Politics
The Truth: Did UN Give Tinubu’s Government 60-Day Ultimatum to Release Nnamdi Kanu?
A viral Facebook video circulated claims that the United Nations issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government over the detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Social media users expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the claims and others dismissing them as false and misleading.
Nigerian fact-checking organisation DUBAWA established that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention lacked the power to issue ultimatums or enforce sanctions and that the claims were false
A viral Facebook video has sparked renewed debate over the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, with claims that the United Nations issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government to release him.
In the footage, the narrator claimed:
“Now that the UN has officially certified that the government is holding Kanu illegally in defiance of a direct order, the US can legally freeze aid, deny visas to judges, and even block military equipment transfers.”
The video further alleged that the federal government assembled an emergency legal team to seek a last-minute stay of execution on national security grounds, but that the plea was rejected by the UN after a supposed 60-day deadline elapsed. The post quickly gained traction online, recording hundreds of reactions, comments and shares within days of publication.
Facebook users expressed sharply divided views over the claims. Some welcomed the development, while others dismissed it as misleading.
One user, Ernest Asuquo, described the report as positive but criticised Nigeria for what he called a record of disobeying court orders.
Another commenter, Eleanya Obasi, wrote: “Thank you for sharing updates for all government Matters Arising from Naija.”
However, scepticism was also evident. Friday Ibrahim commented:
“I admire Nnamdi Kanu’s courage over his constitutional right for what he believes is the way forward, but you guys are always posting fake news about Nnamdi Kanu’s case.”
Rasheed Adebayo added: “I love Nnamdi Kanu for passion (sic.) and as a man of himself. But this is fake news. Please try to decimate factual news because we are not nonentities here.”
As reported by DUBAWA, they traced the origin of the claims to a 2022 opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. In that year, the UNWGAD urged the Nigerian government to release Kanu unconditionally and compensate him, describing his extradition from Kenya in June 2021 as unlawful.
The working group also requested updates from Nigeria and Kenya within six months on steps taken to implement its recommendations.
Despite the opinion, Nigeria proceeded with Kanu’s prosecution, a development widely reported by credible media organisations. However, no evidence to support claims that the UN issued a 60-day ultimatum or threatened sanctions.
According to the fact-check, the UNWGAD is an advisory body and lacks the authority to impose deadlines, sanctions or enforcement measures on sovereign states.
The working group does not operate a colour-coded alert system, nor does it automatically refer cases to the UN Security Council. Its follow-up process is limited to requesting information from governments on actions taken.
The video also suggested that Nigeria risked frozen assets and international sanctions if Kanu was not released.
However, DUBAWA noted that international law does not permit the automatic release of detainees or seizure of a country’s assets based solely on a missed UN recommendation timeline.
No precedent exists for freezing a nation’s central bank accounts because a UN working group’s opinion was not implemented.
Findings from DUBAWA show that the United Nations did not issue a 60-day ultimatum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government over Kanu’s detention.
The UNWGAD’s opinions remain non-binding recommendations without enforcement powers.
As such, claims circulating on social media that the UN ordered Nigeria to release Nnamdi Kanu within a deadline, or face sanctions, are false.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published the names and personal particulars of presidential candidates who will contest the 2027 general election.
Daily Voice gathered that the list puts the number of presidential candidates at 19, with each candidate accompanied by a nominated running mate.
The publication brings further clarity to the field ahead of the presidential election and places the candidates’ credentials and other personal information before the Nigerian public.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Vice President Kashim Shettima remains his running mate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is his running mate.
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is also on the list. Obi is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The publication also includes the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is fielding Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate. Umaru Babangida is listed as his running mate.
African Action Congress, AAC, has Omoyele Sowore as its presidential candidate, with Haruna Garba Magashi as his running mate.
Other candidates include former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, with Buba Musa as his running mate.
The National Democratic Party, NDP, is represented by Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori, while Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka is listed as her running mate.
The Young Progressives Party, YPP, is fielding Anita Zugwai Chukwu as its presidential candidate, with Egbeola Olawale Mertins as the vice-presidential candidate.
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje is the candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, while Shehu Hussaini is listed as his running mate.
The Boot Party has Sunday Adenuga as its presidential candidate and Usman Turaki Mustapha as his running mate.
Samuel Memeh is contesting under the Democratic Liberty Alliance, DLA, with Alex Balogun as his running mate.
Daniel Danerechukwu Nwanyanwu is the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, presidential candidate. Hassan Khalid is listed as his running mate.
The Labour Party, LP, is fielding Sunday Chibuzor Okereke, with Hajja Bintu Konto as his running mate.
Iken Esther Okereke is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, while Samuel Magdalene Gali is the vice-presidential candidate.
Abbas-Bin Aliyu is contesting under the Action Democratic Party, ADP, with Chinazam Ike as his running mate.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is represented by Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa, while Abubakar Isah is listed as his running mate.
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, is fielding Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, with Usman Mohammed Bugaje as his running mate.
Seyi Makinde is listed as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, with Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his running mate.
The Action Peoples Party, APP, has Kabiru Yusuf as its presidential candidate, with Peace Egobia Ofordile as his running mate.
The publication of the candidates’ details followed the requirement for INEC to make the particulars submitted by political parties and their candidates available for public scrutiny.
The documents contain information such as dates of birth, educational qualifications, occupations and other personal details supplied by the candidates.
The exercise gives political parties, candidates and members of the public an opportunity to examine the information submitted to the electoral commission.
It also provides an important reference point ahead of the commencement of the next stage of the electoral process.
According to INEC, the publication of candidates’ particulars is tied to the provisions of the Electoral Act. Section 29(3) requires the commission to publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates after receiving the relevant nomination documents.
Tinubu is seeking to retain the presidency for the APC after winning the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku is returning to the presidential contest on a different platform after leaving the PDP for the ADC coalition.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, is also returning to the race under the NDC.
Moreover, the information released by INEC contains qualifications ranging from primary and secondary school certificates to university degrees and higher academic qualifications.
For instance, Tinubu’s submitted particulars include a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University.
Shettima submitted records of his primary and secondary education, as well as degrees in agricultural studies, while Atiku’s documents include his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate and a master’s degree in International Relations.
Amaechi also submitted details of his academic background, including his university education and legal qualifications.
Obi’s records include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Kwankwaso’s credentials include a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic and his National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Recall, INEC had earlier fixed the presidential and National Assembly election for February 20, 2027, before subsequent revisions to the electoral timetable.
The commission’s current online election calendar lists January 16, 2027 for the Presidential and House of Assembly election and February 6, 2027 for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
INEC has also urged political parties, candidates and voters to follow the approved timetable and comply with the rules governing the electoral process.
A former House of Representatives aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Danjuma, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Danjuma, popularly known as Garkuwa Babba, was the ADC aspirant for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency and also served as National Chairman of the ADC House of Representatives Aspirants Forum.
He announced his defection after meeting with Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, Naija News understands.
During the meeting, Danjuma declared his support for the APC and pledged to mobilize his political network and grassroots supporters for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said he would support Governor Yahaya’s senatorial ambition, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, and other candidates of the party.
Danjuma said his decision to leave the ADC was largely influenced by Yahaya’s leadership, performance and development record in Gombe State.
He praised the governor for what he described as tangible development across the state, saying his achievements had boosted confidence in the APC and reduced the appeal of opposition parties among voters.
According to him, joining the APC was a deliberate move to support continuity, stability and further development in Gombe State.
Receiving Danjuma, Governor Yahaya welcomed his decision to join the APC, describing the development as a major boost for the party.
The governor assured the new APC member and his supporters of an inclusive and united party, stressing the importance of unity, loyalty and collective effort.
Yahaya said the APC remained open to individuals and groups who shared the vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Gombe State.
He added that Danjuma’s political experience, network and grassroots reach would be valuable to the party.
The governor also urged APC members and stakeholders to remain united, saying the strength of the party depended on its ability to accommodate different interests while working towards the development of Gombe State.
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