Politics
PDP’s Edo Guber Matter Suffers Setback At Appeal Court
The camp of the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the September, 21 2024 election, Asue Ighodalo, has suffered a setback in the bid to reclaim the mandate through the Appeal Court.
This was detailed statement in Benin City on Friday night by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua.
Itua averred that following their defeat at the Tribunal, the party and the candidate, Ighodalo had approached the Court of Appeal. However, lawyers to the duo, on Thursday during the hearing, failed to prove their case.
He also asserted that consequent upon their adversaries’ failure to prove their case, Governor Monday Okpebholo urged the Court of Appeal to dismiss the appeal filed by PDP and that if its candidate Ighodalo for being unmeritorious.
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It was gathered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also made similar request at the hearing of the appeal in Abuja on Thursday.
“Lawyer to Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) urged the court to affirm the judgment of the tribunal which upheld his client’s victory and found that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to prove their allegations that the election was marred by irregularities,” Itua wrote.
He added that Ikpeazu argued that the petition, which they filed before the tribunal and the appeal constitute totally academic exercise.
He stated the appellants conceded at the tribunal that if the votes, which they claimed were wrongly added, were deducted, Okpebholo and the APC still scored the majority votes.
Ikpeazu argued that as against the claim by the appellants that the serial numbers of the ballot papers were not filled on the Form EC25B, the form actually did not contain any provision the recording of serial number.
He said what is provided for in Form EC25B are spaces for the imputation of information about the quantity of materials received and quantity materials returned.
It is Ikpeazu’s position that in the Form EC40A, which the appellants tendered at the tribunal, the serial numbers of the ballot papers were clearly indicated.
He noted that while the appellants pleaded Form EC25D in their petition, they failed to tender the forms before the tribunal.
He argued that the ward collation officers are not bound by the results uploaded to IREV where there is over voting.
Ikpeazu also argued the cross appeal filed by Okpebholo and the APC and urged the Court of Appeal to allow the cross appeal and dismiss the appeal.
Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC and Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the INEC also argued in similar manner in praying the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the election tribunal, Itua added.
Ukala argued that the position of the law has not changed even with the introduction of Sections 73(2) and 137 of the Electoral Act 2022 that a petitioner alleging any form of noncompliance must call witnesses from all the affected polling units to prove the allegations.
He added, “Where there is improper collation, you still need to call witnesses polling unit by polling unit.”
While arguing that the Ighodalo and the PDP failed to lead sufficient evidence to prove their case, Ukala said the tribunal held rightly when it found that the petitioners failed woefully in that regard.
He noted that in this case, the petitioners called a total 19 witnesses at the tribunal, out of which only five were polling unit agents, who were required to give evidence in respect of the 765 polling units that they were complaining about.
Ukala also noted that while the appellants pleaded Form EC25D in the petition as one of the forms they intended to rely on at trial, they did not produce them at trial.
He said the Form EC25D is where the serial number ought to be reflected as against Form EC40D claimed by the appellants.
It was gathered that after taking arguments from lawyers to the parties, a three-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice M. A. Danjuma announced that judgment is reserved to a date to be communicated to parties.
The Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State, Peter Azubuike, has expressed confidence that the party will record a landslide victory in the 2027 general elections, declaring that it would emerge victorious “before 2 p.m.” if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were to conduct an election today.
Azubuike made the assertion on Monday while addressing journalists at the party’s state secretariat in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
According to him, the Labour Party has overcome its internal challenges and is now fully united and mobilised ahead of the next general elections.
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He maintained that the party remains the strongest political force at the grassroots in Abia, pointing to its current political representation across the state as evidence of its popularity.
“If INEC conducts an election today, we will win before 2 p.m. because we are the only political party with a strong grassroots presence. We have 184 councillors, 17 local government chairmen, and 20 members of the Abia State House of Assembly. That is evidence of our widespread acceptance and grassroots support,” Azubuike said.
The LP chairman also defended the party’s adoption of the direct primary system for selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, describing it as a transparent process that promotes fairness and reduces internal disputes.
He dismissed reports suggesting that only one nomination form was sold in some constituencies, insisting that several aspirants contested for party tickets in different areas.
“It is not true that only one form was sold. In several constituencies, multiple aspirants purchased forms. In fact, not all sitting lawmakers secured the ticket. A clear example is the Osisioma/Obingwa/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, where the incumbent did not get the return ticket,” he stated.
Azubuike said the party had continued to strengthen its structures from the ward level to the state level and remained optimistic of another overwhelming victory in 2027.
He further stated that the faction of the Labour Party led by Senator Nenadi Usman is the one recognised by INEC, adding that the leadership had already been granted access to the electoral body’s portal for uploading candidates.
The party, he added, remains committed to internal democracy, grassroots mobilisation and effective leadership as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has dismissed claims that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, poses any serious political threat to the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Mic On Podcast on Saturday, Dare insisted that the Federal Government remains focused on governance rather than political distractions, arguing that its achievements have strengthened its chances of securing another mandate.
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According to him, the administration is confident in its performance and has no reason to fear Obi’s growing political profile.
“This government is not afraid of Peter Obi. At one point, he may have been considered a threat, but today, he is no longer one because we are standing on the solid foundation of our performance,” Dare said.
He maintained that the Tinubu administration has taken deliberate steps to confront Nigeria’s economic and social challenges through policy reforms and strategic interventions.
“We have carefully studied the country’s problems and continue to roll out policies and programmes aimed at addressing them. We also have tangible achievements to show Nigerians,” he added.
Dare also took a swipe at Obi’s public engagements, criticizing his style of responding to national issues and suggesting that some of his interviews fail to provide direct answers to important questions.
“Peter Obi is not a nightmare to this government. If anything, some of his reactions are unnecessarily pedantic. Sometimes you listen to him respond to questions, and instead of giving clear answers, he goes around in circles in a way that leaves many people confused,” he stated.
On the prospects of the 2027 presidential election, Dare expressed confidence that Obi would be unable to repeat his 2023 feat in Lagos, where the former Labour Party presidential candidate defeated Tinubu during the presidential poll.
“Peter Obi defeated President Tinubu in Lagos in 2023, but this is a different political season. He will not defeat Tinubu in Lagos again,” Dare declared.
The comments come amid increasing political conversations over the 2027 general election, with opposition figures intensifying consultations while the ruling administration continues to defend its record in office.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has denied allegations linking the party and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, to the recent wave of political violence rocking the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking in Osogbo on Sunday, APC chieftain and former lawmaker, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, described the accusations as politically motivated, alleging that some desperate individuals were attempting to damage the party’s reputation for personal and electoral gains.
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He maintained that the APC has no connection with any individual or group involved in violence, intimidation, or attacks while claiming to represent the party.
Oyintiloye said the APC remains guided by the Omoluabi philosophy, which promotes integrity, discipline, honesty, justice, accountability, compassion, and selfless service, stressing that violence has never been part of the party’s political culture.
He condemned the recent killings in the state, insisting that no political contest or ambition should result in the loss of innocent lives.
According to him, the party completely rejects violence, lawlessness, and bloodshed in any form, adding that those behind the attacks should immediately abandon such acts because elections should never be decided through fear or violence.
The APC leader further stated that the party does not require intimidation or bloodshed to secure victory at the polls, expressing confidence that it can earn the people’s mandate through peaceful democratic participation.
He also dissociated the APC from anyone using the party’s name to commit criminal acts, warning that such individuals were acting for their own interests and not on behalf of the party.
Oyintiloye reaffirmed that the APC believes in the rule of law, peaceful coexistence, credible elections, and the constitutional right of citizens to freely choose their leaders without intimidation.
He appealed to party supporters, political stakeholders, security agencies, and residents of the state to remain calm, obey the law, and support ongoing investigations into the recent violence.
The APC chieftain also urged security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the killings and other criminal acts are identified and prosecuted, while calling on all political actors to place the peace, unity, and development of Osun State above partisan interests.
He expressed sympathy to families who lost loved ones during the violence and prayed for strength and comfort for those affected by the tragic incidents.
The renewed appeal comes amid rising political tension in Osun State, where a series of violent attacks have claimed several lives as campaigns intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The Osun State Police Command has, however, assured residents that security operatives are working to restore calm and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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