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Appeal Court Throws Out Bid To Disqualify Ighodalo

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On Friday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal by Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirants, Arthur Esene and Anselm Ojezua, to disqualify the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo.

In the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/863/2024, Esene and Ojezua requested the Court of Appeal to overturn the April 17 decision by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Read Also: Edo Poll: Okpebholo Calls On Ighodalo To Withdraw From Governorship Race

Justice Omotosho had previously dismissed their suit as statute-barred, ruling that they failed to substantiate their claim that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card.

The judge also noted that the lack of a voter’s card does not disqualify a candidate from running for office under the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

In the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Hamma Barka of the Court of Appeal upheld the decision by Justice Omotosho, affirming that the suit filed by Anselm Ojezua and four others at the Federal High Court was both untimely and statute-barred.

Justice Barka concurred with the Federal High Court’s finding that Ojezua and the others had failed to prove their claim that Asue Ighodalo forged his voter’s card.

Furthermore, Justice Barka ruled that their suit lacked merit, as it was based on the erroneous belief that not possessing a voter’s card disqualifies a candidate from running for election.

Justice Hamma Barka found that the appellants did not challenge the trial court’s findings, which confirmed that Asue Ighodalo had applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transfer of his voter registration from Lagos State to Edo State, and that INEC had issued him a voter’s card.

Consequently, Justice Barka dismissed the appeal as lacking merit and awarded costs of N3 million against the appellants, in favor of Ighodalo, the PDP, and INEC.

Justices Usman Musale and Okon Abang, who were also on the panel, concurred with the lead judgment.

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Politics

Wike Stands Firm On Threat To Governors Interfering In Rivers Crisis

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated that he has no regrets for threatening to take drastic action against any governor who interferes in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

Wike, who has been locked in a power struggle with Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara over control of the state’s political structure, made the remarks following the intervention of the PDP Governors Forum.

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The forum had publicly backed Fubara, deepening tensions between the two leaders.

In response to the forum’s stance, Wike issued a stern warning, threatening to “bring fire” to the states of any governors who involve themselves in the Rivers State crisis.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Wike stood by his comments. “I said it to the governors’ forum, and I repeat, I have no apologies. Heaven will not fall, and even if it does, there will be peace,” Wike stated.

The minister further clarified that, aside from the Governor of Zamfara State, whom he claims not to know personally, he has relationships with all other state governors.

He said, “You mean as I sit as FCT Minister from Rivers State, the only person I can say I have no relationship with is the governor of Zamfara, I don’t know him; if I see him now I won’t know him.

“I know all other governors and they know me and we have a relationship. You mean you want to violate the processes and constitution of our party.

“After your meeting, you came out on national television as chairman of the forum to read a communique that their brother in Rivers state – whether legal or not – and I’m sitting as FCT Minister from that state listening, and you expect me to fold my arms because you are a governor?

“You look at me and tell me that? Expecting me to fold my hand for everything to be well?

 

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Tension Mounts Ahead Of Edo Guber Election As Group Accuses APC Of Importing Thugs

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With just a week remaining before the Edo State governorship election, concerns have emerged over alleged plans to disrupt the polls.

The socio-cultural group, Edo Collectives, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of importing thugs into the state to create chaos during the election scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

In a statement, the group’s spokesman, Ese Ipboba, claimed that thugs from Kogi and Imo states have already been deployed across Edo State, with instructions to disrupt the electoral process.

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He warned that any attempts at violence would be met with strong resistance from the people, who are determined to ensure a peaceful and fair election.

“We will not allow anyone to derail the democratic process. The people of Edo State are ready to protect their votes and resist any efforts to manipulate the outcome,” Ipboba said.

Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had refused to sign the Peace Accord, an agreement aimed at ensuring a violence-free election, citing the alleged harassment and detention of its members by the police.

Despite this, the APC and 16 other political parties signed the accord in Benin City on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

The APC had previously indicated it might boycott the agreement but eventually participated.

The Edo governorship election is set to be a key test for the state’s political future, with heightened concerns over security and the integrity of the electoral process.

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JUST IN: Edo Election Takes A Turn As PDP Refuses To Sign Peace Accord

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refused to sign the peace accord for the upcoming Edo State Governorship election, scheduled for September 21.

Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar announced this decision on Thursday at the signing event in Benin.

Abubakar revealed that the PDP would only agree to sign the accord if certain conditions were met.

Related News: Edo Gov Accuses Police Of Bias, Threatens To Boycott Peace Accord

He said, “I met the governor yesterday and he told me the PDP are not going to sign this peace accord.

“They had made some observations and I was expecting the chairman of the PDP to come and make that statement, having waited for him this long he chose to announce that the PDP said they are not going to sign and they have got some conditionalities.

“They said that after these conditionalities have been met, they will come to Abuja and sign.”

The chairman of the PDP in the state was absent from the event and did not provide details on why the party chose not to sign the accord.

Recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki had previously suggested that the PDP might not sign the peace accord during a meeting with the National Peace Committee on Wednesday.

While the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, opted not to sign, other parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, as well as the Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, did endorse the accord.

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