Kogi Guber: Tribunal Gives INEC 2 Days To Grant SDP Access To Election Materials

The Kogi governorship election petition tribunal has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to furnish the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with certified copies of electoral materials related to the November 11 off-cycle election within 48 hours.  This directive encompasses allowing the SDP’s forensic experts to examine specific electoral materials crucial to their case. The tribunal’s ruling, delivered in Lokoja on Saturday by Chairman Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, was prompted by motions filed by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka, seeking access to materials necessary to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election. Among the materials requested are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets from various Local Government Areas including Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa. Justice Birnin-Kudu emphasized the importance of timely access to these materials to facilitate a smooth judicial process within the constitutional and electoral legal frameworks. In response to the tribunal’s order, lead counsel to the petitioners, John Adele (SAN), highlighted their challenges in obtaining these materials from INEC since November 13, stressing the urgency of the situation. The tribunal adjourned the case to November 29 for INEC to report compliance and for further hearings.  The SDP, represented by Mr. Ajaka, aims to contest the victory of APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo, who was declared the winner with 446,237 votes, while Mr. Ajaka garnered 259,052 votes in the election.

Imo Guber: PDP Calls For Uzodinma, APC’s Disqualification Over Fake Video

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Governor Hope Uzodimma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) just 24 hours before the Imo governorship election. This demand comes in response to the alleged involvement of the APC and Governor Uzodimma in creating and disseminating a fake video against PDP’s Imo state governorship candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.  The PDP, through its national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, labelled the video as “barbaric and shameful,” accusing Governor Uzodimma of stooping to new lows to mislead the people of Imo. The PDP claims that the fabricated video is a manifestation of Governor Uzodimma’s fear of Senator Anyanwu’s popularity, prompting him to employ deceitful tactics to undermine the opposition candidate’s chances in the election. Commending the swift response of TVC, which was allegedly misrepresented in the fake video, the PDP reiterated its support for Senator Anyanwu, dismissing the video as entirely false. The party called on the people of Imo state to disregard the misleading content. The PDP suggested that if anyone should withdraw from the race, it should be Governor Uzodimma, accusing him of showing a lack of readiness for a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent election.  The party urged INEC to disqualify the APC and Governor Uzodimma, citing their reported involvement in producing and circulating the fake video as a gross violation of electoral laws.

Tinubu Tells Supreme Court To Dismiss Atiku’s Appeal 

President Bola Tinubu, who contested as the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, has officially requested the Supreme Court to reject the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition party.  Tinubu’s response, which was presented by his legal team, comes in response to Atiku’s notice of appeal. This move follows the prior judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on September 6, which dismissed Atiku’s petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.  The tribunal cited Atiku’s failure to substantiate the claims in his petition and concluded that his case lacked merit. Atiku subsequently filed a notice of appeal with 35 grounds before the Supreme Court on September 18, seeking to have the tribunal’s findings and conclusions overturned.  He argued that the tribunal had made “grave errors and gross misrepresentations” that resulted in a miscarriage of justice. In his response, President Tinubu maintained that the presidential election petition tribunal had rightfully reached its verdict and upheld his election. He emphasized that the appellants had failed to substantiate their allegations and provide any compelling reason for the apex court to overturn the lower court’s findings. Tinubu also characterized Atiku’s appeal as “abusive in nature” and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss it.  He stated that the appeal lacked merit and bona fide and urged the court to affirm the lower court’s decision.  The legal battle continues as both parties await the Supreme Court’s decision.

Tribunal Declares Kaduna Governorship Election Inconclusive

The Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has declared the governorship election held on March, 18 as inconclusive. In a split decision of a ratio of 2:1, the three-man tribunal panel led by Justice Victor Oviawe declared the election inconclusive and directed that a supplementary election should be held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within 90 days. INEC is also to conduct election in seven wards, four local govts, 24 polling units consisting of 16,300 register voters. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Uba Sani as the Governor of Kaduna State on the grounds of alleged irregularities and electoral fraud, saying that its candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru won the election. During the hearing of the petition, the PDP and Ashiru called 24 witnesses and presented claims and documents to prove their case.

Presidential Election: Tribunal strikes out Obi, LP’s claim of irregularities, corrupt practices 

The ongoing Presidential Election Tribunal has struck out Mr. Peter Obi, and Labour Party’s allegations of irregularities and corrupt practices leveled against the election that produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The court ruling in the preliminary objection held that the affected paragraphs were “vague, imprecise, nebulous and failed to meet the requirements of pleadings”. The judgement posited that Mr Obi and his party failed to mention the number of lawful votes they scored and the number of the unlawful votes recorded by the electoral body. The ruling read by Justice Abba Mohammed, insisted that the petitioners failed to establish the polling units or wards were irregularities, corrupt practices and manipulation of results were carried out. Justice Mohammed explained that  “averments” must not leave room for confusion or ambiguity, adding that the aim of pleadings is to avail respondents of the facts of the case so as to prepare adequately. Mohammed held that, “petitioners failed to specify polling units where anomalies occurred or where agents complained of alleged malpractices and irregularities. “According to the ruling in a case of alleged malpractices in over 500 polling units, it does not suffice for the petitioners to say some polling units or collation centers without being specific. “Averments must not be general but specific.” Further in the ruling, the panel noted the total of over 18, 000 polling units where the petitioners alleged that INEC uploaded “blurred results ” unto the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portals, not one polling units was cited. “They did not specify polling units where election results were not uploaded” or where scores attributed to them was reduced or added to Tinubu”. “They did not show the majority of votes they claimed they had scored “, the tribunal held, adding that petitioners only make generic allegations of irregularities and malpractices. Mohammed further faulted the petitioners for relying on a spreadsheet analysis, inspection results and experts reports, adding that such documents ought to be served on the respondents to enable them do their own analysis and respond accordingly. “The spreadsheet report, inspection results and experts reports were not served but only listed as documents to be relied on in adjudicating the petition”, the court held. “It is unimaginable that a petitioner will allege widespread rigging in 176,000 Polling units, over 8,000 wards, 774 LGAs, 36 States and FCT without stating the specific place where the alleged irregularities occur.” Consequent to the above, the tribunal strike out the affected paragraphs as requested by the petitioners. On Obi’s membership of LP as he was still a PDP member. The court overruled the respondents claims stating that  Obi and LP certified the provisions of Obi being a member.