Politics
Court fixes Oct 6 for alleged vote-buying suit against Tinubu, Atiku
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday fixed October 6 to hear a suit seeking to disqualify the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu, for allegedly breaching the Electoral Act.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/942/2022, which the immediate past Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba filed alongside a non-governmental organisation under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of Rights for All International, is equally praying the court to disqualify the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, over the same allegation.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered service of all the relevant court processes as well as hearing notices on all the Defendants in the matter.
Other Defendants in the matter are; the APC, PDP, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Nwajiuba, who is a chieftain of the APC and one of its presidential aspirants, had secured leave of the court to sue both his party’s presidential flag-bearer, Tinubu, and that of the PDP, Atiku.
The plaintiffs, in the suit they filed through their lawyer, Mr. Okere Nnamdi, alleged that the primary election that produced Tinubu as the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC was marred by corruption and massive vote buying, insisting that majority of the delegates were bought over with dollars.
To strengthen his allegation, the ex-Minister who polled only one vote at the primary election that was held on June 8, included in his proof of evidence, a video recording showing the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, decrying that delegates at the APC primary sold their votes.
Besides, the Plaintiffs queried Tinubu’s source of income and his educational qualifications.
They urged the court to declare that the 3rd defendant (Tinubu), “who had previously sworn an affidavit in the INEC nomination form declaring that he lost his primary and secondary school documents and benefitted therefrom, cannot in a later affidavit deny and abandon same facts deposed in the previous affidavit and thus falsely contradicting his academic qualifications”.
The plaintiffs attached to the suit, copies of affidavits Tinubu deposed to while he was the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in Lagos state.
“That the entire circumstances surrounding the two depositions of the 3rd defendant points to the fact that they are false and misleading and cannot be relied upon.
“That the possession of a higher degree does not substitute the minimum requirement of law, where the minimum academic requirement is manifestly absent by an avowed fact.
“That the possession of a higher education qualification such as a first degree or master’s degree is predicated on the minimum educational qualification as provided in the Constitution”, plaintiffs averred.
Among other things, the plaintiffs prayed the court to determine; “Whether the All Progressives Congress is exempted from compliance with section 90(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, having presented the 3rd defendant (Tinubu) as its presidential candidate to the 6th defendant (INEC) and the 6th defendant accepted and published same, being the name of a person whose source of N100m contribution fee for the nomination form and expression of interest form was not verified.
“Whether the constitutional provision prescribing the academic qualification of candidates and prescribing minimum qualification of school certificate or its equivalent has been complied with by the 3rd defendant who on oath, has admitted that he does not possess such minimum qualification prescribed in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria”.
The plaintiffs equally urged the court to also disqualify Atiku who was cited as the 4th Defendant in the suit, for also engaging in vote buying.
They want the court to determine; “Whether the conduct of the 3rd and 4th defendants (Tinubu and Atiku) and their agents who by way of corrupt inducement of delegates with US Dollars, which being a foreign currency and non-legal tender in Nigeria under the CBN Act, and the possession which requires declaration under the EFCC Act, used the Dollars for inducement of votes in favour of the 3rd and 4th defendants have rendered the votes of such delegates cast in favour of the 3rd and 4th defendants at the 1st and 2nd defendant’s special conventions illegal, void and invalid and of no effect whatsoever; and thus inhibiting the 3rd and 4th defendants from benefiting from the proceeds of their own gross illegalities”.
Politics
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has received a large number of grassroots leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senator it would soon be rare to see someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, in Kano State.
Responding to a question on the gale of defections rocking the NNPP in Kano, he said the rate at which the NNPP members, including their leaders, are trooping to the APC is a testament to the growing popularity and support APC is getting in Kano despite being an opposition party.
“I will continue to receive NNPP members rushing to join our party. Politics is a game of numbers. If you have a political party and members of other parties are not joining you, it means there is a problem.
“The NNPP members are attracted to the APC by our numerous interventions across critical spheres of our state and the country at large by the President Tinubu administration.
“At the formation of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu went across the country to woo people to the party. And this was why the party became popular in the country.
“We will continue receiving NNPP and other party members regardless of what some people say. Time will come. You will be looking for someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya, and you won’t see any in Kano. We will get there soon.
“We are doing this to lay a solid foundation for our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to win the presidential, governorship, national and state House of Assembly elections come 2027 in Kano and beyond,” he was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir.
The Deputy National Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, who witnessed the defection, commended Senator Barau, describing him as a blessing to the APC, the people of Kano, the North and the country.
“The massive support our party is receiving in Kano shows the days of the NNPP are numbered in the state. We will take back our state at the poll come 2027, by Allah’s grace,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate has received members of the APC Amalgamated Support Groups in Kano State at the National Assembly.
Under the leadership of Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, the group was at the National Assembly to reaffirm their support and appreciation for Senator Barau over his various interventions in the state.
The group, comprising former LG chairmen, party stakeholders, farmers, businessmen, and civil servants, among others, said that with the support and interventions of Senator Barau, APC is no longer considered an opposition party in Kano.
“APC members are envied in Kano State by the NNPP, the ruling party in the state, because of Senator Barau’s numerous interventions, projects and programmes,” the group said.
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Politics
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on security agencies to step in and forestall any potential unrest and breach of public peace in the state.
According to the party, the intervention is needed to prevent the state government from disobeying court orders.
The state chairman of the PDP, Aaron Chukwuemeka, made call on Thursday, after delivering protest letters to security agencies in the state.
PDP members in Rivers State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and members of the All Progressives Congress loyal to Tony Okocha, embarked on a public demonstration demanding the suspension of the local government council elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The protesters gathered at the PDP state secretariat on Aba Road before marching to the offices of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters to express their concerns.
Chukwuemeka warned that if security agencies fail to act, the PDP will take laws in its hands and ensure that the elections do not take place, emphasizing the party’s commitment to maintaining peace and upholding the rule of law.
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He said, “We are here to submit a petition to you from the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State ably led by my humble self, the state chairman of our great party, Hon, Aaron Chukwuemeka.
“And attached to this letter is an order of court, Federal High Court, a judgement of Federal High Court on 30 September, 2023.
“In that order, it was expressly stated that RSIEC should not go ahead with the election. In that same judgement, INEC should not give them voter register, and then, the security agencies were told not to participate in that election.
“And as law abiding citizens, we believe in justice and equity, we believe in rule of law. And that is why we came to you, to tell you that, that election, the governor, the RSIEC, should obey that judgment.
“No man is bigger than the law. We as a party, we are not going to participate. And then if they go ahead to do that election, and that becomes crisis, we as PDP, we will not fold our hands.
“And that is why we are begging the security agencies to stop them from conducting that election.”
Addressing the protesters, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Adepoju Olugbenga, assured the the protesters that their letter would be delivered to the appropriate authorities.
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
Politics
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
In a significant political shift in Kano State, over 960 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Alhaji Baba Sabiu, Chairman of the party in Dala Local Government Area, have defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The defection comes ahead of the upcoming local government elections slated for October 26.
The defectors, including former councillors from 12 wards in the Dala LGA, cited a need for progressive change as their reason for joining the NNPP.
Alhaji Sabiu, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed confidence in the NNPP’s ability to bring about meaningful reforms and bolster its chances in the polls.
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Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the NNPP, warmly welcomed the new members, assuring them that they would be treated equally within the party.
He reiterated the NNPP’s commitment to fostering socio-economic and political advancement for Nigeria, with a clear focus on the 2027 agenda.
“NNPP is dedicated to promoting unity and driving Nigeria towards greater progress,” Kwankwaso stated, urging Kano residents and Nigerians nationwide to rally behind the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He called on voters to come out en masse and support the NNPP, emphasizing the party’s vision for a stronger, united Nigeria.
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
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