Governors whose victory in the March 18, 2023 election are being challenged in court are nervously waiting to know their fate from next week, findings by LEADERSHIP have revealed.

Sources indicate the governorship petition tribunals sitting in most of the states are putting finishing touches to their judgements.

Although no specific dates had been stated, checks by LEADERSHIP show that judgements would begin to come in from tribunals next week.

While the declarations of the judges will vary from state to state, what is certain is that all judgements will be delivered before the end of September.

According to the constitution, the governorship tribunals have 180 days (six months) to hear cases and pass judgement. Governorship petitions however terminate at the court of appeal.

Recall that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) last week gave its judgement. Similarly, tribunals hearing petitions on the National Assembly elections have been churning out judgements since last week.

Meanwhile, there is anxiety within the ranks of the major political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the tribunal judgements.

The anxiety follows the uncertainty surrounding how the tribunal might rule based on the evidence and counter evidence presented by the parties in the suits, which could lead to the election being annulled, upturned or upheld.

This is more so that the outcome of the tribunal would begin a possible reshaping of the political map with regards to party dominance.

After the heated governorship race in 28 states, NNPP won Kano State. The ruling APC however won in 15 states, including seven re-elections for Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Muni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno).

On the other hand, the party secured wins for eight new candidates. They are Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi).

For PDP, there were eight victories, including two returning governors: Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Six first-term governors were also elected on the platform of the opposition party, with the emergence of Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminialayi Fubara (Rivers), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).

In stunning upset, Dauda Lawal of the PDP unseated Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle (APC), while Labour Party’s Alex Otti defeated the PDP which has ruled the state since 1999.

States to watch at the Tribunals

Enugu

The major contenders in the last governorship election held in Enugu State are PDP’s Peter Mbah; the Labour Party’s Chidioke Edeoga, APC’s Uche Nnaji, and former Information Minister, Frank Nweke Jnr of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Out of the four contenders, only Edeoga is still at the tribunal, Nweke withdrew his petition at the tribunal while Nnaji’s petition was struck out at the tribunal.

Mbah won the election with 160,895 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Edeoga, who scored 157,552 votes.

The candidate of APGA, Frank Nweke Jr, garnered 17,983 votes to come a distant third, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uche Nnaji, placed fourth, with 14,575 votes.

Edeoga approached the tribunal, asking it to declare him winner on the allegation that Mbah forged his NYSC discharge certificate and that Mbah did not win the election.

The judgment of the tribunal is likely to be delivered before next Saturday.

Kano

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Abba Kabir Yusuf of NNPP as winner. The APC challenged the INEC declaration saying it was wrongly done.

Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes against his major contender and APC candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who polled 890, 705. Gawuna had congratulated Abba but the APC challenged the declaration and directed its legal team to seek redress.

In a five-volume petition filed on April 9, the APC alleged that Kabir-Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds that his name was not on the party’s register submitted to INEC. The APC also submitted that the NNPP did not score the majority of lawful votes in the election.

APC further stated that the Kano resident electoral commissioner (REC) was wrong in declaring Kabir-Yusuf the winner, adding that the margin of lead was not higher than the number of votes cancelled. The party is praying the tribunal to declare that NNPP had no candidate in the election.

Meanwhile, the tribunal is yet to announce the date to deliver judgement on the case, even after a mild drama in which the judges alleged attempts by politicians to bribe them.

Ogun

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo area of Abeokuta metropolis, the Ogun State, capital on Monday 11th September, 2023, announced that it was reserving, indefinitely, the judgement day on the petition filed before it by the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, against the candidate of APC and the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

Announcing that both the petitioners and respondents would be notified of a date to be fixed for it, the Tribunal under the chairmanship of Hon. Justice Hamidu Kunaza further stated that it had adopted the written addresses of the disputing parties in the March 18 governorship election won by the incumbent governor, Abiodun according to the results declared by INEC.

INEC had declared Abiodun, who was standing a second term of office, as having polled 276, 298 votes to defeat his closest rival and PDP candidate, Hon. Adebutu, who scored a total of 262, 383 votes.

They were however, trailed behind by candidate of the Africa Democratic Party (ADP), Barrister Biyi Otegbeye who polled a total of 94, 754 votes.

Dissatisfied with the development, the PDP’s Adebutu approached the state’s Election Petition Tribunal which began sitting on June 5, 2023, alleging that the electoral victory that brought Abiodun into office for a second time was riddled with violence, irregularities and rigging.

Adebutu, in his petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, accused INEC of non-compliance to the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the election.

Adebutu’s other prayers through his counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), included the disqualification of Abiodun as a candidate in election; declaring him as winner of the poll on the ground that the process was sabotaged by thugs who allegedly deployed violence in over 99 polling units to disenfranchise over 40, 000 voters.

But countering in his written address through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Abiodun urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Adebutu on the ground that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery as alleged by Adebutu and his party, were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.

Olanipekun submitted that the soul of the petition was not duly signed or stamped and, therefore, lacked merit to be adopted.

Urging the Tribunal to strike out the petition, Olanipekun alleged that “the document is not signed, not dated, no heading, no title, no identity, no signature, no stamp. The CTC has no signature”.

Also, in their separate submissions, the INEC’s Remi Olatubora (SAN) and that of the APC, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) specifically asked the tribunal to dismiss Adebutu’s petition on the ground that it was absolutely lacking in merit and being a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani of the ruling APC) and his major contender in the governorship election, Rt.Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan of the PDP are the contenders at the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Kaduna.

In the final results declared by INEC, Senator Sani of the APC scored a total of 730,002 votes to beat his closest challenger, PDP’s Ashiru, who polled 719,196 votes to place second in the election.

Not satisfied with the declaration of Senator Uba Sani as winner, the candidate of the PDP approached the tribunal challenging the results and declaration and prayed the tribunal, among others, to declare him as winner

The PDP candidate alleged discrepancies in the results announced and those uploaded in the IREV Porter and inconsistencies arising from some polling units and local governments.

Chairman of the three-member governorship election petitions panel Justice Victor Oviawie has reserved for judgment on a date to be communicated to the parties involved in the matter.

LEADERSHIP findings reveal that the judgement might come up some time next week.

Sokoto

With a margin of 49,029, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu of the APC, who scored 453,661, was declared winner of Sokoto State Governorship election against his major challenger, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar of the PDP, who scored 404,632 votes.

Not satisfied with the outcome, Umar and PDP approached the tribunal, demanding the nullification of the election, claiming that the election was flawed and did not comply with electoral laws.

The petitioner argued that the respondents were not qualified to contest the election and prayed that by that virtue of the non-qualification, votes were wrongfully attributed to them.

At its last sitting, the Sokoto Governorship Election Petition three-member tribunal led by Haruna Mshelia reserved judgment after hearing and adopting their respective final written addresses, adding that a date would be communicated to the parties this September.

Adamawa

Adamawa governorship election for 2023 was contested between PDP’s Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who won the election by 430,861 votes to defeat Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of APC who scored 398,738 votes.

The election was postponed from its original date for supplementary and held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections.

Incumbent Governor Fintiri (PDP) was re-elected by a 3.75% margin over first runner-up and APC nominee — Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed.

The election was considered controversial with INEC failing to declare the results by 20 March due to delays in counting due to logistical problems and attempted electoral interference.

Later on 20 March, INEC declared the election inconclusive; Fintiri and the PDP rejected the declaration, having already alleged a plot to rig the election in favour of Ahmed Binani.

The commission set the supplementary election on 15 April, along with other supplementary elections nationwide.

As collation was still in progress on the early morning of 16 April, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, controversially declared Binani the victor.

In response, the national INEC called Ari’s declaration “null, void and of no effect” before summoning him to the INEC headquarters in Abuja and barring him from office.

On 17 April, returning officer Mohammed Mele declared the genuine results: in total, Fintiri obtained nearly 431,000 votes and 50% of the vote, with Binani receiving almost 399,000 votes and 47% of the vote.

At election tribunal, Sen. Binani prayed INEC to review the election results of the 18th March and cancel the election results in Fufore, the last LGA announced before the exercise was declared inconclusive.

Sources at the tribunal said judgement is likely to be delivered next week.

Nasarawa

The main contenders in the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, include Dr David Ombugadu and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are referred to as the petitioners in the case and the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule of the APC.

INEC had declared Gov Sule winner of the poll, having polled 347,209 votes against Ombugadu’s 283,016

Dr Ombugadu and PDP had approached the tribunal, challenging the declaration of Governor Sule as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The development had triggered protests from Ombugadu’s camp alleging that the poll outcomes for Nasarawa, Keffi, Awe and Lafia local government areas, were doctored to give the incumbent victory.

The petitioners had alleged that the declaration of Sule as the winner was done in error, accusing INEC officials of connivance.

At the last adjourned date of August 30, 2023, the chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi slated September 14, 2023 for all the counsel to adopt their final written addresses after which a tentative date would be announced for the judgement.

Delta

In Delta state, three governorship candidates are challenging the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

They are the candidates of the Labour Party, (LP), Mr Ken Pela, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and Barr Kenneth Gbagi, of Social Democratic Party, (SDP).

In the case of Ovie Omo-Agege, the tribunal dismissed an application for the counting of ballot papers used for the March 18 gubernatorial election which were tendered as evidence.

Counsel to INEC, Prof. Joe Abugu had said that the commission stood by the result and figures in the declaration of Oborevwori as winner of the election.

Oborevwori’s counsel, Damian Dodo, (SAN), had objected to the application, saying that nowhere in the body of the petition did the petitioner seek a relief for a recount of ballot papers.

The three-man tribunal panel headed by Justice C.O Ahuchaogu, in its ruling said such discretion cannot be done in an oral application.

“There is no merit in this oral application for recount and it is hereby dismissed”, Ahuchaogu said.

However, tribunal reserved judgement in Barr Kenneth Gbagi’s petition seeking to disqualify Oborevwori from the contest.

Gbagi, the flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is equally seeking the disqualification of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ovie Omo-Agege, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Great Ogboru and Labour Party (LP), Ken Pela and their deputies.

Counsel to Gbagi, Mr. Mato Magaji Ibrahim, (SAN), urged the tribunal in his 79 page petition to disqualify Oborevwori on grounds of falsification of documents, electoral malpractices, non-compliance with the Nigerian constitution and the Electoral Act.

After all the counsels adopted their final written addresses, Justice H. C. Ahuchaogu, who led the three-member panel of the tribunal, said a date for judgement in the suit would be communicated to the parties.

On the part of Labour Party suit, the Appeal Court in Abuja recently ordered a rehearing of the petition.

The Federal Government has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hold a quarterly reconciliation meeting with carriers to resolve foreign exchange scarcity, which is crippling the opera­tions of most indigenous airlines.

The government said that the quar­terly meeting would enable it to get an update on the forex challenge in the country and would also lead to resolving the lingering issues associated with forex in the aviation industry.

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during his welcome address at the sev­enth edition of the Aviation Africa Sum­mit and Exhibition 2023.

This is as the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has identified two Nigerian airports, Abuja and Lagos, as the most expensive in terms of charges in the world.

Keyamo also apologised to affected foreign airlines for their trapped funds in the country, promising that the government would resolve the issue soonest.

“The current administration is aware that one of the setbacks entrepreneurs have suffered in Nigeria in recent years is the fluc­tuation of foreign exchange and its availability.

“This administration is com­mitted to ensuring that forex is readily available to entrepre­neurs and the government has directed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holds quarter­ly reconciliation meetings with airlines with a view to resolving this issue”, he said.
Keyamo also unveiled three roadmaps for the Nigerian avia­tion industry, mentioning aero­tropolis; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and aircraft leasing company (ALC).

He said these were parts of the priorities of the current admin­istration, emphasising that the three are critical for the develop­ment of the aviation industry in Nigeria and in West Africa.

He lamented that it was a shame for the entire West Afri­can countries not to have a world class MRO facilities, but assured that the country would take the lead in this.

“The government is already looking at the aircraft leasing company, aircraft maintenance organisation, forex availability and tax holidays to improve the aviation business in Nigeria.

“This includes upgrading of the Cat3 landing system, at major airports, construction of the second runway in Abuja, air­port improvement programmes through concession and govern­ment willingness to partner with companies to turn major airports into aerotropolis.

“The government welcomes major players in aircraft leasing and head lessors to invest in Ni­geria airlines to provide state of the art aircraft,” he said.

Keyamo said the government would ensure enforcement of contract agreements, rights of investors and indeed all parties were protected as Nigeria being a signatory to the Cape Town Con­vention to uphold international obligations.

The minister said main­tenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility was another crit­ical component that could make the Nigerian aviation industry a hub on the continent.

“With the shortage of qual­ified engineers, the current ad­ministration is willing to provide all the necessary support for the establishment of a world class MROs and training organisation.

He further explained that the current administration was open to providing tax holidays to encourage existing and new entrants into the Nigerian avia­tion sector.

“I wish to reiterate that my administration will continue to sustain the support being given to the industry.

“I firmly believe that as key players and decision makers, this summit will provide the required atmosphere for you to discuss, and identify recovery strategies that would attract private inves­tors to support the funding of infrastructure projects.

“By building a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate, as well as include avia­tion in the continent’s national development plans.

“Nigeria is honoured to have these distinguished captains of aviation industry and industry stakeholders, from all over the world who are participating in this event,” he said.

According to him, air trans­port remains an essential com­ponent of the global transporta­tion system as a crucial driver of economic, social and cultural development worldwide.

He said air transport generat­ed economic growth and develop­ment, provides jobs and fosters a range of socio-economic benefits.

Keyamo said the continued promotion of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and busi­ness development within the African aviation community would address all the significant and structural challenges.

“Having this unique and im­portant event for the seventh time demonstrates the organiser’s de­termination and interest to sup­port the sustainable development of air transport in Africa.

“I therefore wish to take this opportunity to appreciate Times Aerospace Limited, which has been the champion of the Avi­ation Africa Summit as well as making Nigeria the first country to host this noble event in West Africa.

“The recent global events further exposed the immense contribution and importance of air transportation as a catalyst for economic development, vital engine of global socio-economic growth”, he said.

Meanwhile, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has berated the Nigerian gov­ernment for stiffing airline op­erations with heavy and sundry taxes and charges.

At least, there are about 27 charges imposed on airlines by the Nigerian government, IATA said.

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Kamil Al Alwadi, the Vice President, IATA, Africa and Mid­dle East, said research shows that Nigeria ranks highest in airport charges in Africa, saying Abuja airport is the most expensive air­port in Africa, closely followed by Lagos airport.

He lamented the stunted growth in the region, especially Nigeria, calling on Nigerian gov­ernment to create a conducive en­vironment for airlines to thrive.

“In a recent research conduct­ed, web discovered that the most expensive airport in Africa is Abuja airport, followed by Lagos airport. With all these exorbitant charges, Nigerian airlines can’t compete with their foreign coun­terparts.

“Africa has put itself in a place where it cannot help its own, expensive fuel, excessive charges, leasing and insurance through the roof, the airlines need to be financially viable too. The airlines contribute to the country’s GDP but Nigeria needs to decide what to do for them to survive”, he said.

According to him, carriers based in Africa are expected to generate a moderate combined loss of around $484 million in 2023 because the continent remains a difficult market in which to op­erate an airline, with economic, infrastructure and connectivity challenges impacting the indus­try performance.

“However, despite the chal­lenges, the industry continues to move towards profitability following the COVID disruption and could be in the black as soon as next year. Underpinning this is the robust demand for air travel. As we saw in the second quarter of 2023 – and for two consecutive quarters – African carriers had one of the world’s highest annu­al passenger traffic growth rates, second only to Asia Pacific.”

Nigeria must not despair because of her current democratic challenges. We were in the wilderness for almost 30 years after the collapse of our first democratic experiment which lasted for barely five years. This was because most of institutions democracy that the new imported value system needed to function were absent or at rudimentary stage. Our independent legislature and judiciary easily caved in with the pressure of the executive shortly after independence. The press owned by politicians and tribal groups in fact contributed to the outbreak of the civil war. The abysmal performance of the press during our recently concluded elections only confirmed the usual aphorism that ‘the medium is the news’. Of course we saw how ethnic based civil society groups and their foreign sponsored counterparts openly quarrelled over contents of their reports.

 More than this, sore losers who shopped for political platform to contest elections and their unthinking ‘Obidients’ can hardly be regarded as people with faith in democracy or its ethos, described by Aristotle as ‘balance between passion and caution” of political actors. For democracy to thrive, according to him, political actors must be committed to a set of ideals if democracy is to be anything other than the tyranny of the majority.

 We must therefore congratulate ourselves for the giant strides we have made in the last 23 years in spite of the ongoing shenanigans in Edo State. Democracy is a difficult process as America recently discovered after over 200 years. In fact when democracy first became an idea some 300 years ago, philosopher Michel de Montaigne according to James Kloppenburg’s ‘Toward Democracy’, rejected democracy saying he did not believe ordinary people were capable of the self-restraint democracy required.

In 2016, Adams Oshiomhole, the  then outgoing governor of Edo State, using power of incumbency, imposed Godwin Obaseki  at the expense of other APC stalwarts such as Chris Ogiemwonyi (former minister of state for works) former army general Gen. Charles Arihiavbare and former deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu as his successor. Asked by reporters on October 24, 2016 the reason for his blind faith in Obaseki, Oshiomhole had said Obaseki was “more competent than him and would bring more development to Edo”.

Little did he realize that Obaseki like many other military-baked new-breed politicians is a man without character. At the centre of the struggle with his benefactor was the control of Edo State House of Assembly where their ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled all the 24 members in the state Assembly.

 To prevent Oshiomhole’s loyalists from taking control of the state legislature, the Clerk of Edo House of Assembly, Yahaya Omogbai, was said to have ushered nine members in a house of 24 lawmakers-elect into the chamber at midnight and read out Obaseki’s letter of proclamation with which Honourable Frank Okiye the governor’s anointed candidate for speaker was elected.

Hon. Osifo and the 13 others went to court to file a case against the speaker and the eight others. While the case was in court, the seats of the 14 Oshiomhole loyalists were declared vacant by the minority factional speaker and was about to conduct election to fill the positions before he was stopped by the court. All efforts to find amicable settlement by the party, the National Assembly and the president were frustrated by Obaseki’s minority that was bent on holding on to what it illegally seized.

From then on Obaseki won all the battles. First Obaseki sought and got a relief from Justice Kolawole Omotosho’s Federal High Court Abuja to frustrate the Senate and the House of Representatives resolutions on the findings of committees led by Senator Sabiu Aliyu Abdullahi and Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas for the respective chambers to invoke section 11, subsection 4 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria viz: “In the event that a new proclamation is not issued as recommended within the period of three weeks”,  the National Assembly was told “it could not compel Obaseki to issue another proclamation within the lifespan of an existing proclamation”. The court also ruled “NASS lacked the power to take over the functions of Edo Assembly or any other state House of Assembly in the country”.

Obaseki who had earlier attributed the underdevelopment of Edo until 2006 to “non-state actors empowered by political class, collecting revenues as an alternative government and constituted themselves into an army that were used for political activities”, decided to partner with the same non-state actors as 2020 drew near.

He then made peace with Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Bénin Kingdom and a chieftain of PDP  who was fought to a standstill by Oshiomhole for allegedly confiscating land and other resources of the state and whose son, Lucky Igbinedion, a two-term governor was indicted for financial crimes against Edo State. He also made peace with Chief Tom Ikimi, a former PDP stalwart, who retraced his way back after a short sojourn in APC. Igbinedion and Tom Ikimi, PDP stalwarts became Obaseki new godfathers.

PDP withdrew its accusation through its publicity secretary, Chris Nehikhare that Obaseki was responsible for the “growing level of poverty, insecurity and unemployment”.  The party also swallowed its allegations that “commissioned” Five-star specialist hospital is still home to reptiles; Tayo Akpata University of Education, an unfulfilled political Greek gift, College of Agriculture Ogierieki, a victim of policy lip-service, the Gelegele sea port project is still a mirage and the industrial park is still at the MOU level”.

Obaseki, a blind fighter went on to win his re-election bid on the platform of PDP but not before engineering the removal of his estranged godfather as APC chairman. Obaseki defeated his former godfather with the active support of Shuaibu who ensured that the 14 elected members of Edo State house were shut out of the house for four years.

Now Obaseki, the blind fighter has stripped Shuaibu, his deputy of his official responsibilities including monitoring and reporting the collection of internally generated revenue and supervision of the sports ministry. He did not stop there; he sacked media aides attached to his office and relocated his deputy’s office to Siberia, all because Shuaibu expressed interest in succeeding him.

What goes around comes around. Shuaibu has also been told by Senator Oshiomhole, that “APC has no room for internally displaced politicians (IDP) in search of a rehabilitation camp”. Obaseki like Shuaibu and their other military baked new-breed military baked politicians, are all men without character

But we must not weep for Edo alone. Over 50% of governors elected on PDP platform in 1998 and 2003 were declared men without character by the courts that found them guilty of tampering with the resources of their various states. The first set of senators after the 1998 elections spoke openly about their desire to recoup their expenses on the election. Within three months they had come out with schemes through which fuel import licenses were allocated to over 100 companies fronting for them. A house probe was to later confirm the theft of about N1.7t through the fuel subsidy regime

PDP and APC are no party of saints. Bukola Saraki damaged the fortune of his party by moving from PDP to APC. In APC, he admitted trading off the victory of his party to secure the senate presidency and when he fell out with APC, he again moved back to PDP. In his group were Tambuwal and Rotimi Amaechi, Tony Anenih among others.

PDP, described as “a club of elites for sharing of oil rents and political spoils’ while APC its twin brother formed not on the basis of shared ideas, shared values, shared commitment, have left the nation with only military baked ‘new-breed’ politicians that lack character.

Prevail on universities to reverse fee increase, PTA tells Tinubu, fears mass dropout

Lecturers slam FG over poor funding

As tertiary institutions across the country begin a new session next week, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, parents and students started protests as more varsities continue to hike their fees amid a worsening economy.

ASUU as well as the associations of parents and students warned about the likelihood of mass dropouts of students following the hikes in fees by the universities across the country.

The union was worried about the development just as apprehensive parents expressed concerns over the implication of the fee hike for their children and wards in public tertiary institutions.

The National President, ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, frowned on the fee increases, noting that the university is not a profit-making commercial centre.

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, announced a new school fee regime on Wednesday.

The decision, according to a communiqué released by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, was taken by the school’s Senate at its emergency meeting held on Tuesday.

The statement disclosed that fresh students in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities would pay N151, 200, while returning students of the same faculties would pay N89,200.

Checks by The PUNCH indicated that returning students in Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities as of the last academic session paid N20,100.

According to the management, new students being admitted into the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190, 200 while returning students, who paid N28,100 in the last academic session, will cough out N128, 200.

The statement read partly, “For those in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities, the fresh students will pay N151, 200 while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200.

“For those in the Faculties of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 and the returning students of the same faculties are to pay N101, 200.

“In addition, the new students being admitted into the Faculties in the College of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190, 200 ( new students) and N128, 200 ( returning students), respectively.”

The same scenario was observed at the University of Benin where new fees had been introduced by the management for full-time undergraduate courses for the 2022/2023 academic session.

Before the increment, science students who used to pay N73, 000, are now required to pay N190, 000. Non-science students who used to pay N69, 000, are now mandated to part with N170, 000.

A breakdown of the increment for new science students included exam and lab fees of N30, 000; library N15, 000; sports N5, 000; ICT N5,000; counselling N1,000; utility N20,000; medical charge/life insurance N5,000 and accreditation N24,000.

Other levies included sanitation N7,000; bank/portal charges N5,500; development levy N20,000; students union dues N2,500; orientation brochure N5,000; certificate screening N5,000; academic gown N5,000 and ID card N5,000.

Non-science student are to pay N10, 000 for the laboratory while other fees are the same.

However, after a meeting between the Students Union Government and the school management, the fee was reduced to N105,000 for non-science students and N115,000 for science students.

Subsequently, the non-science students will pay N85, 000 while the science students will pay N95, 000.

Several federal universities began the implementation of increment in fees following the suspension of the industrial action by the ASUU in October 2022.

The varsities which hiked their fees included the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare; University of Maiduguri; Federal University, Dutse; Federal University, Lafia; University of Uyo; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, among others.

The universities in separate memos attributed the development to the rising cost of learning materials and the need to adequately fund activities in their respective institutions.

So far in 2023, the Bayero University, Kano; University of Lagos, Akoka; University of Jos; and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife had also announced fee increment.

The University of Nigeria Nsukka similarly increased fees payable by undergraduates by 100 per cent across all levels.

A breakdown of the fees structure indicated that the first-year students of the Faculties of Social Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Education and Arts would pay N110,000; N85,000 for 200 and 300 levels students while final year students will pay N83,000.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Registrar, Dr Christopher Igbokwe and published on the UNN’s website last December.

For the Faculties of Business Administration and Environmental Science, 100 Level students will now pay N114,000, while 200 and 300 levels students will pay N85,000; final year students will pay N83,000.

The statement read in part, “Faculties of Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences will now pay N112,000, N85,000, N83,000.

“The Faculty of Engineering will now pay N116,000 N85,000 and N83,000 for year one, others and final year students, respectively.

“Faculties of Law and Veterinary Medicine will now pay N119,000; N95,000 and N92,000.

“Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health sciences and Basic Medical Sciences will now pay N120,000; N95,000 and 92,000.”

The hostel fee was also increased to N35,000 annually.

Students’ protests

In response to the situation, some UNILAG students again on Wednesday took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the decision of their school authorities.

This marked the second protest by the aggrieved students who were joined by their peers from other universities.

The protesters , who were accompanied by the police and other security personnel, called on the school authorities to lower the fees.

Earlier on Tuesday, the students of the University of Jos, Plateau State, blocked the roads leading to their campus in protest and demanded a reversal of the increase in fees and other levies imposed by the university.

The Secretary General, Great Ife Students Union, Opeyemi Akinboni, said the body had opposed the fee increment at different meetings held with the management.

Akinboni, however, said the leaders of various faculties and departments would meet and decide the next line of action.

He further said, “In my faculty, as of last session, we paid N28,100; students in Faculties of Science and Agric also paid the same amount. The increment is shocking. The students’ union body had several meetings with the management on the issue and we have always made it known to them that OAU is an indigent school.

“Majority of the students on OAU campus are striving to make both ends meet. With this increment now, most returning students will not even return. We have some faculties where students pay N20, 000 and they have now increased it to N89,000.

‘’Currently, we are reaching out to faculty, departmental presidents. We want to reach out to them and then discuss the next line of action.”

Condemning the decision by the school authorities, Osodeke said the Nigerian constitution prescribed free education but the parents, he noted, were paying for it.

He warned that the nation was not funding the education sector adequately, arguing that no nation could survive high students’ drop-outs.

The don stated, “The university is not a commercial centre where you break even or not. The constitution says education should be free but parents are already paying for the fee increment.

‘’Why is Nigeria not doing what other African countries are doing? The West African average says budgetary allocation for education should be between 15 and 20 per cent but here in Nigeria. We got just 3.8 per cent last year.

‘’No educational system will survive with this and a lot of our students will drop out. We should not allow our children to become nuisances on the streets, the government should handle education the way it was done in the 70s and 80s.’’

The ASUU leader counselled the Federal Government to give priority attention to education, adding that the universities were poorly funded.

‘’The N11m that the government gives the UNILAG for one month is not even enough to cover its electricity bill for that month, whereas senators earn more than this.

The government should give priority to education at primary, secondary, and university levels. Go around and you’ll see children roaming around; this is going to be a problem for our country in the future, while the children of the rich are paying millions to get an education outside the country,’’ the Professor of Soil Science noted.

SSANU reacts

The National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, observed that it might be hard to run the public universities without government funding.

According to him, the public universities do not receive sufficient funds to cover their overheads, insisting that no tertiary institution can survive under the current dispensation if they did not hike their fees.

The SSANU leader said, ‘’Government should prioritise its needs and let us know if they want to have universities or close them down. If they don’t want universities to charge fees, they should fund them or close them down.

‘’The VCs are not happy to increase the fees but they are forced to do so. The government should go back to the drawing board. The minister promised to hit the ground running, but till now nothing has been done by the ministry, instead, they are trying to hit the heads of universities’ management against that of their students. The government should give universities funding.’’

The immediate past chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, clarified that the universities have the power to impose fees as approved by their governing councils.

He added, ‘’The government does not provide overheads for universities. In a month, they provide N10mn for a university that cannot even pay for electricity bills and other running costs are still there.

‘’Most of these costs will now be covered by the students and this was what ASUU was fighting against but Nigerians will not want to listen to ASUU because of the strike. Lab requirement for students in sciences is now very expensive; the fees will not be the same across the board.’’

The Vice-President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Afeez Akinteye, declared that the students would protest the hikes.

“We will protest against the fee hike being announced in various universities. We are having a meeting tomorrow (today) to discuss this and we will express our opinion publicly after the meeting.

‘’If the VCs are complaining that they are not being funded, they should say this out and meet with the government. President Tinubu has already said there should be no increment; he said it,’’ the student leader submitted.

Reacting, the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria cautioned federal universities across the country against the fee hike.

The National President of the association, Haruna Danjuma in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja noted that the failure of the institutions to revert to the old fees would force many students out of the school.

This, he added, would lead to an increase in crime rate across the country.

Danjuma also called on President Bola Tinubu to finance the education sector with the money saved from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol.

He said, “We are still waiting for what will be the outcome of Mr President’s directive on the increment in fees. Recall that even before the president’s directive, the National Assembly called for a halt in the increment of fees across federal universities.

‘’I’m however surprised that some of these universities are still increasing their fees. What we know is that before a university can announce a hike, they will get permission from the National Universities Commission and also the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The hike is a threat to students and we as a body of parents are very much concerned. Our children are complaining. We have students that are also self- sponsored and are scared of dropping out of school.

‘’Further hikes and failure to reverse the current hike will force more students out of school and this will lead to students turning to crimes such as ‘yahoo yahoo,’ kidnapping, among others.

“The government must do all it takes to address this matter. The money from the fuel subsidy should be used to finance education, attend to the needs of institutions and their staff. We also call on parents across states to continue to hold dialogues with these schools on the way forward.”

Speaking on the state of affairs, Mrs Grace Oluwagbotemi, whose daughter is a student at the OAU, complained about the sudden fee hike from N21,000 to N89,000.

She said, “I am a single mother and her siblings are still in secondary school. Already, I have told her to combine her schooling with her hair-making skills to sustain her in school; if not, there is no way I would pull through.

“Who knows what will happen next year? Even those who can’t afford (the fee) will definitely withdraw their children from universities nationwide. It is obvious, students are already protesting because they know their parents cannot afford the fees.”

Also, a former police officer, Mr Samuel Oladunni, who decried the increase in the fee, stated, “My son is a fresher in OAU and the fee is over N190,000 for pharmacy department, and I am a retired police officer.

‘’My wife is a secondary school teacher. How much is my pension? In fact, my friend has put his son’s education on hold because he can’t afford it. There is no doubt many parents will have to put their children’s education on hold because of the economy. The government needs to consider us, especially now that the prices of things have increased with the subsidy removal.”

Another concerned parent, Chigozie Okpara, expressed his frustration regarding the recent increase in school fees.

He said, “The truth of the matter is that the government is increasing school fees in federal institutions without considering the economic capacity of parents. At a time when we are experiencing numerous price hikes in various aspects of life, increasing school fees seems unfair for both parents and students.”

Okpara highlighted the potential consequences of such an increase, adding that ‘’Many people will not be able to afford it, so it’s like sentencing people to become beggars, constantly relying on friends, uncles, and aunties for financial assistance. This would not be the case if the fees were reasonable and parents could afford them.’’l do think it would lead to mass withdrawal of students since there is no better alternative. “

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regu­latory Commission (NUPRC) on Wednes­day announced the outcome of the bid­ding exercise and issuance of letters of award to 42 companies/entities deemed successful in the bid for 49 flare sites put forward during the 2022 Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) auction process.

In a statement made available to news­men in Abuja, NUPRC noted that 38 of the companies/entities have been award­ed 40 flare sites for standalone single flare site development, while four are awarded nine sites to be developed as clusters. ­

Reserved bidders’ status has also been accorded some compa­nies for the corresponding flare sites in case the preferred bidders failed to meet the terms and con­ditions stipulated in the RFP.

The management of NUPRC indicated on Tuesday, Septem­ber 12, 2023, that award letters are already being transmitted to the respective successful entities through the appropriate chan­nels.

“In furtherance of its man­date in Section 7 (e) and Section 105 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, the commission, in the third quarter of 2022, re­structured the NGFCP and re-launched the programme to align with the provisions of the PIA, as well as reflect prevailing econom­ic and operational realities.

“The commission notes that the significant success recorded in the NGFCP bid process was due to a series of focused engage­ments with relevant stakehold­ers including domestic inves­tors, international development agencies, oil and gas producers, technology providers and finan­cial institutions during the inter­vening months.

“The engagements by the commission were to galvanise and sustain interest in the pro­gramme, attract investments and stimulate participation by local and foreign entities.
“In response to the request for qualification (RFQ) issued in the fourth quarter of 2022, three hun­dred companies/entities indicat­ed interest in either revalidating their prequalification status as ex­isting participants or submitting statement of qualification (SOQ) as new participants.

“Following the evaluation of SOQs, a total of one hundred and thirty-nine applicants were deemed successful and awarded the qualified applicant status.

“Subsequently, in the first quarter of 2023, the commission issued the request for proposal (RFP) to enable qualified appli­cants to put together their re­spective proposals for any of the forty-nine flare sites on offer.

“Eighty-eight entities, com­prising individual companies and consortiums responded to the RFP and submitted a total of one hundred and thirty-seven proposals, each containing tech­nical, commercial and financial documentation for one or more of the forty-nine flare sites for either standalone or cluster de­velopment.

“The proposals were duly evaluated by the commission and approval secured to an­nounce 38 companies/entities as successful bidders for forty sites for standalone single flare site developments and four compa­nies/entities for nine sites to be developed as clusters; while some companies were also awarded reserved bidders status for the corresponding flare sites in case the preferred bidders failed to meet the terms and conditions contained in the RFP.

“At this stage, the preferred bidders would individually pro­ceed to execute the suite of com­mercial agreements with rele­vant parties and effect payment of the prescribed award fees to enable the grant of permit to ac­cess flare gas by the commission.

“KPMG, a global network of professional firms, has been ap­proved to partner with the com­mission in the implementation of the award to ensure successful outcome of the gas flare-out com­mercialisation process.

“The management congratu­lates the successful bidders and enjoins them to follow through with the final stages of the pro­gramme towards becoming per­mit holders and executors of vi­able projects that would harness flare gas for value creation”, read the statement in parts.

The House of Representatives notes with concern news reports across multiple newspaper, electronic, and online media, of a statement credited to the National Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Christopher Onyeka.

In the said statement, Mr. Onyeka claimed that the Executive arm had given N100m to National Assembly members as palliatives. This claim is baseless and devoid of any factual accuracy. Transparency and truth in public discourse are necessary for a functioning democracy. While we doubt that Mr. Onyeka was actually conveying the official position of the NLC on this claim, it is nonetheless important to correct such misinformation.

First, “We state categorically that Mr. Onyeka lied in his claim that National Assembly members were given N100m as palliatives. For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did Members of the House of Representatives receive any money from the Executive arm as palliatives. We, therefore, consider this statement as malicious, irresponsible and in bad faith.

“We consider it irresponsible and most unfortunate that Mr. Onyeka would misrepresent facts in a bid to lend credence to otherwise valid demands of the NLC, while seeking to denigrate the National Assembly, and inciting the public against the institution.

Accordingly, the House of Representatives demands an immediate retraction of this lie and a public apology from the Nigeria Labour Congress. The NLC as a critical stakeholder in the development of Nigeria has a voice and it risks delegitimising that voice if it is found to include fables in its legitimate agitations.

Secondly, We wish to remind the NLC and indeed all Nigerians that in less than 100 days in the tenure of the 10th Assembly, we have demonstrated our commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers and all Nigerians.

In addition to other measures, the House of Representatives speedily carried out requisite legislative action on the Executive Arm of Government’s request for approval of funds for palliatives for Nigerians. We have also consistently advocated for the Executive to expedite these palliative measures to reach vulnerable Nigerians effectively and efficiently, as well as added our voices to the call for an immediate review of the minimum wage.

“We wish to invite the NLC to see the National Assembly as partners rather than adversaries. The 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives wishes to reassure Nigerians that we remain committed to advancing the wellbeing of our constituents.

“We empathise with all Nigerians on account of the pains being experienced due to the impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy, and will continue to compel the Executive to expedite measures to alleviate the pains of Nigerians at this time, and more importantly work with all stakeholders to rebuild our country to ensure no Nigerian is left behind.

Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP-FCT) has promised to work closely with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to ensure that the city attained greatness.

She called on her opponents in the 2023 general elections to join hands with her toward making the territory a greater place.

Kingibe said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

“I feel a great sense of relief on Tuesday night when the election tribunal affirmed me as the duly elected senator for the FCT,” she said.

She thanked ‘Obidients’, and her legal team for a job well done, saying it was time to start facing the work that the people of FCT elected her to do.

“I will like to reach out to Sen. Aduda. There is no victor and there is no vanquish. He has ran a good race and now is over. I want him to come and work with me to work for the FCT.

“Let us, together do for the FCT the things he would have done had he won. The goal is to make FCT great. I have worked with him in the past and I am sure that is what he would wish.

“I also want to reach out to Honorable Zakari and everyone that contested with me and others that have always strive for the best of the FCT to join hands with me to make FCT a great place.

“The city has regressed in the last 20 years. It is not the fault of anyone. But this is the seat of government and face of Nigeria; we should make it a place that we would be proud of,” Kingibe said.

The leadership of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union (OAU-SU) has condemned the recent 300% hike in tuition fees by the university management.

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, the union said the hike was “unjustifiable” and “insensitive” to the plight of students.

The statement, which was jointly signed by the union’s president, Ojo Akinremi, secretary, Akinboni Opeyemi, and Elijah Omisore, said the hike would make it difficult for many students to afford their education.

The institution had in a release by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the decision to hike the tuition was taken by the Senate of the University at its emergency meeting on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023.

He said “for those in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities , the ‘freshers’ will pay N151, 200 while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200.

“For those in the Faculties of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 and the returning students of the same faculties are to pay N101,200.”

He added that new students being admitted into the Faculties in the College of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190, 200 ( new students) and N128, 200 (returning students) respectively.”

But the student union, in its communique on Wednesday, called on the university management to “immediately reverse the hike,” the statement said. “We also urge students to resist any attempt to collect the increased fees.”

The union said it would be holding a series of protests and other activities to press home its demands.

The statement said the union would be holding a Twitter Space on Wednesday night to discuss the issue with students. The space would start at 9pm.

The union also said it would be calling a physical congress on Thursday to discuss the matter further.

The communique stated that, “There should be a total reversal of the approved increment by the school management. On no account should any student pay the proposed school charges even if the payment portal is activated.”

The university’s management has not yet commented on the students’ protest.

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka on Wednesday claimed that Peter Obi did not win the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

Soyinka further stated that the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) knows that Obi did not win the election and is trying to force their lies on others.

The Nobel laureate stated this while speaking at an event titled “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue” organised by Africa in the World.

The event took place on Wednesday in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

While speaking at the event, Soyinka was asked to react to his comment against Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate, after the general election.

Soyinka said the truth matters to him, noting that many people always look for shortcuts.

The Nobel laureate said he was armed with facts when he invaded a radio station in Ibadan in 1965.

He added that he was not relying on “third-hand information” about the result of the 1965 regional election.

Soyinka accused the LP of taking over the organised labour movement in the build-up to the 2023 election.

He noted that Obi achieved “something remarkable” by breaking the monopoly of power established by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Soyinka said, “This recent election – two things happened first of all. One party took over the labour movement, which is not my favourite movement, and then it became a regional party.

“Whereas it was a marvellous breach into the established two camps. Peter Obi achieved something remarkable there, that he broke that mould. However, he did not win the election.

“I can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third not even second and the leadership knew it but they want to do what we call in Yoruba ‘gbajue’, that is a force of lies.

“They were going to send some of the hardliners, proud young people into the street to demonstrate.

“I’m also ready to be among such demonstrators but only on the banner of truth not on lies, and deceit.

“This party wanted the same thing (referring to 2011 post-election violence) to happen on the basis of a lie and we find this vice-presidential candidate on television boasting, insisting, threatening and trying to intimidate both the judiciary and the rest.

“What kind of government will result from that kind of conduct? In addition, they did not know this but they were being used.

“Before the election, there were certain clandestine forces, including some ex-generals, who were already calling for an interim government before the elections began.

“Some of them were known figures, including a proprietor of a university calling for an interim government before the election took place.”

Singer and politician Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has applauded the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal ordering a rerun in the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

Recall that the tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, had nullified the victory of Labour Party (LP) Lawmaker, Thaddeus Attah, as Representative of the Eti Osa Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

Naija News earlier reported that the court on Monday, September 11, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in the 32 polling units of Eti-Osa within 90 days.

INEC has also been ordered to withdraw the return certificate issued to Attah and conduct elections in areas where the election wasn’t held on February 25.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Banky W described the ruling as a miracle that he is afforded a second chance.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate said: “For me personally, it’s a miracle in and of itself that we get another chance to finish the election.

“I think it’s a testament to the power of perseverance, the power of faith, and the collective will of the people who want to participate in the rebuilding of this democracy.”

He added: “People were really frustrated that they didn’t get a chance to participate in that election. And I think that that’s important.

“It’s an important thing for our democracy that people are not prevented from exercising their constitutional rights to participate in an election.”

The singer claimed that there were over 30 polling units with “almost 30,000 voters” who were ready to vote but were prevented from exercising their franchise.

He cited instances of violence and voter suppression in certain areas, whereas INEC officers did not show up at some voting locations.

He also called back to the moments following voting on February 25, saying he joined “hundreds, if not almost a thousand” protesters at the collation centre.

“I am particularly grateful that the courts decided that every vote deserves to be counted and every voice deserves to be heard, regardless of who you’re voting for,” he said.