Breaking News: Tribunal Upholds Caleb Mutfwang’s Election as Plateau Governor
The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal, which convened in Jos, North Central Nigeria on Friday, has affirmed the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the Plateau State gubernatorial election. The tribunal, consisting of three members, issued a unanimous judgment on Friday, ruling against the petitioner on the grounds that the petition lacked merit. The petitioner, who is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, saw all three of their arguments dismissed by the tribunal. The election results from March 20, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof Idris Amali, declared Mutfwang as the winner with 525,299 votes, were upheld. Yilwatda, the APC candidate, secured 481,370 votes. The PDP emerged victorious in 10 local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Lantang North, Langtang South, Riyom, Mikang, Mangu, Jos East, Qua’an Pan, and Pokkos. Meanwhile, the APC garnered the highest number of votes in seven local government areas: Jos East, Kanke, Kanam, Pankshin, Shendam, Wase, and Jos North. This decision by the tribunal solidifies Caleb Mutfwang’s position as the governor of Plateau State, bringing an end to the election dispute. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
Hope For Banky W As Tribunal Orders Rerun in Eti-Osa, Lagos Federal Constituency
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal which convened at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos has rendered the election victory of Mr. Thaddeus Atta of the Labour Party for the Eti Osa Federal Constituency null and void. In a pivotal judgment delivered late on Monday evening, the tribunal deemed the elections inconclusive and mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize a supplementary election within a 90-day timeframe. This supplementary election is to be conducted in 33 polling units where the elections failed to proceed as planned. Responding to the ruling on Tuesday through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Atta conveyed that there was no need for alarm. He clarified that he had not been “sacked” by the court, but rather, the Tribunal had merely called for a re-run or supplementary election in the 32 polling units where the election process had been disrupted. He reassured the constituents that he remained unwavering in his commitment to serve Eti Osa and encouraged them to remain calm, stating, “We will get through this together.” Bankole Wellington (commonly known as Banky W) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had been declared the runner-up in the original polls, and Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro (IBO) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) had both lodged petitions contesting the outcome of the February 25th election. In that initial election, INEC had declared Atta the winner with 24,075 votes, while Banky W and IBO were reported to have garnered 18,668 and 16,901 votes, respectively.
Tinubu’s election victory uncontestable, Tribunal rules
*Dismisses all petitions against him The Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday dismissed all the three petitions filed before the cit which challenged the February 2023 presidential election that produced Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner. The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsunami unanimously held that the petition by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP)and the Allied Peoples Party (APM) lack merit. Giving the verdict, the court held that the Petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt that the presidential election was marred by malpractice and irregularities. Consequently, the court held that the return of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as elected President by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is right and subsists.
APC’s petition challenging Obi’s LP membership incompetent- Tribunal
The Presidential Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday in its final ruling, declared APC suit challenging Peter Obi as a bona fide member of the Labour Party as incompetent. Justice Abba declared that Obi emerging as the flagbearer of the Labour Party was an internal affair and lacks competence in the suit. The Tribunal also touched on the issue of non-joinder of Atiku Abubakar who came second and wondered how Obi & LP’s petition could be effectively determined without joining the candidate who placed second in the polls.
APC expels 84 for alleged anti-party in Osun
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun have announced the expulsion of 84 of its members for engaging in alleged anti-party activities. In a statement by the Osun APC Chairman, Sooko Lawal, the party took the decision following complaints of anti-party activities against those expelled. “Following complaints of anti-party activities, the State Executive Committee of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the allegations against some members. “This disciplinary measure came in response to the allegations of misconduct and actions that embarrassed and brought the party to disrepute. “The disciplinary committee undertook a thorough and impartial review of the allegations and the findings were carefully deliberated upon by the State Executive Committee. “After a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the State Executive Committee has taken the difficult yet necessary step of expelling the following members: “Akibu Olaiya – Iwo LG, Yekeen Ajoke Nafisat – Iwo LG, Wakeel Mutaleeb Adekunle – Iwo East LCDA, Olufunke Akano – Iwo East LCDA, Olatunji Idowu Ajoke- Iwo West LCDA, Ajala Abayomi – Ayedire LG. “Adegboyega Semiu Adeniyi – Ayedire LG, Sabitu Rofiat Omolayo – Ayedire South LCDA, Oladeji Ismail – Ayedire South LCDA, Tajudeen Akanbi – Olaoluwa LG, Oyediran Quasim – Olaoluwa LG, Ajetunmobi Moshood – Olaoluwa South LCDA. “Akintoye Opeyemi – Irewole LG, Akerele Sunday – Irewole LG, Pastor Peter Olaawo – Irewole LCDA, Orisatola Surajudeen A. – Irewole LCDA, Shariat O. Olaniyi – Ayedaade LG, Akeem Olodude – Ayedaade LG. “Raji Sikiru – Ayedaade South LCDA, Isaac Adeyemi Aderinoye – Ayedaade South LCDA, Oyedeji Tawab O. – Osogbo LG, Aderemi Tajudeen – Osogbo LG, Kamoru Afusat Bolanle – Osogbo South LCDA. “Ibrahim Mumini Tunde – Osogbo South LCDA, Olayinka Musiliu Shina – Osogbo West LCDA, Adewumi Ademola Taofeeq – Osogbo West LCDA, Ajala Oladiran – Olorunda LG, Abiola Omotosho – Olorunda LG, Ganiyu Aliu O. – Olorunda North LCDA. “Lawal Olalekan – Olorunda North LCDA, Ganiyu Adebayo A. – Olorunda Area Council, Afolabi Olaniyi Olatunde – Olorunda Area Council, Serifat Olayiwola – Ifelodun LG, Olawale Morufu Adebukola – Ifelodun LG. “Ajibade Olatunji Ganiyu – Ifelodun North LCDA, Oladunjoye Rasheed Taye – Ifelodun North LCDA, Wale Agboola – Ifelodun Area Council, Sulaiman Akeem – Ifelodun Area Council, Odetayo Olubunmi – Odo Otin LG. “Agboola Dayo Remilekun – Odo Otin LG, David Ajiboso – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ajala Richard Folashade – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ogunkanmi Adekunle – Odo Otin South LCDA, Adepoju Kabiru – Odo Otin South LCDA. “Fadunmola Fatai A. – Boluwaduro LG, Aina Olusola – Boluwaduro LG, Oyekanmi Hajarat Adenike – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Adewumi O. Olufemi – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Teniola Alaba – Ilesa East LG. “Muraina Fatai Olusegun – Ilesa East LG, Alaka Bode Olakunle – Ilesa North East LCDA, Ojediran Folasade Kehinde – Ilesa North East LCDA, Raji Azeez – Ilesa West LG, Afolayan Kafayat – Ilesa West LG. “Kabir Ademola Hameed – Ilesa West Central LCDA, Kazeem Kafayat – Ilesa West Central LCDA, Agunlejika Adejuyigbe – Atakumosa West LG, Ogundele Sesan Opeyemi – Atakumosa West LG, Omidiji Olaolu – Atakumosa West LCDA. “Adejare Israel – Atakumosa West LCDA, Oni Abiodun – Ife Central LG, Ismail Busayo Alabelewe – Ife Central LG, Chief Titus Awofesobi – Ife Central West LCDA, Alhaji Akeem Oyeleye – Ife Central West LCDA. “Alhaji Omisakin Bisi–Ife East LG, Ogunrinola Sayo – Ife East LG, Oyewole Rafiu – Ife Ooye LCDA, Adefioye Adegboyega – Ife Ooye LCDA, Sangolade Olawale – Ife East Area Office, Adekunle Toyin Asabi – Ife East Area Office. “Adeyeye Yinusa O. – Oriade LG, Mathew Olamuyiwa Samuel – Oriade LG, Samson Fakinyede Oladipo – Oriade South LCDA, Oyediran Mikail – Oriade South LCDA, Lamidi Oyeyemi – Obokun LG. “Dare Adarayaki- Obokun LG, Oluseyi Oyinloye – Obokun LCDA, Ogundele Ogunsanmi – Obokun LCDA, Ismail Elewedi – Ejigbo Central LCDA, Yekeen Adewale – Oyebisi Ejigbo South LCDA, Muraina Atanda Adeleke – Ejigbo South LCDA. “Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye Halid – Osogbo West LCDA, Biyi Odunlade – Ife Central LGA, Rasak Salinsile – Iwo LGA. “As we move forward, we enjoin our members to remain focused on our goals and continue working together to serve the interests of our constituents and our State. “Our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to our party’s core values remains unwavering.” the statement read.
Appeal Court restores Adebutu, PDP’s vote buying claims against Abiodun, APC
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Wednesday restored the vote-buying allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)and its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The appellate court gave the ruling in an appeal marked: CA/IB/EPT/GOV/OG/03/2023, filed by Adebutu and PDP on the 6th of July, 2023, which was heard on August 3, 2023. The appeal was against the ruling of Justice A. Kanuza of the Ogun State Governorship Tribunal delivered on June 19, 2023, on vote buying during the March 18, Governorship election in Ogun State. The Tribunal had ruled in favour of the 2nd respondent and struck out the petitioner’s reply to the 2nd respondent’s reply to the petition. But on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal panel in a judgement written by Justice M. B Idris and read by Justice Aliyu Waziri, sustained paragraphs 2, 4,5,6,10,11,14,15,16 and 18 of Adebutu and PDP’s (Petitioners) reply to the 2nd respondent’s reply to the petition. The sustained paragraphs of the petitioners’ reply bother on the submission of forged certificate to the 1st respondent (INEC) by the 2nd respondent (Dapo Abiodun), violence and disruption of polling units by agents of the 2nd respondent and allegation of vote buying by the 2nd respondent. Also, the sustained paragraphs include the petitioners defence on the allegation of vote buying raised by the 2nd respondent in his reply to the petition. At the tribunal, Counsel to the Petitioners, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN had argued that the petitioners did not raise any new fact in their reply but gave a response to the new issue raised by the 2nd respondent in his reply which was not part of the issues raised in the petition. Recall that in the ruling, the Chairman of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Kunaza had, while delivering his ruling on a motion filed by the 2nd respondent, Dapo Abiodun seeking the tribunal to strike out the Petitioner’s reply to the 2nd Respondent’s reply to the petition on the grounds that the Petitioners (Ladi Adebutu & PDP) held that the Petitioners cannot raise new fact in their response to the reply of the 2nd respondent. Some details of the sustained paragraphs are as follows: “The Petitioners deny paragraph 4 of the 2nd Respondent’s Reply and state that the submission of a forged certificate to the 1st Respondent by the 2nd Respondent along with his Form EC9 can be lawfully challenged before this Honourable Tribunal under Section 134 (1) (a) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Petitioners and the said complaint is not statute barred. “The Petitioners in specific response to the above paragraphs state that it was rather the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, whose agents were captured on tape recording before and during the election distributing cash in Ogun State Government envelopes to entice voters to vote for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents. “The tape recording was widely distributed on social media and was publicly aired on Arise News Channel on February 19, 2023, and can be accessed via https//yout.be/CN19pKa3DVg. The Petitioners hereby plead and shall at the trial rely on the video clips and media reports of the and 3rd Respondents’ vote buying. “The 2nd and 3rd Respondents took advantage of the Naira redesign controversy and the prevailing cash crunch to offer Naira in cash to the electorate. The 2nd and 3rd Respondents shared old Naira notes and when some of the beneficiaries were worried that they were being given old notes, the agents of the 2nd Respondent assured them that the 2nd Respondent who is the Governor would compel the banks to accept them. “The Petitioners plead and shall rely on photographs and video recordings where the agents of the 2nd Respondent were caught on tape distributing Nara cash notes to the electorate. “Again, on March 18, 2023, when the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections were held across Ogun State, the 2nd and 3rd Respondents caused to be distributed to the electorate pre-loaded top-up gift cards of A5, 000 and N10, 000 to buy their votes to financially influence the 2nd Respondent to win the governorship election. “These Top up gift cards with PINS and Serial Numbers could either be used to buy airtime by dialling *979*PIN# or could be used to withdraw or transfer cash by dialling *979*SPID* ACCOUNT NUMBER* PIN#. These were deployed massively and widely on Election Day to buy votes. These cards were distributed on Election Day by APC agents who also had Point of Sale (POS) Machines which were used to either buy airtime and data, collect cash, or cause the amount preloaded in the accounts to be sent to voters’ accounts. The Petitioners plead and shall rely on these pre-loaded cards at the hearing of this Petition. “The Petitioners state that the 1st Petitioner’s Family only shared endowment cards at the burial ceremonies as burial ceremonial souvenirs of his philanthropic and benevolent mother, late Chief Mrs. Caroline Oladunni Adebutu, through her Endowment Schemes which were in existence in her lifetime and which she had utilized in mass empowerment programs. The 2nd Respondent is aware of this fact as he was personally in attendance during the said burial as a guest of the 1st Petitioner’s father, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu. The said cards had nothing whatsoever to do with vote buying or inducement of voters to vote for the Petitioners, and had nothing to do with the election. “The election in the polling units listed in paragraph 9 of the 2nd Respondent’s Reply to the Petition were cancelled due to violent disruptions by the agents of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents when the envisaged that the 2nd Respondent was not likely to win in those polling units and also due to over voting and not as a result of wilful disruption of election materials and resistance to the use of BVAS nor any act of the Petitioners. The Petitioners state that the allegation of wilful disruption of election materials and resistance
APC NEC elects Ganduje National Chairman, Basiru as Secretary
In a significant development for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) convened on Thursday to elect key officials. The former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, emerged as the newly elected National Chairman, while Ajibola Basiru, the former Senate spokesman from Osun State, secured the position of National Secretary. The 12th NEC meeting of the APC took place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where party leaders and delegates gathered to witness the election. After his victory, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and assured the party that internal democracy would be upheld during his tenure. Ganduje further committed to establishing a scientific register of party members, prioritizing election management, and effectively resolving conflicts within the party. He emphasized providing a level playing field for all members during party primaries to strengthen the party’s democratic principles. Prominent figures such as President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and party chieftains in the National Assembly were in attendance at the NEC meeting. During the meeting, President Buhari emphasized the party’s responsibility to fulfill the promises of good governance made to the Nigerian people following successful electoral victories. He praised the 2023 elections as the best in Nigeria’s history. Notably, former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent from the NEC meeting, while the first National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, was present. This NEC meeting followed a previous session of the APC national caucus, indicating the party’s commitment to addressing critical matters within its ranks. Earlier in mid-July, two members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore, resigned from their positions as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. The election of Ganduje and Basiru marks a new chapter in the APC’s leadership, as they take on the task of steering the party towards success in the upcoming governorship elections.
Tribunal admits EU’s final report faulting Tinubu’s victory
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Monday admitted as an exhibit, the final report of the European Union Election Observer Mission, which faulted the conduct and outcome of the 2023 presidential election that produced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others as winners. The report tendered by the former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar was admitted as an exhibit in spite of vehement objections by President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the report, the EU election observer mission claimed that the presidential election did not show credibility, fairness, and transparency in the ways and manners it was conducted by INEC. The report tendered through INEC’s sole witness and Director of Information Technology (IT), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, said only 31 percent of the presidential election results were uploaded into INEC’s result viewing portal. Before the admission of the report, Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, had applied that cross-examination of the INEC’S witness must be kick-started by Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC in view of their common interests against Atiku’s petition. The application was however bluntly opposed by Tinubu and APC through their lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun SAN, and Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, respectfully. However, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel, admitted it as evidence.
We were told not to give results to agents who refused to sign – INEC Staff
A staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abedemi Joseph on Friday told the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that they were instructed by their employer not to give copies of election results to political parties’ agents who declined to sign the results. The Subpoenaed witness of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar revealed this in court. Led in evidence-in-chief by the petitioners’ lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, Joseph prayed the court to adopt her witness statement on oath as her evidence in the petition against the victory of Tinubu. Joseph, who was a presiding officer in Niger State during the February 25 presidential elections, told the court that she was satisfied with the process as instructed. She however said that they had instructions not to give out results of the election to party agents who did not sign the result sheet. Also testifying, a presiding agent in Edo State during the election, told the court that she tried in vain to upload the presidential election results to the INEC server. While another Subpoenaed witness from Kogi State, Grace Ajagbonna also affirmed the peaceful conduct of the election, she said she was not happy that she could not upload the presidential election results as instructed. Ajagbonna, responding to INEC counsel as to whether she was happy with the conduct of the election and her work as presiding officer, said, “I was not happy that I was unable to transmit the results to the server.” However, INEC, represented by Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN; APC, represented by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and other respondents objected to the use of statements made on oath by the subpoenaed witnesses to be tendered at the Tribunal in aid of Atiku’s petition. Counsel to Atiku, Chris Uche SAN, urged the court to discountance their objections and grant their request. The five-man panel headed by Justice, Haruna Tsammani reserved ruling on the applications. Meanwhile, the Court has adjourned further hearing to June 10.
BVAS failed to transmit results, INEC ad-hoc staff tell Tribunal
Two subpoenaed witnesses of the People’s Democratic Party PDP and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have admitted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to transmit the results of the election after collation had been done. The witnesses, Friday Egwuma, and Grace Timothy, respectively said this while testifying on Thursday at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja. The subpoenaed witnesses, both ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that the BVAS machine allocated to them developed a system error immediately results of the Senate and House of Representatives aspect of the polls were freely transmitted. Testifying before the court, the PW11 and PW12 explained that they had to resort to other means of getting the results through when it became clear that the BVAS machines would not help them. Led in evidence by Atiku’s lead counsel Chief Chris Uche SAN, Egwuma, an ex-Corp member, said he was a Presiding Officer in a polling unit in Abia State while Grace Timothy, also an ex-Corp member, performed her duty in Plateau State. Under cross-examination by counsel to INEC, Mr. Abubakar Mahmud SAN, Egwuma explained he resorted to an offline system in place of the BVAS machines. In the same vein, Grace Timothy told the court that the greatest challenge she experienced during the election was the uploading of the presidential election results into the I- rev portal. The witnesses were also cross-examined by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN who stood for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN who represented the All Progressives Congress (APC). Hearing on the matter continues tomorrow, June 9.