Category: Lead

Mai Borgu, Emir of Borgu, Barrister Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro, has charged traditional rulers to pray and support the President elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a prominent traditional title holder of Borgu kingdom, the Jagaban Borgu. 

He said the president elect needs prayers and support, particularly to turn around fortunes of this country,  secure it and make it a democratic reference point in Africa. 

The royal father said in a statement that he believes  “he is capable as Jagaban Borgu and has the experience to fix this country in all areas development index, and look forward to his peaceful inauguration come May 29th’.

The Emir of Borgu also appealed to traditional rulers and concerned elders to help maintain peace and security in their various domains,  noting that the welfare and security of the people are  the primarily responsibility of traditional institutions and thrones.

Worried at the heightened political tensions in the country,  he urged political differences not to stoke any type of ethno religious and cultural differences,  adding that Nigeria’s diversity reigns supreme,  must be protected and guided to sustain national peaceful coexistence.

Read Also: Tinubu to tribunal: petitions by Atiku, PDP not competent

“As traditional rulers, we must be seen to father to all Nigerians and therefore,  should help douse tensions either political or religious which may put our people in harms way. It is indeed sacrosanct, a Catholic creed that we encourage our leaders and children to find ways to resolve their political or social differences without setting the country ablaze” His Royal Highness explained. 

To put the current political situation in the country in perspective, the Mai Borgu,  Kitoro the IV, disclosed that all post electoral differences in the country,  have always been tabled before the courts of land and which deepens legal and democratic processes,  desirable to promote Nigerian democracy and aid national socioeconomic development. 

He observed that failure of traditional rulers to intervene and caution temperance and circumspection to the political community in Nigeria,  will spill unnecessary tension and confusion. 

” As  Nigerian traditional rulers, we must get our bearings right and find ways to let our children who are  into politics to play by the rules. You win, bring everyone close to support developmental programmes and if you lose, and felt not satisfied or aggrieved,  the courts of the lands are there,  and no doubt, that will encourage peace and national cohesion,  instead of letting political disagreements get out of hands, the Emir emphasised. 

He disclosed his plans to reach out and mobilize his fellow crown heads across the country,  but beginning with the Borgu kingdom where he will call a meeting of all district heads and chiefs to reach out to the political elites, irrespective party affiliations to toe lines of democratic process and engagements,  and also to maintain peace and harmonious existence. 

• Not joining Obi, Kwankwaso invalidates suit
• Voters in FCT not superior

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss the suit filed against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for being grossly deficient.

Tinubu faulted the competence of the petition challenging his election, describing it as not only frivolous, but an abuse of the court process.

He argued that the PDP earlier filed a suit at the Supreme Court through some of its governors, demanding the cancellation of the election.

He also argued that the PDP and Atiku cannot maintain two cases on the same issue in different courts at the same time.

Tinubu faulted the competence of the petition on the grounds that Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were not joined as parties.

This, he said, is even though the petitioners were contesting the results from the states won by LP and NNPP

Tinubu said Atiku and the PDP also have issues with states they won, but failed to join themselves as co-respondents in line with the law.

The president-elect’s response was filed on Wednesday night by his team of lawyers, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

He described Atiku as a serial loser, contending that he could not have won the presidential election when his political platform was riddled with crises, with five PDP governors working against him.

‘Not joining Obi, Kwankwaso invalidates petition’ 

Tinubu faulted the competence of the petition for excluding Obi and Kwankwaso.

He argued: “The petitioners complained about the outcome of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Plateau and Lagos states.

“Tinubu was not declared as the overall winner in any of the states aforementioned.

“Mr. Obi was declared the overall winner of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Plateau and Lagos states, while Kwankwaso was declared winner of the election in Kano State.

“None of LP, Obi, Kwankwaso, and NNPP has been joined as a party to this petition.

“Tinubu cannot be made willy-nilly to defend any infraction allegedly committed in any of the states afore-mentioned.

“The petitioners are querying the result of elections in all the states where they won the election, including but not limited to Adamawa, Bauchi, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Gombe, Yobe, Sokoto, Osun, Kebbi and Katsina states, without making themselves co-respondents to the petition.

“Under Section 133(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, a party whose election is being challenged shall be made a respondent.”

‘Petition an abuse of court process’ 

Tinubu noted that on February 28, the PDP, through its governors in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto states filed a suit marked: SC/CV/354/2023 at the Supreme Court, demanding among others, that the February 25 election be cancelled.

“The plaintiffs attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not following its Manual and Regulations in the conduct of the election and also complained of glitches, which is also the thrust of their petition.

“While the originating summons (in the suit before the Supreme Court) was filed on 28th February 2023, this petition was filed on 21st March 2023.

“The petitioners herein, through themselves and/or their proxies filed the originating summons at the Supreme Court, before filing this petition.

“The petitioners are maintaining two processes in respect of the same subject and/or complaint of theirs, against the conduct of the presidential election held on 25th February 2023.

“This latter petition is abusive of the originating summons filed at the Supreme Court and is liable to be dismissed in limine,” he said.

‘Voters in FCT not superior’

Tinubu, who insisted that he recorded more than the constitutional required geographical spread at the election, faulted the petitioners’ interpretation of Section 134 of the Constitution concerning the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said: “The petitioners’ interpretation of the provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution is strange, disingenuous (with respect) and contrary to the clear letters and spirit of the said provisions and the entire constitution as a whole.

“Nigeria’s democracy is not based on an Electoral College jurisprudence, particularly as it relates to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“There is no exclusive obligation that for a valid return from a presidential election in Nigeria, a candidate must score 25 per cent of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.

“The voters in Abuja are not superior to voters in any other part of Nigeria such that a candidate is mandated to score 25 per cent in Abuja without such similar status for other states of the federation.

“The constitution does not create special voting rights for voters in Abuja or allocate preferential voting rights, either to them or to the FCT.

“The mathematical variables in Section 134 of the Constitution are two, to wit, one-quarter of votes cast and two-thirds of all the states and the FCT, Abuja. The mathematical indices are conjunctive.

“If the petitioners’ position was correct, both one-quarter and two-thirds will be applied to FCT, Abuja, separately. 

“However, because petitioners know that such will result in an absurd situation, they have chosen to apply only the mathematical requirement of one quarter to Abuja to the exclusion of the second mathematical element of two-thirds.

“In terms of the grammatical and syntactic construct of Section 134 of the Constitution, the provision for two-thirds is more proximate to Abuja than one quarter and petitioners’ failure to relate same to Abuja demonstrates their deliberate attempt to misrepresent the constitution. 

“The provisions of the constitution are meant to apply to the FCT as if it were one of the states of the federation and not an entity superior to the other states of the Federation. 

“The FCT Act further reinforces the respondent’s assertion that the FCT is for all intents and purposes, to be treated as a state and not superior to a state, particularly when construing legislations.

“The variables established by the constitution for the purpose of determining one-quarter of the total number of votes cast in two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT is 37 (that is, the 36 states of the federation plus/and/conjunctively with the FCT).

“The second respondent (Tinubu) scored, at least, 25 per cent in not less than 29 states of the federation, which is far above two-thirds of the states and the FCT and is thus not inhibited by any constitutional provision from assuming office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Arithmetically, two-thirds of 37 is 24.6, which is below the number of states wherein the second respondent scored, at least, one-quarter of the total number of votes cast at the election.”

‘There was substantial compliance with laws’ 

As against the non-compliance claim by the petitioners, Tinubu said his election was valid and was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

He added that his election and return were valid and in compliance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

Tinubu stated that INEC substantially complied with all the procedures highlighted in the Electoral Act, as well as its Manual and Regulations for the conduct of the election.

“The first respondent (INEC) rightly declared the second respondent as the winner of the presidential election of 25th February 2023, having won a majority of lawful votes cast at the election and meeting all constitutional requirements to be returned as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Tinubu said.

In faulting the petitioners’ claim of election process manipulation, the president-elect argued that since he had agents in all the polling units nationwide, “they had all opportunities to raise any complaint, but they could not raise any such complaint because there was none”. 

He said the petitioners “only began to fabricate and manufacture complaints when it became obvious that they had woefully lost the election”. 

Tinubu added: “Blaming the inability to immediately transmit the result electronically is totally an afterthought and devoid of any substance at all.”

‘Atiku could not have won with PDP crises’

Tinubu reminded Atiku that he had always lost in his bid to lead the country since 1993.

He asked the PDP flagbearer not to see his loss at the last election as strange, arguing that it would have been a miracle for the PDP and its candidate to win in view of the balkanization of the party before and during the election.

Tinubu said: “The first petitioner (Atiku) has been consistently contesting and losing successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993, whether at the party primary or at the general; including 1993, when he lost the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary election to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola; 2007, when he lost the presidential election to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; 2011, when he lost the PDP presidential primary election to President Goodluck Jonathan; 2015, when he lost the APC primary election to President Muhammadu Buhari; 2019, when he lost the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari; and now, 2023, when he has again lost the presidential election to the 2nd respondent (Tinubu). 

“It was/is not a surprise and/or not by accident that the electorate rejected the 1st petitioner at the polls of the presidential election held on 25th February 2023.”

He noted that Atiku was without a stable political platform and had lost a majority of his key supporters, given his habit of jumping from one political party to another.

Tinubu noted that Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s candidate fueled the crisis in the party, resulting in five of its sitting governors resolving to work against him and ensure he lost.

“The emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP led to irreconcilable hostilities within the ranks of the PDP, causing the emergence of a group of governors, known all over the country as the G-5 Governors – Rivers, Oyo, Enugu, Abia and Benue— who opposed Atiku and vowed to mobilise their people against him. 

“While Atiku contested the presidential election of 2019 with President Buhari under a fairly cohesive PDP with Obi as his running mate 

Kwankwaso as one of his supporters, the same Obi broke away from the PDP to join the LP to contest the presidential election of 25th February 2023, while Kwankwaso also broke away from PDP to contest the presidential election on the ticket of the NNPP. 

“While Obi polled a total number of 6,101,533, Kwankwaso polled 1,496,687.

“Before the balkanisation of the PDP, the South-Eastern states of Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra used to be controlled by the PDP, but at the presidential election of 25th February 2023, they all went the way of the LP.

“At a press conference addressed by Atiku on or about 2nd March 2023, he admitted the negative impact of the balkanisation of the PDP on the fortune of his election, particularly, the exit of Obi from the party,” he said.

Tinubu referred to a news report, where Atiku was quoted as saying: “It is a fact that Obi took our votes from the Southeast and Southsouth, but that wouldn’t make him the President. You need votes from everywhere.”

Uphold my election, Tinubu tells PEPC 

Urging the court to reject the reliefs being sought in the petition by Atiku and his party, Tinubu said he was elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the poll.

He urged the court to hold that his election is lawful, legitimate, legal, and constitutional, and evinces the wishes of the Nigerian electorate, as demonstrated through the ballot box.

Tinubu stated that he was qualified to contest the election and even far more qualified than Atiku.

“Atiku did not score the majority of lawful votes cast and did not also meet the constitutional threshold under and by virtue of Section 134(2) of the Constitution, as he could only muster 25 per cent of the votes in 21 states.

“The order seeking a runoff election is misplaced and misguided, as Tinubu has satisfied all the requirements of the law and the constitution, and has been rightfully returned as the winner of the presidential election of 25th February 2023, by INEC.

“Shorn of all hype, hyperbole, grandstanding and frivolities, the petition has no substance in fact, logic and law, as well as disclosing no reasonable cause of action. 

“It deserves to be summarily dismissed, as same constitutes a crass abuse of the judicial process,” Tinubu said. 

Developing for countries may have their debts repayment rescheduled, should the creditors heed an advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, canvassed debt restructuring for creditor-nations yesterday at the ongoing World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., United States (U.S.).

She said that low-income countries are particularly vulnerable, given their high debts and per capita income growth lag.

The IMF boss who spoke on the theme: “The path to growth”, explained that for the most vulnerable members of the global family, additional support from the international community – especially through debt restructuring – is essential.

 ”I am making a double plea on their behalf: help them resolve crushing debt burdens; and help ensure that the IMF can continue to support them going forward.”

She, however, admitted that the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable was making tangible progress.

Co-chaired by IMF, the World Bank and India as G20 Chair, the Spring Meeting brought together public and private creditors, as well as borrowers, to accelerate restructuring cases, including those under the G20’s Common Framework.

According to her, the roundtable met on Wednesday in Washington D.C, and she was encouraged by the positive outcomes.

Georgieva said: “First, we agreed to improve information sharing on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage in the debt restructuring process. Second, we have reached a common understanding on the role that MDBs can play, notably through the provision of positive net flows of concessional finance. And, third, we will pursue a work-stream, including a workshop to be organized in the next weeks, on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment.”

She said the key players also discussed urgent funding gaps in poverty reduction and growth trust.

She said: “IMF concessional financing has increased more than four-fold since the onset of COVID-19. Coming into these meetings, we had been calling for $4.7 billion in loan resources and $1.6 billion in additional subsidy resources to maintain this interest-free support.

“I am very encouraged that some of our economically stronger members are already stepping up. Just in the past few days five countries—Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and the UK—have all come forward with substantial new pledges or contributions.”

On the economic status of poor economies, Georgieva said the latest World Economic Outlook, projected global growth to slow down to 2.8 per cent and remain weak, at around three per cent, over the next five years.

Georgieva said: “This is the weakest medium-term forecast in decades. Underlying inflation remains stubbornly high, geo-economic fragmentation affects trade and capital flows, and downsides risks have increased. Fighting inflation and safeguarding financial stability have become more complex with the recent banking sector pressures.

“In this environment, our global policy agenda concentrates on the path to restoring both short- and medium-term prospects for sustainable and inclusive growth”.

She said the Fund’s three priorities are: restoring price stability, accelerating digital revolution and safeguarding financial stability as prerequisites for return to robust growth.

Georgieva said: “So long as financial pressures remain limited, we expect central banks to stay the course in the fight against inflation—holding a tight stance to prevent a de-anchoring of inflation expectations.

According to her, effort to reduce budget deficits is critical to support the fight against inflation and reduce debt, but this must be coupled with targeted support for the most vulnerable.

“And central banks should address financial stability risks where they emerge, working closely with regulators and supervisors. The key is to monitor risks that may be hiding in the shadows in banks and non-bank financial institutions, or in sectors such as commercial real estate. vigilance is imperative.”

Georgieva also called for rebuilding the foundation to sustain future prosperity—by acting now to advance structural transformations and counter fragmentation.

“Think of steps to accelerate the digital revolution, improve the business environment, and boost human capital and inclusion. And think of the green energy transformation. An estimated $1 trillion a year is needed for renewable energy alone. That will pay dividends in terms of growth and jobs,” she said.

She called for solidarity with the most vulnerable countries. The IMF has provided nearly $300 billion in new financing for 96 countries – more than half our members – since the start of the pandemic. Just in the six months since our annual meetings our Board has approved 23 new arrangements.

“Nearly half of our financing commitments in the past three years have been done through our precautionary facilities – like the one approved for Morocco last week. They serve as an additional buffer to countries with strong economic fundamentals.” she said.

•Ghana okays use for children under three

Nigeria  is working to meet Tuesday’s deadline  for submission of applications for the second phase of   Malaria vaccine  being coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

 Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Faisal Shuaib, spoke yesterday, against the backdrop of news that Ghana had  become the first country in the world   to approve use of a new malaria vaccine from Oxford University, for chidlren under the age of 3.

The vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M.

The NPHCDA boss, in an interview with The Nation  in Abuja,   explained that Nigeria is among the few countries qualified  for  the second phase of applications for the malaria vaccine known as RTS,S/AS01. 

He said that the Federal Government was not only working to ensure that the country has access to the  malaria vaccines, but to other life-saving vaccines such as Human Papilloma Virus  (HPV) and Typhoid Fever vaccines, which will soon become a part of Nigeria’s Routine Immunization program.

In  the first phase of the malaria vaccine pilot programme coordinated by  WHO, over one million children in countries like Ghana, Kenya and Malawi   received one or more doses of the   RTS,S/AS01.

According to   WHO, RTS,S/AS01 is a first-generation vaccine that could be complemented in the future by other vaccines with similar or higher efficacy like the R21/Matrix-M and other malaria vaccine candidates in early clinical development.    Research has found that the effectiveness of RTS,S/AS01  produced by  GSK  is around 60 percent, and significantly wanes over time even with a booster dose.

 But the R21  is described as a “world-changer” by the scientists who developed it. It  appears to be hugely effective; up to 80 per cent effective at preventing malaria in research published last year in the Lancet.

Shuaib said: “The Malaria vaccine is a new entrant into the portfolio of vaccines to prevent ancient diseases. 

“The global community is still collating data to assess the impact of this vaccine when deployed to communities. The experience from first phase countries such as Ghana will help inform the market and deployment imperatives of the next phase of eligible countries. 

“Nigeria is among the few countries qualified to apply in the second phase of applications for the Malaria vaccine. 

“We at NPHCDA and the development partnership are in the process of concluding the submission process before the April 18th deadline. 

“We are also exploring other potential Malaria vaccines that have shown promise in clinical trials. Clearly, what this demonstrates is that widespread use of a vaccine to prevent malaria disease will soon be a  commonplace in Malaria endemic countries such as Nigeria. So, there is a lot of excitement around how this will drastically reduce morbidity and mortality from Malaria. 

“With a population of over 40 million children aged under five years in Nigeria, you can appreciate that the quantities of vaccines required to meet our needs is disparately huge compared to countries such as Ghana, with a   population of just 20 million. 

“Nevertheless, we are assiduously working with our donors and development partners to ensure that not only do our children have rapid access to the Malaria vaccine, but other life-saving vaccines such as Human Papilloma Virus  (HPV) and Typhoid Fever vaccines will soon become a part of Nigeria’s Routine Immunisation programme.”

The emerging security threats have placed additional responsibilities on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno has said.

He said his office rose to the challenge with the formulation of new policies and the creation of new departments, as well as the strengthening of existing ones.

Gen. Monguno spoke at the commissioning of the new ONSA and National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) buildings by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

He said in the past eight years, there have been the design or amendments of national security strategies aimed at addressing emerging and evolving security threats such as violent extremism, terrorism, cybercrime, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, control of the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) related materials by non-state actors.

The NSA said the Terrorism Prevention Act (TAC), first signed into law in 2011 and amended in 2013 and 2022, as well as the National Counterterrorism Strategy (NACTEST), the Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, the National Security Strategy and the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism, have all broadened the counterterrorism responsibilities of ONSA.

According to him, these policies and strategies led to the establishment of various departments, such as the National Centre for the Control (NCTC) of Small Arms and Light Weapons; the Cybersecurity Coordination Centre; and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. They have also led to the upgrade of existing departments, including the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC).

He said the ONSA was created by Decree 19 of 1986 and validated by the 1999 Constitution as the National Security Agencies Act, the same law created the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

“The Office, through the activities of key inter-agency intelligence-sharing platforms such as the Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board, General Security Appraisal Committee and the Cybercrime Advisory Council, is responsible for assessing the security concerns of the country and advises the President on all matters bordering on national security,” he said.

The NSA said one of the cardinal shifts in the approach taken by ONSA in Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) was the mainstreaming of implementation in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), while the office concentrates on its core function of coordinating efforts as stipulated by the Terrorism Prevention Act (as amended) 2022.

He added that through the ONSA, Nigeria has also been an active player in global security cooperation. From co-hosting a virtual meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS with the United States to hosting the first-ever National Chemical Security Training Conference in collaboration with NAFDAC and the United States (U.S.) Department of States; Co-chairing (along with Switzerland) the Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) to co-organising the First Expert Meeting of the Working Group for the development of a set of recommendations on Rule of Law-Based Administrative Measures in Counter-Terrorism Context, Nigeria is globally recognised for contributing significantly to counterterrorism policy and practice efforts.

Gen. Monguno also said that ONSA has been spearheading strong inter-agency collaboration to tackle national security threats across various components. One such, according to him, is the facilitation of the effective tackling of some key threats within Nigeria’s maritime environment through the Falcon Eye maritime domain surveillance system.

“It is for this reason (of inter-agency collaboration) that the project (Falcon Eye) has a maritime stakeholders’ cell here in the Main Control Centre to accommodate representatives of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority and Marine Police, amongst others.” 

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) will conclude the 2023 general elections on Saturday with the conduct of supplementary elections across the country.

Twenty-six Governorship, 104 Senatorial, 329 Federal and 935 State constituency elections have been concluded with winners declared.

Governorship election is expected to be concluded in Adamawa and Kebbi States while supplementary Senatorial elections will hold in Kebbi (Kebbi North); Plateau (Plateau Central); Yobe (Yobe South); Zamfara (Zamfara Central) and Sokoto (Sokoto East, North and South).

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Supplementary elections will also hold in two Federal Constituencies in Akwa Ibom (Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika and Ikono/Ini); Edo (Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode); Imo (Ikeduru/Mbaitoli and Isu/Njaba/Nkwere/Nwangele), Kano (Doguwa/Tudun Wada and Fagge); Kebbi (Arewa/Dandi and Koko/Besse/Maiyoma), Oyo (Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East and Oluyole); Rivers (Gokana/Khana and Port Harcourt II) as well as Zamfara (Gummi/Bukkuyum and Gusau/Tsafe).

The elections will also hold in one federal constituency in Taraba (Takum/Donga/Ussa); Kogi (Bassa/Dekina); Jigawa (Gumel/Maigatari/Sule Tankarkar/Gagarawa); Ebonyi (Ezza North/Ishielu); Bayelsa (Southern Ijaw) and Anambra (Igbaru).

Supplementary elections will also hold for 57 Assembly seats in 17 States of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Enugu and Adamawa

The Nation finding revealed that the governorship election in Adamawa is expected to hold in 69 polling units in 20 local government areas with a total registered vote of 42,785 while total PVCs collected in the area stand at I7,706.

In Kebbi State, the election is expected to hold in 142 polling units in 20 local government areas with a registered voter population of 96,319 with 94,209PV collected in the areas.

The APC governorship candidate is leading in Kebbi with 388,258 votes while the PDP candidate has 342,980 votes. In Adamawa, the PDP candidate is leading with 421,524 votes while the APC candidate has 390,275 votes

The President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has reminded the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election Atiku Abubakar that he has always lost in his bid to lead the country since 1993.

Tinubu asked Atiku not to see his loss at the last election as strange, arguing that it would have been a miracle for the PDP and its candidate to win in view of the balkanization of the party before and during the election.

He noted: “The 1st petitioner (Atiku) has been consistently contesting and losing successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993, whether at the party primary election level or at the general election; including 1993, 

when he lost the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary election to 

the late Chief M.K.O Abiola; 2007, when he lost the presidential election to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; 2011, when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary election to President Goodluck Jonathan; 2015, when he lost the APC primary election to President Muhammadu Buhari; 2019, when he lost the 

presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari; and now, 2023, 

when he has again, lost the presidential election to the 2nd respondent (Tinubu). 

“It was/is not a surprise and/or not by accident that 

the electorate rejected the 1st petitioner at the polls of the presidential 

election held on 25th February, 2023,” Tinubu said.

He noted that Atiku was without a stable political platform and has lost majority of his key supporters, in view of his habit of jumping from one political party to another.

Tinubu equally noted that Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s candidate fueled the crisis in the party, resulting in five of its sitting governors resolving to work against him and ensure he lost.

The President-elect said these in his response to the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), in which they are praying to be declared the winner or for the court to order a rerun.

Tinubu’s response was filed on Wednesday night by his team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

He faulted the competence of the petition, describing it as not only frivolous, but an abuse of the process of court, the PDP having earlier filed a suit at the Supreme Court, through some of its governors, demanding the cancellation of the election.

He argued that the PDP and Atiku cannot maintain two cases on the same issue in different courts at the same time.

Tinubu noted that on February 28, the PDP through its governors in 

Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto states filed a suit at the Supreme Court, demanding among others, that the February 25 presidential election be cancelled.

‘The plaintiffs attacked INEC for not following its Manual and Regulations in the conduct of the election, and also complained of glitches, which is also the thrust of their petition.

“While the originating summons (in the suit before the Supreme Court) was filed on 28th February, 2023, this petition was filed on 21st March, 2023.

“The petitioners herein, through themselves and/or their proxies filed the originating summons at the Supreme Court, before filing this petition.

“The petitioners are maintaining two processes in respect of the same subject and/or complaint of theirs, against the conduct of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023.

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“This latter petition is abusive of the originating summons filed at the Supreme Court and is liable to be dismissed in limine,” he said.

Tinubu also faulted the competence of the petition on the grounds that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa 

Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) were excluded despite the fact that the petitioners were contesting the results from the states won by LP and NNPP.

“The petitioners complained about outcome of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Plateau and Lagos states.

“The 2nd respondent (Tinubu) was not declared as the overall winner in any of the states aforementioned.

“Mr. Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party was declared the overall winner of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Plateau and Lagos states, while Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party 

was declared winner of the election in Kano State.

“None of Labour Party, Peter Gregory Obi, Rabiu Musa 

Kwankwaso, and New Nigeria People’s Party has been joined as a party to this petition.

“The 2nd respondent cannot be made willy-nilly to defend any infraction allegedly committed in any of the states afore-mentioned.

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“The petitioners are querying the result of elections in all the states where they won the election, including but not limited to Adamawa, Bauchi, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Gombe, Yobe, Sokoto, Osun, Kebbi and Katsina states, without making themselves co-respondents to the petition; whereas, under Section 133(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, a party whose election is 

being challenged shall be made a respondent.”