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Court Sets Date For Edo APC Candidate Dispute

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a hearing for May 8, 2024, regarding a lawsuit challenging the selection of Monday Okpebholo as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

The suit, brought forth by Anamero Dekeri, a participant in the primary election, seeks to reverse the declaration of Okpebholo as the party’s candidate.

Dekeri, who is also a House of Representatives member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, was previously declared a winner in the state governorship primary election.

Ojo Babatunde, speaking on behalf of all the local government returning officers, revealed that Anamero Dekeri garnered 25,384 votes, securing the lead position over Dennis Idahosa, who received 14,127 votes, coming in second.

Contrary to this, the Chairman of the primary election committee and the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, announced Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the primary exercise.

However, Stanley Ugboaja, the returning officer for the election, declared Monday Okpebholo as the APC candidate.

Subsequently, the National Working Committee of the party deemed the election inconclusive and mandated a supplementary election to be held.

Bassey Otu, who served as the chairman of the APC supplementary primary election and is the governor of Cross River, officially declared Okpebholo as the victor on February 23.

In a lawsuit marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/299/2024, Dekeri has sought the court’s intervention to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing Okpebholo as the APC candidate.

Dekeri is also urging the court to invalidate the primary election that led to Okpebholo’s selection, citing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

The APC, INEC, and Okpebholo are named as the first to third defendants in the lawsuit, respectively.

The reliefs partly read, “A declaration that the first defendant does not possess the vires, power or authority to forward to the second defendant any other name (particularly, that of the third defendant) other than the name of the plaintiff who secured the highest number of votes in the primary election of 17 February 2024 and was set to secure the highest number of votes had the rescheduled re-run for 22 February 2024 held and conducted in line with Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended, as well as the Constitution and Guidelines of the first defendant.

“A declaration that the submission of the name of the third defendant to the second defendant by the first defendant, to contest election on the platform of the first defendant as its flag bearer to the office of the Governor of Edo State at the off-cycle governorship election slated for 21 September 2024, is unconstitutional, illegal, ultra vires, oppressive, undemocratic, arbitrary, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

“An order setting aside the nomination and/or submission of the name of the third defendant to the second defendant by the first defendant as its standard flag bearer for the office of the Governor of Edo State at the off-cycle gubernatorial election slated for 21 September 2024.”

 

 

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Politics

Adeleke Applauds Osun People For A-Rating His Admin, Party

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Four gang-killed two in Osun, destroy N8M properties

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed appreciation to Osun people for their resolute support of his administration in its quest to deliver on his five-point agenda on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)

Gov Adeleke expressed the views while addressing a technical meeting of his Policy Coordination Unit on Saturday, where he reviewed the implementation of his five-point agenda and expressed satisfaction at the delivery so far across the various sectors.

He said, “I am largely satisfied with our programme implementation so far. We have surpassed expectations and targets within one and half years in office. We just need to redouble our efforts as we face mid-term in the next six months.

“The feedback from the public has been quite encouraging. Our people have gladly given us an A-rating in workers’ welfare, infrastructure, health, education and many more. We must express our appreciation to our people

“They are happy we are delivering on good governance. A friend said our approval rating is over 80 percent. I told him I must work harder in some areas, especially that 20 percent gap. The good thing is we are just one and half years in office.

“Our party has also become very entrenched across the local governments. Leaders who were not with me during the guber primaries are now solidly with us. We are gaining more ground as people get pleasant surprises with our performance.

“Feedback shows our people are happy with our dual effort at physical and stomach infrastructure. We will continue to build the road and the people. We will not neglect human development for physical development.

“We must therefore ensure proper coordination in policy design and implementation. Our policy innovation in power, digital economy, agriculture, general economic planning, investment drive, sustainable development, youth development and gender focus must be properly harnessed under the five-point agenda.”

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Igbajo: Adeleke Reads Riot Act, Vows To Deal With Troublemakers

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Four gang-killed two in Osun, destroy N8M properties

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned against attempts to destabilize the peace and security of Igbajo by some group of people led by Prince Gboyega Famodun through conflicting Oroke festival days.

He directed security agencies to deal decisively with any trouble maker.

According to a government statement, issued in Osogbo, reports at the disposal of the government indicated an attempt by a faction belonging to Famodun to create conflict at Igbajo by fixing a different festival date from the one officially announced by the legal and officially crowned king of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde.

An effort, it noted was designed to create violence and crisis in the peaceful town of Igbajo.

As a government, the statement added, we reiterate that the Monarch of Igbajo today is Oba Ademola Makinde and the May 23rd already fixed for the Oroke Day Festival remains the sacrosanct date for the popular cultural and traditionally significant event.

“We note further that the Head of Igbajo traditional institution remains the present Owa of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde and he is therefore empowered and entitled to fix the day for the Oroke festival. Actions of the Famodun faction is therefore against tradition and law and is therefore a nullity.

“In a bid to forestall breakdown of law and order and in line with my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Osun state, I direct security agencies to enforce the holding of the Oroke festival on the official date of May 23rd and to ensure no gathering is held on May 19th set by any other faction.

“The above directive and actions are taken to maintain peace and protect the ancient town from those hell-bent on manipulating the traditional institution to destabilize the state”, the Governor was quoted as saying,” he cautioned.

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Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Suspended INEC Official

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Adamawa State High Court’s Justice Benjamin Manji Lawan has issue an arrest warrant for suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari.

The court instructed the Inspector General of Police to promptly apprehend Barrister Ari and present him in court to face trial on three charges.

This directive followed an application filed by the Adamawa State Government on April 16, 2024.

During the proceedings, Chief L. D. Nzadon, representing the complainant, informed the court that they were seeking an arrest warrant against the defendant.

Referring to Section 20, Subsection (1j) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2018, Chief Nzadon urged the court to utilize its authority and instruct the Inspector General of Police to apprehend the defendant, regardless of his location.

He explained that attempts to serve the defendant were unsuccessful, as the court’s bailiff had been in Bauchi State from May 2nd to May 4th, 2024, but couldn’t locate him.

In his ruling on the application, the judge noted that this was the third instance the case had been mentioned without the defendant present in court.

He acknowledged the complainant’s counsels’ explanation regarding their inability to serve Ari, suggesting that it seemed he was deliberately avoiding

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