Category: Politics

As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its judgment on the Sokoto State governorship election petition, members of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) express optimism.

Hassan Sentimental, the state publicity secretary of the PDP, voiced confidence in the party’s chances of receiving justice based on their presentation in court. He stated, “We are optimistic of securing justice in the court on Thursday.”

Isa Acida, the state chairman of the ruling APC, refrained from commenting on the expectations of his party, emphasizing that discussing a case before a court of law would be inappropriate.

The petition, filed by Sai’du Umar, the PDP candidate in the March 18 governorship election, reached the Supreme Court after facing dismissals from the Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Umar and the PDP listed nine grounds seeking the Supreme Court to set aside the judgments of the lower courts, citing the weight of evidence as a key factor.

The Court of Appeal had previously affirmed the election of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, stating that the appellants failed to substantiate allegations of irregularities, noncompliance, and non-qualification. The Supreme Court reserved judgment on Wednesday, January 17.

Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has appointed Mr. Olaide Adelami, a former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, as the deputy governor of the state. This decision followed the governor’s earlier dismissal of all commissioners and special advisers.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, the nomination of Olaide Adelami as the new deputy governor has been forwarded to the state House of Assembly for approval. The statement mentioned that the House of Assembly would officially announce his nomination later in the day.

Olaide Adelami, a native of Owo in Owo Local Government Area, retired as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly in April 2018. He had previously contested for the APC governorship in 2020 but withdrew his candidacy in favor of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was from the same local government area.

In a 2020 interview with The PUNCH, Adelami, an experienced technocrat, expressed that joining politics was not initially part of his plans. However, his involvement in coordinating Ondo State for the Presidential Support Committee of the All Progressives Congress exposed him to field politics and the needs of the people across the state.

Earlier, Governor Aiyedatiwa dissolved the State Executive Council, relieving all Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants of their duties. The affected officials were instructed to hand over all government properties in their possession. Aiyedatiwa assumed office on December 27, 2023, following the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has taken a decisive step by dissolving the State Executive Council and relieving all Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants of their duties, effective immediately.

In an official statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Wednesday, Governor Aiyedatiwa directed all cabinet members to promptly hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices. Additionally, the affected officials are instructed to hand over all government properties in their possession.

The governor expressed gratitude to the departing officials for their dedicated services and contributions to the state’s development.

Governor Aiyedatiwa assumed office as the substantive governor on December 27, 2023, following the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Akeredolu, who was 67 years old, succumbed to prostate cancer while undergoing treatment in a German hospital.

The transition of power occurred on December 13, 2023, when Akeredolu, before his medical leave, formally handed over to Aiyedatiwa, following the intervention of President Tinubu. The intervention was prompted by the crisis arising from Akeredolu’s failure to hand over to his deputy upon his return to Nigeria in September. Akeredolu operated from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after returning to the country.

The state House of Assembly had initiated an impeachment process against the deputy governor, leading to a division in the assembly, the executive council, and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress. President Tinubu’s intervention, culminating in Aiyedatiwa’s appointment as acting governor, aimed to resolve the protracted crisis.

Notably, prior to Aiyedatiwa’s swearing-in, the Special Adviser to Akeredolu on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaye, and the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, had resigned, citing the demise of the governor as the reason for their departure.

In their resignation letters addressed to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, both aides expressed loyalty and gratitude to the late Governor Akeredolu, signaling a poignant end to their roles in the administration.

Ibrahim Huseini, the Chairman of the People Democratic Party in Kogi State’s Dekina Local Government Area, faces an indefinite suspension following accusations of misappropriating N19m from the party’s funds and issuing threats to members. The suspension, effective January 15, 2024, was attributed to a vote of no confidence by the majority executives at both local and ward levels. Huseini is further accused of engaging in anti-party activities during the recent governorship election. However, Huseini disputes the suspension, claiming the signatures on the document are not genuine and asserting that his executive committee is intact, planning to express confidence in his leadership. He dismisses the N19m misappropriation claim as a concoction by individuals aiming to tarnish his reputation.

The Plateau State House of Assembly faces tension as the 16 lawmakers elected under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), recently sacked by the Court of Appeal, declare their intention to resume legislative duties. The PDP lawmakers argue that the Supreme Court’s ruling, validating the party’s structure for their candidacy, renders the Court of Appeal’s verdict null and void. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemns the move, deeming it an “invitation to anarchy and a threat to democracy.” The APC insists the PDP lawmakers remain sacked under the law, heightening concerns over potential unrest.

Activist Aisha Yesufu has strongly condemned the Supreme Court’s decision affirming Governor Abdullahi Sule’s election victory in Nasarawa State, dismissing a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Emmanuel Ombugadu.

Yesufu, expressing her disapproval on X, characterized the judgment as a form of “robbery” and labeled it a “coup” against the will of the Nasarawa people. In a written statement, she asserted that the citizens of Nasarawa were deprived of their mandate, emphasizing that the Supreme Court’s ruling undermined their choice.

“This is a coup on the people. They chose who they wanted and were denied their mandate,” she wrote, referring to the judgment as “another sad day for democracy in Nigeria.”

Despite the unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, which stated that the PDP’s petition lacked sufficient evidence to overturn the election, Yesufu insisted that the judgment went against the desires of Nasarawa citizens who had voted for a change. She accused the Supreme Court of denying the people their chosen governor in Emmanuel Ombugadu.

In a breaking development, the Supreme Court has confirmed the election victory of Nasir Idris as the Governor of Kebbi State. The Independent National Electoral Commission initially declared the state election inconclusive due to cancellations and overvoting in certain Local Government Areas.

On April 15, the electoral commission organized a supplementary election, wherein Idris, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, secured 409,225 votes, surpassing Aminu Bande of the Peoples Democratic Party, who garnered 360,940 votes.

Dissatisfied with the election outcome, Bande contested it at the tribunal, alleging over-voting in specific polling units and questioning Idris’s eligibility. The tribunal made deductions of 1,735 votes from the APC and over 900 votes from the PDP’s results. However, these deductions did not impact Idris’s overall election victory, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of Uba Sani as the governor of Kaduna State. The dismissal came in response to an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mohammed Ashiru Isa.

The court of appeal in Abuja had previously, on November 24, 2023, unanimously affirmed Uba Sani’s election as the governor of Kaduna State. The PDP and Ashiru contested the outcome of the March 18 governorship election, alleging that Uba was not duly elected by a majority of valid votes and citing corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Justice Tijani Abubakar, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the appellant had presented nothing useful to the court. The appeal was deemed vexatious, frivolous, and lacking in merit. The Supreme Court, therefore, upheld the judgments of the lower courts, confirming Uba Sani’s election as the governor of Kaduna State.

In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election victory of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun. The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party, sought the apex court’s intervention to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units where voting was purportedly canceled.

Previously, the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on November 24, 2023, in a split decision, had confirmed Abiodun’s re-election. Justice Joseph Ikyegh, delivering the majority judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate.

The lead judgment in the Supreme Court, delivered by Justice Tijani Abubakar, also upheld the dismissal of the appeal, solidifying Dapo Abiodun’s status as the duly elected governor of Ogun State.