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JUST IN: Tribunal Strikes Out Sections Of Obi, LP’s Election Petition
The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, based in Abuja, has rejected the claim made by the Labour Party, LP, and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, regarding the alleged rigging of the 2023 presidential election in favor of President Bola Tinubu.
In a preliminary ruling delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, the court determined that Obi and the LP did not provide credible evidence to substantiate their accusation that the election on February 25 was tainted by significant corrupt practices.
The court noted that although the Petitioners asserted that the election had irregularities, they were unable to specify the exact locations where these alleged infractions occurred.
The court also pointed out that despite Obi and the LP’s claim that the election was rigged in 18,088 polling units nationwide, they were unable to provide the specific locations of these polling units.
Additionally, the court ruled that Obi’s allegation that fictitious results were submitted to President Tinubu and the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lacked sufficient evidence to be substantiated.
Furthermore, the court emphasized that the Petitioners failed to specify the figures they alleged were deducted from their election results in various states across the federation, including Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Yobe, Borno, Tabara, Osun, and Lagos.
The court also noted that the Petitioners did not provide details regarding the polling units where over-voting was said to have occurred or the precise numbers of unlawful votes credited to Tinubu by the INEC.
The court emphasized that even though Obi and the LP had stated their intention to rely on spreadsheets, forensic reports, and expert analysis from their expert witnesses, they did not attach these documents to the petition or provide them to the Respondents, as legally required.
Furthermore, the court noted that the petition contained significant allegations related to violence, non-voting, vote suppression, fictitious recording of election results, and corrupt practices.
However, the Petitioners did not provide specific details or particulars regarding the polling units where these incidents allegedly occurred.
The court determined that various sections of the petition containing the allegations were deemed “vague, imprecise, nebulous, and lacking in specific details.”
Consequently, the court decided to strike out paragraphs 9, 60, 61, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78, 83, and 89 of the petition.
However, it’s important to note that the court dismissed the argument put forth by the Respondents claiming that Obi was not validly nominated by the LP to participate in the presidential election.
The court acknowledged that the Respondents presented the argument that Obi had departed from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on May 24, 2022, and subsequently joined the LP on May 27, 2022.
According to the Respondents, as of May 30, 2022, Obi was not a valid member of the LP, and therefore, he could not have legitimately participated in the LP’s presidential primary election.
They contended that his name should not have been included in the LP’s membership register submitted to INEC, as this should have been done 30 days prior to the primary election.
In its ruling, the court asserted that matters related to party membership are considered internal affairs of a political party and are not subject to judicial review.
The court further emphasized that it is the exclusive right of the LP to determine who qualifies as its member. It stated that the Respondents lacked the legal standing to challenge or question Obi’s membership status within the LP.
The court also ruled that, in contrast to the argument made by Tinubu and the APC, the Petitioners were not required to include Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the election, or his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as parties to the case.
It clarified that both Atiku and the PDP were not statutory Respondents or necessary parties to the petition.
With the preliminary issues settled, the Chairman of the five-member panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, is presently delivering the court’s judgment on the substantive matter.
In a significant judicial appointment, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will officially swear in 12 judges to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
The ceremony is scheduled for 10 am at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.
Dr. Festus Akande, Director of Press and Information at the Supreme Court, disclosed this development in a statement on Sunday.
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Among the distinguished appointees is Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, the daughter-in-law of the Chief Justice, adding a personal dimension to the event.
The full list of judges to be inaugurated is as follows:
– Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria (Oyo State)
– Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo (Kwara State)
– Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi (Lagos State)
– Iheabunike Anumaenwe Godwin (Imo State)
– Odo Celestine Obinna (Enugu State)
– Hauwa Lawal Gummi (Zamfara State)
– Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh (Bayelsa State)
– Maryam Iye Yusuf (Kogi State)
– Buetnaan Mandy Bassi (Plateau State)
– Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike (Rivers State)
– Ibrahim Tanko Munirat (Bauchi State)
– Abdulrahman Usman (Taraba State)
This appointment follows the National Judicial Council’s recommendation on May 17, 2024, of 86 judicial officers for various federal and state courts nationwide.
Recall that these recommendations were made during the NJC’s 105th plenary meeting, which was held from May 15 to 16, 2024.
The swearing-in marks a notable step in reinforcing the judiciary and ensuring the delivery of justice across Nigeria.
The military regimes of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and officially formed a new alliance.
Niger’s ruling general announced the move during the inaugural summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Niamey on Saturday.
Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tiani at the summit, which saw the participation of the three nations’ leaders stated “our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS”.
The AES was established after the countries withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year.
In September, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso signed a mutual defense pact, marking a significant shift in the region’s political landscape.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS, citing accusations of Paris manipulating the bloc and insufficient support for anti-jihadist efforts.
“The AES is the only effective sub-regional grouping in the fight against terrorism,” Tiani stated on Saturday, highlighting ECOWAS’s “conspicuous lack of involvement in this fight.”
The exit marks a shift away from their former colonial ruler, France, with Tiani advocating for a new bloc that is a “community far removed from the stranglehold of foreign powers.”
All three nations have expelled French anti-jihadist troops, turning instead to their “sincere partners” — Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Facing deadly jihadist violence, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso will focus on “the fight against terrorism” and the “consolidation of cooperation” during Saturday’s agenda, according to the Burkinabe presidency.
ECOWAS is set to hold a summit of its heads of state in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Sunday, where relations with the AES is anticipaed to be a key topic.
After multiple bilateral meetings, the three Sahelian leaders are convening for the first time since seizing power through coups between 2020 and 2023.
In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Niamey to draft a text establishing the confederation, which the heads of state are set to adopt at Saturday’s summit.
Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tiani first received Burkinabe counterpart Ibrahim Traore in the capital on Friday, followed by Malian Colonel Assimi Goita on Saturday.
“Don’t expect many announcements; this is primarily a political event,” remarked Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi. “The goal is to demonstrate that this is a serious project with three dedicated heads of state showing their solidarity.”
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned transport workers in the state against actions and activities capable of resulting into violence and lawlessness.
This was contained in a government statement issued in Osogbo, which was made available to Biztellers.
Gov Adeleke also directed immediate suspension of the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Societies pending outcome of investigations by the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye, according to the statement.
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He directed the Commissioner for Transportation to again summon a reconciliatory meeting of all the warring groups within the transport sector.
“The officials and their members should desist from distracting Osun people from many ongoing laudable projects and delivery of good governance.
“This administration will not condone lawlessness and acts of violence. We must not and cannot afford to return to the era of the previous administration. Our government has zero tolerance for violence.
“Any issue within the transport management should be resolved in line with due process. Internally Generated Revenue in Osun State is strictly regulated within a framework of accountability and transparency that can not be breached.
“Our government has automated revenue collection while integrating multiple revenue points into a single billing process. Our IGR has increased as a consequence of our innovations and zero tolerance for revenue leakages. Diversion of revenue is a thing of the past in Osun State.
“The Commissioner for Transportation is to engage the transport officials and reconcile all financial records. Any transport official who engages in violence will face the full wrath of the law”, the statement quoted the Governor as saying.
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