Politics
Osun Tribunal: Adeleke’s certificates admitted as exhibits as Oyetola, APC close case
The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday admitted in evidence the file with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) containing the secondary school certificate and testimonial of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
This is just as the petitioners, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC), closed the prosecution of the matter, leaving the respondents to state their defence.
The admission of the documents followed the appearance of the INEC representative, Mrs. Joan Arabs, who brought Adeleke’s original files containing the certificate he submitted to the Commission in 2018.
It would be recalled that during the last sitting of the panel, the commission had submitted a blank document as the secondary school certificate of the governor, a situation that compelled the panel to order that the original file be brought, even as it threatened to invoke coercive power if the electoral body failed to do so.
At the resumed hearing of the petition yesterday, counsel for Oyetola, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the hearing for the day was basically meant for the appearance of INEC representative to produce Adeleke’s file in line with the court order.
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Counsel for INEC, in his response, said that INEC representative was already in court with the files containing a clearer and legible certificate and testimonial in question, saying he would be willing to apply for the return of the documents to INEC, when the tribunal is done looking at it.
After the production of the documents, the tribunal, while discharging the INEC official, said, “You can now go if you wish to. No policeman will accost you again.”
Subsequently, Oyetola’s counsel sought to tender the documents, which contain form CFO01 and its attachments, including Adeleke’s credentials, saying the original file brought to court is a primary evidence and he was comfortable with it.
Counsel for INEC, Chief Henry Agunedo (SAN), said he would be objecting to the admissibility of the documents on the ground that the basis for the production of the whole file was because only two pages of the earlier-produced Certified True Copies were in contention, saying tendering the whole documents was out of place.
Counsel for Adeleke and PDP, Niyi Owolade and Alex Izinyon (SAN) respectively, said they had objection to the tendering of the said documents, but said they would reserve their objections till the final address stage.
Izinyon also observed that the only documents in contention were only two pages- Adeleke’s certificate and testimonial – saying the CTC earlier produced had not been tendered before the court.
Responding, Fagbemi said the practice everywhere is that INEC can only apply and get back the files after the dispensation of the cases, saying, «We asked for CTC and now that they brought this. We are fine, we will take it.
Ruling on the documents tendered, the tribunal led by Tertsea Kume admitted the credentials and the Adeleke’s nomination form as exhibit ‘FILE D’ and taken as read.
It was after the tribunal admitted the documents that Fagbemi informed the panel that he had decided to close his case, saying, “My Lord, we rest our case.”
When the tribunal asked INEC’s counsel to open his defence, Chief Agunedo said it would be difficult for him to open his case on Monday, saying that the non-availability of his witnesses would make it practically impossible.
The panel then asked the counsels to meet and agree on adjournment date after which Counsel for INEC briefed the panel on the outcome of the meeting.
Subsequently, the tribunal adjourned the case till December 20 for the respondents to open their defence, saying the adjournment was based on another engagement by the tribunal somewhere else between 12th and 19th December 2022.
SUN
Politics
Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today
Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today
The Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) will announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as its deputy governorship candidate today, after weeks of power struggles and ego trips by party officials in selecting Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s running mate.
It has been discovered that Abuja would host the event.
Idahosa’s selection is said to have been made following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention at a meeting with Edo APC leaders and stakeholders.
Upon being approached, the APC’s acting state chairman did not provide a name. claimed that, however, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) would be defeated by the youngest ticket.
He said, “Our choice of running mate emanated from the people and we are going to unveil him tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja. It will be the youngest ticket ever in the history of Edo State and that is what we will use to defeat the other parties. We are not like them that are producing much older people to govern the state. We are going to produce a young team,” he said.
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Idahosa who is challenging the outcome of the party primary election in the court claimed that he won it and that the supplementary one was illegal.
It was gathered that after Tinubu’s intervention, it was agreed that Idahosa would withdraw his case from the court once all the processes were concluded.
A credible party source said, “It has been a difficult issue for over one week, especially after Idahosa went to court. The leadership of the party in Abuja had to wade into the issue. There have been so many interests at play. Ego was also involved as there were some leaders of the party who saw the primary as an opportunity to get at a leader of the party. They even threatened to publicly denounce the party and work against it if Idahosa is chosen.
“The president intervened and I believe that was what calmed nerves and I hope that all of them will respect and honour the wish of the president,” he said.
Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today
Politics
Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries
Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries
Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu wants the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, to declare as invalid and unlawful, the governorship indirect primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of February 22 that produced Asue Igbodalo, and that the party should be ordered to conduct fresh primary election.
Shaibu, through his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, also wants the presiding judge to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the standard-bearer of PDP in the September 21 poll.
He urged the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, saying the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and Electoral Act.
Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant.
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The originating summons, as obtained yesterday in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September, 2024.
“An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates’ lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February, 2024 and 10th February, 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant.
“An order of this honourable court mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”
Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries
Politics
Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman
Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman
The Appeal Court in Abuja has reinstated Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.
Justice Hamma Barka in a judgement delivered on Wednesday faulted the High Court for assuming jurisdiction in the matter.
The Court also awarded N1 million in favour of Abure and against the respondent, Lamidi Apapa.
Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court, ordered Abure and two other national officers to vacate their seats over alleged forgery.
But the Appeal Court set the verdict aside and held that Abure’s appeal had merit.
After the 2023 presidential elections, Abure has been in a legal battle with Apapa who laid claim to the party’s chairmanship.
On March 21, 2024, Abure was arrested by the Police in Benin City, Edo State, and was accused of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offences.
He was later released on bail.
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