Today’s Headlines: INEC Has Rigged 2027 Election — Okonkwo; US Bans Chinese Genomics Imports

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesman for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the redeployment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to head the Electoral Operations Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, raises concerns about the credibility of the 2027 general election.

Okonkwo argued that the appointment creates a potential conflict of interest because Adeyemi-Showunmi is the wife of Segun Showunmi, deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign council.

Segun Showunmi is supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Speaking on the controversy on Arise News, Okonkwo maintained that the appointment could undermine public confidence in the electoral process given the responsibilities attached to the department.

The United States banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies on Wednesday over claims they collected genetic material used to track persecuted ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said BGI Genomics, MGI Tech and Shenzhen BGI Technology, also known as BGI Group, had been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

The list identifies entities working with Xinjiang’s government “to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of Xinjiang.”

The United Nations warned in 2022 of possible crimes against humanity in the region, including the detention of more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in camps.

China has repeatedly and vehemently denied accusations of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs.

𝗢𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝘃 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has constituted a committee to organise a state burial for the late leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who died at the age of 100.

The committee, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, is expected to work with the Fasoranti family and the leadership of Afenifere to organise a befitting burial programme for the late elder statesman.

Dr Kayode Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will chair the committee, while Apostle Eniola Olushola will serve as secretary.

Other members are Hon. Gbenga Fasua, Mr Gbenga Atiba, Mrs Kosemani Kolawole, Rt. Hon. Bakkita Bello, Hon. Idowu Otetubi, Erelu Modupe Martins, Mr George Asonja, Esq., Mr Muyiwa Ogunyemi, Hon. Stephen Abitogun and Mr Adetunji Gbenga.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the emergence of Governor Hope Uzodinma as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial election slated for January 16, 2027.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, held that evidence before it established that Governor Uzodinma was not the valid winner of the primary election the APC conducted in the senatorial zone on May 18, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the court, it was a former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, who garnered the highest number of votes cast at the primary election and therefore ought to have been nominated by the party.

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