Politics

BREAKING: Court nullifies Edo PDP gov primary

Published

5 months ago

July 4, 2024

Asue Ighodalo

BREAKING: Court nullifies Edo PDP gov primary

A Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the PDP’s primary held on Feb. 22 failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll amd the party’s constitution.

Justice Ekwo, who said that the Exhibit PDP 1 tendered by the party was bereft of evidence, held that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case against the defendants

The judge said that from the exhibit presented by the PDP, he found that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome.of the poll.

He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, were against the provisions of the law.

Justice Ekwo held that, though INEC, the 1st defendant, filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.

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According to the judge, the 1st defendant counsel only said it will be bound by the decision of the court.

“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeed on merit,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its national secretary and the vice chairman, south south as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated Feb. 7 but filed Feb 8, the plaintiffs sought for two orders

These include an order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted with regard to the plan of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries.of Feb. 22 in Edo.

The plaintiffs, which include Hon Kelvin Mohammed, Mr Gabriel Okoduwa and Mr Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.

NAN reports that the 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor.

BREAKING: Court nullifies Edo PDP gov primary

(NAN)

Related Topics:Edo PDP Featured gov primary

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Politics

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive

Published

21 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive

A Makurdi High Court has ordered the reinstatement of Austin Agada and other elected executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue chapter, whose tenures were terminated by the party’s national working committee.

The presiding judge, Justice Tertsegha Kume, gave the order on Thursday in his verdict in a suit filed by Agada and eight others against APC.

Mr Agada and the eight others challenged the abrupt termination of their tenure in office as Benue executives of the party.

They dragged the party to court to determine whether it was right to terminate their tenures midway without giving them a fair hearing.

The plaintiff’s counsel, M. T. Alyebo, told the court that the party’s NWC was wrong to disregard the provisions of Articles 12(11), 17(i), and 21.1 of the Constitution of the APC 2022 (as amended).

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Mr Alyebo argued that the NWC decision was also in contravention of Section 223(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) by not giving them a fair hearing before unlawfully terminating their tenures.

He therefore urged the court to make an order reinstating his clients until the expiration of their tenures on February 2, 2026.

However, counsel for APC, Matthew Burkaa, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal affairs of the party.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed the argument of the respondents’ counsel and granted the reliefs sought by the applicants.

He declared that the tenure of office of Agada and other elected executives of the APC in Benue is still valid and subsisting till the completion of four years.

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive
NAN

Politics

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2024

Trends Admin

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has suspended Habibu Umar, the lawmaker representing Kirfi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, for alleged insubordination.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, PDP State Chairman Samaila Burga confirmed Umar’s suspension, barring him from all party activities until further notice.

The decision was based on findings that Umar violated sections 58 (9) (1) and (f) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).

According to the letter, Umar was issued a query on November 5, 2024, following accusations of misconduct. A disciplinary committee was subsequently established on November 11 to investigate the matter.

After a thorough review, the committee found Umar guilty and recommended his immediate suspension under sections 59 (4) and (5) of the party’s constitution.

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The suspension, which was signed by members of the Beni Ward EXCO, highlights the party’s commitment to enforcing discipline and upholding its internal regulations.

“Effective from today, November 25, 2024, Hon. Habibu Umar is barred from participating in any party activities until further notice,” the chairman stated.

In another development, a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Adamu Bello, has officially rejoined the PDP after leaving the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Bello, a founding member of the APC in Bauchi State and a key figure in the Bauchi North Senatorial District, served as the Sole Administrator of Giade Local Government Area.

The former APC leader, who played a crucial role in securing a victory for the APC in Giade LGA during the last general elections, cited the ongoing support of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his people as the primary reason for his decision to return to the PDP.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adamu Bello explained that his constituents urged him to join the PDP in order to better advocate for the community’s interests.

“I have always been a voice for my people, and they have asked me to take this step so that we can continue to progress,” Bello remarked.

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

Politics

Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA National Chairman

Published

3 days ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Sly Ezeokenwa

Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA National Chairman

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, affirmed Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in two unanimous judgements, invalidated Chief Edozie Njoku’s claim to the national leadership position in the party.

It held that its earlier verdict on the appeal marked: SC/CV/687/2021, delivered on October 14, 2021 and corrected on March 24, 2023, which Chief Njoku purportedly relied on to lay claim to APGA Chairmanship, did not confer any enforceable rights on him.

In the lead decision that was read by Justice Stephen Adah, the apex court stressed that the reliefs it granted on the protracted APGA leadership tussle, in 2021, were only declaratory and not executory.

The court noted that it particularly held that that issue of leadership or who becomes the Chairman of a political party, was an internal matter that is not justiciable.

Justice Adah held that it was wrong for Njoku to have gone before the lower court to enforce a judgement that had nothing to be enforced as no executory relief was granted to him.

He faulted the lower courts for wrongly relying on the previous decision of the Supreme Court to declare Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

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Consequently, Justice Adah vacated the judgement the Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered on June 28, 2024, which upheld the verdict of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that declared Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

Besides, the Supreme Court awarded a fine of N20million each, against two members of the Njoku-led faction of APGA that were listed as 1st and 2nd respondents in the matter.