Today's Headline: N'Central S'West Ex-Govs May Replace Adamu; Enugu: A’Court Dismisses APC Suits Against Mbah
North-Central, South West Ex-Govs May Replace Adamu, Omisore
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The new leadership of the All Progressives Congress has written to intimate President Bola Tinubu on the postponement of the long awaited National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, The PUNCH learnt.
The development is coming barely 24 hours after the Acting National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the resignation of his successor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.
This was even as multiple sources confirmed that the National Working Committee might be looking towards October to convene a National Convention to complete the transition of filling up the vacant offices.
Aside from the offices of the National Chairman and secretary, other positions that are presently vacant includes Deputy National Publicity Secretary, formerly occupied by Murtala Ajaka, who is running for the office of Kogi governor on the platform of Social Democratic Party and National Welfare Officer, which was previously occupied by the late Friday Nwosu.
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, National Vice Chairman for South East, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu noted though the ruling party would eventually hold the convention, he however stressed that caucus and NEC meetings were of priority.
A’Court Dismisses APC Suits Against Mbah
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The Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the suit filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election in Enugu state, Chief Uche Nnaji, challenging the victory of Dr. Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The decision of the three-man panel of the appellate court was delivered by Justice J.O.K Oyewole, yesterday.
Nnaji whose petition was initially dismissed by the Justice K.M Akano-led Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on June 20, 2023, had approached the appellate court to seek redress.
He had contended that Mbah was not constitutionally qualified to vie for the office of the governor at the time of the election, having allegedly presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Among others, the APC candidate, who polled a total of 14,575 against Dr. Peter Mbah’s 160,895 votes, to place a distant fourth in the election, equally averred that Governor Mbah was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
Also joined as respondents were the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Frank Nweke Jr., whom, according to the appellant, were not qualified to contest the election, having allegedly ran foul of the asset declaration law.
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Atiku, Obi’s Position On FCT Pedestrian–APC
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the contention by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) that President Bola Tinubu ought not to have been declared winner of the February 25 election on account not polling at least 25 per cent of valid votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, is pedestrian and preposterous.
The position of the ruling party is contained in its final written addresses filed in response to the petitions by Atiku and Obi before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), dated July 14, 2023.
Lead counsel to the APC legal team, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) argued that Abuja voters have no veto power to singularly hang the outcome of the presidential election that is otherwise conclusive, simply because a candidate did not secure at least one-quarter of the votes cast in the FCT.
Fagbemi argued that “Nigeria is a federation comprising 36 constituent units with a Federal Capital Territory carved out of the territory of the federation. FCT is therefore not part of the constituent units; it is not a state, but it is inhabited by all Nigerians aggregating equal rights to vote outside the FCT.
Why I Will Not Celebrate My Birthday —Obi
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The Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has stated that he will maintain his decision not to celebrate his birthdays in today’s Nigeria due to its current deplorable state.
Ahead of his 62nd birthday, Obi on Monday, in a tweet his Twitter handle said that a birthday celebration for him would be counter-productive in today’s Nigeria, where many are grappling with myriads of challenges.
He wrote, “Wednesday 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years, that I will not celebrate my birthdays in today’s Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation. However, some friends, members of the Labour Party, and OBIdient Family and supporters have asked how they can join me in celebrating that day, and even present some gifts.”
While urging that gifts meant to celebrate him be given to those in dire need, he stated, “Let me humbly and respectfully appeal to all those who desire to celebrate me with any kind of gifts, to look around them and extend such gifts to the people in need, especially in these difficult times.
YAHAYA (
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