Politics
PEPT: Atiku Concludes Suit Against Tinubu, Court Sets Date For Defense
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a candidate representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), concluded his presentation before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja on Friday.
Abubakar is challenging the validity of President Bola Tinubu’s election and seeking its nullification.
Atiku Abubakar, after presenting a total of 27 witnesses and submitting various documentary exhibits as evidence during the court proceedings, made the decision to conclude his case.
He stated that the reason for this decision was that he had utilized all the allotted time for presenting his arguments against Tinubu.
“My lords, at this point in time, may we humbly inform your lordships that this will be our last witness,” Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court.
Continuing, Uche, SAN, said: “Having exhausted the days allocated to us, pursuant to the pre-hearing report and Paragraph 46(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, we most humbly apply the formally close the case for the petitioners.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by its lawyer Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, informed the court that the parties involved had mutually agreed to postpone the commencement of the defense by the respondents until after the upcoming Sallah celebration.
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the head of President Tinubu’s legal team, confirmed the agreement and requested the court’s permission for the respondents, starting with INEC, to begin their defense against Atiku’s petition on July 3.
Olanipekun said “My lords, all of us took into consideration some salient factors, especially the fact that some of us will love to travel to celebrate with our families and loved ones.
“Moreover, there is likely to be a two days public holidays next week. We will therefore plead your lordships to adjourn the case till after the Sallah celebration.
“We also want to assure your lordships that on our part, we will not exceed the days allotted to us. We will start and close out case the same week,” Olanipekun, SAN, added
After receiving no objection from the petitioners’ counsel, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case until July 3 to allow INEC to begin presenting its defense against the petition.
The adjournment took place following the completion of testimony by Atiku’s key witness, Mr. Mike Enahoro-Ebah, who was subsequently excused from the witness box.
During his testimony, Enahoro-Ebah submitted certified copies of President Tinubu’s academic qualifications to the court, which were admitted as evidence and marked as an exhibit.
Equally admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit by the panel was Tinubu’s certificate of service from Mobile Oil Nigeria Plc, which formed part of his work records, as well as a copy of his Guinean Passport.
Enahoro-Ebah told the court that he applied and obtained the Form EC9, which contained the affidavit of personal particulars, which Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in aid of his qualifications to contest the presidential election.
He told the court that his lawyer in the United States of America, USA, also wrote to various schools that the 2nd Respondent, Tinubu, claimed to have attended, and obtained more information about him.
The witness told the court that among the documents he obtained from the USA, included Tinubu’s purported certificate from Chicago State University, which he said belonged to a female.
Also tendered before the court by the witness, was a transcript that was issued in 1977 by South West College, which he said equally established that the Tinubu that attended Chicago State University was a female.
Mr. Enahoro-Ebah told the court that whereas the forwarding letter from his lawyer in the USA, which contained Tinubu’s details, came on November 1, 2022, however, it was nof until April 2023 that he received a copy of the notorised judgement on criminal asset forfeiture proceedings that involved the 2nd Respondent.
Besides, he told the court that documents he obtained from INEC showed that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate that Tinubu submitted in aid of his qualifications, bore the name, Adekunle.
Despite stiff objections from the INEC, President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are Respondents in the matter, the court, admitted all the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PDE-1 to PDE-5.
More so, the witness, said he had in 2022, instituted a direct criminal complaints against Tinubu before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja.
He told the court that the Chief Magistrate Court declined jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the court’s actions, the witness stated that he had written a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory regarding the matter.
A copy of the court process pertaining to the petition was admitted as evidence and marked as an exhibit by the panel.
When questioned about whether he had made inquiries with the Guinean embassy regarding the second respondent (Tinubu) renouncing his alleged citizenship, the response of the witness was not mentioned in the provided information.
The witness, said: “My lord, I did not have to because the former President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, admitted the issuance of the passport.”
Following insistence by Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, that the said passport that was tendered in evidence, expired in 2020, the witness, said: “My lords, the data page indicated that it expired, but citizenship does not expire.”
Politics
2027 Election: Obi–Kwankwaso Group Warns of Plot to Divide NDC in Enugu
The Obi–Kwankwaso (OK) Movement in Enugu State has raised concerns over an alleged attempt to create division and destabilise the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement urged party members and supporters to remain united and disregard directives or announcements that do not come from recognised party leadership.
In a statement issued by its Chief Press Secretary, Ani Ifeanyi Moses, the group alleged that some individuals were working to create what it described as a “non-existent faction” within the NDC.
SEE MORE: “Nobody Forced Obi to Leave Any Party” — APC Chair Fires Back at Critics
It said the alleged plot involved impersonation, unauthorised claims of leadership and the circulation of misinformation intended to cause confusion among party members.
According to the movement, the alleged activities were coming at a critical period when members should be concentrating on preparations for the 2027 elections rather than internal disputes.
The group specifically accused some individuals of impersonating party officials and attempting to undermine the NDC’s structure in Enugu State.
“It is intentional to create division and confusion, knowing that Enugu is the support base of Mr. Peter Obi, and we must resist it,” the statement said.
The movement described the alleged actions as a threat to democratic principles and called on those behind them to immediately stop.
It urged all parties involved in any disagreement within the NDC to rely on the party’s internal mechanisms and legal processes for resolution.
The group also appealed to political actors to respect constitutional democracy and the rule of law, warning against actions that could further deepen divisions within the political movement.
The OK Movement equally cautioned against involving young Nigerians in political conflicts, stressing that individual political ambitions should not be allowed to overshadow the broader objective of building what it described as a credible political alternative ahead of 2027.
It called on NDC members and supporters of the Obi–Kwankwaso movement in Enugu to remain calm, united, vigilant and resolute.
The movement further advised members to disregard any directives that were not issued through recognised party leadership or official communication channels.
It also urged supporters to verify political information before acting on it, particularly information contained in unauthorised announcements or messages circulated through unofficial channels.
Describing the political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections as a “New Nigeria project,” the movement maintained that the initiative was greater than individual political ambitions or the pursuit of public offices.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to democratic values, accountability and good governance, while pledging to continue mobilising support for what it described as a competent and people-centred government in 2027.
The movement concluded by appealing to its members to remain focused and united, warning that internal divisions could weaken their collective political aspirations as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Politics
2027 Race Begins as APC Completes 100% Candidate Upload to INEC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a major milestone in its preparations for the 2027 general elections after successfully completing the upload of all its governorship, deputy governorship and State House of Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Candidate Nomination Portal.
The announcement was made on Friday by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, in a statement shared via his official X handle, where he congratulated party leaders, members and candidates nationwide on the successful completion of the nomination process.
SEE ALSO: ‘Nobody Forced Obi to Leave Any Party’ — APC Chair Fires Back at Critics
According to Yilwatda, the APC achieved a 100 per cent upload of its candidates across the country, submitting 56 governorship and deputy governorship candidates alongside 1,015 State House of Assembly candidates to the INEC portal ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Congratulations to our leaders, members, and candidates across the country on the successful completion of the nomination process for the 2027 General Elections,” he said.
“I am pleased to announce that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully achieved a 100% upload of all our 56 Governorship and Deputy Governorship, and 1,015 State House of Assembly candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal.”
The APC chairman described the achievement as a clear indication of the party’s organisational capacity and readiness for the next stage of the electoral process.
“This milestone reflects the organizational strength of our great party,” Nentawe stated.
With the nomination process now concluded, the ruling party said it would shift its attention to engaging Nigerians while highlighting the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“With this phase successfully concluded, we remain focused on engaging Nigerians with our vision, and building on the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda as we prepare for victory in 2027,” he added.
The completion of the candidate upload marks a key requirement in the electoral process and positions the APC among the first major political parties to conclude the nomination phase ahead of what is expected to be a keenly contested 2027 general election.
Politics
Why Fubara Couldn’t Seek Re-election — Wike Reveals Inside Story
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has opened up on the political events that led to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara abandoning his bid for a second term, blaming the outcome on poor advice from political associates and external interests.
Speaking during the August edition of his monthly media chat aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, Wike said he repeatedly warned Fubara against abandoning the political structure that brought him to power.
SEE MORE: Fubara Corrected His Mistakes, Returned to the Right Political Family – Wike
“I said, look, don’t derail. I came as governor, I had crisis. When I came as governor, there was nothing. They didn’t even relocate the Government House,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor recalled inheriting an administration with limited resources, revealing that he had to borrow ceremonial vehicles from former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
“When I came, I had to borrow vehicles from the former governor of Ondo, Mimiko, these parade vehicles. Nobody kept any vehicle; I didn’t have one vehicle.
“But before I left as governor, I packed out from Government House one and a half years before. I renovated Government House. I bought vehicles for the governor, the deputy governor and the governor’s wife. I did that,” he stated.
Wike said he expected Fubara to consolidate on the foundation he laid instead of distancing himself from the political family that supported his emergence.
“Somebody had laid a foundation. Look, this is where I stopped. If you continue this way, our dream is to be able to compete with Lagos. What is wrong with that?” he said.
According to the minister, some individuals who had initially opposed Fubara’s emergence as governor later became his close allies and allegedly encouraged him to confront those who backed his political rise.
“Somebody comes, and that’s why you have to be careful. Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.
“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. Your intention was to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Wike said.
Asked whether he still loved Fubara despite their political differences, Wike responded:
“If I don’t love him, why would we support him? That’s the point I’m making.”
The FCT minister disclosed that both camps had at one point considered reconciliation, but political considerations ultimately stalled the process.
“There was a time we all thought, we all agreed, and said, ‘Look, can we allow bygones to be bygones?’ But something fundamental came up in politics.
“They said, ‘Look, if you allow this now, there are those who are here who want to see that we are no longer politically relevant,'” he said.
Wike further alleged that external interests sought to hijack Rivers State for financial gain, claiming some influential individuals advised Fubara to resist his political camp.
“When this thing happened, they were so bitter that they started giving the governor wrong advice: ‘Don’t worry, the law says this, the law didn’t say this.’
“They were sending them aircraft, then they would relax in the jet. To them, they were king. So, for him to continue to be there, they would exert that kind of influence.
“We said no, this cash cow must end now. You won’t have it again. Take as much as you can, but you have to stop,” Wike added.
The political rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023 and later escalated into a prolonged power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats and a state of emergency.
Although Fubara later obtained nomination forms to contest the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries for a second term, he withdrew from the race in May 2026.
Wike maintained that the political crisis and the decisions taken by the governor during the dispute ultimately cost him the opportunity to seek re-election.





