You can’t bar Obi, Atiku from campaigning in Osun, lawyer tells Oluwo

Lawyer Damilare Adenola has criticized the declaration by Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, stating that it is unconstitutional to bar presidential candidates from campaigning in Osun State ahead of the 2027 general election. Adenola argued that the rights of political candidates to campaign across the country are protected by Sections 39, 40, 41, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement, and freedom from discrimination.

He further pointed out that no individual, including a traditional ruler, can lawfully deny political candidates their constitutional rights to campaign in any part of Nigeria. Adenola also cited Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits the use of state apparatus to favour or disadvantage any political party or candidate, and emphasized that regulation of political campaigns should be under the electoral framework, not the authority of a traditional ruler.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.