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By Madu Obi The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements. The other affected parties are the Action Alliance, AA, Accord Party, African People's Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP. Justice Peter Lifu, who presided, ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must deregister them for failing to secure 25% of votes in the last general elections, which is a constitutional requirement. Justice Lifu dismissed all preliminary objections by the defendants and barred INEC from allowing the five parties to contest subsequent elections, including the 2027 election. The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 was filed by Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. The Attorney-General of the Federation was joined as plaintiff, while INEC was named the 1st defendant. The forum had argued that the parties lacked the electoral spread and performance required by law, contending that parties must secure at least 25% of votes in prescribed elections to remain registered. Urging the court to deregister the parties, the forum said that none of the defendants effectively countered the arguments. This ruling came barely few hours after the ADC announced the confirmation of Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's running mate for 2027 election.

By Madu Obi The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has ordered immediate transfer of the 10 - year old boy who was brutalized by his guardian in Awada, Obosi, to a better health facility for optimum treatment. The boy's guardian, a nursing mother, was said to have used hot pressing iron to severely burn his skin over the suspicion that he allegedly took a piece of meat from her soup pot. The boy was said to be unconscious at the time neighbours saw him and subsequently reported the incident to security operatives who arrested the woman and took the boy to a health facility for treatment. Reacting on the incident, Mrs Soludo said: "I'm deeply saddened and disturbed by the horrific abuse suffered by the 10-year-old boy in the hand of his guardians in Awada, Obosi. "No child, whatever their crime, deserves to endure such cruelty, and as a mother, I find the images and reports from the incident deeply troubling. "Following this development, I've spoken with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, and appealed that the child be moved from his current hospital to a more suitable medical facility where he can receive optimum treatment, specialized care, and every support necessary for his recovery." Mrs Soludo also pledged to take full responsibility for his rehabilitation and ensure that he is given every opportunity to heal physically, emotionally, and psychologically. She requested that all those connected to the heinous act be brought to justice, including the arrest of the suspect's husband, to answer for a crime that occurred under his roof. "Those responsible must face the full weight of the law. Anambra State, under this administration, maintains zero tolerance for any form of abuse against children and women, and I will personally follow up on this case to ensure that justice is rightly served. "We must all remain vigilant and speak up whenever we witness abuse, because every child deserves protection, dignity, and love", she said. She commended those who spoke up and brought the heinous act into limelight.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Police command has recovered 60 suspected trafficked children in Anambra State and taken 60 other cases of child abuse to court in the last five months. The command also lamented the increasing cases of sexual molestation by fathers against their daughters, warning that the law must take its course. The command gave the figures when the chairman of a nongovernmental organization, NGO, Beecharity Outlook Foundation, Dr Paul Nwosu, paid a visit to the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, as part of activities to mark the 2026 International Day Against Child Labour. According to the command, it is worrisome that many children are being exposed to indecent scenarios, including parents sleeping with their children at tender ages, adding that this month alone, the police recorded about four of such cases. Giving details, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Dept (SCID), DCP Wan Mantu Chongs said: "Yesterday we had one case. A father started sleeping with his daughter when she was 12. Now she is 15 or 16. "It was not the first. We had a father sleeping with his daughter that was barely 10 or so. And so, for me, it's more challenging because it is far above child labour. It is despicable and unbelievable". "At the state CID, we’ve had a series of cases and we are doing our best to manage them. For instance, just in the last one month, we recovered about 60 children that have been trafficked; sold into circumstances that they don't know, and they’re of minor ages, some between the ages of one and 10. And that tells the challenges that we face. "These children are exposed to a series of dangers. There’s a case we had. A woman adopted two children and subjected them to inhuman and despicable treatment and inflicted injuries on them. "Parents sell their children just for a piece of cake, and those who adopt them subject them to so many challenging experiences". According to him, efforts are being made to convince parents on the need to send their children to school, instead of sending them out to become labourers. He said that because of the unfortunate security and economic situation the country has found itself, some parents hide under such excuses to justify their action of sending their children out to hawk when they should be in school. The CP, Orutugu, while addressing members of the NGO, said that looking at where the country is coming from and where it is going, he feels like shedding tears. According to him, the society seems not to have a deliberate policy of promoting the rights of the child, noting that a child who hawks while his mates are in school, would grow up feeling inferior. "A few days ago, a child boldly went to a DPO and told him that he does not want to stay where he's staying again. And when the DPO questioned him, it was found out that he was brought from Enugu to a particular home where he's doing child labour. And the boy was just eight years old. Assuming that did not have the idea to go to a police station to report, he would have been trapped into the hands of wicked people. "Every child has a right to medical care, welfare, good food, good housing, but have we deliberately, as a people, as a government, as a movement, as a society, provided for that Nigerian child? "We have to activate law enforcement to call the parents to order and if possible, prosecute them so that others will see that parents are being prosecuted for allowing their children to go into child labour", the CP said. He urged the elites to realize that whether they like it or not, at some point in their development and evolution, these children will meet. Briefing the CP on the activities of the NGO, Nwosu said the organization has, for the past eight years, remained steadfast in advocating for the protection of children and the elimination of child labour and child abuse. "Every child found hawking on the streets, instead of being in school, every child forced into exploitative labour, and every child denied the opportunity to dream and develop his or her potential, represents a loss not only to the child, but to society as a whole. "We believe the Nigeria Police Force is a critical partner in the protection of vulnerable children. We therefore seek stronger collaboration with your command in identifying, preventing and responding to cases of child labour and child abuse across Anambra State. "Together, we can create a safer environment where every child is protected, educated and empowered to become a productive citizen. "As we reflect on this year's International Day Against Child Labour, let us remember that children do not have a voice strong enough to defend themselves. They depend on responsible adults and institutions to speak and act on their behalf. The future of our society is sitting today in our homes, classrooms and communities. If we fail them today, we endanger tomorrow. "Let us therefore join hands to ensure that no child is robbed of childhood, denied education, or forced into labour. Every child deserves not a burden to carry, but a dream to pursue", Nwosu said. He explained that through advocacy, public enlightenment, community engagement, and partnerships with stakeholders, the organization has consistently championed the rights of children to education, protection, dignity, and a brighter future.