Today's Headlines: Ignore Threats By Tinubu, APC And Dispense Justice – PDP Urges Presidential Tribunal; Why I'll Not Celebrate My Birthday — Peter Obi

Ignore Threats By Tinubu, APC And Dispense Justice – PDP Urges Presidential Election Tribunal

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) recent statement was an attempt to blackmail the court and emasculate the independence of the judiciary to discharge its duties in accordance with the dictates of the law.

The counsel for President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in his final written address against the petition of Peter Obi and the Labour Party, had said Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 25% of the lawful votes cast in the 36 states and FCT, adding that any other interpretation would lead to chaos and anarchy in the country.

However, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, titled “APC’s Threats to PEPC Subversive, Pre-emptive Move to Intimidate Judiciary,” described the APC address as an affront to democratic order, and an assault on the corporate existence of the nation.

“The statement by the lawyers in the said written address threatening crisis and anarchy in the country in the event of the Court ruling that their clients did not meet the Constitutionally required 25% votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is subversive, an affront to Democratic Order and assault on the corporate existence of the nation.

Why I will not celebrate my birthday — Peter 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.

“I urge them to visit hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged and people with disabilities, and offer them such generous gifts. They can also visit schools of basic studies in remote areas and support them with the basic amenities they need.

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My Guinean citizenship expired in 2020, President Tinubu tells Tribunal

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President Bola Tinubu has informed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that his Guinean citizenship expired in 2020, the same year that his Guinean passport, which has been brought up by the opposition, also expired.

According to reports by POLITICS NIGERIA, Tinubu’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), made this claim while requesting that the tribunal dismiss a petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) seeking Tinubu’s removal from office.

In defence of Tinubu, his counsel stated that the Guinean passport presented as evidence by the LP’s PW27 had expired in 2020, emphasising that the opposition party’s allegation of Tinubu’s dual citizenship was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the President.

Olanipekun said, “Lastly, the PW27 tendered Exhibit PBF4 (Guinean passport), which as usual, he claimed to have downloaded from the internet, purportedly representing the data pages of the respondent’s Guinean passport, which ex facie shows that the passport expired in 2020. It is all guesswork, aimed at embarrassing the respondent.”

Tinubu’s claim comes in response to challenges to his victory in the February 25 presidential election by the LP and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The petitioners allege that Tinubu is ineligible to hold the office of president due to his dual citizenship in Nigeria and Guinea.

Protest rocks Enugu over Sit-at-Home order

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Residents of Enugu State, particularly traders have protested against the sit-at-home order in the South East describing it as a plague that has crippled their businesses and household economies.

The protest, which was at different locations in the state, obstructed vehicular movements with commuters trekking long distances to their destinations.

They said they were tired of being forced to sit at home every Monday by persons enforcing the order which had been suspended by the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

The residents displayed placards bearing various inscriptions demanding intervention from the state government.

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