Police to deploy 35,000 personnel for Edo election

Furthering the usual routine which positive outcome remains to be seen, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Wednesday that 35,000 police officers will be deployed across Edo State for the September 21 governorship election. Additionally, 8,000 personnel from sister security agencies, including the armed forces and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will be mobilized to support the police. He also confirmed that security aides assigned to VIPs will be withdrawn to ensure neutrality and security. Egbetokun stated this at the stakeholders meeting as part of activities ahead of the election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where its chairman, Professor Mamhud Yakubu announced that former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar was already in town presiding over the signing of the peace pact between contending parties and their candidates on Thursday. The event had the representatives of the 17 participating political parties, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), representatives of the palace of the Oba of Benin, civil society groups and others. In his remarks, Egbetokun also said the suspension of the activities of quasi-security organizations like the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and others set up by the state government to check insecurity remain suspended and that they have no role to play on the day of election. He said security aides attached to VIPs would also be withdrawn even as he reeled out the various election offences and warned that anyone caught against them would be treated according to the law. According to him, “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that elections take place and trhe security of all is the responsibility of the police and it will be supported by other security agencies to ensure safety. We understand the importance of our role in this election and we will ensure that everything is done in compliance with that. “We will deploy sufficient personnel for the election. For the Edo state governorship election, we will deploy 35,000 personnel, there will be another 8,000 from other security agencies to complement us. We have undertaken several measures including a tour of hot spots, engaging stakeholders and operational visits and we will continuously engage all.” He said all entry and exit points in the state would manned while movements would be restricted between 6 am and 6 pm and urged the political leaders to warn their members against any form of violence.

2027 Election: Labour Party and Others self-destruct

Apart from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, other leading players at the last election except the ruling All People’s Congress seem to be imploding, all as a result of frenzied moves ahead of the 2027 general elections.   For instance, both the PDP and the Labour Party, the first and second runners up at the 2023 presidential election have been neck deep in internal wranglings for no specific reasons other than the machinations of greedy party members to self destruct in favour of an individual’s ambition to conquere power in 2027.   In an apparent redundant move the Labour Party has revoked the automatic tickets previously reserved for its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for the 2027 election.   The decision was made during the party’s National Executive Council meeting held on Monday, September 9, in Abuja.   Following the meeting, the party’s National Working Committee, led by Julius Abure, announced that all party tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, would now be open to all qualified Nigerians.   In a communique signed by the National Chairman of the party, Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decision taken at the stakeholders meeting convened by Otti.   The NEC insisted that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party after “conducting its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024.”  

Rivers LG Election: Court reserves judgment in APC’s suit against INEC, others

Rivers Guber: Court Upholds Gov Fubara's Victory

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, Thursday, reserved judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) against the conduct of local government election in Rivers State.   After listening to the counsel to both parties adopted thier various arguments, the court reserved judgement on the matter to a date that will be communicated to them.   The judge on Thursday reserved judgment date after counsel to all parties adopted their various legal positions for and against the suit.   The court listened to all pending preliminary applications including those seeking joinder brought by the Social Democratic Party, SDP and the Boot Party, BP, as well as the substantive suit.   The court equally heard motions filed by Chief Goddy Uche, SAN, for change of counsel and another seeking the discontinuance of the suit on behalf of the Rivers State chapter of the APC.   Uche filed and argued an application for change of counsel dated August 28 as well as a motion for the discontinuance of the suit signed by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman APC Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, Secretary APC Rivers State, respectively.   While Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading six Senior Advocates of Nigeria including Dr James Ogwu Onoja, moved the court to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, for the Attorney General of Rivers State, and Femi Falana, SAN, representing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, all challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.   The respondents counsel equally challenged the competence of the suit on the ground that it was statute barred.   In addition, on the issue of jurisdiction, the respondents’ counsel argued that the proper court with jurisdiction to entertain the case is the Rivers State division of the Federal High Court.   It was equally their argument that the court sitting as a vacation court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case without obtaining the consent of both parties.   Substantially, the plaintiff counsel argued that the condition precedent for conduct of local government election in Rivers State have not been met by RSIEC.   The plaintiff had approached the court with an application for change of counsel dated August 28, as well as a notice of discontinuance signed by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman APC Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, Secretary, APC Rivers State respectively.   The party, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 is seeking a declaration that INEC is bound to manage the updating and revising of the register in such a manner as to ensure that the process stops not later than 90 days before the council poll.

2027: Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Resume Merger Dialogue 

The three prominent opposition leaders in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, are reportedly currently engaged in discussions regarding a potential merger ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The trio aim to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) incumbent administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This move follows the hunger and widespread insecurity in the country, as stated by a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday. The deputy national spokesman for the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made this announcement while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme. He indicated that the three opposition candidates from the previous elections—Atiku of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), – are prepared to set aside personal ambitions to create a strong coalition capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027, with the goal of “rescuing Nigerians from hunger.” Abdullahi further remarked that had the previous leadership of the party effectively managed internal disputes and conflicts, prominent figures such as former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso, and Obi would likely still be active members of the PDP, which could have led to a victory over Tinubu of the APC in the last election. He said, “We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi, all of these people, imagine if they are in the party, we will have gone to win the elections. “This APC said they defeated us with one million plus (votes), just one of these names that I mentioned would have covered that gap for us and we would have been in power today and certainly Nigerians would not have been confronted with this despair and despondency in the land.” When asked if the PDP is trying to get Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike and others back into the party, Abdullahi said, “Sure, discussion is ongoing. You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a very difficult thing and we are doing the best in the quagmire that we have found ourselves. Rest assured, there would light at the end of the tunnel. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter way.” When inquired further about the potential outcomes of Obi and the others rejoining the PDP, Abdullahi stated, “One of them would yield to the other, thereby providing us with a clear direction. “Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to ensure that we salvage Nigerians from this despair and despondency, between maladies of hunger and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of these people managing this country.” The PDP chieftain said salvaging Nigerians out of the present hardship is more important than the individual ambitions of the trio. He said, “Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigeria out of this hopelessness, he would do so. “He (Atiku) must not be in the race. Atiku is saying that it is an entitlement to him as a democrat; the constitution provides for him that he could contest at any time. “What he is trying to say is that (there) is no ceiling stopping him from contesting. That is his fundamental democratic right but he is not saying that he will force it on the throat of the party or the country. “I am telling you clearly: Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is suitably qualified and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him and give him the desired support to salvage Nigerians out of this situation.”

Its End of the road for the PDP, destroyed by the Acting Chairman, Damagun

Presidential Election results’ collation marred by corruption, Dino Melaye tells Tribunal 

“We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.” – Sen Dino Melaye Former outspoken Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has disclosed that three critical stakeholders entrusted with its upkeep have irredeemably destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking via his X account, Melaye accused PDP National Chairman, Iliya Damagum; the party’s Natioanl Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature of destroying the former ruling party. He also hinted at the commercialisation and privatisation of the party. According to Melaye: “End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.” There have been indications that the PDP National Working Committee, (NWC) might sanction Damagum and the National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for an alleged letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt. The letter was seen as an anti-party activity, and some party leaders, including members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) pushed for action against Damagum and Anyanwu. However, Damagum warned that nobody can intimidate him into resigning from his position. He said those calling for his resignation are only enhancing his popularity. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, the acting chairman berated those spreading misinformation about NWC operations