By Our Correspondent

As the nation awaits the conduct of Osun State governorship election this Saturday, state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu to arrest and prosecute the Senator representing Osun Central, Francis Fadahunsi over killing of Accord Party.

A viral video sighted by Daily Champion in which the lawmaker was allegedly heard calling for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their family members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, during an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, Adeleke raised concerns over alleged security operations against Accord Party leaders ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

“The viral video of a serving Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their families. In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children.

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun State.

“We finally request that the police and other security agencies should act in line with the rule of law and their oath of office before, during and after these coming elections,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, Fadahunsi, refuted the narratives, stressing that the remark was a political metaphor urging APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box.

He added that, “What I have told my people is that that between now and the day of elections, my people should come out en masse and kill with votes.”

By George Mgbelele

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has declared that residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have become unwilling victims of what appears to be an increasingly exploitative electricity distribution regime, warning that the continued silence of regulatory authorities is emboldening practices that are pushing ordinary families deeper into poverty.

The prominent Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group said the torrent of complaints from electricity consumers across Abuja over the drastic reduction in prepaid electricity units for the same amount of money is a national scandal that demands immediate presidential intervention.
It is outrageous that while the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) publicly maintains that it has not approved any tariff increase, thousands of Abuja residents continue to receive significantly fewer electricity units for the same payments they made only weeks ago.
This glaring contradiction cannot simply be wished away.
Either someone is misleading Nigerians, or consumers are being subjected to arbitrary charges under the cover of a system that lacks transparency and accountability.

For HURIWA, both possibilities are unacceptable.
The association said Abuja residents are no longer merely battling epileptic power supply—they are now paying premium prices for darkness.
“It is unconscionable that an average household running nothing more than a refrigerator, a few fans and light bulbs now spends as much as ₦45,000 on electricity credits that disappear within days without any convincing explanation. Nigerians are being compelled to pay more for less, while those charged with protecting consumers appear content to watch from the sidelines.”

HURIWA accused AEDC of failing the basic test of public accountability by refusing to provide satisfactory explanations to consumers over the persistent complaints of disappearing prepaid units.
The association also faulted NERC for not acting with the urgency expected of a regulator whose primary statutory responsibility is to protect electricity consumers from unfair and opaque market practices.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), HURIWA said, is doing so well in checking the exploitation of Nigerians by service providers in the financial, telecoms, and retail marketing services but that active institutional must equally up the ante and broaden its constitutional responsibility to save electricity consumers who are shortchanged. Consumer rights do not end at supermarkets, airlines and telecommunications companies. Electricity consumers deserve the same vigorous protection against alleged exploitation.

HURIWA warned that monopoly has become the greatest enemy of efficiency in Abuja’s electricity market.
“When one company dominates electricity distribution without effective competition, consumers become captives. They complain but no one listens. They pay more but receive less. They suffer blackouts yet continue to receive outrageous bills. That is not service delivery; it is consumer helplessness.”
The association questioned the much-publicised electricity subsidy being touted by government.
“If Nigerians are supposedly enjoying electricity subsidies, why are households spending unprecedented sums on electricity despite receiving fewer units and poorer service? Where exactly is this subsidy going? Nigerians deserve honest answers.”
HURIWA called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct an immediate, independent forensic investigation into AEDC’s prepaid metering and billing architecture to determine whether consumers are being subjected to arbitrary deductions or other irregularities.
The association further demanded that:
AEDC immediately publish a detailed explanation for the reported reduction in prepaid electricity units.
NERC conduct a transparent public investigation and publish its findings without delay.
FCCPC commence an inquiry into allegations of exploitative consumer practices within the Abuja electricity market.
Consumers found to have been overbilled or unfairly charged be fully refunded and compensated.
Smart metering and billing systems be subjected to independent periodic audits accessible to the public.
HURIWA also urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to urgently establish alternative electricity supply arrangements by leveraging the powers available under Nigeria’s reformed electricity sector. Abuja must no longer remain at the mercy of a single distribution company.
Competition—not monopoly—is the antidote to inefficiency, arbitrary pricing and poor service delivery.
The association vowed to continue mobilising consumers and engaging all lawful democratic channels until Abuja residents begin to receive what they pay for: reliable electricity, transparent billing and respect for their rights as citizens.
Nigerians are tired of paying for darkness. The era of unexplained charges, shrinking prepaid units and regulatory silence must end.

By David Owei

Guild of online Media Editors and publishers of Nigeria GOMEP-NG and public affairs commentator, Nat’l President,Comr. Akpovoke Otiti, has criticised the ongoing Delta Economic Summit, arguing that the state government must first account for the outcome of previous investment initiatives before embarking on another campaign to attract foreign investors.

Speaking on the summit, Otiti recalled that during the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, government officials, including Dr. Kingsley Emu, travelled to China in a bid to attract investors to Delta State.

According to him, the trip was accompanied by widespread publicity and assurances that it would pave the way for the development of the proposed Kwale Industrial Park, which was projected to boost industrialisation and create employment opportunities.

“At the time, there was so much excitement. Deltans were made to believe that the state was on the verge of attracting major investments. Millions of naira were reportedly spent on the trip, yet years later there is little or nothing to show for it,” he said.

Otiti alleged that the proposed Kwale Industrial Park had failed to take off, claiming that the acquired land had remained undeveloped and was gradually turning into a forest.

“Today, nobody talks about the Kwale Industrial Park anymore. It appears to have been dead on arrival,” he added.

He expressed concern that officials associated with the previous investment drive were once again spearheading the Delta Economic Summit with promises of attracting foreign investors.

“The same people who could not deliver investors during the last administration are now asking Deltans to believe another round of promises. It is difficult to understand why citizens should be convinced without first seeing tangible results from the earlier efforts,” Otiti said.

He called on the organisers of the summit to provide a comprehensive account of past investment missions and demonstrate the achievements recorded before seeking public support for new initiatives.

According to him, transparency, accountability and measurable outcomes are essential to restoring public confidence in the state’s investment agenda.