Election Petition Tribunal Rulings:INEC Conducts By-elections in 34 Constituencies in 2024

Incompliance with the rulings of various election petition tribunals, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct by-elections in 34 constituencies, starting from early next year.A breakdown reveals that the election shall take place in one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies, and 22 State Assembly constituencies. Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, disclosed this development during an extraordinary meeting with political party leaders held on December 18, 2023. This gathering, occurring just two months after the last quarterly consultative meeting in October 2023, aimed to apprise party leaders of the Commission’s readiness for the impending elections. Out of the 1,191 petitions filed, Professor Yakubu highlighted that 34 constituencies, representing 2.8% of the total petitions, require by-elections. Notably, the Commission has been mandated to organize elections across entire constituencies in three cases, while in the remaining 31 constituencies, elections will occur in specific polling units. “The upcoming elections fall into two distinct categories,” explained Professor Yakubu. “Firstly, as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals conclude their post-2023 General Election proceedings, the Commission is directed to hold by-elections in specific constituencies as per court orders.” “Secondly,” he continued, “the Commission is tasked with conducting bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the passing or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.” Professor Yakubu clarified the logistical arrangements, stating, “Our intention is to combine and conduct both categories of elections on the same day. Re-run elections involve only the original participating parties and candidates, except in cases where a deceased candidate needs replacement. However, bye-elections constitute entirely new polls, requiring political parties to conduct fresh primaries within the legally prescribed timeframe.” Following this consultative meeting, the INEC Chairman assured that the Commission would convene to review preparations and announce a definitive date, accompanied by a detailed timetable and activities schedule for the elections. Comprehensive delineation details, including polling unit locations, registered voters, and collected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in each constituency, will be made available on the INEC website for public access. Key attendees at the meeting included Leaders of Political Parties, National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, and other senior officials.

JUST IN: Hours After Denial, Labour Party Withdraws Governorship Suit Against Fubara

The Labour Party (LP) has officially withdrawn its petition challenging the election of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 polls. LP’s governorship candidate, Beatrice Itubo, extended support to Fubara’s administration, emphasizing the importance of fostering progress in Rivers State. Itubo’s decision to drop the petition and rally behind Governor Fubara comes shortly after her visit to the governor. She claimed the visit was aimed at advocating for peace amidst the ongoing crisis gripping the state. She had denied that the visit was connected to the governorship election case. Itubo on Friday said the political turmoil has been affecting the state’s economy. Expressing concern over the escalating crisis, the former NLC chairman urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike to prioritize peace, urging all parties involved in inciting strife within the state to cease their actions.

Tinubu’s Intervention Can’t Solve Ondo Crisis – PDP

Amidst the ongoing efforts to resolve the protracted political standoff in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party’s state chapter has rebuffed the involvement of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that his intervention falls short in resolving the crisis. President Tinubu had convened a late-night meeting with the leadership of the State House of Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, aiming to address the contentious situation. Kennedy Peretei, the Publicity Secretary of the opposition party, labeled the meeting as a superficial attempt, emphasizing that the absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu poses a significant obstacle to any genuine resolution. Peretei expressed skepticism, drawing parallels to previous reconciliation endeavors that yielded no tangible results, citing the example of the Bello Masari Reconciliation Committee set up by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, which culminated in parties returning to court despite assurances of case withdrawal. “While the impeachment of the Deputy Governor might be halted out of deference for the presidential intervention, the crisis remains unresolved as long as Akeredolu evades return,” stated Peretei.  “The ongoing political deadlock is far from over, resembling a cat-and-mouse race until substantial steps are taken.”

Akeredolu Remains Ondo State Governor, Says Tinubu

In a bid to restore calm and political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing crisis between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, announcing Akeredolu’s continuation as Governor.  The decision came after a high-level meeting with Ondo State stakeholders at the Presidential Villa at the weekend. A statement released by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, clarified the President’s stance, dismissing speculations about the invocation of the doctrine of necessity to appoint Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor.  The Presidency emphasized that Akeredolu retains his position as the state’s Governor, reaffirming Aiyedatiwa’s role as the Deputy Governor. Following extensive negotiations involving the President, representatives of both factions, federal and state lawmakers, and APC officials in Ondo State, Tinubu urged all parties to prioritize peace, fostering commitments toward reconciliation. As a result of these deliberations, Governor Akeredolu will continue as the Chief Executive of Ondo State, maintaining the current administration’s stability.  The announcement also ensures the uninterrupted functions of the State Executive Council, while preserving the leadership of the State’s House of Assembly and the APC Chapter in Ondo State.

Tinubu Not Sick, Still Nursing Knee Injury After Surgery – Presidency

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why the president can’t walk properly. Onanuga disclosed that his principal still nurses a knee injury. He made the disclosure while stressing that Tinubu was not nursing any other ailment. In 2021, Tinubu had knee surgery in London, which was before he commenced his presidential campaign. However, Onanuga said the surgery was responsible for the president’s inability to walk properly. Responding to questions from Tribune, the presidential aide said Tinubu is not sick. According to Onanuga: “No, he was not sick. We made this clear to Nigerians. Tinubu was as fit as the fiddle in the run-up to that election. “Before that campaign began, I think a year before, he went for knee surgery, which was not a secret as President Buhari even went to see him in London when he was recuperating. “So, that was what he went to do – knee surgery. That was why he could not walk properly. “When you do knee surgery, you cannot walk like a 25-year-old man. He is still nursing it up till now because it was a major surgery. It is not that he has any other ailment,” Onanuga said.

Kano APC Goes Spiritual, Declares Fast As Yusuf Heads To Supreme Court

Following the government-led demolition of illegal structures in Kano State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to its members and affected traders to observe a day of fasting and prayer. In an audio message, the party’s chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, called for prayers in appreciation of the recent Court of Appeal victory. Simultaneously, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has declared intentions to challenge the appellate court’s ruling at the Supreme Court.  In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor expressed confidence in the Supreme Court’s ability to rectify what he termed as “miscarriages of justice” by both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Governor Yusuf said he remains resolute in his pursuit of legal action, expressing optimism that the Supreme Court will uphold the mandate bestowed upon him by the people of Kano State.

Court Declares Zamfara Guber Election Inconclusive, Mandates Rerun in 3 LGAs

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, declared as inconclusive, the governorship election that held in Zamfara State on March 18. The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, nullified the return of Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of the gubernatorial contest. It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh election in three Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state. The court however, did not award any cost to the respondents.  The court agreed with All Progressive Congress APC candidate that elections did not hold previously or where results from various polling units were not counted in the three LGAs. In the lead judgement that was read by Justice Sybil Nwaka, the court held that it was wrong for INEC to rely on information it obtained from its IReV portal, to collate the final result of the governorship election. The judgement followed an appeal that was lodged before the court by the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election. More details later…

2024: PDP Unveils Timetable For Edo Guber Election 

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unveiled the much-anticipated timetable for the Edo State 2024 gubernatorial election.  This schedule, released after a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, outlines the key activities preceding the election. Key highlights from the timetable include: Aspirants eyeing the governorship seat can obtain nomination forms for N21 million, with a 50 percent discount available for youths aged between 25 and 30; Registration of both existing and new members is set between November 16 and December 7, while the crucial party congress, determining the governorship candidate, is scheduled for February 22, 2024; December 14 marks the deadline for the submission of ward registers to the Directorate of Organisation and Mobilisation; Stakeholders’ consultative meetings with the National Working Group will be held from December 19 to 20; Expression of interest and ad-hoc forms will be available for purchase from January 10 to 16, with January 17 as the final date for their submission; The screening of governorship aspirants by the National Working Committee is set for January 18, 2024; Sales of nomination forms for completed expression of interest submissions will take place from January 19 to 25, with January 27 as the deadline for their submission. The governorship primary is scheduled for February 22, while February 24 is earmarked for appeals related to the primary process.

Diri Secures Second Term, Defeats Sylva in Bayelsa Governorship Election

Governor Douye Diri has successfully secured a second term in office, emerging as the winner of the fiercely contested Bayelsa governorship election. The Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, declared Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner after a prolonged process with multiple breaks and adjournments. Diri garnered a total of 175,196 votes, defeating his main rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 110,108 votes. The victory margin for the PDP candidate was significant, with 65,088 votes ahead. The Labour Party (LP) secured a distant third place with a total of 905 votes. In a field of 18 candidates, Sylva was Diri’s primary contender, seeking to return as the governor for a third term. However, a month before the election, a Federal High Court in Abuja initially disqualified Sylva, citing constitutional limits on the number of terms served. Although the APC candidate challenged the decision and won an appeal, the 2023 election concluded with victory for Diri. The election results mark a decisive moment for Diri, who first assumed office in 2020. The PDP mobilized support in the face of legal challenges, including Sylva’s temporary disqualification, to secure a notable win in the oil-rich state.

Plateau South: PDP Loses Senatorial Seat To APC 

The Appeal Court has nullified the participation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Senatorial candidate in the February 25, National Assembly Election, Napoleon Binkap Bali, for Plateau South Senatorial District on ground of refusal to carry out lawful order of Court. In a judgment delivered by Justice Elfaida Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu declared as unlawful and wasted votes cast for PDP in the election and declared the former Governor of the State, Simon Bako Lalong as the Senator for the Plateau South Senatorial District. Lalong who stood for the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had come second in the February Senatorial election. Justice Williams-Dawodu held that the PDP and its Senatorial candidate have no legal ground to participate in the election having failed to obey the judgment of a Plateau High Court that the party should conduct lawful elections for the purpose of having officers for Wards, Local Governments and State Council. The Plateau High Court had in 2022 ordered PDP to conduct elections for selection of officers for Wards, Local Governments and the State Chapter of the party which was not complied with. The Court of Appeal said that disobedience and disregard to clear lawful order of Court was fatal because PDP hurriedly put an illegal Caretaker Committee in place in utter confrontation to the Court judgment. Specifically, the Appellate Court held that PDP did not sponsor any candidate for the Plateau South Senatorial District because it was not qualified to stand for any election as at February 25, 2023. “As at February 25, PDP was on a faulty background at nomination of candidate for any election. It has no legal foundation upon which it’s candidate nomination can stand. “A positive order of Court must be complied with unless such order is voided and set aside by a higher Court.  “In the instant case, the lawful existing and subsisting Court order was that PDP should conduct elections in line with provisions of the law to have officers at Wards, Local Governments and State Council but the party for reasons best known to it, opted to go against the order. “I cannot but agreed totally with judgment of the Plateau National Assembly Election Tribunal which in its judgment of September 11, 2023 nullified the participation of PDP in the February 25 National Assembly Election”. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the declaration of Simon Lalong as the lawful Senator for Plateau South Senatorial District having scored second highest votes at the election. Other Justices of the Court of Appeal who agreed with the judgment are Mohammed Mustapha and Okon Abang. Simon Lalong, the immediate past Governor of Plateau State is currently the Minister of Labour in the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.