Osun APC primary: Oyetola appeals court ruling nullifying his candidacy – Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

Osun APC primary: Oyetola appeals court ruling nullifying his candidacy

Published

on

Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola

OSOGBO-GOVERNOR Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, yesterday, appealed the Federal High Court judgement that nullified his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the July 16, 2022, governorship election in the state.

The governor and his deputy have also applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stay the execution of the court judgment pending the final determination of the appeal.

Oyetola, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan noted that Justice Emeka Nwite of the FHC, Abuja, had while delivering a ruling in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, invalidated the candidacy of Oyetola and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, because Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Oyetola and Alabi, in an appeal filed by the APC through their counsels, Dr Abiodun Layonu (SAN) and Abdulfatai Oyedele, listed 19 grounds of appeal against the lower court judgment.

READ ALSO:

According to them, the decision of the Federal High Court was against the weight of evidence and constitutes a grave miscarriage of justice. They, therefore, asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the lower court and affirm their nominations as valid and lawful.

In the appeal, the governor and his deputy argued that all the actions taken by Governor Buni in respect of their nominations were valid and legally cognizable as they complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

The appellants noted that the setting up of the defunct Caretaker Committee/Extra-ordinary Planning Committee, CCEPC, by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party did not violate the provision of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The statement reads: “By the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022, it is only an aspirant that participated in the primary election that can complain that the provision of the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of candidate of a political party for an election.

“The nomination and sponsorship of candidates of a political party is strictly an internal affair of a political party which is not justiciable. The 1st respondent (the PDP) therefore lacks the locus standi to bring any cause of action that relates to internal affairs of the appellant (APC).”

Another ground of appeal, filed by the appellant, was that the suit initiated by the PDP had been caught by the Issue of Estoppel which indicates that where an issue has been decided by a competent court, the court will not allow it to be re-litigated by different parties.

Vanguard

Politics

El-Rufai given 48-hour ultimatum on NNPP crisis comment

Published

on

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai given 48-hour ultimatum on NNPP crisis comment

The leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai over comments he made on the crisis rocking the party.

The NNPP condemned the former governor’s remark at the Social Democratic Party’s headquarters that the present government is responsible for the crisis rocking the opposition party.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the factional national chairman of the NNPP, Oginni Olaposi said El-Rufai lacks knowledge of the party workings and its challenges.

Also describing El-Rufai’s comment as unfounded, Olaposi urged the former governor to tender an unreserved apology to the NNPP or face legal action for such defamatory comment.

READ ALSO:

He further asked the former governor to make efforts to find out from Rabiu Kwankwaso, the details of the crisis within the NNPP.

“We shall ask Mallam Nasir El Rufai to ask his friend (Kwankwaso) to answer the following questions before the allegations of interference or sponsorship by the federal government can be substantiated.

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to go to Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam in February 2022 to prostrate and beg for NNPP’s platform in the company of Buba Galadima, Senator Hunkuyi, and others?

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to insult the founder of NNPP, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam?

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to institute a case against the leadership and founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) at the Kano State High Court to challenge his expulsion?

“Was it the federal government that stopped Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf from appearing before the disciplinary committee set up by the party for internal resolution of crisis within NNPP?” Olaposi queried.

El-Rufai given 48-hour ultimatum on NNPP crisis comment

Continue Reading

Politics

Defection: Sack Ned Nwoko from Senate, PDP tells court

Published

on

Senator Ned Nwoko

Defection: Sack Ned Nwoko from Senate, PDP tells court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sued the Senator representing the people of Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, over his recent defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the PDP prayed the court to declare vacant the Senator’s seat for leaving the party.

The PDP in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/454/2025, and filed through its Counsel, Dr. Ayo Asala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to immediately order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant position.

The originating summons dated February 27, 2025, had Nwoko, the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants.

PDP also prayed the Court to direct Nwoko to return all salaries, allowances and other emoluments he received as a Senator from the date he defected from the PDP to the APC.

In the originating summons, PDP is asking the court to determine if Nwoko ought to have vacated his seat, having defected to another party after being sponsored by the PDP at the polls.

READ ALSO:

The plaintiff sought the following reliefs; “A declaration that the 1st Defendant, having defected from the plaintiff being the political party(People’s Democratic Party) that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party which is the All Progressives Congress (APC), ought to have vacated his seat in the said National Assembly with immediate effect by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended).

“A declaration that the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are under constitution and legal duties by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended) to declare the seat of the 1st Defendant as a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly vacant , the 1st Defendant, having defected from the plaintiff being the political party that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party,being the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order declaring vacant the seat of Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly currently occupied by the 1st Defendant and directing the 1st Defendant to with immediate effect, vacate the said seat by Virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended). The 1st Defendant having defected from the plaintiff being the Political party(People’s Democratic Party)that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party namely, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st Defendant to immediately vacate his seat as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly,having defected from the plaintiff being the political party that sponsored him as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party to wit, All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 4th Defendant to immediately conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon declaring the seat vacant.

“An order this Honourable Court to directing the 1st Defendant to return all salaries, allowances and other emoluments received by him as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly from the date he defected from the plaintiff to another political party to wit,the All Progressives Congress (APC).” the PDP added.

Defection: Sack Ned Nwoko from Senate, PDP tells court

Continue Reading

Politics

Obasa, Meranda, Lagos assembly members meet Tinubu in Villa

Published

on

Obasa, Meranda, Lagos assembly members meet Tinubu in Villa

 

Reinstated Speaker of Lagos State Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, and ousted speaker, Mojisola Meranda, have arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Others sighted at Villa for the meeting are members of the State House of Assembly.

Speaker Obasa, arrived at about 2:50pm, while his colleagues had earlier arrived with Miranda in two coaster buses.

The meeting, it was learnt, had to do with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

Obasa was impeached by some of his colleagues but was later reinstated after the intervention of the political leaders especially the Governing Advisory Council (GAC).

Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood arising from his impeachment still persists.

Continue Reading

Trending