Peter Obi Slams Tinubu For Blaming Buhari For Nigeria’s Bankruptcy

*Charges APC On Transparency, Accountability To Nigerians The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized Nuhu Ribadu’s claims of inheriting a financially bankrupt nation from the past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. During an address on Monday, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said the incumbent government, under President Bola Tinubu, inherited a “bankrupt country”. He conveyed that they are encountering significant budgetary limitations, affirming that “I’m comfortable sharing this information with you. It’s important for you to understand. Our current situation is highly critical. “We’ve taken on an immensely challenging nation, one in financial disarray to the extent that we’re repaying debts accumulated in the past. The severity of this matter cannot be overstated. “Nevertheless, our administration is making every effort to fulfill our obligations, notably those concerning the armed forces, amid these challenging circumstances.” However, in response to Ribadu’s statements, Peter Obi faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) government for its lack of transparency regarding the extent of the financial deficit inherited.  Obi emphasized the need for clear disclosure to inform the public about the nation’s current standing and future trajectory. Drawing parallels to the past, Obi recalled how the APC administration previously blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 for inheriting financial challenges and subsequently escalating the country’s debt profile. Expressing concern over the escalating debt from N12.6 trillion in 2015 to N87 trillion in 2023 during the APC’s tenure, Obi highlighted the nation’s deteriorating state across various developmental indices, including education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and security. Obi stressed the urgency of implementing measures to reduce the high cost of governance, redirecting resources towards critical sectors such as security, healthcare, education, and poverty eradication. The statement by Peter Obi on X formerly Twitter further questioned the rationale behind certain expenditures in the recently approved supplementary budget, emphasizing the necessity of allocating resources prudently to address the nation’s pressing needs. Obi called for concrete and measurable steps aimed at improving Nigeria’s current economic situation rather than allocating funds to non-essential areas.

Imo Poll: Labour Party Demands Voiding Votes In Violence-Affected Polling Units

Athan Achonu, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Imo State, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel votes from polling units affected by violence. Speaking after casting his vote in Umunumo hamlet, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Achonu emphasized the need for transparency in conducting elections, stating that canceling affected units is the only viable solution. Expressing concern over reported violence, he decried the assault on party agents and characterized the situation as a departure from democratic norms, vowing to resist such disruptions for the sake of upholding true democracy and ensuring good governance. “There is no other alternative than to cancel it so that every person will come there and watch it conducted. “They beat up so many of our agents. We are sad, we are going to upload some of their pictures. This is crazy, this is what our democracy has come to. “But we are resisting. Can’t you see the people here? They will not allow it. I hope it is the same thing going on everywhere so that we can have proper democracy and bring in good governance,” he stated.

Imo Guber: Court Denies Apapa’s Faction Motion To Stop LP Candidate 

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, has refused Lamidi Apapa’s faction prayer to stop the candidate of Labour Party, Chief Athan Achonu from participating in Saturday’s Governorship election in Imo State. Ruling in an ex-parte application argued by counsel to the faction, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed SAN, the court rather ordered Apapa and his group members to put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on notice on the existence of the suit to enable it put up its defense. The faction had in the ex-parte application marked FCH/ABJ/CS/1357/2023, asked for an interim injunction restraining INEC from recognizing or according recognition to any other person laying claim to the gubernatorial ticket of the party in Imo State slated for November 11 other than Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph who emerged from Apapa led.primary election of April 16, 2023. They also prayed for an order of mandatory injunction, compelling INEC to recognize and upload the name of Ukaegbu Joseph as the authentic gubernatorial and flag bearer of the party in Imo State. The faction further demanded for a mandatory order against INEC that the name of Lamidi Apapa be uploaded as the national chairman of the party as well as Alhaji Lawal Saleh as national secretary. In the ruling, Justice Ekwo turned down the request and ordered the faction to turn the ex-parte motion to motion on notice and serve same on INEC being the sole defendant in the suit. “I am not granting you this application today and you have to bring INEC to Court to come and explain its own side in this matter,” the Judge said. Meanwhile, the Judge has fixed further mention in the matter till November 10 to enable Apapa’s faction present its grievances and INEC to respond with its defense.

Rivers: Tribunal Dismisses Labour Party’s Petition Against Fubara’s Election Victory

The Rivers State Governorship Election petition, convened in Abuja, has rejected the petition submitted by the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo. She was challenging the victory of Simnalayi Fubara from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After the announcement of Fubara as the victor in the March 18 governorship election, both the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with their respective candidates, submitted petitions to the tribunal. Fubara secured 302,614 votes, defeating his closest rival Tonye Cole of the APC, who garnered 95,274 votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Itubo trailed behind in third and fourth places, with 46,981 and 22,224 votes, respectively. On September 13, the tribunal reserved its judgment on Cole’s petition, which sought the annulment of Fubara’s victory. After the parties presented their final written arguments and made their case for or against the petition, the three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Cletus Emifonye, adjourned the matter for judgment. However, in its ruling on the LP’s petition on Monday, the Justice Emifonye-led tribunal dismissed the petition, citing a lack of merit and the failure to substantiate the allegations made.

Peter Obi Flags Off Labour Party Campaign In Bayelsa

Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 Presidential election, has flagged off campaigns for the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Bayelsa, with an assurance that the party will be victorious. Obi, who spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, alongside the National Chairman of LP, Mr Julius Abure, to flag-off the governorship campaign of Mr Udengs Eradiri, said that the party has overwhelming support base in the state coupled with its performance and excellence. Obi urged the people of Bayelsa to come out en mass and vote Eradiri as the next governor of the state on November 11. He said that the process that produced Eradiri as the party’s governorship candidate in the state was credible. He said: “what Nigeria is lacking is verification and that is one of its major problems. If you don’t know where you are coming from that means you don’t know where you are going to. “As I was coming from Port-Harcourt to Yenagoa, you will see poverty, Nigeria has failed Bayelsa in 57 years after oil was discovered. “After Sokoto as the poorest state, then Bayelsa is the next. The state suffered from one of the worst flooding incidents last year, since the history of Nigeria.” National chairman, Abure, said he was confident that LP would form the next government in Bayelsa. He said that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed Nigerians and the people of the state in particular. He said: “We will change the economic narratives of Bayelsa state. Eradiri is the only governorship candidate of Labour Party in Bayelsa state. “LP is founded on integrity, performance. PDP and APC have failed. We have tried PDP and APC and they failed. “Their results are insecurity, poverty and infrastructural decay. Labour party has come to change the narratives. Vote Udengs Eradiri, vote LP come November 11,” he said. Speaking after the party’s flag was handed over to Eradiri, the governorship candidate of the party, promised to fix the state if he wins the governorship election. He said his programme is to engage the people but not about making noise but to reach out to the people in the rural areas to let them know his ambition. Eradiri promised not to play politics with the development of Bayelsa, but will ensure they have a better life if he is elected governor. He said that he has held various positions from the grassroots, state government level and at national level, promising that his experience in those places will position him to solve problems in Bayelsa state.

Obi/Abure petition meant to defraud LP of $15m, N12bn -Apapa

*Says LP accepts Tribunal ruling Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, the leader of a faction within the Labour Party, has responded to the Presidential Election tribunal’s verdict, alleging that the petition by its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was an attempt to defraud the party of substantial funds. Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, conveyed the party’s reaction to the tribunal’s ruling. He expressed disappointment that Peter Obi’s legal team had not provided proper advice before pursuing the case. While the Labour Party accepts the tribunal’s verdict without bias, Arabambi described the entire process as a waste of time. He criticized Peter Obi for failing to fund the party adequately to engage the required polling agents, as well as for filing witnesses outside the stipulated time. Arabambi further claimed that Peter Obi’s motive for going to the tribunal was to justify the money collected during the campaign, suggesting that the funds were corruptly misappropriated. He accused Obi of failing to convince the tribunal of the polling units where he was allegedly rigged out. Arabambi pointed out that the tribunal ruled against Obi and the Labour Party, asserting that they did not sufficiently detail their allegations of corrupt practices and irregularities. The court rejected reports and documents, emphasizing that they were not properly tendered and were already submitted in a previous case. Regarding the requirement of securing 25% of the vote in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Arabambi highlighted the tribunal’s stance that Abuja is equal to every other state in Nigeria, and residents do not have special privileges. In conclusion, Arabambi accepted the tribunal’s verdict and expressed the party’s commitment to reevaluating their approach moving forward.

Just In: Labour Party rejects Tribunal’s verdict, promises legal consultation

The leadership of the Labour Party has officially rejected the verdict handed down by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, following the dismissal of their petitions by the panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani. In a swift reaction to the tribunal’s judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, issued a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, stating their firm rejection of the outcome. The party’s petitions had been dismissed by the tribunal, which referred to them as being “clearly based on rhetoric.” The Labour Party had raised several claims in its petitions, including the nullification of Bola Tinubu’s declaration as the election winner due to his failure to secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), doubts about Tinubu’s eligibility following legal issues in the United States, and allegations of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s failure to transmit election results to the INEC election results viewer, among other issues. While urging its supporters to remain calm, Obiora Ifoh hinted at the party’s intention to consult with its legal team before making a final decision on the next course of action. He emphasized, “The Labour Party watched with dismay and trepidation the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court… we reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.” Ifoh also acknowledged the party’s legal team for their unwavering dedication and commitment in the face of a challenging legal battle. He concluded by expressing the party’s determination to pursue the cause of democracy in Nigeria, promising that the party’s official position would be communicated after a thorough review of the Certified True Copy of the judgment. The statement concluded with an encouraging message, emphasizing that “a new Nigeria is ‘POssible’,” and called on all supporters of democracy to remain focused and hopeful in the pursuit of justice.

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.

BREAKING: Court strikes out APM’s double nomination suit against Shettima, Tinubu

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has struck out the suit filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) accusing Vice-President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of double nomination in the 2023 general elections.   The Chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, who read the lead judgement, held that an invalid nomination or double nomination did not qualify as a ground for disqualification in respect of the presidential election as provided in sections 131 and 137 of the constitution. He also held that Mr Ibrahim Masari, who was nominated as a placeholder by the APC (for the position of the Vice President), was not a necessary party to the petition because he was neither a candidate nor did he win the election. He also held that the question as to the qualification or not of any candidate for any election is a pre-election matter which is outside the jurisdiction of the PEPC. In addition, he ruled that the matter of  qualifications of candidates to contest an election is entirely an internal party matter which non-members have no locus standi to challenge.

LP primary appeal dismissed for lack of locus standi

The Court of Appeal situated in Abuja has ruled to dismiss the appeal lodged by Sir Basil Maduka, the Labour Party’s candidate for the Imo governorship election. The dismissal was based on the grounds of lack of locus standi. Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, in his judgment, determined that Maduka did not possess the legal right to challenge the primary election, given that he was not an aspirant in the said election. Consequently, the court not only rejected the appeal but also levied a cost of N250,000 against the appellant. Maduka had emerged as the candidate of the Labour Party within the Julius Abure-led faction, whereas the Lamidi Apapa faction’s candidate was recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Following the high court’s dismissal of his suit challenging INEC’s decision, Maduka pursued his case at the court of appeal. However, the 1st and 3rd respondents, namely the Labour Party and Ikechukwu Joseph, contested his action by filing processes that disputed the appellant’s contentions. They pointed out that the primary election of the 1st respondent occurred on April 16, 2023, as rescheduled by the national leadership of the party. Additionally, they emphasized that the appellant was not a participant in this primary election, which was won by the 3rd respondent. Justice Oyewole, while considering the arguments from both sides’ legal representatives, underlined the concept of locus standi as a prerequisite for maintaining an action in court. He stressed that the absence of such standing undermines the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. The judge further explained that the appellant failed to establish his participation in the primary election organized by the 1st respondent, rendering him unable to contest the election’s outcome. Consequently, he upheld the lower court’s decision that the appellant lacked the necessary locus standi to maintain the action. In conclusion, the appeal was deemed meritless and dismissed. A cost of N250,000 was ordered to be paid to the 1st and 3rd respondents by the appellant.