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Category: Politics Lite

  • Rivers Crisis: Tinubu Meets Fubara, Odili In Aso Rock

    President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a private discussion with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Fubara arrived at the seat of power accompanied by former Rivers State Governor Sir Peter Odili and other influential figures from the state.

    The President seems to be intervening to settle the dispute between the governor and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

    Earlier, Wike was spotted at the State House.

    Sources from within the presidency confirmed that the meeting might be related to recent events in the state. 

    This includes the defection of 27 out of 32 members of the State House of Assembly, who are supporters of the FCT Minister, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Before the meeting commenced in earnest, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima was observed attending the session.

  • Adamawa Guber: Binani loses petition against Gov Fintiri

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday dismissed the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani seeking to invalidate the election of Umar Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State.

    The Appellate Court held that the iFintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP was lawfully declared winner of the poll by the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

    A judgment written by Justice Tunde Oyebanji Awotoye threw out the case of Binani and APC on various grounds of abnormalities.

    Among the grounds, the Appeal Court held that Binani and APC failed to call Polling Agents who participated in the conduct of the election as witnesses but unfortunately called Campaign Coordinators who were not at the election venue.

    Justice Awotoye said that the three witnesses called to establish malpractices in 27 Local Government Areas who were Campaign Coordinators are mere hearsay witnesses having not been party agents.

    The Court held that it is against the law to attach probate values to the testimony of the Campaign Coordinators since such is worthless in the face of the law.

    Besides, Justice Awotoye said that the brief of argument filed by Binani and APC was in contravention of the law, hence, incompetent and deserved to be ignored.

    Also, Justice Awotoye held that the records of appeal transmitted to the Court of Appeal by Binani and APC were not complete and in law mot icompetent for the Court to make any finding.

    The Court declared as illegal act, the declaration of Binani and APC as winners of the election adding that the only authority to make declaration is the Returning Officer.

    The Court also said that it was wrong for Binani to be taking Panadol for the headache of the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC who opted to take laws into his own hand.

    “In the eyes of the law, the Resident Electoral Commissioner is on his own. He should be allowed to take responsibility for his illegal and unlawful act”

    The unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal in its entirety and award a cost of N1M to be paid to Fintiri and PDP by Binani and APC.

    The Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal had, in October, dismissed the petition filed by Binani seeking Fintiri’s sack from office.

  • Election Petition Tribunal Rulings:INEC Conducts By-elections in 34 Constituencies in 2024

    Incompliance with the rulings of various election petition tribunals, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct by-elections in 34 constituencies, starting from early next year.
    A breakdown reveals that the election shall take place in one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies, and 22 State Assembly constituencies.

    Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, disclosed this development during an extraordinary meeting with political party leaders held on December 18, 2023. This gathering, occurring just two months after the last quarterly consultative meeting in October 2023, aimed to apprise party leaders of the Commission’s readiness for the impending elections.

    Out of the 1,191 petitions filed, Professor Yakubu highlighted that 34 constituencies, representing 2.8% of the total petitions, require by-elections. Notably, the Commission has been mandated to organize elections across entire constituencies in three cases, while in the remaining 31 constituencies, elections will occur in specific polling units.

    “The upcoming elections fall into two distinct categories,” explained Professor Yakubu. “Firstly, as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals conclude their post-2023 General Election proceedings, the Commission is directed to hold by-elections in specific constituencies as per court orders.”

    “Secondly,” he continued, “the Commission is tasked with conducting bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the passing or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.”

    Professor Yakubu clarified the logistical arrangements, stating, “Our intention is to combine and conduct both categories of elections on the same day. Re-run elections involve only the original participating parties and candidates, except in cases where a deceased candidate needs replacement. However, bye-elections constitute entirely new polls, requiring political parties to conduct fresh primaries within the legally prescribed timeframe.”

    Following this consultative meeting, the INEC Chairman assured that the Commission would convene to review preparations and announce a definitive date, accompanied by a detailed timetable and activities schedule for the elections. Comprehensive delineation details, including polling unit locations, registered voters, and collected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in each constituency, will be made available on the INEC website for public access.

    Key attendees at the meeting included Leaders of Political Parties, National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, and other senior officials.

  • JUST IN: Hours After Denial, Labour Party Withdraws Governorship Suit Against Fubara

    The Labour Party (LP) has officially withdrawn its petition challenging the election of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 polls.

    LP’s governorship candidate, Beatrice Itubo, extended support to Fubara’s administration, emphasizing the importance of fostering progress in Rivers State.

    Itubo’s decision to drop the petition and rally behind Governor Fubara comes shortly after her visit to the governor.

    She claimed the visit was aimed at advocating for peace amidst the ongoing crisis gripping the state.

    She had denied that the visit was connected to the governorship election case.

    Itubo on Friday said the political turmoil has been affecting the state’s economy.

    Expressing concern over the escalating crisis, the former NLC chairman urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike to prioritize peace, urging all parties involved in inciting strife within the state to cease their actions.

  • Sensitive Documents Carted As Gunmen Attack Kogi State Tribunal Secretary

     Unknown gunmen targeted Mr. David Umar Mike, the secretary of the Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal, in an attack where sensitive petition documents linked to the recently held gubernatorial election were stolen.

    According to State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya on Wednesday, armed assailants robbed five political parties’ petition documents, which included materials from the Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), along with personal items belonging to Mr. Mike. 

    The stolen items comprised two record books and a bag.

    The incident unfolded near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office around 1:20 PM on Monday while Mr. Mike and colleagues were en route to the tribunal’s location at the state High Court complex in Lokoja.

    Mr. Mike, along with his colleagues, reported the occurrence to the State Criminal Investigation Department on December 4th, 2023. 

    The police revealed that armed, hooded men in SUVs blocked Mr. Mike’s vehicle, fired shots, forcibly removed them from the car, and plundered the petition documents.

    “That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind.

    “All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse. That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the petition documents.”

    The State Commissioner of Police, CP Onuoha Benthrand, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

    Authorities have urged the public to refrain from making statements that might influence the ongoing investigation.

  • Edo: Obaseki Supports My Governorship Bid, Says Philip Shaibu

    Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu has revealed that his principal, Godwin Obaseki is proud of him and is in support of his Governorship Bid.

    NIGERIAN ANCHOR recalls that Shaibu, on Monday officially declared his intention to run for the gubernatorial election in 2024

    In a press conference held in Benin, he expressed confidence in securing the PDP ticket, asserting his dedication as a committed party member.

    During a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Shaibu addressed assumptions about his candidacy, stating his firm belief in securing the party’s nomination.

    He highlighted the attempts to pressure him out of the PDP, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to service and his refusal to succumb to such tactics.

    Shaibu acknowledged Governor Godwin Obaseki’s support, affirming that he has diligently fulfilled every assignment given to him. 

    However, he candidly admitted that declaring his gubernatorial ambition was the only perceived misstep.

    Asserting his dedication to serving the people and his loyalty to the party, Shaibu emphasized his role as a team player, motivated not solely by personal gain but by the collective interests of the populace.

    “They tried to push me out of the PDP. They did everything. They even announced that I would be declaring a particular day. And the day they announced I would be declaring, I was actually with my family enjoying my vacation.

    “The Governor is proud of me…there’s no assignment I have been given that I haven’t done well. What I have done (wrong) is say that I want to be the state’s governor.”

  • Rivers Guber: Court Upholds Gov Fubara’s Victory

    The Appeal Court in Lagos State has reaffirmed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the validly elected governor of Rivers State. 

    This decision came as the court dismissed a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Governor Fubara and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The court upheld the Tribunal’s previous ruling from October that validated Fubara’s electoral win, citing the withdrawal of the petition by the APC, the party backing Cole. 

    Despite Cole personally presenting the case in court, his petition sought to challenge the election’s outcome, alleging irregularities and misconduct in the electoral process. 

    However, the court’s decision supported Fubara’s victory based on the circumstances presented, further solidifying his position as the governor of Rivers State.

  • Kogi Guber: Tribunal Gives INEC 2 Days To Grant SDP Access To Election Materials

    The Kogi governorship election petition tribunal has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to furnish the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with certified copies of electoral materials related to the November 11 off-cycle election within 48 hours. 

    This directive encompasses allowing the SDP’s forensic experts to examine specific electoral materials crucial to their case.

    The tribunal’s ruling, delivered in Lokoja on Saturday by Chairman Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, was prompted by motions filed by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka, seeking access to materials necessary to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    Among the materials requested are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets from various Local Government Areas including Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa.

    Justice Birnin-Kudu emphasized the importance of timely access to these materials to facilitate a smooth judicial process within the constitutional and electoral legal frameworks.

    In response to the tribunal’s order, lead counsel to the petitioners, John Adele (SAN), highlighted their challenges in obtaining these materials from INEC since November 13, stressing the urgency of the situation.

    The tribunal adjourned the case to November 29 for INEC to report compliance and for further hearings. 

    The SDP, represented by Mr. Ajaka, aims to contest the victory of APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo, who was declared the winner with 446,237 votes, while Mr. Ajaka garnered 259,052 votes in the election.

  • Kebbi Guber: Appeal Court Upholds Nasir Idris’ Election

     The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, declared Governor Nasir Idris as the authentic winner of the March 8th governorship election of Kebbi State.

    it therefore, dismissed the appeal of the People’s Democratic Party PDP and its Governorship candidate, General Aminu Bande for lacking in merit.

    In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Ndukwe Anyannwu, the Appellate Court resolved all the five issues formulated for determination in favour of the governor and against PDP.

    Justice Anyanwu held that the allegations of forgery of testimonial brought against the Deputy Governor of the State, Abubakar Umar Tafida was not established as required by law.

    She also held that the issues of non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduit of the election could not stand because the appellants failed to proof how the allegations substantially affected the election.

    Justice Anyanwu subsequently affirmed the judgment of the Kebbi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which had earlier dismissed the petition of PDP and affirmed the election of the governor.

  • Kaduna Guber: Appeal Court Upholds Gov Sani’s Election

    *Says Election Not Inconclusive

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday, cancelled the Kaduna State Governorship election tribunal order for election rerun and affirmed the election of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.

    The Appellate Court dismissed an appeal instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, challenging the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on March 18.

    In a lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Obietonbara Daniel-Kalio, the court upheld the verdict of the Kaduna State Election Petition Tribunal, which validated Governor Sani’s election.

    It held that the tribunal was right in its majority decision when it declared the petition by the PDP and its candidate as abandoned.

    It resolved all the five issues that were raised in the appeal, against the Appellants.

    Justice Obietonbara Owupele Daniel-Kalio who read judgments of the Court of Appeal on the main and cross appeal, also reversed the order of the Tribunal on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to conduct supplementary elections in 22 polling units in four Local Government Areas of the state.

    In the main appeal, Justice Daniel-Kalio resolved all the five formulated issues against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the 2023 election, Mohammed Isah Ashiru.

    The five issues bothered on alleged malpractices, over voting, manipulation of results collations and ballot stuffing made by PDP and its Governorship candidate.

    In the cross appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress APC, which challenged the declaration of the election inconclusive, the Court of Appeal resolved the three formulated issues in favour of the party and vacated the declaration of the Tribunal.

    The Court held that evidence relied upon by the Tribunal to declare the election inconclusive were manifestly bad, unreliable and ought not to have given any probative value.

    A 3- man panel of Justices of the Court headed by Justice Obietonbara Owupele Daniel-Kalio and supported by James Gambo Abundaga and Mohamed Baba Idris delivered the unanimous judgments.

    “The appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed. Parties are to bear their respective costs,” the court held.

    “An order dismissing the alternative reliefs of the petition for a supplementary election in any polling unit in Kaduna State, which was granted by the tribunal.

    “An order striking out the 1st and 2nd cross respondents’ (PDP and Isa) petition for being statute barred.

    “An order striking out the 1st and 2nd cross respondents’ petition for non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

    Earlier, the panel had dismissed Ashiru’s appeal before making pronouncement on the cross appeal. 

    Governor Sani’s cross-appeal was argued by his legal team, headed by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN.

    The governor, in his cross-appeal against the alternative ruling, listed 14 grounds of errors, committed by the tribunal in arriving at its second conclusion.