Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned that politicians and political parties who employ abusive, intemperate or inflammatory languages in their campaigns risk heavy financial penalties and possible imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026, as the country grapples with a fresh wave of threats by political office holders against dissenting voters. Mr Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, stated in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday that campaign rhetoric crosses the legal threshold into electoral intimidation when it moves beyond robust partisan debate or policy critique and into the realm of coercion, hate…

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2027 general elections are free, fair, transparent, and credible. Obi made the call on Sunday in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, during a thank-you tour organized for Ameh following his emergence as the NDC senatorial candidate for Kogi East. Obi, who was warmly received by thousands of his supporters and party loyalists in Ogugu, urged INEC to resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process in favor of any political party, stressing that the…

A fire in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua area destroyed a market on Monday, killing 11 people, including six children, according to authorities. The fire broke out shortly after midnight in the town of Paniai, Central Papua province, and quickly spread to multiple 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. The affected children were aged between two and nine years old, he added. Despite the presence of fire…

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested the state of New Mexico could become “New America.” His proposal, which was immediately rejected by the state’s governor, comes days after he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in the middle of a trade war with neighboring Canada. “Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico… to NEW AMERICA,” the Republican president posted on social media. “So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible state. Wow, I love it!!!” The White House shared an image of the Mexico portion of the…

Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has accused President Bola Tinubu of making life unaffordable for Nigerians through economic policies that have eroded purchasing power, raised fuel, food, and transportation prices, and weakened businesses. In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stated that the President could no longer hide behind economic stats while Nigerians were suffering the repercussions of his actions. He accused the Tinubu administration of removing fuel subsidies while overseeing rising fuel, transportation, and food prices. The statement read, “Atiku said…

A man simply identified as Basit, who had recently returned to Nigeria from abroad for his wedding, was beaten to death by a mob following an alleged hit-and-run incident at Lagos Island, Lagos State. Chronicle NG gathered on Sunday that the incident took place on Wednesday night. Basit allegedly used his car to hit a man resident in the Patey neighborhood of the town. He was claimed to have driven away from the scene instead of stopping, prompting numerous residents to pursue him. A resident who witnessed the incident but wanted anonymity for security concerns stated, “He was coming from…

Gunmen have reportedly shot dead Nasiru Marafa, the Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria, in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. The institution announced this in an official notice issued by Oladipo Ajayi, Registrar and Secretary to Council, on Sunday. Ajayi added that Marafa was reportedly shot by the gunmen while returning from Gusau, but the university did not elaborate on the circumstances of the occurrence. “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” the university stated in announcing the death of the bursar. The statement read, “The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Senate, Staff, and Students…

The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has rejected new accusations connecting him to banditry, describing the viral videos and assertions spreading on social media as elements of an ongoing effort of misinformation and character defamation. Buba, a past chair of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, has been accused since 2024 of connections with alleged bandits, claims he has continuously refuted. The recent dispute arose after a content creator named ‘D English Alhaji’ shared videos claiming that alleged bandit leaders had been to the senator’s home. The allegations gained more traction when a resident named…

The Osun governorship election petition tribunal has received no petition challenging the outcome of the August 15 governorship poll during the 21-day window stipulated by the constitution. The 21-day window for filing a petition to protest the poll result expired on Saturday, and none of the 14 defeated parties challenged the outcome. The incumbent Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who contested the poll on the platform of the Accord, was declared elected by the State Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, in the August 15 governorship poll. Adeleke won the governorship election with a total…

Goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr. netted two goals, including a tense penalty in the 101st minute, to secure a point for Telstar in an exciting 2-2 tie against Cambuur in the Eredivisie. As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, the 31-year-old, offspring of ex-Netherlands defender and coach Ronald Koeman, scored two penalties while Telstar rallied despite going down to 10 players in the 22nd minute. After the red card, Cambuur seized control, netting two goals in the second half to lead 2-0 with under thirty minutes left. Koeman converted a penalty in the 63rd minute before securing his impressive brace with…