred.

It said Ezekiel had reportedly supported his allegations with photographs, audio and video recordings, as well as testimonies from alleged victims and their families.

The coalition stressed that the allegations had not been established by a competent investigative authority and therefore called for an impartial investigation rather than allowing the matter to remain unresolved.

“When a whistleblower is detained before the allegations he raised are examined, the public is left to ask whose interests the system is protecting,” said Juwon Sanwolu, Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), speaking on behalf of the coalition.

Rights and Due Process Concerns

The coalition cited Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as legal protections against arbitrary detention.

It argued that the reported circumstances surrounding Ezekiel's arrest, including the alleged involvement of unidentified men and his subsequent transfers between police facilities, required clarification.

The groups also raised concerns about the use of cybercrime laws in cases involving allegations of defamation and criticism, arguing that such prosecutions could have implications for freedom of expression.

They cited Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 19 of the ICCPR, while referring to previous decisions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice concerning Nigeria's cyberstalking provisions.

The coalition said the police and other security agencies should not become instruments for resolving private disputes or intimidating human rights defenders.

Five Demands

The organisations demanded that the Nigeria Police Force immediately release Ezekiel and publicly disclose the legal basis for his arrest.

They also called on the Inspector-General of Police to identify the officers involved and disclose the police unit handling the petition against him.

In addition, the coalition demanded immediate access to lawyers and family members for Ezekiel, appropriate medical attention where necessary, and guarantees for his physical safety.

It further called on the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission, to facilitate an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture, unlawful detention and forced labour reportedly raised by Ezekiel.

The coalition also urged all parties involved in the dispute to submit to lawful and transparent investigative processes.

It said it would continue to monitor the matter and could petition or activate relevant international mechanisms, including United Nations and African human rights institutions, if Ezekiel remained detained and the allegations were not investigated.

The statement was endorsed by 57 civil society, human rights, legal, development and community organisations, including Take It Back Movement, Sterling Law Centre, Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), United Action for Democracy (UAD), Access to Justice, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria and several other organisations.

The allegations against the individuals and organisations named by Ezekiel remain subject to investigation and due process.

GAFAMORG, NCAMKI Demand Full Probe into Deaths of 37 Suspected Miners in NSCDC Custody

 

LAGOS, September 19, 2026 

The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) and the National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) have called for a comprehensive investigation into the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the two civil society organisations said the circumstances surrounding the deaths should be investigated beyond determining the immediate causes of death, urging authorities to examine whether failures in detention and custody safeguards contributed to the tragedy.

The organisations expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and called for the protection of surviving detainees, access to medical attention, information and justice for affected families.

According to GAFAMORG and NCAMKI, the investigation should cover the entire chain of events, including the legality and documentation of the arrests, identities and ages of detainees, detention capacity and possible overcrowding, ventilation, sanitation, food and water, medical care, exposure to hazardous substances or disease, custody registers, complaints, transfers and supervision.

They also called for scrutiny of compliance with applicable criminal justice and detention oversight laws, particularly the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.

The organisations said authorities should determine whether mandatory safeguards were followed and, where breaches occurred, whether there were appropriate consequences for deliberate or negligent non-compliance.

“A law that is not enforced is not an effective safeguard,” the organisations said, arguing that oversight mechanisms must be backed by meaningful accountability.

State Police Debate

GAFAMORG and NCAMKI also linked the incident to the wider debate over State Police, arguing that expanded policing powers must be accompanied by enforceable safeguards, independent oversight, transparent custody systems and remedies for violations.

They said no institution exercising arrest and detention powers should operate outside effective accountability mechanisms simply because it is not the Nigeria Police Force.

The organisations further maintained that any move towards State Police should be accompanied by publicly accessible laws, rules, safeguards, oversight mechanisms and remedies for abuse.

Civil Society Monitoring

The organisations said they would seek relevant official records concerning the arrests, detention conditions and deaths and monitor the investigations.

They also plan to examine compliance with the Niger State ACJL and applicable custody safeguards, engage relevant justice, police, NSCDC, National Human Rights Commission and other authorities, and advocate for proper forensic investigation and preservation of evidence.

They said they would also review the practical implementation of detention safeguards, including custody registers, inspection procedures, medical monitoring, reporting and consequences for non-compliance.

The organisations said lessons from the incident would be incorporated into GAFAMORG's 46 Safeguards for State Policing and Justice Delivery in Nigeria, while continuing their documentation of custody deaths, alleged extra-judicial killings, custodial abuse and impunity.

GAFAMORG and NCAMKI stressed that their intervention was not intended to replace any criminal investigation but to ensure that institutional responsibility and the safeguards designed to prevent avoidable deaths are also examined.

“No citizen becomes rightless because he or she has been arrested, and no institution should be beyond accountability under the law,” the organisations said, invoking the legacy of late human-rights lawyer and activist Gani Fawehinmi.

They concluded with a call for the police to establish the truth, forensic investigators to determine the facts, prosecutors to act where evidence warrants and the courts to deliver justice.

The organisations said the wider question Nigeria must answer is: “Where were the safeguards, and if they were ignored, who will be held accountable?”

Signed:
Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, Chairman, Governing Council, GAFAMORG; and

Comrade Ade Adeoye Adewunmi and the Secretariat of NCAMKI.

ASCSN Disowns Shehu Mohammed, Apebo, Warns Public Against Their Directives

 

ASCSN Disowns Shehu Mohammed, Joshua Apebo Statement, Cites Court Judgment

LAGOS — The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has disowned a purported statement issued by Shehu Mohammed, declaring that Mohammed and Joshua Apebo no longer have the authority to speak or act on behalf of the union.

In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel C. Acho, the ASCSN national leadership said the public should disregard any statement, directive or correspondence purportedly issued by Mohammed or Apebo in the name of the association.

The union said its position was based on a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/169/2025, delivered on April 15, 2026, by Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup.

According to the ASCSN leadership, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining Mohammed and Apebo from parading themselves as leaders of the union, convening meetings or interfering with the administration and assets of the association.

The union further stated that the judgment declared Mohammed and Apebo judgment debtors and ordered them to pay a total of ₦70 million in general, exemplary and aggravated damages over what the court allegedly described as acts of disdain, contempt and willful disobedience of judicial orders.

ASCSN: No subsisting stay of execution

The association also maintained that the judgment remains valid and enforceable, stating that an application for a stay of execution was struck out by the trial court on May 20, 2026.

It added that the appellants subsequently withdrew their application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal on September 3, 2026.

On that basis, the ASCSN leadership said there was no subsisting stay preventing enforcement of the April 15 judgment.

Union disputes authority of Mohammed and Apebo

The statement also challenged the status of both individuals within the union.

ASCSN described Shehu Mohammed as a suspended member who, according to the union, had been stripped of leadership functions and authority.

On Joshua Apebo, the association alleged that he was a former paid employee of its secretariat rather than a serving civil servant. It said Apebo had been summarily dismissed for alleged gross misconduct, insubordination and anti-union activities.

The union stated that the dismissal was upheld by its governing organs and recognized by the court.

ASCSN warns against acting on purported directives

The association described the continued use of its name, logo and purported authority by the two men as an attempt to circumvent judicial authority.

It cited Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution in asserting that authorities, institutions and persons are required to comply with decisions of the courts.

ASCSN consequently warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), organised labour, members of the public, media organisations and other stakeholders against acting on communications purportedly issued by Mohammed or Apebo on behalf of the association.

The union said its official communications are issued through its Open Information System (OIS) and signed by the National President, Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, Ph.D., FCNA, FCTI, or the Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel C. Acho.

Legal action threatened

The ASCSN leadership disclosed that its legal team had been directed to document the latest publication allegedly issued by Mohammed and Apebo.

According to the statement, the material would be presented as further evidence of alleged willful disobedience to court orders, with the union indicating that it would pursue committal and other statutory enforcement measures.

The association reaffirmed that it remains committed to what it described as the rule of law, institutional integrity and the welfare of senior civil servants across Nigeria.

The statement was signed by Comrade Gamaliel C. Acho, Secretary-General, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).

Minimum Wage Debate: GAFAMORG Says Purchasing Power, Not Figures, Should Matter.

GAFAMORG Launches October 1 Wage Watch, Challenges FG to Show What New Wage Can Buy

LAGOS, September 17, 2026 

 The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG), through its Civil Justice Legacy Project, has launched the “October 1 Wage Watch 2026”, a public interest initiative focused on the purchasing power and living standards of Nigerian workers amid renewed discussions over the national minimum wage.

The organisation said the initiative would assess any future minimum wage announcement not merely by the nominal amount, but by what the wage can actually purchase in terms of food, transportation, housing, energy, healthcare and other essential needs.

GAFAMORG stressed that it was not claiming that the Federal Government would announce a new minimum wage on October 1, nor was it making any allegation about the government's intentions.

Rather, the organisation said Nigerians should begin examining the basis and adequacy of any proposed wage before an announcement is made. “The announcement must not become the argument,” GAFAMORG said.

The organisation recalled that the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage was established in 2024, while subsequent economic developments and concerns expressed by organised labour and other stakeholders have renewed debate over workers' purchasing power and the need for another wage review.

According to GAFAMORG, various figures have already featured in public discussions, but the central issue should remain the real value of whatever figure is eventually adopted  “A larger figure on a payslip does not automatically mean a living wage,” the organisation stated.

GAFAMORG Sets Out Living Wage Test

As part of its initiative, GAFAMORG said any proposed new minimum wage should be subjected to a transparent Living Wage Test.

Among the questions it wants addressed are how the proposed figure was calculated, the economic data and cost of living assumptions used, and what the wage would actually purchase after essential expenses such as food, transportation, housing and energy.

The organisation also wants Nigerians to examine what mechanism would protect workers against further increases in inflation and essential living costs, who participated in determining the wage and how transparent the negotiation process was.

It further called for clarity on when the next wage review would take place and whether there would be a credible mechanism for regular review or indexation against relevant cost of living indicators.

GAFAMORG urged the Federal Government to make the methodology and economic assumptions behind any proposed wage publicly available. “Show Nigerians the calculation. Do not merely announce the conclusion,” it said.

Labour Urged to Keep Workers at the Centre

The organisation also called on organised labour to ensure that Nigerian workers remain central participants in negotiations concerning wages and their economic welfare.

It argued that the wage debate should go beyond the question of what government can afford and examine what workers require to maintain a decent standard of living. “The central question should not be merely how much government can afford to give. It must also be what a Nigerian worker needs to live with dignity,” GAFAMORG said.

‘What Can It Buy?’

GAFAMORG also appealed to Nigerians to avoid turning the wage debate into a partisan political contest. It said that regardless of whether the eventual figure is ₦100,000, ₦150,000, ₦200,000, ₦300,000 or another amount, citizens should apply the same basic question: What can it buy?

The organisation said its October 1 Wage Watch 2026 would monitor developments, examine publicly available evidence and provide an independent assessment of any new minimum wage announcement using its proposed Living-Wage Test. “We are not against a wage increase. We are against the idea that the size of an announcement should end the national conversation,” it said.

GAFAMORG concluded that while government may determine and announce the wage, Nigerians should examine whether the resulting income meets the practical test of a living wage. “The government may announce the wage. Nigerians must examine whether it is a living wage.”

The organisation added: “A higher number is not automatically a higher standard of living.”

The statement was signed by Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, Chairman, Governing Council, and Comrade Ade Adewunmi Adeoye, PRO, on behalf of the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG), Civil Justice Legacy Project.

 

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Suit on Peter Obi’s Academic Records

Party says former members ceased to be members following suspension and expulsion, warns against unauthorised representation

The Labour Party has disowned Abayomi Arabambi over a lawsuit reportedly instituted against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), concerning the academic records of former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In a press release issued on Monday, September 14, 2026, the party said Arabambi was no longer a member and could not have instituted the legal action in its name or as its representative.

The party’s reaction followed media reports describing Arabambi as an LP chieftain, including publications by The Punch and Vanguard newspapers.

According to the party, its National Executive Council (NEC) suspended 25 members, including Arabambi, on March 18, 2026, over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities. The suspension was subsequently ratified by the party’s National Convention on April 28, 2026.

The Labour Party maintained that the affected individuals ceased to be members following the convention’s decision, adding that no party organ had since revisited or reversed the decision.

“The Labour Party wishes to inform the general public, and particularly the media, that Abayomi Arabambi is not a member of the Labour Party and could not have instituted any action in court as a member of the Party, having long severed ties with the Labour Party,” the statement said.

The party also warned that any representation by Arabambi as its chieftain or representative was unauthorised, adding that its lawyers were reviewing the matter to determine appropriate legal and other steps, including a possible petition to relevant law enforcement authorities.

“If Abayomi Arabambi has presented himself to the public as a chieftain or representative of the Labour Party, the general public is hereby notified that such representation is entirely unauthorised and, prima facie, amounts to impersonation,” the party stated.

The Labour Party, however, declined to comment on the substance of the lawsuit, stressing that the press release was intended solely to clarify Arabambi’s relationship with the party.

It also noted that Peter Obi was no longer a member of the Labour Party, distancing itself from the legal action and its claims concerning his academic records.

The party expressed hope that the clarification would put the matter in its proper perspective and prevent further misrepresentation of Arabambi’s status.

Memvica Associates Plans 80,000-Tonne Cocoa Processing Plant in Nigeria

 

Memvica Associates Moves to Establish 80,000-Tonne Cocoa Processing Plant in Nigeria

Company targets Ondo, Edo cocoa belt as major off-taker, plans value addition for chocolates, biscuits and beverages

By Our Correspondent:

Memvica Associates Ltd has commenced an aggressive drive towards establishing an 80,000-tonne-per-annum cocoa processing plant in Nigeria, in a move aimed at supporting local cocoa farmers, creating industrial value from cocoa production and strengthening Nigeria's position in the global cocoa value chain.

The development follows the Federal Government's renewed drive to promote agricultural industrialisation and encourage greater value addition to Nigeria's agricultural commodities, particularly cocoa.

The Board of Directors of Memvica Associates Ltd, a major Nigerian drinks and beverage company with business expansion into Ghana and the Republic of Benin, disclosed the company's plans during an engagement with cocoa farmers in Ondo State.

At the meeting, the company confirmed its readiness to commit funds towards becoming a major off-taker of cocoa produced in Nigeria, with particular focus on the cocoa-producing belts of Ondo and Edo States.

According to the company, it has already established industrial warehouses in Ondo and Edo States for the storage of cocoa produce as part of its strategy to develop a reliable supply chain for its proposed processing operations.

The company said the processed cocoa would serve as raw material for the production of chocolates, biscuits, beverages and other cocoa-based products, thereby creating additional economic value locally instead of exporting cocoa largely as a raw commodity.

Memvica Associates further disclosed that discussions are ongoing with various companies and potential technical partners towards establishing an integrated cocoa processing chain capable of supporting the company's planned manufacturing operations.

From Cocoa Production to Industrial Value

The proposed investment comes at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to transform Nigeria's agricultural sector through improved production, processing and export capacity.

The government recently launched improved cocoa seedlings as part of efforts to increase Nigeria's cocoa output and reposition the country as one of the world's leading cocoa-producing nations.

Following the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, flagged off the distribution of improved cocoa seedlings in Ibadan.

The initiative is part of the Federal Government's broader agricultural transformation agenda, designed to increase agricultural productivity, boost exports, strengthen food and economic security, and promote sustainable growth across the agricultural sector.

For cocoa farmers, the proposed Memvica investment could provide an important opportunity for a more structured market, particularly if the company succeeds in establishing long-term off-taking arrangements and expanding its processing capacity.

A Potential Boost for Cocoa Farmers

The company's planned investment is also expected to deepen the connection between Nigerian cocoa farmers and domestic manufacturing.

Rather than relying primarily on the export of raw cocoa beans, increased local processing could create opportunities for farmers and other participants across the value chain, including aggregators, transporters, processors, manufacturers and distributors.

With Ondo and Edo States among Nigeria's important cocoa-producing areas, the establishment of large-scale processing infrastructure in the region could also stimulate employment and ancillary businesses while strengthening the local agricultural economy.

Memvica Associates said its objective is to work closely with cocoa farmers and other stakeholders to build a sustainable supply chain capable of supporting its planned processing plant and the company's expanding portfolio of cocoa-based products.

The proposed 80,000-tonne processing capacity, if successfully realised, would represent a significant step in the company's ambition to participate more substantially in Nigeria's cocoa industrialisation drive and contribute to the Federal Government's efforts to move the agricultural sector from primary production towards value-added manufacturing and export.

The initiative therefore places cocoa farmers, industrial processing and local manufacturing at the centre of a potentially significant new chapter in Nigeria's cocoa economy.