The Nigerian police say it will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the death of Mohbad.
The fast-rising singer, 27, passed away on Tuesday and was laid to rest on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday, the police also extended “our deepest condolences” to the family, friends, and fans of the late singer.
The statement signed by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) spokesperson, said the Lagos police commissioner has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s demise.
The police PRO also urged family members and friends of the late singer to come forward with useful information that will assist in the investigation.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known as Mohbad, who tragically passed away recently. We understand the concerns surrounding his untimely demise and the various speculations that have arisen,” the statement reads.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to a comprehensive investigation into this matter, as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Rest assured, updates will be provided as investigations unfold.
“We encourage family members or close associates with valuable information to approach the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to assist in this process.
“In the meantime, we kindly request that individuals refrain from making statements or engaging in activities that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
“Your trust and support are deeply valued.”
While the cause of Mohbad’s death is still unknown, tributes have been pouring from friends and well-wishers including celebrities.
Joseph Aloba, the father of Mohbad, revealed he died shortly after an auxiliary nurse was invited to give him an injection.
Omowunmi, the partner of Mohbad, also recounted the singer’s struggles when he was alive.
A total of 151 terrorists have been killed by the Nigerian military, while 456 others were captured in different operations across the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, stated this in an update of military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 44 terrorists, arrested 21 and rescued four kidnapped hostages during the period.
He said the troops recovered 17 AK47 rifles, three locally fabricated rifles, three locally made guns, one Beretta pistol, three Dane guns and 116 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.
Also recovered are five rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo, 42 empty and cases of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo.
Others are 12 magazines, 50 jerry cans of PMS, three vehicles, five mobile phones, six motorcycles, three cutlasses and the sum of N3.18 million.
Buba said the troops arrested some suspected terrorists’ collaborators in Jere and Biu in Borno, as well as Gujba Local Government Area in Yobe.
He said that troops also ambushed and raided suspected terrorists’ hideouts in Konduga and Gwoza local government areas of Borno.
The director said that the offensive resulted in elimination of terrorists and recovery of arms and ammunitions.
In North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised 16 terrorists, arrested 16 and rescued one kidnapped hostage within the period.
He said they also recovered 12 AK47 rifles, two pistols, five locally fabricated rifles, six Dane guns, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 15 magazines and three motorcycles.
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Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said the troops neutralised 15 terrorists, arrested six and rescued one kidnapped hostage as well as recovery of arms and ammunition.
In North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch neutralised 35 terrorists, arrested eight and rescued 17 kidnapped hostages within the period.
He added that the air components of the various operations had continued to annihilate the terrorists from their various hideouts with series of air strikes.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has assured residents of the three states holding their gubernatorial elections on November 11 of adequate security and violence-free exercise.
The affected states are Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo. Giving the assurance today during a meeting with strategic police managers, yesterday, in Abuja, the IGP explained that with just three states having their polls, the force would not be burdened, as adequate personnel are on ground.
He, therefore, advised the electorate to play by the rule and shun aggression. Egbetokun acknowledged the challenge posed by the continued presence of unauthorised persons on the nation’s highways in the guise of revenue collection and other shady activities to obstruct flow of traffic, seize vehicles and impose fines.
Consequently, he said: “All state Commissioners of Police are hereby directed to immediately commence the dismantling of all such non-security checkpoints within their areas of responsibilities, and arrest all violators for prompt prosecution.
“To bolster accountability and transparency within the Force, we have taken steps such as reinforcing the IGP Monitoring Unit and the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) based at the Force Headquarters, and efforts are ongoing to establish CRU offices in all states.”
Reacting to the gruesome killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Bako Angbashim, in Rivers State, the IGP stated the Force has put everything in place to ensure arrest and trial of the perpetrators.
The leadership of the Labour Party has lambasted Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, over his comment that Peter Obi attempted to deceive Nigerians that he won the 2023 presidential election.
A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, excoriated Soyinka for his comment noting that he may have been brainwashed by those he said shared ’emilokan’ sentiment.
Emilokan, a Yoruba word that means “It’s my turn” became popular after Bola Tinubu, then presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, used to make case for his aspiration why no one, not even then President, Muhammadu Buhari, should stand against his bid to become Nigerian President.
The Labour Party chided Soyinka for not being properly informed for insinuating that Obi was out to deceive Nigerians when in actual fact he lost the election.
The Nobel Laureate had, while speaking at an event in Stellenbosch, South Africa titled, “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue,” stated that Obi knew he came third in the election but that he had tagged along the Labour Party “to force a lie on the people, especially the youthful population.”
Describing Soyinka’s words as an uncharitable remark, the Labour Party said, “Prof. Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian whose accomplishments in the literary world are without doubt intimidating.
“The facts are before the courts and, out of respect for our judiciary, we will reserve our comments until the Supreme Court makes a final pronouncement.
The party in the statement titled, ‘Soyinka: Statesmen are not double-faced, not blind to truth,’ further said, “We understand that the literary giant is human and thus susceptible to emotions and probably said what he said based on information made available to him by those who share the ‘Emilokan’ sentiment.
“It is most befuddling as well as disconcerting that a detribalised and activist like Soyinka would succumb to the ‘groupthink syndrome’ that subscribes to state capture by those belonging to the criminal fringe by any means, based on primordial considerations.
“We really appreciate him for at least giving some credits to the Labour Party and its presidential candidate for breaking the monopoly of power hitherto held by the two other parties.”
The party added that, “The whole world followed the 2023 general election and there was a global condemnation on not only the outcome of the election but also the process, particularly, the ‘glitch’ that occurred only during the transmission of presidential results to IREV.
“We didn’t hear as much as a whisper from Kongi on reminding INEC to stand by its word.
“We will not allege selective amnesia as the reason for Soyinka’s wrong prognosis but we would have expected him to be a statesman, which we thought he was by remaining on the side of caution.
“We want to also let him know that building a New Nigeria is a dream whose time has come and Nigerian youths will not relent until such a dream is realised,” the statement said.
The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has reserved judgment in a petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its Governorship Candidate, David Emmanuel Ombugadu, challenging the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
This followed the adoption of final written addresses by all counsel in the matter during the sitting of the Tribunal Thursday in Lafia.
For the first time, Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is the second respondent in the petition, and his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, appeared in the election trial court.
Adopting their final written address, INEC Lead Counsel Ishaka Muddie Dikko SAN urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition on grounds that it is unnecessary, submitting that the difference of votes as submitted by the petitioners is reflected on exhibit RW2.
He added that his client, INEC, declared Engineer Abdullahi Sule the winner, who led the petitioners with 64, 193 lawful votes, saying the petitioners alleged that they would have led with 4,130.
Ishaka Muddie Dikko said the petitioners, having called all witnesses, claimed in their final written address that they would have led with 841 votes, adding that PDP has not established any wrongful deduction of votes.
Chief Wale Olanipekun SAN for Governor Abdullahi Sule, while adopting their final written address, explained that the job of the Tribunal has been reduced in terms of evidence and position of the law, as well as the testimonies of some prosecution witnesses, saying the tribunal has no jurisdiction to admit the Witnesses and their documents presented by the petitioners.
Chief Olanipekun submitted that based on the testimony of the PDP’s Star Witness, Barrister Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, who admitted that his party, the PDP, inflate figures in its favour and deplete those of the APC, attributing the anomaly to “human error” the Senior Learned Silk argued that the tribunal cannot compute the figures for petitioners.
He added that the PDP has failed to score 25% in any of the 13 LGAs of the state during the March 18 governorship election in Nasarawa State, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
Similarly, Dr Hassan Liman, SAN for APC, while adopting their final written address, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition on grounds that it lacks merit, describing it as a “waste of resources for the good people of Nasarawa State”.
Relying on some documents admitted as exhibits before the tribunal, Dr Liman said Engineer Abdullahi Sule led the election with 64,193, adding that electoral matters are valued on figures, arguing that the petitioners’ have determined the matter against themselves.
Dr Hassan Liman SAN further argued that in the four polling units where the petitioners’ alleged overvoting occurred, they did not refer to the voter register, the BVAS machines presented before the tribunal by INEC were not demonstrated, and witnesses were not called from the affected polling units.
He added that the that they would have led with 1,780 votes in the affected polling units was not proved.
However, the PDP Lead Counsel Kanu Agabi SAN’s submission of the list of authorities in their final written address was objected to by the respondent’s counsel, who all argued that the document was submitted out of time.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, reserved his ruling on the application until the day of judgment.
Kanu Agabi, having adopted their final written address, argued that the decision of the Presidential Election Court does not inhibit the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on subpoenaed witnesses, saying the INEC subpoenaed witnesses were advisories.
He told the tribunal that they filed a number of polling unit results, maintaining that they contended the results of some Polling Units across the State, just as he explained that most of the documents tendered do not require testimonies of witnesses and urged the Tribunal to grant their prayers.
Having listened to the arguments of both parties, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, reserved judgment on the matter.
The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has once again warned telecommunication consumers on the rising trend of electronic frauds perpetuated on telecom platforms across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The warning was given by NCC’s Director, Consumer Protection and Advocacy Unit, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr. Alkasim Umar, during a sensitisation programme in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
At the event tagged: ‘Shine Your Eyes-No Fall Mugu’, Umar noted that as part of the strategy to actualise the protection and promotion of the interest of consumers, the department collaborates with Consumer Advocacy Groups and relevant stakeholders to empower telecoms consumers with the knowledge and advocate for their protection within the telecoms industry.
The director, who was represented by the Head of Consumer Advocacy and Production Unit of NCC, Clems Omeife, said the development and deployment of robust infrastructure to support innovative technologies and services have no doubt positively transformed our socio-economic space.
Cyber criminals targeting telecoms networks
The NCC Director said, “As the telecom industry evolves, there is a growing concern over the rising trend of fraud perpetuated on telecom platform (electronic fraud) across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
‘’The menace that follows the wide acceptance of new methods of mobile money electronic banking and payment systems has been discovered to cost the country a whopping amount of money.
- “Cyber criminals are targeting telecoms networks, interrupting service provision and accessing bank data. Victims are often left with enormous losses from SIM swaps and USSD e-payment frauds.
- “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has identified electronic fraud as the biggest risk to the sector, which has embraced a range of electronic payment solutions, including Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS), instant payment as well as mobile banking.
- “A lot of people are highly ignorant of how losing their phones to fraudsters can lead to a complete clean-up of their bank accounts. These fraudsters do this by stealing victims’ identities, names, addresses, and bank information, which they use to gain access to their bank accounts.
- “They also use the stolen identity to defraud other people and even apply for loans, leaving the victim with debts. It is in view of this and in line with the commission’s consumer-centric posture that the commission in collaboration with relevant advocacy groups embarked on the sensitisation programme tagged: ‘Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu’, across the six geopolitical zones in the country.”
Collaboration with CBN, EFCC, others
Umar stated that the commission also collaborated with critical stakeholders such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies in the fight against e-banking fraudsters.
He further advised telecom consumers to be vigilant and cautious when it comes to financial transactions on the telecom platform as fraud can occur through various channels, including unsolicited text messages, voice calls, emails, and fake mobile applications.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed a new acting chairman for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the person of Zacchaeus Adedeji.
Adedeji, 45, replaces Muhammad Mamman Nami who will attain compulsory retirement in December 2023.
The new appointee was the 5th substantive Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).
Announcing Adedeji’s appointment, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu’s media adviser, said his principal “directed the erstwhile FIRS Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, to proceed on 3 months of pre-retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, with immediate effect, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.
“Hon. Zacch Adedeji is hereby appointed in acting capacity for a 90-day period before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four (4) years in the first instance.”
Ngelale added, “Hon. Zacch Adedeji is a first-class graduate in accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University. He most recently served the nation as the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, following meritorious service terms as the Oyo State Commissioner of Finance and as the Executive Secretary / CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).
“By these directives of the President, the new appointment takes immediate effect.”
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot force its members or Nigerians to join the party declaring that its attempt to foist one-party rule on Nigerians will fail.
The PDP made the declaration on Thursday in a communique delivered by its Board Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, after its 75th meeting in Abuja.
“The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), at its 75th meeting thoroughly reviewed the State of affairs of the nation and the Party and resolved as follows:
“The BoT is resolved to take urgent steps to resist the current manifest desperation by the APC to turn Nigeria into a One-Party State,” part of the communique read by Wabara, former Senate President read.
The communique further read, “The BoT restates its rejection of the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in upholding the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, in spite of the evidence clearly pointing to the contrary.
“The BoT is also monitoring and studying the outcome of cases in various election courts with regards to their level of adherence and respect to the Rule of Law and evidence before such a court.
“The BoT commended the PDP Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, for following due process of the law in his quest to retrieve the Presidential Mandate freely given to him at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.”
The PDP board expressed confidence in the Supreme Court to “ultimately and decisively right the wrongs and correct the manifest errors contained in the Judgment of the PEPC in the interest of the unity, stability and corporate existence of our Country.”
It lamented what it described as the excruciating hardship, worsening insecurity and a general sense of apprehension and despondency across the country “occasioned by the hasty implementation of ill-planned policies of the overtly insensitive APC administration.”
The BoT agonised what it further noted as the worsening state of the nation’s currency, the naira adding, “The BoT laments that the APC is pushing Nigerians to the wall and worry that the level of poverty and anger in the polity over the suppressive rule of the APC is capable of snowballing into a serious crisis if not urgently addressed.
“The BoT observed that the nation is currently in a precarious situation under the APC and Nigerians look unto the PDP for solution and direction at this time.
“The BoT assures Nigerians that despite the challenges, the PDP remains united, stronger and more determined to continue to lead the charge to rescue our democracy and return our nation to the path of credible elections, Rule of Law, national cohesion and economic prosperity.”
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reinstated the Labour Party House of Representatives member, Ngozi Okolie, as the duly elected member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency elections.
The Appellate court on Thursday set aside the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which had declared Ndudi Elumelu of the People’s Democratic Party as winner of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared that Okolie garnered 53,879 votes to defeat his closest rival and then incumbent representative, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, who polled 33,456 votes.
But the tribunal sacked Okolie on the grounds that the politician was not duly nominated by the Labour Party.
However, in its decision on Thursday, the appeal court overruled the tribunal.
It held that the LP candidate was validly nominated and sponsored contrary to the findings of the lower court.
Air Peace an airline based in Nigeria, has announced the acquisition of 10 Embraer E175 fleets while signing a bilateral maintenance agreement with the fleet company.
This means that the Embraer will assist in the setting up of its maintenance center in the country, where maintenance of the fleet will be carried out in the country.
Allen Onyema the Chief Executive Officer, of Air Peace said this at the Aviation Africa 2023 Summit monitored by THE WHISTLER in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the decision was based on the directive given to him by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, to drive the aviation sector forward while attracting investment through the maintenance policy.
He said, “In line with fleet modernization policy, we just signed a further acquisition, further order of 10 E175, with a stern order of five and five acquisition rights.
“The minister called me two weeks ago and said moving forward, any Nigerian airline that wants to bring in brand-new planes must also think of maintenance capabilities for those planes in-house and within Nigeria.
“He made it compulsory that if you are going into the acquisition, of more than 20 planes, you must show evidence that the original equipment manufacturer is going to support the setting up of a maintenance center here and for third parties here MOR. Now with the signature signed today, we have ordered 35 Embraer brand-new fleets.
“We have signed 30 before, of which five have been delivered already, the E2s. Part of the things we signed today is that Embraer is going to help set up the maintenance center in Nigeria and it will be set up with immediate effects. So, this decision will help our national reserves and help conserve the forex of airlines in Africa when this comes to fruition.”
Confirming the maintenance deal, Embraer management said the transaction is worth $ 300m while noting that delivery will begin in 2024.
Embraer said, “Ever since we started this relationship in 2017, it has been smooth and great, and today it’s a momentous day. This transaction costs $ 300m, with the airline moving forward.
“The first two aircraft will be delivered next year. The airline needs to grow. As the business moves forward, we need to work together, and the maintenance will create jobs and drive investment. And we will move forward with Air Peace to drive this growth”.
Also speaking at the event, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the ministry will assist every local operator to develop.
Keyamo however warned that stringent measures are already in place, and any airline operator found not adhering to the safety rules of maintenance will be dealt with.
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The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Oyo State has ordered a re-run election for Saki West state constituency.
Recall that INEC had earlier declared Mr Shittu Ibrahim of the All Peoples Congress (APC) as winner of the state assembly election for the constituency held on March 18.
According to INEC, Ibrahim scored 13,692 votes, while Mr Julius Okedoyin, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 13,422 votes to finish second in the election.
Dissatisfied with the declaration, Okedoyin and the PDP headed to the tribunal alleging over-voting, irregularities and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
In a unanimous ruling delivered by its chairman, Justice Jubril Anaja, the tribunal held that the petition had merit and that the petitioners proved their allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Anaja ruled that the cancellation of results from Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 of the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected, could substantially affect the outcome of the election.
The tribunal noted that whereas the declared winner led the petitioner by 270 votes in Ward 6, the number of voters disenfranchised was more than 1,000.
According to the tribunal, the more than 1,000 voters disenfranchised by INEC in the affected wards might have over-turned the result if they were allowed to vote.
“The certificate of return issued to the first respondent (Ibrahim) by INEC is hereby set aside pending the re-run election to determine the winner of the election for Saki West constituency.
“INEC is hereby ordered to conduct a re-run election in Ward 6, Unit 7 and Ward 11, Unit 19 within 90 days,’’ Anaja declared.
Reacting, Ibrahim’s counsel, Mr Sikiru Adewoye, said his client will file an appeal against the judgment of the tribunal.
However, the petitioners’ counsel, Mr Yusuf Ogunrinde, commended the tribunal for the judgement.
[Newsguru]
The court of appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the national and state houses of assembly election tribunal in Asaba.
The tribunal had declared Ndudi Elumelu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as winner of the 2023 election for Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, Delta state.
In a judgment on Thursday, the appellate court affirmed Ngozi Okolie, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as the duly elected lawmaker.
Kenneth Ibe, the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had announced that Okolie polled 53,879 votes to defeat Elumelu, who got 33,456 votes.
However, Elumelu filed a petition before the tribunal on the grounds that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the LP since he was not a member of the party as of May 28, 2022, when the party’s primary election was held.
The three-member panel of the tribunal, headed by A.Z. Mussa, in its ruling, agreed with Elumelu and disqualified the LP candidate.
But the court of appeal faulted the tribunal for voiding Okolie’s election.
The appellate court agreed with Mahmud Magaji, counsel to LP, that contrary to the findings of the tribunal, Okolie was duly nominated and sponsored by his party.
The appeal court also stated that Okolie resigned his appointment as a senior special assistant (SSA) in the Delta state government, as required by the constitution, before the election.
[TheCable]
The Labour Party, LP, has emerged as one of the biggest casualties of the ongoing State and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.
Tribunals sitting in different states of the country have sacked many of the elected members of the party in Edo, Abia, Enugu, among others, over the discrepancy surrounding their membership of the party and their mode of nomination.
Rising as one of the main opposition political parties in the 2023 general elections, the LP was able to claim some House of Representatives and Senatorial seats in some states.
The milestone of the LP in the general elections was unprecedented considering that the party came from obscurity to gain popularity.
Many saw this as a revolutionary movement that captured the heart of the youths at a time Nigerians yearned for a change.
Before 2023, the Labour Party had existed for over 20 years as a pro-workers political organisation.
But it made inroads into mainstream politics within just eight months.
The party rode on the fame and acceptance of Peter Obi, its flagbearer during the general elections, by an overwhelming youth majority known as ‘Obidients’.
Obi lost the presidential election after having won 12 states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He shocked many after challenging the two previously dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win a total of 6,101,533 votes.
APC’s Bola Tinubu won the contest with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP came second, securing 6,984,520 votes.
The Labour Party, however, was able to win one governorship seat, with Alex Otti emerging victorious in Abia State.
The Party clinched eight senatorial seats and 34 seats in the House of Representatives.
With this number, the Peter Obi-led political party became the third most popular party in the National Assembly.
APC won 57 Senate seats; PDP, 29; LP, eight; Social Democratic Party (SDP) two; NNPP two; YPP and APGA got one each.
In the House of Representatives, the APC had 162 seats; PDP, 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, four; ADC, two; SDP, two; YPP, one.
The Labour Party was successful in states such as Enugu, Abia, Imo, Delta, Anambra, Plateau and even Benue.
However, as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals sitting in several states end their proceedings this week, the LP has been on the receiving end.
About 552 election petitions were filed by aggrieved candidates, and while over 150 of the cases have been decided, some of the cases were withdrawn by the petitioners.
The tribunals, across the country, will end their sittings on Saturday, September 16, 2023.
One of the three House of Reps members whose elections were nullified by the tribunal in Enugu State was Hon. Engr. Chijioke Stanislaus Okereke, representing Awgu/Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared that Okereke won the election but the Tribunal sacked him, declaring Chief Onwuegbu Anayo of the PDP as winner.
The second person is Hon Prof. Paul Sunday Nnamchi elected to represent Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency.
The tribunal declared Prince Cornelius Nnaji of the PDP as winner.
Also in Enugu, the Tribunal has nullified the election of Rt Hon Barr Sunday Cyriacus Umeha representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.
The court said that he failed to properly resign his membership of the PDP before picking the ticket of the LP. It declared PDP candidate, Festus Uzor as the winner.
In Abia State three House of Representatives members, elected on the platform of the Labour Party, Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Emeka Nnamani and Munachim Alozie, have been sacked from the tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
A panel of the tribunal led by Justice Adeyinka Aderebgbe sacked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Osonwa, for non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022
The petition was filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election, Chief Daniel Okeke.
In Lagos State, the Tribunal declared the election that produced Thaddeus Attah as the representative of the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency of Lagos as inconclusive.
Attah, Babajide Obanikoro of the APC and singer turned politician Bankole Wellington also known as Banky W of the PDP contested to represent the Eti-Osa constituency in the House of Representatives during the February 25 election.
It was, however, a different scenario in Plateau State, where the LP recorded a win as the Tribunal declared Hon. Dandereng Gideon winner of the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency.
The Tribunal sitting in Jos sacked Bagos of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Also in Edo State, the Tribunal sitting in Benin City, on Thursday, dismissed two petitions challenging the victory of two LP candidates for lacking in merit.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has expressed worries over how its members were being sacked by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in many states across the country.
Reacting to the trend, the party, in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, opined that the issue of “membership is an internal affair of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.”
Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Aliyu Danko said that the party would do everything within the law to prove that its House of Reps members actually won their elections.
According to him, “We have seen the trend and interestingly at the Presidential Election Petition Court, we presented issues.
“But the same issues which were dealt with as pre-election matters are being used to discard some of our Reps members and we find it very appalling and unacceptable.
“At the moment, most of our members are resorting to going to the Appeal Court to challenge this particular ruling which we find erroneously unacceptable.
“Interestingly, these issues they accuse some of our Reps members of, we can say authoritatively that we have proof that these primaries were conducted and our candidates actually won their elections.
“But then, if there are orchestrated plans to reduce the number of our members at the National Assembly, it won’t work because we’ll challenge it with proven documents that we won our elections.”
Asked if there is the feeling among party members that there is a plot to weaken the party, he added, “exactly. That is what I’m alluding to.”
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.