Politics
Shinkafi Faults Tribunal Judgement Upholding Gov Lawal’s Election
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Executive director, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), Dr Sani Abduallahi Shinkafi, has faulted the judgement of the Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal that upheld the victory of Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Dr. Bello Matawalle of the APC.
He said in a statement in Abuja that the judgement is a travesty of justice and reckless assault on the rule of law, extremely partisan and a step backward on sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
Shinkafi wondered how the panel ignored gross violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the INEC regulations, guidelines and manual for the 2023 general election, particularly the disenfranchisement of over 100,000 voters at Birnin Magaji and Maradun local government areas despite overwhelming oral witnesses and documentary evidences exhibited at the tribunal, adding that this is a calculated effort to undermine the nation’s democracy.
According to him, it is on record that election was not held in four registration areas of Birnin Magaji local government with 80 polling units and a total of 46,000 registered voters.
He also said that election was cancelled in several polling units with over 85,062 registered voters.
“The purported margin of lead declared by the Returning Officer, Prof Kasimu Shehu was 65,750 far below the number of voters in the areas where polls did not hold or were cancelled,” he stated.
Shinkafi said that the collation of results in Maradun local government area was successfully conducted and the result of the election effectively collated by the Registration Area Collation Officers and that the collated results in Form EC8B were taken to the Local Government Collation Centre and dully collated by the Local Government Collation Officer, while that the result in Form EC8C by the Local Government Collation Officer was taken to the State Returning Officer.
He said: “Curiously he refused to accept same in flagrant violation of the electoral guidelines. As if carrying out a hatchet job, the State Returning Officer purported to undertake fresh collation claiming he would only rely on the results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The votes scored by political parties in Maradun Local Government as collated by the Local Government Collation Officers were APC 95,506 votes; PDP 618 votes.
“In electoral abracadabra, the Returning Officer substituted the said result and declared PDP winner.”
He said if result as collated by the Maradum Local Government Collation Officer in Form EC8C was included in the final computation, APC would have won the election.
“The final result was 377,726 in favour of PDP and 311,976 for APC. The purported margin of lead 65,750 of PDP could not stand in view of the 95,506 votes unlawfully rejected by the State Returning Officer in collaboration with the Zamfara State Resident Electoral Commissioner. Maradun Local Government Area is an APC stronghold. To rig out APC in its stronghold is justice juxtaposed. It will not stand unbiased judicial adjudication,” he said.
Shinkafi said that the Supreme Court, Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Court of Appeal and High Court judgments are eloquent testimonies of the rule of law, due process, electoral integrity, sanctity of the ballot box in the conduct of elections and adjudication of election disputes in Nigeria.
“In its judgment in the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Allied People’s Movement (APM) against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and INEC, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal held that ‘nothing in the Electoral Act 2022 specifically states that BVAS should be used to transmit election result’. While it noted that sections 14 & 18 of the Electoral Act provide for the use of the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) for the purpose of accreditation of voters, the lead Judge, Justice Tsammani, stated that the ‘IRev is not a collation system’.
“The panel said INEC opted to transmit results manually from the polling units to the ward collation centre then from ward to local government, from local government to state and finally to the federal. The court equally held that the petitioners failed to prove that the system was deliberately programmed by the INEC to manipulate or rig election,” Shinkafi stated.
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
A 13-member interim State Coordinating Council (SCC) of the Obidient Movement for Kaduna State has been constituted.
The appointments, confirmed in a formal letter signed by National Coordinator Dr. Tanko Yunusa, aimed at marking a strategic effort to strengthen grassroots mobilization and governance advocacy in the region.
According toYunusa, “The Obidient Movement reiterated its commitment to service, inclusion, and people-first leadership, urging appointees to confirm their roles via the NCC’s official link. Dr. Yunusa emphasized: This council embodies our resolve to build a New Nigeria from the ground up.”
He explained that the SCC would spearhead initiatives to deepen political education, coordinate advocacy campaigns, and foster collaboration with civil society and faith-based group.
The National Coordinator ztated, “The Obidient Movement continues to consolidate its presence nationwide, with Kaduna’s SCC expected to play a pivotal role in shaping its 2027 political strategy. The state’s socio-political significance in Northern Nigeria makes this appointment critical for broader national influence.”
The Kaduna state SCC interim members are
Elder Yusuf Solomon Danbaki – State Coordinator, Lawal Umar– Secretary, Barr. Kate Issue – Legal Advisor, Muhammed Liman – Grassroot Mobiliser, Jemimah Ebiega – Member and Mal. Ilyasu Muhammad – Member.
Others are Natty Auta – Member, Mal. Jabir Ibrahim Yaro – Member, Tinok Andrew – Member, Comr. Daniel Ejembi – Member, Mal. Usman Aliyu – Member, Saratu Larai Shekari – Member and Danjuma Saleh – Member.
Christian leaders and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi have extended Easter felicitations to Nigerians, urging reflection, compassion, and collective action to address the nation’s pressing challenges, including insecurity, hunger, and political tensions.
In separate statements issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, and Obi emphasised the significance of Easter as a time for spiritual renewal and national introspection.
CAN: Easter Reflects Nigeria’s Faith and Resilience
Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN President, described Easter as the “cornerstone of Christian faith,” symbolising Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.
He noted that in Nigeria, Easter transcends religious observance, embodying a vibrant cultural celebration marked by colourful parades in Lagos and solemn processions in northern villages.
“Easter is a time when families gather, communities unite, and our rich cultural heritage is showcased through music, dance, and festive gatherings,” Okoh said.
He acknowledged the persecution faced by Christians in some regions, yet stressed the enduring spirit of Easter, which inspires resilience and unity.
Okoh urged Christians to engage in acts of kindness, promote interfaith dialogue, and work towards a just society.
“Let us reach out to neighbours of other faiths, fostering mutual respect and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Kaigama: A Call to Address Insecurity, Hunger
Archbishop Kaigama struck a sombre tone, highlighting Nigeria’s escalating crises.
He mourned the recent killing of travellers in Uromi, Edo State, and ongoing violence in Plateau State’s Bokkos and Bassa areas, where communities have been devastated.
“These attacks underscore the urgent need for a sincere and coordinated response to insecurity,” he said.
Kaigama also decried the widespread hunger and economic hardship gripping the nation.
“Families struggle daily to put food on the table in a nation so richly blessed,” he lamented, calling for collaborative efforts to ensure no Nigerian goes hungry.
Expressing alarm over the rising kidnappings of clergy, Kaigama described such acts as a “blow to the conscience of the nation.”
He further addressed the political crisis in Rivers State, where a state of emergency was declared, cautioning against actions that could deepen divisions.
“No democracy can thrive without a culture of give and take,” he said, urging leaders to prioritise dialogue and the welfare of citizens.
Kaigama also condemned the “acrimonious political rhetoric” fuelling tensions, urging politicians to focus on governance rather than power struggles.
“Nigeria needs healing, not hostility,” he asserted, calling for accountability and protection for all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or faith.
Obi: Pray for Compassionate Leaders
Peter Obi, in a message signed by his spokesperson Ibrahim Umar, called on Nigerians to use Easter to pray for compassionate leaders who prioritise the people’s welfare. He described Easter as a celebration of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, offering a timely opportunity to seek leaders who emulate such selflessness.
“What is apparent in Nigeria today as insecurity and myriads of problems engulf the land is a visible abdication of responsibility by insensitive and indifferent leaders,” Obi said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s abundant natural and human capital should be harnessed to benefit the populace, lamenting the current leadership’s failure to do so.
**A Unified Call for Renewal**
The messages from CAN, Kaigama, and Obi converge on a shared theme: the need for reflection, compassion, and action to address Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges.
As Christians celebrate Easter, the leaders’ calls for unity, justice, and better governance resonate amid ongoing struggles with insecurity, economic hardship, and political division.
Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that no politician can win the Nigerian presidency in 2027 without the support of the northern region.
Speaking in a video interview obtained by Elanza in Kaduna, Baba-Ahmed, who appeared alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), emphasized that the North would soon define its political direction.
“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” he asserted.
He lamented the state of the nation and urged northerners to resist divisive and deceptive politicians ahead of the next general elections.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” Baba-Ahmed asked.
Reflecting on past experiences, he said the North had suffered greatly during the Boko Haram insurgency, which affected all groups Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Baju, and others highlighting the need for unity.
“Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” he questioned.
He warned against further marginalization of the North, noting that continued disregard for the region would have consequences.
“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching. Elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also urged the region to look beyond identity politics, stressing that competence and integrity should guide voter decisions.
“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader let him falls from heaven, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.
He concluded by asserting that the northern electorate had learned hard lessons from past choices and would approach 2027 with a new mindset.