News

Hate Speech, Threats During Campaigns Attract ₦10m Fine, 12 Months Jail – INEC

Published

36 seconds ago

September 7, 2026

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan

Hate Speech, Threats During Campaigns Attract ₦10m Fine, 12 Months Jail – INEC

The electoral commission says inflammatory rhetoric crosses into intimidation when it incites ethnic or religious hostility, as political actors ramp up campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned politicians and political parties against using abusive, inflammatory, or threatening language during campaigns for the 2027 general elections, cautioning that offenders risk heavy financial penalties and possible imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026. INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to its Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in a telephone interview on Sunday, said campaign rhetoric crosses the legal threshold into electoral intimidation the moment it moves beyond robust partisan debate or policy critique and enters the realm of coercion, hate speech, or the threat of harm. He cited Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026, which states: “A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.” The law further prohibits “abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language, insinuations, innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions” in political campaigns. According to Oketola, rhetoric becomes punishable intimidation when it incites ethnic, religious, or regional hostility through language explicitly designed to provoke violent emotions or target specific groups. He explained that campaigns transition into outright intimidation when they threaten force or violence—whether by directly or indirectly warning voters, candidates, or electoral officials of physical harm, economic reprisal, or social ostracisation to compel or suppress support for a candidate. He stressed that political campaigns must not create an atmosphere of fear calculated to deter voter turnout or disenfranchise specific demographics.

Oketola disclosed that Section 96(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 prescribes severe statutory penalties for offenders. Candidates convicted of abusive campaign offences face a maximum fine of ₦5 million or imprisonment for 12 months, while political parties found liable risk a fine of ₦10 million for the first offence, and ₦2 million for each subsequent violation. While clarifying that INEC is not a security agency, Oketola explained that Section 95 of the Electoral Act 2026 explicitly prescribes the security architecture for political rallies in relation to the operational roles of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security institutions. He noted that beyond inter-agency security coordination, INEC is statutorily empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.

READ ALSO:

The warning comes amid a fresh wave of threats by political office holders against dissenting voters, as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections. Among the most prominent cases is that of Osun East Senator, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, who was invited and questioned by the Nigeria Police Force over a viral video in which he was heard telling All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ilesa, “Until the day of election, when you see any Accord party member here in Ilesa, kill them.” Governor Ademola Adeleke rejected his media office’s subsequent clarification, describing the remarks as a national security threat and demanding his arrest. Fadahunsi later claimed the video was AI-generated and that his statement was metaphorical—a “call to kill by votes.” In the Federal Capital Territory, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, stirred controversy after warning residents who do not support the APC to relocate ahead of 2027. Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the remarks as a “call to violence” and an attack on freedom of association. In Borno State, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, threatened that those who refuse to support the APC in 2027 “will be flogged,” while separately warning that anyone who crossed the ruling party would have a finger broken. In Yobe State, the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka, triggered widespread condemnation after urging married women to leave their husbands if the men stood in the way of their voting for the party—promising to personally settle the “new bride price” for any woman who ended her marriage on account of her loyalty to the party. He later withdrew the remark following public outcry. Other flashpoints include Kebbi State, where the Chairman of Gwandu Local Government Area, Alhaji Atiku Ahmad Mandiya, told supporters that anyone who spoke against Governor Nasir Idris “should be dealt with,” and Ebonyi State, where Governor Francis Nwifuru warned newly inaugurated local government chairmen that they would be removed from office if they failed to deliver their councils to the APC in 2027.

The International Republican Institute (IRI), in a pre-election assessment of Nigeria’s democratic environment, warned that persistent insecurity and election-related political violence are the biggest threats to Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. IRI President Daniel Twining stressed that where voters, candidates, and observers cannot participate without fear of violence or intimidation, technical improvements and legal safeguards have only limited effect. The IRI mission further warned that economic hardship, insecurity, and declining public trust in INEC pose significant threats to the credibility of the 2027 elections. It said grievances over the management of the 2023 presidential election continue to shape perceptions of INEC, while uncertainty over the implementation of new electoral provisions could deepen distrust. The mission recommended that INEC conduct more robust stress tests of its systems and mock elections to identify potential challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. The National Peace Committee, through its Election Security Information Hub, recorded 2,510 election-related security incidents across the country in just 14 months, affecting at least 70 off-cycle elections, bye-elections and reruns since 2023. Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Benue and Plateau were identified as the states worst affected, with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism posing continuing threats to electoral activities.

Oketola insisted that electoral integrity cannot be preserved by INEC alone, describing it as a collective stakeholder duty. “The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have a clear duty to prevent the breakdown of law and order during political campaigns,” he said. He added that the media must actively play its watchdog role by calling out purveyors of incendiary statements, while traditional and religious leaders must also wade in, using their moral authority to encourage politicians to eschew inflammatory rhetoric and avoid provoking violence in the country. “Political campaigns should be platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war,” Oketola said.

Hate Speech, Threats During Campaigns Attract ₦10m Fine, 12 Months Jail – INEC

Related Topics:campaigns Featured Hate Speech INEC

Don't Miss

Market Fire in Indonesia Kills 11, Including Six Children

News

Market Fire in Indonesia Kills 11, Including Six Children

Published

17 minutes ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Market Fire in Indonesia Kills 11, Including Six Children

A blaze in Central Papua province destroyed about 40 buildings and left a community in mourning, with authorities investigating the cause.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – At least 11 people, including six children, have died after a fire tore through a market and nearby buildings in Indonesia’s eastern Papua region, police said on Monday. The fire broke out shortly after midnight local time in Paniai, Central Papua province, and quickly spread to several shophouses, according to local police spokesman Henry Manurung. “During the inspection, officers found 11 victims who had died with burn injuries. Of the 11 victims, five of them were adults, while the other six were children,” Henry said in a statement. He said the children were aged between two and nine years old. The blaze raged for more than three hours, destroying at least 40 kiosks and houses despite the deployment of fire trucks and water cannons. Authorities were still investigating the cause of the fire.

READ ALSO:

Henry attributed the difficulty in extinguishing the blaze to the arrangement of the buildings in the area. “The intensity of the blaze and the fact that the houses and stalls were all packed tightly together made the firefighting process take quite a long time,” he said. Deadly fires are relatively common in Indonesia, where densely packed buildings and inadequate fire-safety measures can make blazes difficult to contain.

This tragedy follows a series of deadly fires in Indonesia in recent years, highlighting ongoing safety concerns. In December 2025, 22 people were killed when fire swept through a seven-storey office building in Central Jakarta. Police said an exploding drone battery on the ground floor was the likely cause. Also in December 2025, a fire at a shop in Central Jakarta killed 7 people. In 2023, an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia killed at least 12 people.

Market Fire in Indonesia Kills 11, Including Six Children

News

Five teenagers arrested over multiple shop burglaries in Ogun

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Five teenagers arrested over multiple shop burglaries in Ogun

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested five teenagers suspected of involvement in a series of shop burglaries across the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were identified as Lateef Kalid, 15; Kareem Jamal, 16; Sofiu Alabi, 14; Taofik Abioro, 16; and Ogundele Monday, 15.

The arrests were made in separate incidents on September 2 and September 4, 2026, following reports of suspicious movements and alleged burglary activities in the area.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Abeokuta, explaining that the first incident occurred at about 3:30am on September 2.

According to Babaseyi, concerned members of the community alerted the police after a watchman noticed suspicious movements inside a market stall.

Following the report, police operatives were immediately mobilised to the location, where they allegedly found Kalid and Jamal inside the shop.

The police said stolen foodstuffs and other items were recovered from the suspects.

Babaseyi said further interrogation of the two teenagers led to the arrest of Alabi, who allegedly confessed to providing the key used to gain access to the shop.

READ ALSO:

The police spokesperson said the three suspects arrested in connection with the first incident had already been charged to court.

In a separate incident on September 4, personnel of the Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) reportedly arrested Abioro and Monday before handing them over to the police for further investigation.

According to the police, preliminary interrogation indicated that the two teenagers allegedly confessed to participating in multiple shop burglaries across the area.

The police said subsequent searches conducted at their premises resulted in the recovery of additional items suspected to have been stolen during previous burglary operations.

Babaseyi said the case had been transferred for further investigation, while police operatives were also working to track down an outstanding accomplice who remains at large.

The police did not disclose the total monetary value of the recovered items or provide further details about the other shops allegedly targeted by the suspects.

The arrests highlight continuing concerns over property crime and burglary in Ogun State, particularly in commercial communities where shops and business premises can become targets during the night.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers of the Ado-Odo Division for their prompt response to the initial report and praised the So-Safe Corps for assisting in the arrest and transfer of the other two suspects.

Ojajuni also called on parents and guardians to exercise closer supervision over young people and take steps to discourage them from becoming involved in criminal activities.

The commissioner urged community leaders to strengthen cooperation with security agencies and promptly report suspicious movements or activities in their neighbourhoods.

He also advised business owners and shop operators to strengthen security around their premises, particularly outside business hours, and to report suspected criminal activity to the police without delay.

The Ogun State Police Command said investigations are continuing into the second incident, while efforts remain underway to apprehend the outstanding suspect.

The allegations against the five teenagers remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings. Their arrests and reported confessions do not amount to convictions, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.

Five teenagers arrested over multiple shop burglaries in Ogun

News

NAF recruitment 2026: Step-by-step guide to applying for BMTC 47/2026

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2026

Trends Admin

NAF recruitment 2026: Step-by-step guide to applying for BMTC 47/2026

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced its 2026 recruitment exercise, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for enlistment as tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women under the Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 47/2026.

The NAF recruitment 2026 exercise opened on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and the online application portal will remain open until October 14, 2026.

The application is free of charge, and prospective applicants have been advised to carefully study the eligibility requirements and application guidelines before submitting their forms.

The recruitment exercise provides an opportunity for eligible Nigerians who meet the educational, age, physical and medical requirements to begin the process of joining the Nigerian Air Force.

Applicants are expected to complete the entire registration process through the official NAF recruitment portal and should not engage agents or individuals who request money in exchange for recruitment assistance.

To begin the application, prospective candidates should visit the official NAF recruitment portal and select the BMTC 47/2026 recruitment exercise.

Applicants should first read the recruitment guidelines carefully to determine whether they meet the requirements for their preferred category. Candidates are advised to understand the requirements before starting the form because the conditions for tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women are different.

After confirming their eligibility, applicants should complete the online application form by providing the required personal, educational and other relevant information.

READ ALSO:

Candidates should ensure that the information supplied is accurate and corresponds with their official documents. Particular attention should be paid to names, dates of birth, educational qualifications and other personal details because inconsistencies could create difficulties during subsequent verification.

Before submitting the form, applicants should carefully review all the information entered and make any necessary corrections.

Candidates who successfully complete the online application will be required to print the relevant documents generated by the recruitment portal. These include the Acknowledgement Form, Parent/Guardian Consent Form and Local Government Area Attestation Form.

The LGA Attestation Form must be properly signed and authenticated by an authorised official in accordance with the NAF’s requirements. Depending on the conditions specified for the exercise, an authorised signatory may include a military officer from the applicant’s state, a police officer of the required rank, a substantive local government chairman or secretary, or a magistrate.

Applicants should carefully check the specific instructions on the form before obtaining the required signature and authentication.

The NAF has also warned that applicants who fail to successfully complete their online registration may not be able to generate the required forms.

For general eligibility, applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth and must be medically, physically and psychologically fit. They must also satisfy the medical and employment standards prescribed by the Nigerian Air Force.

The minimum height requirement is 1.66 metres for male applicants and 1.63 metres for female applicants.

For tradesmen/women, applicants must be between 18 and 27 years old by March 1, 2027.

READ ALSO:

Candidates applying under this category with National Diploma (ND) or National Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications must have obtained their certificates from accredited institutions and meet the required academic conditions.

Applicants must generally possess at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings in recognised examinations such as WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB or NBAIS, where applicable to the particular category.

Candidates applying for driving positions and other trades requiring a Trade Test certificate must possess the relevant Trade Test qualification and satisfy the required secondary-school certificate conditions.

Applicants seeking recruitment as drivers must also possess a valid driving licence.

Those applying under sports-related categories are expected to provide evidence of professional sporting experience. Such evidence may include relevant certificates, medals and other recognised records of sporting achievement, subject to the specific requirements of the recruitment exercise.

For non-tradesmen/women, applicants must be between 18 and 22 years old by March 1, 2027.

They must possess at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB or NBAIS.

Applicants in this category are also required to possess the relevant Primary School Certificate and Secondary School Testimonial.

Candidates should ensure that the names and other personal information contained in their educational documents are consistent with the details provided on their NAF application form.

Submitting an application does not automatically mean that a candidate has been selected for enlistment.

According to the recruitment guidelines, applicants who successfully progress to the next stage will be considered for a Zonal General Aptitude Test.

The NAF said the date and other details concerning the aptitude test will be communicated through the official recruitment portal.

Only applicants who are successful at the aptitude-test stage will subsequently be invited for the selection interview.

Candidates are therefore advised to regularly check the official recruitment portal for announcements concerning the aptitude test, shortlisted applicants, selection interviews and other stages of the recruitment exercise.

The NAF has also warned applicants to beware of recruitment scams.

The Force says the NAF recruitment exercise is free of charge, meaning applicants are not required to pay money to submit their forms or secure consideration for enlistment.

Candidates should not give money to anyone claiming to have the ability to secure a recruitment slot, influence the selection process, guarantee placement on the shortlist or manipulate examination or interview results.

Prospective applicants should also be cautious about fake websites, social-media accounts and individuals impersonating NAF officials.

Applicants are advised to obtain recruitment information only through official Nigerian Air Force communication channels and the designated NAF recruitment portal.

Candidates should also avoid submitting multiple applications. Applicants are expected to provide accurate information and complete the application process carefully under the appropriate recruitment category.

The NAF BMTC 47/2026 recruitment exercise will close on October 14, 2026. Applicants who are interested in joining the Nigerian Air Force are advised to complete their registration before the deadline rather than waiting until the final days of the exercise.

The recruitment process is free, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not by itself guarantee enlistment. Candidates must successfully pass the various stages of the selection process before they can be considered for training.

Prospective applicants should therefore carefully follow every instruction published by the Nigerian Air Force and continue monitoring the official recruitment portal for subsequent announcements.

NAF recruitment 2026 at a glance

Recruitment exercise: Basic Military Training Course 47/2026

Application opening date: September 3, 2026

Application closing date: October 14, 2026

Application method: Online

Application fee: Free

Male minimum height: 1.66 metres

Female minimum height: 1.63 metres

Non-tradesmen/women age: 18–22 years by March 1, 2027

Tradesmen/women age: 18–27 years by March 1, 2027

Next major stage: Zonal General Aptitude Test

Subsequent stage: Selection interview

Applicants should verify the latest requirements directly on the official NAF recruitment portal before submitting their applications, particularly if the Force publishes additional instructions or updates during the recruitment period.