Politics
Atiku files petition, insists Tinubu not qualified to contest presidential poll
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has filed a petition to challenge the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the presidential election that was held on February 25.
Atiku, in the petition, marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023, which he lodged before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, applied for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return that was issued to Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He maintained that the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election was “invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022”.
Atiku, through his team of lawyers led by Mr Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN, further argued that Tinubu’s election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices.
“The 2nd Respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the Election.
“The 2nd Respondent was at the time of the Election not qualified to contest the Election”, Atiku added while listing grounds he said the court should consider nullifying Tinubu’s election.
READ ALSO:
- EFCC busts 21 internet fraudsters, recovers exotic cars in Benin + Photos
- Dentist accused of poisoning wife’s drink to be with mistress
- Nigeria’s democracy has truly matured but am unhappy some candidates lost the election – Buhari
He prayed the court to declare him the winner of the presidential election, having secured the second-highest number of lawful votes cast at the election.
Meanwhile, Vanguard learned that Atiku’s legal team perfected the petition filing process at the Registry of the Court, late in the night on Tuesday.
It will be recalled that the Labour Party, LP, and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, had Monday night, also filed a petition before the court to void the declaration of Tinubu as the President-elect.
They prayed the court to hold that Tinubu was not legally qualified to contest the election, alleging that he was previously convicted and fined the sum of $460,000.00 by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Case No: 93C 4483, for an offence involving dishonesty and drug trafficking.
Obi prayed the court to declare him as the candidate that secured the majority of the lawful votes cast with the required constitutional spread of not less than 25% of the votes cast in at least 2/3 of the States of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In the alternative, he prayed the court to order a fresh poll, with the exclusion of both Tinubu and the APC, by virtue of their non qualification to participate in the election.
It will be recalled that INEC had on March 1, announced Tinubu as the winner of the presidential poll, ahead of 17 other candidates that contested the election.
It declared that Tinubu scored a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku who polled a total of 6,984,520 votes and Obi who came third with a total of 6,101,533 votes.
Politics
BREAKING: Again Rivers Assembly passes new law without governor’s consent
BREAKING: Again Rivers Assembly passes new law without governor’s consent
Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday ignored the state governor Siminialayi Fubara’s consent in passing a new law.
The lawmakers specifically passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill, 2024 into Law
It is the third time in three months that the state assembly would override the governor.
In March, the assembly had ruled against Fubara to enact the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission Law.
It took same measure in April by passing the local government amendment bill into law despite the refusal of Fubara to give his assent.
The lawmakers also threatened to take stringent measures against the governor “if he continues to flout the laws of the state”.
The assembly said it acted in consonance with the provisions of Section 100 (5)of the 1999 Constitution voted, and with a two-third majority votes passed the bill into law.
The lawmakers had passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill, 2024 on the 26th of March, 2024, and transmitted it to the governor for assent, which he declined.
Speaking on the bill , the speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said it was to secure taxpayers’ money and ensure that it is not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule condemned a situation where due process is relegated to the background, contracts awarded without legal backing and the state being governed in a “dictatorial panache”.
Politics
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
In anticipation of the upcoming governorship election slated for September 21 in Edo State, the state chapter of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called for the fair representation of Muslims in the state’s governance.
Mallam Abdulazeez Igbinidu, the Chairman of Edo State’s NSCIA, voiced this demand during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City. He emphasized the inadequate representation of Muslims in the state’s governance structures.
READ ALSO:
- Fubara: I have moved on with governance despite political pressure
- FG begins disbursement of N50bn grant to small business owners
- Man confesses killing cousin, friend, body parts sold to ritualists
Addressing the attendees, Mallam Igbinidu highlighted the purpose of the meeting, which aimed to collectively address the concerns of Muslims regarding the conduct of the upcoming governorship election.
He stressed the necessity for equity and fairness in representation within the state’s governance framework to ensure that Muslims are adequately represented.
The call for equitable representation underscores the importance of inclusivity and diversity in governance, reflecting the need for all population segments to be adequately represented in decision-making processes.
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
Politics
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has revealed why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is grappling with a gale of resignations from its folds in recent times.
Some notable members of the nation’s leading opposition party have quit the party in recent weeks.
Speaking on the exodus from the party, Lamido blamed the situation on the procedures of the court.
He said the actions of the court and the leadership of the PDP have left the party in a precarious and parlous state.
He added that the PDP mass resignation was as a result of frustration engendered by the leadership of the party and the judiciary.
Speaking during an interview with This Day, Lamido bemoaned the selfish moves of some leaders of the party.
Recall that there has been an ongoing resignation by members of PDP especially in Imo and few other states.
The former governor said if the court did not insist that Senator Samuel Anyanwu was the National Secretary, when he (Anyanwu) went and contested for the Imo State governorship election, the position of National Secretary would have gone to another person from Imo State.
READ ALSO:
- Father mourns 14-year-old daughter poisoned at school, says ‘I’ve failed you my baby’
- Zamfara APC defends Mattawale, says protesters are rented crowd
- SERAP sues Wike, 36 govs over N5.9tn, $4.6bn loans
He also asserted that some persons outside the PDP are influencing what happens in the party.
Lamido said, “Emeka Ihedioha and other chieftains of the PDP that resigned from the party were humiliated and frustrated out. They were humiliated by the leadership of the party, with the help of the judiciary.
“Ministers resigned to contest election. Other government officials and even party officials resigned to contest elective offices. Senator Anyanwu ought to have resigned to contest the governorship election in Imo state.
“What did he (Anyanwu) do. He held to the office of national secretary and contested for the governorship election. You cannot eat your cake and still have it back. You cannot appropriate the two positions. You are the national secretary and the governorship candidate at the same time. This is not done.
“So, when the stakeholders from Imo state complained, the judiciary aided him and affirmed his position as National Secretary when he lost his governorship election.
“So, Ihedioha and his group felt frustrated and humiliated by the action of the leadership of the party by failing to stand up for justice. So, as a person, I don’t blame Ihedioha and his associates. I can understand why he and his associates left. Some external influences are tele-guiding the party.”
he said, “The leadership of the party was extremely unfair to Ihedioha who first asked if Anyanwu will contest for governor and when Anyanwu said yes, Ihedioha left it for him and yet, Anyanwu still did not leave the post of National secretary. It is not fair.”
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
Depressed Delta lady kills self over hardship
CBN directs banks to start deducting cybersecurity levies from customers
Olise scores twice as Crystal Palace trash Manchester United
-
Entertainment2 days agoNollywood veteran Shan George weeps as fraudster clears ₦3.6m from her account (VIDEO)
-
International2 days agoGaza: Thousands rally for hostage deal as ceasefire talks continue
-
Sports2 days agoRonaldo’s hat-trick leads Al Nassr to 6-0 victory over Al Wehda
-
metro2 days agoDSS seals Plateau clinic over patient’s death
-
News3 days agoUpdated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
-
Politics2 days agoPDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
-
metro2 days agoWe’ve arrested seven suspected cultists, armed robbers in Anambra – Police
-
metro3 days agoEx-FCMB manager sentenced to 121-year imprisonment