News
U.S. Supreme Court hands Republicans loss in Pennsylvania voting case
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed Republicans a loss in a case concerning the rules for postal voting in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, just days ahead of the presidential election.
The justices rejected a request not to count provisional ballots used in the state when a voter’s mail-in ballot is flagged as potentially defective.
These provisional ballots are kept separately and counted only after verification.
The Republicans had asked for these votes not be counted.
This could have potentially invalidated thousands of absentee ballots, which often tend to favour Democratic voters.
The court’s decision allows these votes to be counted for the time being, but the Supreme Court could still revisit the issue later.
Further legal disputes are possible in the coming days.
There are expectations that fights over the validity of votes will continue after the Nov. 5 election, especially in states where the margin between the winner and loser could be only thousands of votes.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has already raised baseless allegations of vote manipulation after his election defeat in 2020 and is now casting doubt on the integrity of the upcoming election.
The Supreme Court’s decision has particular significance in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state in the election campaign.
With its 19 electors, the most populous of the seven so-called swing states could be decisive for the outcome of the election. (dpa/NAN)
By Abubakar Yunusa
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar reaffirmed his commitment to building a coalition of opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku spoke on at a meeting with a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Nasarawa state, led by Alhaji Jibirin Sabo Keana, and members of National Opinion Leaders, headed by Yusuf Sheriff Banki.
“Yesterday, I met with a delegation of two groups, during which I briefed them about the status of the pan-Nigerian coalition that I am building in conjunction with other leaders and stakeholders across political divides and regions,” Atiku wrote on X.
“I informed them that the Nigerian Movement is being powered by Nigerians desirous of reclaiming and rebuilding their country from across the nooks and crannies of our country.
“Indeed, the Coalition Train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades. First was the meeting with a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Nasarawa State, led by Alhaji Jibirin Sabo Keana, and a delegation of National Opinion leaders, led by Yusuf Sheriff Banki.”
Atiku also warned them against being distracted by minor financial offers that could jeopardise their future.
He said leaders from various parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and others, have been meeting to forge a new path towards a better Nigeria.
He referred to the initiative behind the coalition as “Sabuwar tafiya” in Hausa, translating to “a new pathway” in English.
The PDP presidential candidate in 2023 expressed optimism about announcing the coalition soon and appealed to the public to join the movement.
“Now, because of that, that’s why a number of us leaders from the parties I have mentioned — APC, PDP, Labour, and others — have come together to say we are going to have what I call in Hausa Sabuwar tafiya, which in English means a new path, a new pathway to a new Nigeria,” he added.
“And we have been meeting, and by the grace of God, very soon we will announce. We hope and we appeal to you all to be part of this movement.
“Whatever vehicle that will give us good governance in the future of our children and grandchildren, that is the vehicle we are going to ride on.
”Get to planning and working together and getting as many Nigerians as possible to get converted to this new pathway.”
On Monday, governors elected on the platform of the PDP ruled out the possibility of coalition or merger with any political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
…says security agencies must deal with it
… We are fed up with the state of our Nation
By Abubakar Yunusa
Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the sultan of Sokoto, has described social media as a “terrorist organisation”.
The sultan spoke on Tuesday at the seventh executive committee meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Maiduguri.
The religious leader said Nigerians must not allow misinformation and fabricated stories on social media to worsen the country’s fragile security situation.
“What happened has happened. It can’t come and be through social media. That’s one terrorist organisation…social media. Social media is a terrorist organisation,” he said.
“What they do… somebody will sit in his comfort zone and formulate stories and you will think that it is true. So, social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with.
“Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organisation called social media.”
Abubakar said the attacks on Plateau and other parts of the country were “worrisome” and require urgent attention.
“So, we are not happy with what is happening either on the Plateau or other places,” he said.
In a statement on Monday, Amnesty International said the death toll from the recent attack on the Plateau had risen to 54.
According to the rights group, hundreds of people have been displaced since the incident and residents are living in fear of another possible attack.
The Arewa Joint Action Movement (AJAM) has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, to dissociate from what it described as “opportunistic office seekers” including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
AJAM stressed that Nigeria’s political terrain must be guided by integrity and purpose, not by a desire for power at all costs.
In a statement by the Coordinator of AJAM, Barnabas Musa, noted that Nigeria’s political terrain must be guided by integrity and purpose, not by a desire for power at all costs.
Musa, described the PDP governors’ position as a “bold and commendable step” toward safeguarding Nigeria’s political integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He criticized the political maneuverings of those he called “transient political actors” within the opposition coalition, accusing them of chasing personal gain rather than national progress.
He said: “The members of the opposition alliance, characterized by their transient political ambitions, have consistently shown themselves to be more concerned with personal gain than with the needs and aspirations of the common man.
“The Arewa Joint Action Movement firmly believes that the political landscape should be navigated with integrity and purpose. Unfortunately, the individuals in this opposition coalition have proven to be nothing more than political opportunists and job seekers, feeding off the goodwill of the populace while offering little more than empty promises and deceptive rhetoric.
“Their dubious political agendas are not rooted in the genuine desire to uplift our communities or address the pressing issues facing our nation, but rather in a quest for power and influence at any cost.
“As we look ahead to the 2027 presidential elections, it is imperative that we remain vigilant against those who seek to destabilize our country for their own gain. The electorate has grown increasingly discerning, and we are confident that they will reject any attempts by these opportunists to manipulate their hopes and aspirations.
“The Nigerian people deserve leaders who prioritize their welfare and work tirelessly to create a brighter future for all citizens, rather than those who exploit their struggles for political leverage.
“We commend Governor Bala Mohammed and the PDP Governors Forum for their principled stance and urge them to continue advocating for policies that enhance the lives of our people.
“The Arewa Joint Action Movement stands ready to support initiatives that promote unity, progress, and genuine democratic values. Together, we can build a Nigeria that reflects the hopes and dreams of its citizens, free from the shackles of political opportunism.”
The group also called on citizens to reject “the politics of deception and self-interest” and unite for a just, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.