NEWS
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.
The Kano State Police Command has warned residents of a potential terror attack, targeting public gatherings in strategic locations across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed that intelligence reports indicated suspected terrorists were planning to carry out attacks.
“The Kano State Police Command, in liaison with other security agencies, has received intelligence reports of suspected terrorists planning to launch attacks on public gatherings in strategic locations within Kano State.
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“In response, we hereby urge residents to exercise caution and avoid crowded places and environments until further notice as a preventive measure to enable security operatives to identify and dislodge possible attackers,” the statement read.
To address the threat, the police command has enhanced security arrangements across the state. SP Haruna revealed that specialized units, including the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“A team of experts from the command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear units have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“The unit can be contacted through: 08169884988 or 07067157218 for report of suspicious persons or item(s),” Haruna stated.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the command through the designated hotlines.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and properties as well as maintaining law and order in Kano State.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation of the good people of Kano State and urge everyone to remain vigilant. Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial in ensuring public safety,” the statement concluded.
NEWS
Ifon-Ilobu-Erin Osun Land Disputes: Osun Constitutes A 100-Member Boundary Resolution Committee
In the bid to resolve the incessant land disputes between the communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has constituted an enlarged 100-member high powered land crisis resolution committee in which each of the affected communities has 25 representatives, and the state government represented by 25 members.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi made the disclosure in a statement in Osogbo, on Friday.
He revealed that the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun Larooye is the Chairman of the Committee, while a retired judge of Osun State Judiciary and Chairman, Osun State Boundary Commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, would serve as the Co-Chairman.
According to Alimi, Gov Adeleke put in place the Committee with a view to bringing a lasting end to the incessant land disputes among the three affected communities.
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It was gleaned from the statement that there were four other traditional rulers on the panel, including His Royal Majesty; Oba Abioye Oyebode, the Olokuku of Okuku, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adams Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf, the Oloba of Oba Oke, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adekeye Oyedare, the Oloyan of Oyan and His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Ogungbamgbe,The Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha.
Other members are Umar Abba Mohammed, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ayoola Kehinde, Osun State Director, Department of State Services( DSS) Brigadier General, Aliu Mohammed, Commander E.C.C, Ede, Sotiyobo Igbalawola, Osun State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps( NSCDC), Anthony Chikezie, Commander, Immigration Service, Osun State, Adekunle Omoyele, Osun State Commander, Amotekun Corps, and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Security, Barrister Dare Ojo.
Also on the enlarged Committee, where members are enjoined by Gov Adeleke to bring in their wealth of experience to bear on the highly critical assignment, are the Chairman, NBA Osogbo branch, Yemi Abiona, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ikirun, Niyi Akinsola, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ile Ife, Tope Olajoko, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ilesha, Raymond Oki, Esq; Others appointed to serve on the Ifon- Ilobu- Erin Osun Peace Resolution Committee are; Soladoye Abioye, the Surveyor General of Osun State – Dr Sodiq Olohunde, Office of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Marufat Adekemi Bello, Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Justice – Femi Ogundun,- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Govt and Chiertincy Affairs, Dr Fritz Mobolaji Olaoye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.
Completing the list of the Committee members are Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Osun NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Osun Civil Society Coalition and Comrade Saka Mao, a Public Affairs Analyst
The statement has it that Gov Adeleke, will on Tuesday, the 28th of January, 2025 perform the swearing in ceremony of the 100-member enlarged Ifon, Ilobu, Erin Osun Land Crisis Resolution Committee, at the Multi purpose hall of Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere Osogbo by 11:00am.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede on indiscriminate parking and traffic gridlock, especially in market areas.
According to a statement in Benin City on Friday, by Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, his principal gave the charge while decorating Ijeghede with his new rank as the head of EDSTMA.
He noted that while addressing the new Managing Director and his personnel at the Exco Chambers in Government House, Gov Okpebholo pointed out that the agency should do its job well by ensuring free flow of traffic across the state.
He called on Ijeghede and men of the agency to ensure they checked indiscriminate parking of vehicles and buses, especially in market areas.
“Edo State belongs to all of us and whatever we are doing, we should do it with care not to harm anybody. I appeal to EDSTMA to ensure that the city is well kept because whenever I drive round town, I see vehicles everywhere as the city is not well kept.
“This is your primary assignment. You should ensure the city is well kept as vehicles park indiscriminately and they are causing obstruction. Traffic is not flowing as it should and it is causing serious gridlock. Is it that you are not doing your job well?
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“Is it that you are not doing your job well or because you have a new leader that is why traffic is not flowing, or because you don’t know your job?
“You people should wake up and keep the state clean. Make sure that vehicles are parked well especially in the market areas. Monitor markets very well as these areas are looking really unkempt with vehicles and buses parked indiscriminately, causing traffic gridlock. Edo people are worst hit. They suffer from this. Ensure free flow of traffic so that the people will be happy,” Governor Okpebholo emphasized.
The EDSTMA boss, thanked Gov Okpebholo for the opportunity to serve the people of Edo State and assured him of the loyalty of the agency.
He added that his men will do their job professionally and ensure that the is free flow of traffic across the state.
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