Connect with us

Politics

Supreme Court Affirms Sanwo-Olu’s Election, Dismisses LP, PDP’s Appeals

Published

on

The supreme court has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of Lagos State.

The five member panel in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Lawal Garba and Adamu Jauro, affirmed the declaration of the APC’s candidate as winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, after dismissing two separate appeals challenging his victory.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), who came second and Abdulazeez Adediran popularly known as Jandor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who came third had challenged the election of Sanwo-Olu on grounds of alleged irregularities, malpractices non-compliance as well as non-qualification.

They had specifically argued that the Deputy Governor, who acquired citizenship of the United States of America, is not qualified to contest elective position and as such his nomination as deputy Governor was unlawful null and void.

They also argued that his alleged unlawful nomination affects the qualification of Sanwo-Olu, hence the court should nullify their participation in the governorship election.

However, both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal in their respective decisions dismissed the two appeals for failure to prove allegations made in their petitions.

The apex court in its judgement, held that it has found no cogent reason to deviate from the concurrent judgments of the tribunal and Court of Appeal which held that Sanwo-Olu was lawfully elected as Governor of Lagos State.

The appellate court in a unanimous judgement held that acquisition of a foreign national those not bar any citizen by birth from contesting election.

ALSO READ:  Senator Godswill Akpabio I Know

Justice Lawal stated that the only condition a citizen with dual citizen can lose his right to be elected as governor is when he denounces his Nigerian citizenship by birth.

The apex court subsequently dismissed the two appeals for lacking in merit.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC had polled 762,134 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Rhodes-Vivour, who scored 312,329 votes, with Jandor coming a distant third with 62,449 votes.

National

Killings: Gov Mutfwang Bans Night Grazing In Plateau, Restricts Motorcycles

Published

on

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced a ban on night grazing and restricted the use of motorcycles across the state following incessant attacks.

In a state broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang described the attacks as “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at displacing residents and undermining their right to exist peacefully on their ancestral lands.

The governor also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7pm.

He said the directives take immediate effect, with the restriction on motorcycle use in place from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.

“The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough,” the governor said.

“As your governor, I stand resolved — Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal.

“My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.

“I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16: Night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited; transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7pm.

“The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.”

ALSO READ:  Edo 2024: Umakhihe pledges to revisit Benin storm water project
Continue Reading

Politics

Coalition Train Has Left The Station, Atiku Tells PDP Delegation

Published

on

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.

ALSO READ:  Olympics: Abbas hails D’Tigress quarterfinal qualification

“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.

Continue Reading

Politics

Why I dumped PDP for APC – AMAC chairman

Published

on

Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Christopher Maikalangu, has said his decision to leave the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APAC) is to secure greater opportunities for his people.

Maikalangu made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Kingsley Madaki.

According to him, the council has been losing out on federal appointments and employment opportunities due to political misalignment.

He stressed that his move to decamp to the APC was aimed at ensuring that the people of AMAC benefitted from the dividends of governance.

“The position we took is for the good of democracy and to ensure that the good people of AMAC move forward

“The decision is rooted in the collective interest of the constituents. I was not elected to lead the entire Nigerians, but the AMAC residents.

“I looked at the interests of my people and I have seen that these interests cannot be protected in any other platform,’’ he said.

The AMAC Chairman expressed the confidence that the APC will provide a more promising platform to advance the welfare of his people.

He stressed that his defection was a calculated step towards sustainable development and inclusive governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Maikalangu, who contested on the platform of PDP, was declared winner of AMAC council election held in 2022.

He polled a total of 19,302 votes to defeat his closest rival Murtala Karshi of the APC. (NAN)

ALSO READ:  Aziegbemi-led caretaker committee still in charge of Edo PDP- NWC
Continue Reading