Today's Headlines: Tinubu Wins As PEPC Dismisses Peter Obi’s Petition, Tinubu arrives India ahead of G20 Summit
Tinubu Wins Again As PEPC Dismisses Peter Obi’s Petition
Photo Credit: Independent Nigeria
ABUJA -A 5-man Presidential Election Petition Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, has dismissed the petition by the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, challenging the declaration of President Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, by the Independent National Electoral Commission as winner of the February 25, presidential election, as “unmeritorious”.
The panel held that Obi failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on it by law to substante how the election of Tinubu was rigged and conducted in non-compliance with provision of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
It was the opinion of the court that the petitioners could not advance cogent evidence to invalidate Tinubu’s election.
The Court made the pronouncement in its judgment on Wednesday.
Earlier, the panel held that the Petitioners failed to prove the fraud and drug allegations they made against Tinubu.
On the forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 to the US government over alleged complicity in drug-related offences, the panel held that the petitioners failed to prove that Tinubu was found guilty of any offence involving any act of dishonesty, adding that evidence before the court showed that the forfeiture order was in a civil and not criminal matter.
Tinubu arrives India ahead of G20 Summit
Photo Credit: Punch paper
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in New Delhi, the capital of India, for a six-day official visit, during which he will attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit amongst other engagements.
The Boeing 737 conveying the President and his entourage, touched down at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, at about 6:40 pm local (2:10 pm Nigerian) time.
Before participating in the summit slated for September 9 – 10, 2023, the President will attend several high-level meetings and engagements with other world leaders and business executives on the sidelines of the Summit.
The PUNCH also learnt that the President will meet with the Nigerian community in India.
I would have fired Wike from PDP if I’d power – Momodu
Photo Credit: Punch paper
The Director of Strategic Communications for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has expressed his desire to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the People’s Democratic Party if given the authority.
Despite his desire to sack Wike from the PDP, Momodu did not object to Wike’s ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Momodu said this while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Political Paradigm’ programme aired on Tuesday (today).
“I don’t have the power, if I had the power, I would have fired him (Wike) long ago,” Momodu said.
PUNCH Online reports that Wike had challenged his party, the PDP, daring them to take action against him through suspension or disciplinary measures.
The former Rivers State governor asserted that he had yet to encounter a party leader who possessed the authority to suspend or expel him from the PDP.
He also claimed to be working for President Bola Tinubu and not the All Progressives Congress.
Ganduje’s son loses at tribunal
Photo Credit: Punch paper
The National/ State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, of the APC, challenging the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe of NNPP for Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/ Federal House of Representatives Election held on March. 25, 2023.
Recall that the son of the former Kano State Governor, Abba Umar Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a petition, challenging the emergence of Abdulkadir-Jobe of the NNPP, as a member representing Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa and Tofa Constituency election, held on February 25, 2023.
Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. Abdulgafar Murtala, urged the court to declare Umar, as the winner and set aside the INEC declaration that earlier announced Jobe as the winner.
He alleged that the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency election was marred with irregularities, over-voting, and non-compliance, with the Electoral Act.
NNPP crisis: Court squashes Kwankwaso suspension
Photo Credit: Punch paper
Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba of the Kano State High Court, on Tuesday, set aside the suspension of a former Governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 election, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso by its founding National Chairman, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and National Publicity Secretary, Major Agbo and 16 others.
While restraining them from parading themselves as national officers or leaders of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice, he also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the purported suspension, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The PUNCH reports that on August 29, 2023, the members led by NNPP chieftains, Aniebonam and Agbo, suspended Kwankwaso for six months on the allegation of hobnobbing with politicians outside the party.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, came fourth in the 2023 presidential election.
The Aniebonam and Major group, which controls the NNPP Board of Trustees said “material evidence” in public affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” and political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress, his Peoples Democratic Party, counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; and candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Photo Credit: Google
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