Politics
Edo governorship poll: Tribunal scolds PDP over failure to produce witnesses
The Edo Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday in Abuja, berated the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, over their failure to produce witnesses in court.
PDP and Asue were to produce witnesses to testify in the petition they filed seeking the nullification of the governorship election which took place in the state on Sept. 21, 2024.
The tribunal had its first sitting in Abuja following it’s relocation to the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that a statement issued by the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mr Mu’azu Bagudu announced the tribunal ‘s relocation to Abuja
Although no reason was expressly stated for the move,however, political experts opined that the move may not be far from the rising issue of insecurity and purported fears of plots to burn down the building housing the tribunal.
Listed as respondents in the suit are the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Gov. Monday Okpebholo and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
At the resumed sitting in the matter, counsel to the PDP and Ighodalo, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, called their witness, Mr Oseyili Anenih for cross examination.
NAN also recalls that Anenih had given his evidence-in-chief as PW-12 while the tribunal was sitting in Benin.
After Anenih was cross examined by all the respondents and was discharged, the senior lawyer told the tribunal that most of their other witnesses had suffered travel disruptions.
“My lords, this is the reason we are unable to present them today. We urge your Lordships to give us another date.
“We undertake that on the next date, we will bring as many witnesses as may be convenient for the tribunal.
“We will also work assiduously to prime down our witnesses,”Oyeyipo prayed the tribunal.”
Miffed by the development, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal berated the petitioners for wasting the judicial time of the tribunal.
Kpochi said that the tribunal had earlier asked other parties that also lodged petitions challenging the outcome of the governorship election to take new dates so that Tuesday could be dedicated to hearing the PDP’s petition.
“What you are just telling us is not good at all! Why then did we ask the other petitioners to take dates? We should have heard them today.
“In fact, call those your witnesses, tell them to come, we are ready for them to come today,” Justice Kpochi said.
The counsel, however, pleaded that the witnesses may not be in the right frame of mind to mount the dock after their travel experiences.
The tribunal subsequently adjourned the matter untill Thursday.
Earlier, Anenih told the tribunal that though there were a total of 4,519 polling units in Edo , the PDP and its candidate were challenging the results of 765 polling units.
Anenih, who told the tribunal that he served as the Director of Research and Strategy for the PDP, during the election admitted that he did not visit all the polling units during the election.
He told the tribunal that most of the results given to local government collation agents did not reach the state collation agents but ended up in the PDP situation room because the agents were prevented from transmitting them to the state collation centres.
The witness maintained that if the lawful votes that were cast on the election day were sincerely collated, his candidate, Ighodalo, would have emerged victorious having polled the highest number of valid votes.
Answering questions from Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, counsel to Gov. Okpebholo, the witness admitted that they did not have any physical access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, Machines, that were used for the election.
He, however said that they were able to get some screenshots of it, which they tendered in evidence.
He said they had since subpoenaed INEC to make the machines available before the tribunal.
While being cross-examined by counsel to the APC, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, the witness confirmed that he was not trained by INEC to play any role during the election.
He further admitted that none of the polling unit results was handed over to him personally by agents of the party.
When he was handed one of the Exhibits to look at, the witness confirmed to the tribunal that out of 16 copies of the results in the bundle, only three of them were stamped.
“To us, that three that were stamped is significant enough. It represents almost 20 per cent ,” the witness insisted.
NAN recalls that the PDP and its candidate had approached the tribunal praying it to nullify the outcome of the governorship election.
They based their petition on the grounds of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and other malpractices.
They insisted that Gov. Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of majority of the valid votes cast at the election to be declared winner.(NAN)
In a bold declaration, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly stated that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, is more than capable of clinching the presidency in the upcoming 2027 elections without relying on coalitions with established parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or endorsements from prominent political figures such as Atiku Abubakar or Nasir El-Rufai.
During an exclusive interview, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, emphasized Obi’s strength as a candidate, asserting that he has a solid base of support that transcends party lines. Ndubuaku confidently noted that Obi had already demonstrated his appeal by securing victories in key regions, including Tinubu’s stronghold in Lagos, before facing electoral disruptions in 2023.
“Peter Obi doesn’t need any coalition to win the 2027 presidential election,” Ndubuaku stated. “He is a sellable candidate. The desire for his leadership resonates with a significant portion of the electorate, and if we ensure a free and fair election, victory is within reach.”
His remarks come in the wake of renewed backing from the Obidients Movement, which has pledged unwavering support for Obi, emphasizing his role as the country’s potential savior amid economic turmoil.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidients Movement, reiterated the urgent need for Nigeria to undergo transformation, positioning Obi as the sole candidate capable of guiding the nation towards recovery.
Ndubuaku further reinforced the notion that the PDP is no longer a viable option for serious contenders, labeling it as a “crisis-ridden and near-empty platform.” He highlighted the contrast between the Labour Party’s resolved issues and the ongoing turmoil within the PDP, arguing that switching parties would be detrimental.
“The Labour Party has addressed its challenges, while the PDP continues to grapple with significant internal conflicts. Transitioning from LP to PDP would be akin to jumping from frying pan to fire,” he remarked.
Additionally, he dismissed concerns surrounding zoning and power rotation, asserting that Obi’s governance would be focused on revitalizing the nation rather than clinging to power. “Obi’s reputation for performance speaks for itself. The fears regarding zoning are misplaced; he has no intention of holding onto power beyond what is necessary to effect change,” Ndubuaku concluded.
As the political landscape evolves, Obi’s unwavering support and potential candidacy continue to stir discussions about the future of Nigeria’s governance and the viability of its political parties.
….Says Atiku on his way out of PDP
…It was against my people’s will
Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has revealed that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Recall that, Atiku was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, with Okowa as his running mate.
On March 20, 2023, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and others jointly announced the creation of a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The move has sparked ongoing discussions about the potential for a united opposition, with political leaders expressing varied opinions.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa—who officially joined the All Progressives Congress on Monday—expressed regret for not aligning with his people in supporting a southern candidate in 2023 instead of accepting the role as Atiku’s running mate. He said, “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.
“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party, and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”
He added that the election of the current Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, proves that the people still have confidence in their leadership.
Okowa added, “That showed the people still believed in us, believed in me. They said you’ve done well, and we will support the governor you have chosen. And they did.”
When asked about his communication with Atiku before leaving the PDP, Okowa responded, “I actually did communicate with him that we were going to have stakeholders meetings this week (in the last week) and that it was going to be a leadership meeting and the outcome of that meeting was going to determine our next path because we were no longer comfortable with the PDP.
“And I also know that he is already heading out of the PDP from the communications he has passed on to me, and that Nigerians know already.”
A general court-martial (GCM) in Enugu state has sentenced Adamu Mohammed, a soldier, to death by hanging for killing Hauwa Ali, his girlfriend.
A statement on Tuesday by Jonah Unuakhalu, acting deputy director of 82 division, said the court also sentenced Abubakar Yusuf to 10 years imprisonment for robbing a mall in Enugu.
Delivering the judgment, Sadisu Buhari, president of the 11-member GCM sitting at the 82 division of the Nigerian Army, said Mohammed was found guilty of murder under section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act of 2004.
Buhari noted that that the judgement was handed down after a “careful” review of the soldier’s record, his compassionate plea for mitigation and in the interest of justice for the deceased.
“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder,” Buhari said.
He said the panel also found Yusuf guilty of robbery, punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act of 2004.
The GCM president added that the court considered the plea presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, and applied the judgement to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the army.
“However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying on the provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, hereby sentences the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment,” he added.
Buhari reassured the public of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
He noted that the findings and sentences pronounced for both soldiers are subject to confirmation by the “appropriate authority”.