Today's Headlines: Anxiety in States as Tribunals Give Verdict; BREAKING: Gunmen Kill Rivers DPO

Anxiety in States as Tribunals Give Verdict

As the mandatory 180-day timeline for the conclusion of post-election court cases nears its end, many states are filled with apprehension about the potential outcomes of electoral cases currently before various state election petitions tribunals.

Recently, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) dismissed petitions from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party, adding to the uncertainty surrounding state-level cases.

Politicians, stakeholders, and state actors are now on edge, waiting to see how these judgments will affect their respective cases.

Legal experts believe that the PEPC’s ruling will significantly impact the state-level cases, particularly because of new constitutional provisions that require State Governorship Elections Tribunals to deliver judgments within the next two weeks.

Out of the 28 states where governorship elections were held, many winners declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are facing challenges from opponents who felt short-changed by the electoral body.

Experts note that cases in four or five states, namely Ebonyi, Ogun, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, are highly contentious, with unpredictable outcomes.

For instance, in Kaduna State, Isah Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate, is challenging the election of Uba Sani as governor, despite winning more local governments.

In Nasarawa State, David Ombugadu, the PDP governorship candidate, also won more local government areas, but Abdullahi Sule of the APC was declared the winner.

In Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate, contests the victory of Dapo Abiodun of the APC, despite claiming to have won more local government areas.

Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi State, is facing stiff challenges from the PDP and LP governorship candidates.

This situation has led to heightened tension among politicians and legal experts in these states, with some issues already resolved at the PEPT, while others remain pending.

Kabir Akingbolu, a senior lawyer, cautioned that any governors or lawmakers with similar issues as those resolved at the PEPT should not expect miracles but should continue to pray for a different ruling from the Supreme Court.

However, Dave Ajetumobi, former chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, disagreed, suggesting that while some issues might appear similar, the facts surrounding them could be different, making predictions challenging.

Malachy Ugwumadu, a human rights lawyer and former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), believes that election tribunal matters with issues similar to those resolved by the PEPT are likely to follow the same path. He sees the PEPT’s verdict as setting a precedent for pending election matters.

Ugwumadu emphasized that only a Supreme Court ruling could overturn this precedent.

Habeeb Lawal, a rights activist and lawyer, echoed this sentiment, stating that election petition matters with similar issues to those resolved by the PEPT could have the same outcome if the same legal authorities are cited.

BREAKING: Gunmen Kill Rivers DPO

Gunmen, suspected to be cultists, carried out a brutal murder of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rivers State, Bako Amgbanshin, on Friday evening.

The attack occurred in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state, where the gunmen ambushed and gruesomely killed Amgbanshin.

The criminals had laid an ambush for him while he was on an operation with other police officers, aiming to raid criminal hideouts in the Ahoada East region.

According to an unnamed source, who cited security reasons for anonymity, the cultists were armed with approximately four sophisticated weapons and immediately opened fire when they spotted the police team.

The source recounted that as the other officers retreated, DPO Amgbanshin bravely held his ground. In the ensuing chaos, Amgbanshin tried to flee but was hindered by a muscle cramp, allowing the cultists to capture him and take him away.

Tragically, a disturbing viral video that emerged on Friday night depicted the horrific aftermath of the attack. It showed Amgbanshin’s head, hand, and private parts severed with deep machete cuts. In the video, the gunmen chanted victory songs as the gruesome scene unfolded.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson of the state Police Command, confirmed the shocking killing of the DPO when contacted.

Tribunal Sacks Benue APC Senator, Enugu LP Rep

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Enugu nullified the election victory of Labour Party’s candidate, Prof Sunday Nnamchi, as the House of Representatives member for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in Enugu State. The tribunal, led by A. M. Abubakar, declared Prince Cornelius Nnaji of the Peoples Democratic Party as the rightful winner of the February 25, 2023, election.

Prince Nnaji, a one-term federal lawmaker, contested the declaration of Nnamchi by the Independent National Electoral Commission due to concerns about his eligibility as a Labour Party candidate. The tribunal unanimously agreed that Nnamchi was not qualified to run.

Meanwhile, former Benue State governor Chief Samuel Ortom and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party congratulated Senator Gabriel Suswam on his victory at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for the 2023 Benue North East Senatorial District election. Ortom commended the judiciary’s role in upholding justice and democracy.

The party leadership in Benue also praised the tribunal’s decision for delivering justice based on facts and evidence. The tribunal, led by Justice Ory Zik-Ikeorha, declared Suswam of the PDP as the winner, citing irregularities, including mutilation, non-signing of documents, and non-inclusion of lawful votes, as reasons. After adjustments, Suswam secured 90,590 votes, while his opponent had 82,699 votes. One panel member found the evidence insufficient and dismissed the petition, imposing a cost of N100,000 on each petitioner.

PDP Faults Umahi Over Planned Concrete for Federal Roads

The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized Minister of Works, David Umahi, for his directive that the Federal Government should prioritize the use of concrete technology for federal roads. The party also expressed doubts about the durability of concrete roads based on Umahi’s claims.

Umahi, in a recent press briefing, stated that contractors could choose between using asphalt or concrete for road construction, but they must ensure that the roads last for their designated shelf life, with indemnity if necessary.

However, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Chika Nwoba, disputed Umahi’s assertion that the concrete roads he constructed in Ebonyi State would last for 50 years. Nwoba cited past experiences during Umahi’s tenure as governor, where self-supervised projects suffered from dilapidation, including the collapse of buildings in the Abakaliki International Market, which Umahi personally oversaw.

Nwoba concluded by suggesting that the National Assembly or the President should intervene to prevent Umahi from continuing to apply direct labor and concrete pavement technology in future construction projects undertaken by his ministry.

Kogi Gov’ship: Stringent Campaign Rules Put Opposition Camps On Edge

As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, political parties and their candidates are ramping up their campaigns. The contest, particularly in Kogi, is becoming heated, with opposition parties expressing concerns about what they view as unfavorable campaign rules and moves by the ruling APC.

The APC aims to retain power in Kogi, with Ahmed Ododo as its candidate, while the leading opposition, the APC, seeks to dislodge the ruling PDP in Bayelsa. Amidst this, Kogi is emerging as a particularly hotly contested state, marked by drama and intrigues.

Governor Yahaya Bello has thrown his support behind Ahmed Ododo, causing dissatisfaction among some APC stakeholders in Kogi East and West. This internal division is expected to make the contest even more intense.

Campaigns have begun in earnest, but opposition parties are raising alarms over what they perceive as unfavorable policies, rules, and actions by the ruling APC. The opposition accuses the APC of plotting to hinder their campaigns and engagement in witch hunts.

The Kogi East Senatorial District has formed a committee to assess various political parties’ candidates and rally behind one strong candidate to challenge Ahmed Ododo. This move adds further tension to the race.

Additionally, stringent campaign rules related to outdoor advertisements, such as billboards and banners, have sparked controversy. Opposition parties argue that these rules are aimed at muzzling their campaigns, while the APC defends them as measures to ensure decorum and rancor-free campaigns.

The rising violence in the state has also raised concerns, with allegations of threats and arrests of opposition members. The opposition claims that these actions are targeted at members who recently defected from the APC.

Despite these challenges, the political analyst expects a tough, multifaceted contest with various rules and regulations to come into play as the election date approaches.

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