Politics
A’Court upholds Diri election, gov worries over endless cases
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday reversed the nullification of the November 16, 2019 governorship election that produced Duoye Diri as governor of Bayelsa State and affirmed his election.
The five-man panel in a unanimous judgment, delivered by Justice Obande Ogbuinya, held that the majority judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal erred in law when it held that the petition of the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP) was not statute barred, according to a THISDAY report.
The tribunal had in a two-to-one judgment in August annulled the election of November 16, 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State on the grounds of unlawful exclusion of the ANDP from the poll.
The tribunal consequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election that will include the ANDP and its governorship candidate within 90 days.
However, Diri approached the appellate court to set aside the majority judgment on the grounds that the majority judgment was flawed.
Delivering judgment in the appeal yesterday, the appellate court held that there was enough evidence to show that the case of the first respondent (ANDP) was statute barred because it was not filed within 14 days as prescribed by law.
Ogbuinya, in the judgment, agreed with the appellant that the case of the ANDP was a pre-election matter, which ought to be filed within 14 days but was filed five months after the cause of event.
Specifically, the court held that the cause of action of the ANDP arose on September 27, 2019, when INEC wrote the ANDP on the disqualification of its governorship candidate having not attained the age of 35 years as required by law, adding that the party ought to have approached a High Court to ventilate its anger 14 days from that date.
The judge said the ANDP, however, filed its petition at the Governorship tribunal in flagrant disobedience to section 285, adding that the tribunal is not a competent platform to institute such a pre-election case.
The appellate court further held that the documentary evidence used by INEC to disqualify the ANDP candidate on account of under-age was incorruptible because they were supplied by the candidate himself with an affidavit sworn to affirm the genuineness and authenticity of the supplied information.
In another ground of appeal, Justice Ogbuinya also agreed with the appellant that INEC has power to disqualify any candidate who does not meet the requirements for participating in an election.
According to the panel, INEC was right in excluding the ANDP from the November 16 governorship poll on grounds of its Deputy Governorship candidate, who was said to be under age at the time of the election.
Overall, Justice Ogbuinya held that the case of the appellant has merit and went ahead to set aside the majority judgment of the tribunal that annulled the November 16 governorship poll.
The Court of Appeal, in addition, affirmed the election of Diri as governor of Bayelsa State.
In another matter, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Mr. Ebizimo Diriyai, the candidate of the Accord Party, on the grounds that the allegation of certificate forgery brought against the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, were not proved beyond reasonable doubt as required by law on criminal allegations.
Justice Folasade Ojo, who delivered the lead judgment agreed with Chukwuma Machukwu-Umeh, SAN, that the case of the Accord Party being a pre-election matter was statute barred and incompetent having been filed outside 14 days stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Ojo also agreed with Machukwu-Umeh that the Accord Party and its governorship candidate made heavy weather in their certificate forgery allegations when in actual fact, the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) and the Department of State Service (DSS) have separately confirmed in the reports that mere correction was effected in the name of the deputy governor as contained in his Exemption Certificate.
The appellate court agreed that the allegations were weighty in nature as it could lead to automatic disqualification and also agreed that there was no scintilla of evidence to establish how a mere correction in the spelling of a name transformed into forgery.
The court therefore dismissed the appeal of the Accord Party and its governorship candidate in its entirety for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
Also giving the same reason, the court dismissed the petition of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Liberation Movement (LM) alongside their governorship candidates.
Diri Attributes Victory to God
Meanwhile, Diri, in a press statement by his spokesman, Daniel Alabrah, applauded the decision of the five-man panel of Justices for upholding the law and dispensing justice to all.
He attributed his victory to God whom he referred to as the Supreme Leader of the universe ruling over the affairs of men.
Diri said: “I want to thank God for this victory. Today, a Daniel came to judgement in the name of the Court of Appeal, which has given the true position of the law and we are happy about it.”
But Diri bemoaned the litany of electoral cases trailing his election, describing them as distractions, and stated that it was time “portfolio political parties” stopped fanning the embers of disunity in the state.
Politics
Foluke Daramola Joins 2027 Reps Race, Picks APC Nomination Forms
Foluke Daramola Joins 2027 Reps Race, Picks APC Nomination Forms
Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Foluke Daramola, has officially declared her intention to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The actress recently obtained the nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest for the Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency I seat in Lagos State.
The development was announced through a series of posts shared on her social media platforms, where she displayed the APC forms and formally unveiled her political ambition. The actress said her decision to join the race was motivated by her passion for public service, grassroots development and community empowerment.
According to her, the aim is to provide quality representation for residents of Oshodi-Isolo while promoting programmes that will improve the welfare of youths, women and workers in the constituency.
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In one of her campaign messages, Daramola wrote:
“As your servant and potential aspirant for the House of Representatives, Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 1, I, Hon. Foluke Daramola-Salako, lift you up in prayers: May Almighty God open doors of opportunities for us all and keep us safe. Together, we will build a stronger, better Oshodi.”
The actress also stressed the importance of accountable leadership and inclusive governance, noting that the constituency deserves more opportunities for growth and sustainable development.
Her declaration has generated reactions across social media, with supporters and political observers describing her move as another example of the increasing participation of entertainers in Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reports indicate that the APC recently commenced the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to aspirants seeking elective positions across the country. The House of Representatives election is expected to witness intense competition in several constituencies, including Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency I.
Before venturing into politics, Daramola built a successful career in the Nigerian movie industry, starring in numerous Yoruba and English-language films over the years. She is widely known for her contributions to Nollywood as an actress, producer and social advocate.
Her entrance into the race now places her among a growing list of Nigerian celebrities seeking political offices as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.
Foluke Daramola Joins 2027 Reps Race, Picks APC Nomination Forms
Politics
Makinde Joins 2027 Race, Announces Presidential Ambition in Ibadan
Makinde Joins 2027 Race, Announces Presidential Ambition in Ibadan
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, announcing that he will run under a new political arrangement involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Makinde made the declaration on Thursday in Ibadan during a political event held after the signing of an alliance agreement between factions linked to the PDP and APM, aimed at strengthening opposition coordination ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the governor, the agreement is designed to resolve internal party disputes and ensure that candidates aligned with the coalition structure will contest under a unified platform in the next election cycle.
He explained that under the arrangement, candidates of the crisis-hit PDP structure in Oyo State would contest elective positions on the APM platform as part of the broader alliance strategy.
Makinde said the development proves critics wrong who had previously suggested that the opposition may struggle to present a united front in 2027, insisting that the coalition is committed to fielding candidates for all elective positions nationwide.
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He further called on opposition stakeholders to close ranks and work together to strengthen their chances in the upcoming election, stressing that unity remains key to achieving electoral success.
The governor then formally declared his presidential ambition, stating:
“I, Seyi Makinde hereby announce my candidacy for the presidency of Nigeria under the PDP/APM Alliance in 2027.”
He added that his decision to run is driven by what he described as the need for the “rebirth of Nigeria”, signalling a reform-focused campaign direction ahead of the elections.
The announcement marks one of the earliest formal presidential declarations for 2027 and is expected to reshape political calculations within opposition circles as parties begin early positioning for the race.
However, the coalition arrangement has already raised questions in political circles, particularly regarding the structure of the alliance and how candidate selection will be managed across participating parties, including the PDP and APM framework.
Political observers say Makinde’s declaration could significantly influence opposition dynamics going into 2027, especially as parties attempt to consolidate support against the ruling political establishment.
For now, the governor’s announcement sets the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive and closely watched presidential contest.
Makinde Joins 2027 Race, Announces Presidential Ambition in Ibadan
Politics
Why South-East Won’t Support Peter Obi’s One-Term Presidency Proposal — Ikonne
Why South-East Won’t Support Peter Obi’s One-Term Presidency Proposal — Ikonne
A former Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Paul Ikonne, has strongly criticised the proposal by former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to serve only one term if elected President in 2027.
Ikonne, who is also an aspirant for the Abia South Senatorial seat, said the South-East would reject any arrangement that limits an Igbo presidency to four years when other regions had enjoyed two terms of eight years in office.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the APC stalwart argued that the proposal undermines the long-standing agitation for an equitable power-sharing arrangement in Nigeria.
According to him, no serious political stakeholder from the region would support a four-year presidency for the South-East.
“Why would he come and say he wants to be President for four years? He is trying to deprive Southeasterners when other regions are doing eight years. No South-East man will vote for such a thing,” Ikonne declared.
“We are not looking for a President that will just stay there for four years. We want to produce, when the time comes, an Igbo President that will be there for eight years.”
The comments followed recent political discussions triggered by Obi’s reported promise to serve only one term if elected in 2027 — a move believed by analysts to be aimed at attracting broader political support across the country.
Ikonne, however, described the idea as politically unacceptable to many people in the South-East, insisting that the region deserved equal treatment in Nigeria’s presidential power rotation formula.
The APC chieftain recently unveiled a political mobilisation platform known as Asiwaju Tsunami 2027 in Abia State to galvanise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the next general election.
Describing Tinubu’s performance in the South-East during the 2023 presidential election as only “a wind,” Ikonne predicted that the 2027 poll would witness “a tsunami” of support for the President across the region.
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“So 2023 was wind, but in 2027 Asiwaju is coming with tsunami,” he said.
He further claimed that governors and major political stakeholders in the South-East were already aligning with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, even governors elected on opposition platforms were allegedly maintaining cordial relationships with the presidency.
“One clear indication is that when the governor who came on board through Labour Party is now supporting the President, it means the President has no opposition in Abia State,” Ikonne stated, in an apparent reference to Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Ikonne also praised Tinubu’s administration for allowing more resources to reach state governments and local councils, arguing that the President’s policies were beginning to attract support from the South-East.
“The President has pushed resources down to governors to implement developmental projects that impact people directly. Nigerians now understand that he means well,” he said.
The APC chieftain disclosed that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma had constituted a mobilisation team, which he said he belongs to, to rally support for Tinubu among Igbo communities nationwide.
He added that support for the President would come not only from the South-East but also from Igbo traders and residents across Nigeria.
Speaking further, Ikonne claimed that the Labour Party had weakened significantly in Abia State due to internal crises and defections.
According to him, the political momentum enjoyed by Obi during the 2023 general election had reduced considerably ahead of 2027.
“Labour Party is not really on ground in Abia State. The party has been battling one crisis after another,” he said.
Ikonne also criticised Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, accusing the lawmaker of spending nearly 20 years in the Senate without meaningful constituency projects.
“Abia South is the economic hub of Abia State and even the South-East because Aba is the commercial nerve centre of the region. Yet there is nothing to show for nearly two decades in the Senate,” he stated.
He insisted that the people of Abia South were ready for new leadership and political direction ahead of the next election cycle.
Political observers say Obi’s reported one-term proposal has continued to generate mixed reactions across Nigeria, particularly in the South-East where many believe the region deserves a full two-term presidency if given the opportunity.
While supporters of the proposal see it as a strategic compromise capable of easing regional political tensions, critics within the APC insist it shortchanges the South-East and weakens the region’s bargaining power ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The debate is expected to remain a major issue in Nigeria’s political landscape as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
Why South-East Won’t Support Peter Obi’s One-Term Presidency Proposal — Ikonne
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