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Edo election tribunal: PDP presents more witnesses in petition against APC’s victory

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, called more witnesses at the election tribunal to challenge the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo.

Five witnesses testified before the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel of the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The witnesses alleged instances of over-voting in their polling units as APC, Okpebholo and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through their lawyers, vehemently disagreed with their evidence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioners, PDP and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are challenging the outcome of the election.

They petitioned INEC, Gov. Okpebholo, APC as 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively before the tribunal.

They prayed the tribunal to nullify the election results, alleging that the process was riddled with irregularities.

Led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Rotimi Ogunesan, SAN, the 15th petitioner’s witness (PW-15), Haruna Ibrahim, a 34-year-old businessman residing in Sabo Quarters, Auchi, adopted his witness statement.

During cross-examination by the INEC lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Ibrahim admitted to signing the result sheet for his ward.

However, he clarified that he did so only to obtain a copy for his party.

When Agabi suggested that signing the result sheet indicated the election was credible, PW-15 disagreed.

Agabi then asked whether Ibrahim had lodged a formal protest regarding his grievances.

Ibrahim said: “I made a complaint to the unit officer. I protested, but not in writing. I did not file a written complaint.”

While being cross-examining by Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, PW-15 reiterated his claim of over-voting in his polling unit.

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Ikpeazu, however, countered his statement by referring to the result sheet, which he said showed no over-voting.

“Look at the ward result containing your polling unit. The reconciled result shows no over-voting,” Ikpeazu said while displaying the document.

“In this paragraph, column 7, that is my unit column. We had over-voting in that unit.

“The total votes cast exceeded the recorded votes. I made an official protest, but my efforts for cancellation were declined,” the witness insisted.

He further alleged discrepancies between the figures recorded on the result sheet presented at the tribunal and those from the election day:

“This form is from my unit, but the figures do not correspond to the records from my unit.”

Dan Orbih, who appeared for APC,, also disagreed with the witness.

Orbih stated that the result sheet showed no over-voting and urged the witness to recount the figures himself.

The tribunal admitted the witness’ agent card as evidence upon the request by the petitioners’ counsel, despite objections from the respondents’ lawyers.

“Court admits the agent’s card as evidence and reserves judgment on the objection to its admissibility,” the tribunal ruled.

Other witnesses who testified include Esther Okuo, a 27-year-old farmer from Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA as 16th petitioner’s witness (PW-16); and Abubakar Uzairu, the PW-17), a teacher from Owan East LGA.

It also included Asuluka Righteousness, a motorcyclist from Enwan in Akoko-Edo LGA as PW-18 and Mutairu Yusuf, a farmer from Agbede in Etsako West LGA as PW-19.

The tribunal adjourned hearing until Feb. 3 (NAN).

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Senate Committee Recommends Six-Month Suspension for Natasha

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The Senate is anticipated to vote on the recommendation.

The Senate is contemplating a six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

This decision follows an investigation by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, which has cited her for a complete breach of Senate regulations.

According to the committee’s recommendation, presented by its Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Natasha’s suspension is set to commence on 6th March 2025.

The committee also advised that her office be locked, and she be prohibited from accessing the premises of the National Assembly throughout the suspension period, with her salary and that of her legislative aides being withdrawn.

Furthermore, the committee recommended that she be barred from representing Nigeria in any official capacity as one of the country’s senators during the period of suspension. It was also suggested that the Kogi Central lawmaker may submit a written apology for the Senate to consider regarding her suspension.

The Senate is expected to vote on this recommendation, which, if upheld, would effectively revoke Senator Natasha’s legislative privileges for the duration of her suspension.

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Senator Godswill Akpabio I Know

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BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

In the history of Nigeria as a country , I have not come across an unrepentant nationalist directly or indirectly like Senator Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President, the uncommon enigma who has made his impact felt both at the state , national and international level as a good ambassador in all spheres.

His state manhood, nationalist tendencies brought him to the fore of national politics soon after his well thought out eight years stint as Governor of Akwa ibom state, were development was taken to the highest pedestal at the state level , after holding forth as commissioner at the state level.

Senator Akpabio mien for good governance and leadership with distinct values brought him to represent the good people of Akwa ibom North West at the 8th Senate , were he displayed utter representation, constituency development, plenary presentation and active participation in adhoc , committee assignments as a first timer, owing to his flare for robust legislation and representation .

Because of his leadership acumen at the 8th Senate , Akpabio was appointed Minister in the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to supervise the leadership at the defunct Niger Delta Ministry for consecutive four years, were development at that level was uniquely uncommon and commendable both at the development of infrastructure, human and advancement of both the country and the Niger Delta in particular.

His Ministerial stint saw a lot of initiatives and innovations to the hitherto agitated and denied Niger Delta people, that had brought a lot of succour to the good people of the area.

He revolutionised leadership and development to a high pedestal and improvement to his giant contributions to the development of both rural and urban areas of Akwa ibom state, with uncommon passion for uncommon development that earned him an ‘uncommon enigma’.

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Senator Godswill Akpabio who returned to the 10th Senate after a break from national leadership from the 9th Senate , was highly favored and became the Senate President who is presiding over the 10th National Assembly leadership in 2023 till date with human face and high tolerance.

His incontrovertible leadership in all ramifications is been displayed in the 10th Senate from robust leadership, Legislative and Executive synergy and non- discrimination between Senators of various political parties that constituted the 10th Senate, that had been the bane of the thriving 10th Senate leadership and the current dispensation.

As Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has ensured a smooth and serene relationship between the other arms of the executive which consisted Ministries, Departments and Agencies that had ensured the smooth running and execution of programs under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last 21 months.

Senator Akpabio has displayed leadership with maturity, exposure and experience both at the National Assembly, international spheres and National Development.

As President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, there is no denial for a possible distraction from time to time , but his zeal to sustain the good leadership tempo had been on the high pedestal.

Therefore, Senator Godswill Akpabio is already tested and trusted administrator with high standard of both administrative and political experience, that had contributed to the growth of the country in all areas.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

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Former sacked Rivers LGA chairmen vow to take over councils

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The former Local Government (LG) Chairmen in Rivers who were sacked in 2015 under Gov. Nyesom Wike led administration have vowed to return to take over LG councils in the 23 local government.

The former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area (LGA), Benson Imie, disclosed this on behalf of the 23 LGAs Chairmen on Tuesday in a briefing to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

He recalled that they were elected in an election conducted by Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on May 23, 2015 at the tail of former Gov. Chibuike Amaechi’s administration.

He said that his predecessor, Wike, sacked them on assumption of office, adding that a Federal High Court in its judgement on July 9, 2015 nullified the matter while voiding the 2015 LG elections.

Imie further said that after 10 years, an Appeal Court in Port-harcourt, on Feb, 28, 2025 upturned the decision of the Federal High Court, ruling that the 2015 election was without encumbrances.

He explained that the Appeal Court, in Suit No, CA/PH/172?2024 ( Hon. Augustine P. NGO & 22 Ors v. Peoples Democratic Party & Ors) nullified and set aside the Federal High Court judgement.

According to him, the judgement was set aside on grounds of violent breach and flagrant abuse of the appellants’ right to fair hearing.

He said that the judgement recognised that appellants’ right to fair hearing was jealously protected and preserved under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended);

‘’And the plethora of case laws, holding that the election of the appellants was without any legal encumbrances,’’ he said.

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Imie said that with the Supreme Court’s Friday judgement, sacking that Oct. 5, 2024, they were the rightfully elected LG Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and councillors.

In his remarks, Reginald Ukwuoma, former Chairman of Etche LGA, said that they did not need to be sworn into office or take any oath of office as they have done all that in 2015.

’’At this moment, we will wait to receive the Certified True Copies of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court judgements, then, we will know when to resume office,’’ he said. (NAN)

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