Election Tribunal: Tinubu, INEC, APC object to Channels TV witness on subpoena – Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

Election Tribunal: Tinubu, INEC, APC object to Channels TV witness on subpoena

Published

on

Election Tribunal: Tinubu, INEC, APC object to Channels TV witness on subpoena

Livy Uzoukwu, lead counsel to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party, and Labour Party, LP, told the court, “the intend to start today by calling a witness, who is on subpoena and I would hand over to J.S. Okutepa, SAN while PIN Ikwueto, SAN will lead the technical team and software presentation.”

Okutepa introduced  the witness, recorded as PW3 and led Lucky Obewo Isawode, senior reporter/editor from Channels Television, who swore an oath and climbed the witness stand.

He said he was in court to adopt his earlier written deposition and present a video recording of statements made by the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and national Commissioner, Festus Okoye.

Then objections start flying from respondents counsels…

Akin Olujimi, SAN (Tinubu and Shettima) is the first off the blocks, saying the witness and his testimony was not pre-listed and front-loaded in time, according to electoral law. The first Respondent (INEC) and Fourth Respondent (APC) follow suit with similar reasons for objections.

READ ALSO:

Okutepa urged the court to dismiss the objections. After characteristic banters of fireworks, the Haruna Tsammani-led panel reserves ruling on the objections till final address and orders PW3 to proceed with his adoption of deposition and subsequent video presentation.

It was a fierce session of objections from the Respondents in Obi vs Tinubu June 9† as the defendants succeeded in stopping a witness on subpoena from giving evidence.

Immediately the witness, Lucky Obewo Isawode, senior reporter/editor, Channels Television was recorded as PW3 and sworn for him to adopt his deposition, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, leading the first Respondents (INEC) team objected, saying it was against the Electoral Act to present evidence without pre-listing and front-loading in the petition. The other members of the defense tag team – Tinubu, Shettima and APC – chorused in support of INEC.

This drew JS Okutepa, SAN, leading the Petitioners’ witness in evidence to respond by urging the court to dismiss the objections and allow the witness proceed.

After real fierce exchanges and citations, the Haruna Tsammani-led panel ordered that the witness should go ahead while objections will be ruled on during presentations of final addresses.

READ ALSO:

Having wasted over 30 minutes, Okutepa resumed with his witness. Immediately PW3 brought out the enclosed flash drive to replay on the large screen television that had been waiting for use, the Tinubu and Shettima counsel stepped out again, objecting this time that the flash drive should not be played since they were not served before hand, calling it an ambush.

Another series of legal fireworks and citations took over.

By the time the Tribunal decided that the PW3 should go ahead and play the video, it was already 6.00 pm that the court was forced to adjourn to tomorrow, Saturday,  June 10.

Ironic, isn’t it, that INEC is quoting the Electoral Act? Their reckless disregard to the Electoral Act while conducting the election in dispute gave birth to this Tribunal in the first place.

Tomorrow is another day, for whatever will be will certainly be.

Election Tribunal: Tinubu, INEC, APC object to Channels TV witness on subpoena

Politics

6 Labour Party lawmakers defect to PDP

Published

on

6 Labour Party lawmakers defect to PDP

Six Labour Party (LP) members of the Enugu State House of Assembly have officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They made their defection known on Thursday in Enugu in a letter read by the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, during plenary.

The defectors include the Majority Leader, Mr Johnson Ani (Enugu North); the Chief Whip, Mr Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1); and the Deputy Chief Whip, Ms Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural).

Others are Mr Pius Ezugwu (Nsukka East); Mr Williams Amuka (Igbo-Etiti West); and Mr Osita Eze (Oji River).

The defectors, in the letters, said their defection was as a result of the existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the labour party at the national level and across all the state chapters.

They regretted that the party had evolved into perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, which undermine its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.

READ ALSO:

According to them, the Labour Party, once considered a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorates.

They cited the cases of Mr Julius Abure and Mr Limido Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.

They expressed the hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leaderships of Labour Party for their supports.

The defectors also acknowledge that the letters were sent to the office of the Speaker by themselves, adding that they would work wholeheartedly for the progress of their new party in Enugu State.

In his remark, the Speaker welcomed the defectors into the PDP and promised that they would be carried along in the legislative activities of the House.

With the defection, the PDP now had the majority in the House with 17 members while LP had only six members.

6 Labour Party lawmakers defect to PDP

Continue Reading

Politics

More drama at LP as BoT announces takeover

Published

on

More drama at LP as BoT announces takeover

  • NLC rejects Abure re-election
  • INEC disowns national convention

The Board of Trustees at the Labour Party says it has taken over the administration of the party, indicating a fresh trouble in the LP’s internal crisis.

This was announced on Thursday in a statement issued in Abuja by the party’s BoT Chairman, Sylvester Ejiofor.

He said the takeover of the party came after the expiration of Julius Abure’s tenure as LP’s national chairman

Abure was re-elected as chairman t the party’s national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday, amid leadership crisis.

All members of the National Working Committee were returned at the convention.

But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described Abure’s re-election as “an illegality”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also disowned the exercise on the grounds that it did not monitor the national convention.

INEC spoke through Rotimi Oyekanmi, media aide to INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The BoT’s statement read in part, “Following the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee of the LP headed by Mr. Julius Abure, the BoT, in line with the party’s constitution, has stepped in to steer the affairs of the LP.

“This step is to avoid any leadership vacuum in the LP.

“Furthermore, the BoT of the LP, in consultation with major stakeholders in the party, will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP.

“This is in line with the March 20, 2018 Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress as the owners of the LP and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP be held.

“The decision of the BoT is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former national chairman of the LP, Mr. Julius Abure, and the NLC and the Trade Union Congress on June 27, 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and in tandem with the principles of popular democracy, the all-inclusive national convention will start with grassroots congresses at ward, local government, state and ultimately at the national level.

“This process will not leave any genuine member of LP out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents, and the general public.”

The Abure-led executive of the party had not responded to the new development as noon on Thursday.

 

A chieftain of the party was quoted in a report by The PUNCH as saying it was a hatchet job.

“Since many of you journalists have been covering this party, have you heard anything about LP Board of Trustees before? It is non-existent.

“How can one Sylvester Ejiofor wake up one day, tag himself as BoT chairman, and issue a statement that he has taken over the affairs of the party? Let him come over to the secretariat and take over then.

“Too many people and mercenaries are just bent on causing conflict in the party,” he said.

 

 

Continue Reading

Politics

BREAKING: LP Re-elects Julius Abure As National Chairman

Published

on

Julius Abure, the national chairman of the Labour Party

BREAKING: LP Re-elects Julius Abure As National Chairman

The Labour Party (LP) has re-elected Julius Abure as its National Chairman for a second term in office.

Abure was re-elected by a unanimous affirmation of delegates at the party’s National Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.

READ ALSO:

The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the event attended by party leaders and members.

More to come…

Continue Reading

Trending

Skip to content