Category: Lead

At least 21 assorted firearms were recovered from non-state actors across Lagos in March, the Police Command said Friday.

It said it intensified illegal firearms mop-up in line with directives from the Inspector General of Police (IG) Alkali Usman.

Police Commissioner, Owohunwa Idowu gave the details at his maiden press briefing at the Officers’ Mess in Ikeja, where he also reviewed security operations during the last general elections.

According to him, the command adopted the concentric circle law enforcement principle to not only mop up these illegal firearms but track their sources.

Acknowledging that illicit firearms in the hands of non state actor was a challenge to law enforcement, Idowu said the police would not rest until the syndicate behind the proliferation were arrested, prosecuted.

He said: “What we are doing is to continue to identify sources of these firearms. We do arrest, make recoveries and have coordinated approach in line with the directive of the IG to mop up illicit firearms within the public space.

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“From the strategic approach, what we are doing is to not isolate the recovery of a firearm. If we recover one, we use the concentric circle law enforcement principle to track the source. That is the only way we can break the network behind the proliferation of the arms and I think it is beginning to yield result.

“If you have been following the news, you will hear that Ilupeju division, about a week ago, based on intelligence, flagged down a bus and they attempted to run. They gave them a hot pursue, arrested them and recovered an English pistol. Apparently they were going for an operation.

“So, the point here is that we will keep sustaining our efforts to track the brains behind this to ensure that our mop up operation is meaningful and sustainable. In so doing, we also need the support of the citizens in providing information so that firearm traffickers are apprehended. “Within March alone, we recovered 21 firearms of different precision and calibres. We will sustain it and hope that the judicial system will support us and ensure prompt justice on those arrested.”

The police chief also said the command was cracking alot of kidnappings, noting that there would always be isolated cases because the crime was opportunistic.

Taking stock of election security, Idowu said 54 major incidents were recorded across all 13,325 polling units, adding that 45 suspects were arrested in the two elections.
He said 2,870 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs); seven weapons including two firearms; 28 snatched ballot boxes; One BVAS machine and a POS machine being deployed for vote buying, were recovered in the course of police election security operations from various electoral offenders.

“Out of the cases under investigation, it is also on record that Lagos State was the first command to conclude the investigation of the first sets of fourteen (14) electoral offences and promptly processed eight to INEC for prosecution in line with the Electoral Act and the directives of the Inspector General of Police, while others involving unlawful possession of firearms and sundry criminal acts were charged to courts by the Police.
“Investigations into the remaining electoral offenses have reached advanced stages and as soon as they are concluded they will be similarly processed for prosecution in furtherance to efforts to sanitise our electoral space and discourage the resort to extra-legal means to attain political ends in future electoral engagements in the state…
“The Presidential and National Assembly Elections as well as the Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections presented some isolated challenges which were fundamentally fueled by fake news purveyors, hate news mongers, political extremists, thugs, and ethnic chauvinists all of whom fraudulently manipulated the social media not only to threaten the electoral process but to create tension and threaten peace and security within the wider polity.”

• Legal giants seek trial of plotters •Lalong: interim govt schemers daydreaming

By Joseph Jibueze, Deputy News Editor; Adebisi Onanuga, Robert Egbe, Alao Abiodun; Bisi Olaniyi, Benin; Sanni Onogu, Frank Ikpefan, Abuja; Chris Njoku, Owerri and Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

The plot for an interim government is alien to the constitution and an aberration, legal giants said yesterday.

The jurists said no one must be allowed to scuttle democracy.

They urged those aggrieved with the outcome of the presidential election won by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to allow the judicial process to run its course.

Those who condemned the plot, in separate interviews with The Nation, are Prof Itse Sagay, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Mba Ukweni, Ahmed Raji, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, Babatunde Fashanu, Adekunle Oyesanya and Emeka Etiaba, all of them Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

The Directorate of State Service (DSS) on Monday said it identified “some key players” in the plot for an interim government.

The senior lawyers reechoed the DSS’ position that the illegal scheme is unacceptable in a democracy.

More Nigerians also joined their voices in repudiating the conspiracy.

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said those advocating an interim government after the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari were daydreaming.

National Democratic Coalition Renewal Group said anti-democratic forces must not be allowed to truncate civil rule.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) rejected the idea of an interim government, saying such a selfish scheme would not work.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Charles Idahosa, said an interim government would set Nigeria backwards

The Igbo Senior Citizens Affairs Foundation (ISCAF) said the idea should not even be entertained.

Former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, said Tinubu’s victory was irrevocable.

The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council said it was not behind any such plot.

It described the call as a “conspiracy against the state” in which the LP has no part.

Sagay: no to ‘bloody, horrible experience’ 

Sagay said those behind the plot must be desperate losers, warning against a return to a past he described as bloody.

He said: “It is obvious that there can be no constitutional basis for an interim government. 

“The very first section of the constitution says no government can be formed other than under the provisions of the Constitution.

“An interim government does not exist in our constitution. We don’t know what it means or what kind of animal it is, who constitutes it and how it is constituted.

“It’s just an act of desperation by people who have lost the normal electoral battle and are looking for anything to cause confusion so that any government can come in, except the one that defeated them. That is the way I see it.

“Those behind the plot should be fished out. It’s not a joking matter. 

“We know how the last experience we had with the imposition of an interim government, how the late Sani Abacha used that as an excuse to jump in, and how we ended up with bloody, horrible years between 1993 and 1998.

“We pray to God never to see that again. We must not step out of this constitutional cocoon that God has managed to put us in since 1999. God has placed us there, and we must sustain it, otherwise, we’re doomed.

Let the judicial process run its course, says Agbakoba

Agbakoba said it was shocking to learn about secret plans to undermine the democratic process and transition through an interim government.

“This will be a major setback and we must all resist,” he said.

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president added: “I suggest that the gravest possible consequences must be applied to all who are associated with this treasonable intent.

“The general elections have held, albeit under the most challenging circumstance. But a president-elect has emerged and we must respect and accept this as fact, at least, for now.

“All leading presidential candidates have approached the courts with grounds of complaint concerning what they consider as electoral irregularities.

“If the presidential candidates have accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considers that an interim government is a viable and legal alternative.

“We must all reject this nonsense and respect our constitution, which has no provision for interim arrangements.

“As the President-elect is sworn into office on May 29, the judicial process will ultimately render a decision. As Nigerians, we must turn to the courts to render a decision on the petitions before them.

“The judicial process will certainly carry a huge responsibility in the process of democratic consolidation. The notion of the contraption referred to as interim government has no place in our lives and our constitution. We must all say no!”

Falana: it’s an aberration 

Activist lawyer Falana described an interim government as an aberration.

He said: “There is no provision for the creation of an interim government in the 1999 Constitution. It is an extraconstitutional measure that may be set up by a military junta.

“The last interim government hurriedly put in place by the Ibrahim Babangida military junta in August 1993 after the annulment of the June 12 presidential election collapsed like a pack of cards after 82 days.”

The SAN doubt whether those behind the plot would be arrested.

“From the statement credited to the State Security Service on the matter, it does appear that the characters behind the interim government are well known to the Federal Government.

“Since they are influential members of the ruling class, they will neither be arrested nor prosecuted,” he added.

Ukweni: anyone with a grievance should approach the court 

Ukweni advised those mulling the idea of an interim government to perish the thought, saying it was unconstitutional.

He advised them to approach the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal if they wish to challenge the election results.

Ukweni said: “Interim government is unconstitutional. It is not provided for in our constitution

“I am a political party member, but I have to speak as a lawyer because first and foremost, that is my constituency. Who is talking about interim government? Where is it provided for?

“The INEC, which is authorised to conduct elections, has made a declaration of someone as the winner. Rightly or wrongly, that is the person that will be sworn in.

“The people with grievances, there are constitutional provisions making arrangements for the remedy they need to seek. 

“So, they have to seek those remedies. Let them go to the tribunal. That is the avenue that is available to them to vent their grievances.

“I, as a lawyer, and democrat cannot subscribe to that type of arrangement.”

Raji, Aribisala slam plot 

Raji reiterated that there is no constitutional basis for an interim government.

“It is a gross violation of the constitution. It is totally outside the constitution,” he said while advocating for the merits of national unity in forming the government.  

Aribisala believesthe plot amounts to calling for a coup.

He said: “It is madness, pure madness to be calling for an interim government. They are just people who cannot accept defeat. They are pained.

“I believe with time they will be healed because it is barbaric to be asking for an interim government. It is an aberration and it is tantamount to asking for a coup.”

It’s uncalled for, says Fashanu 

Fashanu emphasised that the provision in the constitution for change of government is by election.

He noted that the way to challenge the declaration is to go to the constituted court or tribunal, which the aggrieved parties have done.

“No other body has the power to pronounce on the legality of the election except the Court or Tribunal. 

“It is nauseating to hear people who ought to know better call for an interim government which is blatantly illegal and uncalled for.

“The law is clear; they are calling for a change of government by unconstitutional means which is treason. 

“As the main government intelligence body and having identified such people, the DSS is expected to move against them immediately, investigate and prosecute where necessary, which is the appropriate thing to do.”

Oyesanya: it amounts to treason 

Oyesanya said the alleged plot, if true, is quite unfortunate and should be condemned by all well-meaning people.

“It is not only unconstitutional, but it could also amount to treason. Such persons, if any, who are touting the idea ought to be careful. Yes, it is lawful to reject the outcome of the recent polls.

“It is even lawful to demonstrate against it peacefully without causing any riots. But it is certainly unlawful to call for any other form of government that is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 1 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which stipulates that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall anybody take control of its governance, except by the provisions of the said Constitution…

“You will not find any provision in that constitution for an interim government. Therefore, any call for an interim government is an attempt to subvert that constitution and is, therefore, unlawful.

“The constitutional remedy to a grievance against the outcome of elections is to approach the courts/tribunals set up by virtue of the same constitution.

“The protesters may yet achieve their goals in court. The tribunals set up by the constitution are also a part of the electoral process. That is what is known as the rule of law. And that is the decent thing to do,” Oyesanya said.

Interim govt not the answer, says Etiaba 

Etiaba said to avoid bickering, agitations and demonstrations, the election tribunals should quickly dispense justice to assuage the people’s concerns.

“Interim government is not the answer to the lingering problems and concerns foisted on the people by INEC. It is an aberration and should be avoided,” he said.

Other Nigerians weigh in 

Nnamani, in a statement, said: “Tinubu has won the election. If anybody has any reason to think otherwise, the courts are there to adjudicate. The courts are there as part of the electioneering process.

“What I expect our people to do is to align with the incoming administration, negotiate like others for national resources and political largesse for the benefit of our citizens”.

ISCAF, at a briefing in Owerri, the Imo State capital by its President/General Overseer, Friends of Jesus Global Mission (INC), Rev. Maglorious Enyioha, said an interim government will only trigger more problems.

“I am neither calling for interim nor military government because none will solve the problem facing the nation. I am calling for peace and justice because I believe a new Nigeria is possible,” he said.

The NADECO Renewal, in a statement by its National Leader, Prof Adeeyo Atilade, said that the DSS should spare no efforts in arresting elements pushing for interim government.

“We must not allow some selfish, greedy and unpatriotic elements who place their selfish interests above the popular and patriotic interests of the nation to truncate this transition process and plunge our dear nation into a chaos that would take donkey years and another June 12 like a bloody revolution to rebuild,” it said.

NANs, in a statement by its Vice President (External Affairs) Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, deplored what it called devilish plots by some scrupulous elements to truncate the Nigerian political system by stopping Tinubu’s inauguration.

“This (interim government) will be unacceptable by all and sundry. The entire Nigerian students would go against this with every power within and without. 

“Gone is the era of June 12, 1993, when Nigeria was still in a dark age and most Nigerians didn’t know their rights and privileges as citizens.

“Gone is such an era of militarization and affront impunity, where someone or a group of few people can just come up with plans and actualise them against the will of the people. 

“Gone is the era where the Nigerian Students and youth would sit and watch some people decide for us to our detriment as citizens and as a nation. We are all wiser now. This will not work,” the student body said.

Lalong, in a chat with State House correspondents, said the interim government would be against the principle of democracy, which the President has vowed to uphold.

He expressed confidence that Tinubu would meet the expectations of Nigerians and hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration on May 29.

LP PCC: We’re not part of plot

Chief Spokesperson, Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tank, said the party was not plotting an insurrection.

Speaking on Channels, Tanko described the development as a “conspiracy against the state” in which the LP had no part.

He said the LP would exercise its rights to protest, but would not engage in any illegality.

“For us, we are following the due provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Protests are part of the democratic system. 

“The DSS and the security agencies should come out and protect us even if we are on the streets protesting.

“We are ready to follow the rules of engagement in our democratic setting. That is why we went to court. 

“We are not making any inflammatory statements or mobilising anybody to come out on the streets to fight.

“We are not part of any insurrection plans whatsoever.”

THROUGH its National Working Committee (NWC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reversed the order suspending former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Pius Anyim, former Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

Others, including Prof. Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Dr. Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State, who were suspended last week, were also recalled.

Besides, the party also announced the withdrawal of referral of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to its disciplinary committee.

The reversals came exactly a week after the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led NWC took disciplinary actions against the PDP chieftains for alleged anti-party activities.

In what observers call a backlash on March 26, Ayu’s Igyorov Ward in Gboko Local Government Area, announced Ayu’s suspension after the local chapter Executive Council (EXCO) passed a no confidence vote in him.

But the Benue PDP State Working Committee (SWC) yesterday suspended the Igyorov Ward EXCO as it initiated moves to restore peace in the party in the area.

The development was followed by an Order of a Benue High Court on Monday, affirming his suspension and restraining him from parading himself as PDP National Chairman in the interim.

In deference to the Order of the Benue High Court, Ayu stepped aside on Tuesday and the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, was appointed to act in his absence.

The reversal of the actions against the party elders was conveyed in a statement signed yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

The statement, which was issued shortly after a meeting on Thursday of the NWC, chaired by Damagum, reads: The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Thursday, March 30, 2023 extensively discussed recent developments in the party.

“The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.

“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following under listed members of our great party: H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State); Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State); Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State.

“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our party and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”

The NWC was however silent on the fate of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who was expelled from the party under Ayu’s chairmanship.

On February 10, the party announced the Enugu East senator’s expulsion for alleged anti party activities.

Nnamani, who re-contested the Enugu East senatorial seat in the February 25 election on the platform of the PDP, lost to his Labour Party (LP) challenger Kelvin Chukwu.

At its Extra Ordinary Meeting to resolve the lingering crisis in Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, the SWC deliberated on and reviewed the recent activities that pose threats of violence and break down of law and order.

In pursuant to the powers conferred on it by Section 59 (4) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (POP) As Amended in 2017, the SWC resolved as follows:

•      That the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Council Ward is hereby suspended for a  period of one month. 

The suspension was taken to restore sanity, harmony, law and order in the party at the Igyorov Ward level, the resolution said.

The order measures taken by the SWC include:

•      That the State Working Committee shall during this period administer the affairs of the Party in Igyorov Council Ward in the best interest of the party, discipline, growth and success.

•      That the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Council Ward shall hand over all documents or other items in their possession belonging to the Party to the State Executive Committee of the party with immediate effect.

•      The Ward Executive Committee, Igyorov Council Ward, Gboko Local Government area, Benue State shall henceforth cease to act in the offices, which they held prior  to their suspension.

The resolution was signed by 13 state officers, including Isaac Mffo (Acting Chairman); Chief Joseph Nyam (Secretary); Azua Ashongo (Vice Chairman, Zone A); James Mbakorlumun (Vice Chairman, Zone B) and Godwin Uwulo (Vice Chairman, Zone C).

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has started acting on the petition by Festus Keyamo (SAN), accusing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of corruption while in office.

It has invited Keyamo to authenticate his petition through a letter dated March 28 to adopt his petition.

Keyamo had alleged that Atiku diverted public funds through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) while serving as vice president.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment had in the petition given the CCB a 72-hour ultimatum to “arrest, invite, interrogate and prosecute” Atiku for the alleged offence.

Responding to the petition, the CCB explained why it needed to invite Keyamo.

It said: “This invitation is to enable you(Keyamo) to adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that may be material to this investigation.

“You are requested to come along with one Michael Achimugu, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to your petition.”

Keyamo has also instituted a suit against the former vice president before an Abuja Federal High Court.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023, Keyamo sought to compel law enforcement agencies to prosecute Atiku over the same offence.

Keyamo is praying to the court for an order compelling the PDP standard bearer “to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other- Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Conduct of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for thorough investigation”.

The minister’s suit is premised on an audio recording released by Achimugu, who is said to be Atiku’s former aide.  

• ‘China’s decline to give $22b loan won’t affect Fed Govt’

Nigeria’s total public debt stock stood at N46.25 trillion (about $103.11 billion) as at December 2022.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) made this known in its fourth quarter 2022 Report.

The debt stock is the total portfolio by the Federal Government, 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The DMO report came on a day the Federal Government dismissed report that the Chinese government had rejected its request for a $22 billion loan.

Director-General of the DMO Ms. Patience Oniha, told The Nation that the government remained unshaken.

She said: “Nigeria has several sources of funding… other countries and institutions don’t lend based on China. The ratio of 23.20 per cent is within the 40 per cent limit self-imposed by Nigeria, the 55 per cent limit recommended by the World Bank/International Monetary Fund and the 70 per cent limit recommended by the Economic Community of West African States.” 

The DMO figure reflects a 14.46 per cent increase when compared to the N39.56 trillion, equivalent of (USD 95.77 billion) recorded on 31 December, 2021.

The figure reflects a 14.46 per cent increase when compared to the N39.56 trillion (N95.77 billion) recorded on 31 December, 2021.

In a statement analysing the debt profile, the DMO said that in terms of composition, total domestic debt stock amounted to N27.55 trillion (about $ 61.42 billion), while the total external debt stock peaked at N18.70 trillion ($41.69 billion).

It attributed the increase in the total public debt stock to new borrowings by the Federal Government and sub-national governments, primarily to fund budget deficits and execute projects, adding that the issuance of promissory notes by the FGN to settle some liabilities also contributed to the growth in the debt stock.

To cut the portfolio, the DMO said the government was stepping up efforts to increase revenues from oil and non-oil sources.

The DMO plans to drive the efforts through initiatives such as the Finance Acts and the Strategic Revenue Mobilisation Initiative that are expected to support debt sustainability.

The Office said the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio as at December 31, 2022, was 23.20 per cent, indicating a slight increase from the figure for December 31, 2022, which was put at 22.47 per cent.

“The ratio of 23.20 per cent is within the 40 per cent limit self-imposed by Nigeria, the 55 per cent limit recommended by the World Bank/International Monetary Fund, and, the 70 per cent limit recommended by the Economic Community of West African States,” the DMO said.

Giving another perspective to Ms. Oniha’s position, a DMO official, who craved anonymity, said the rejection of the loan request “:is not because we were no longer credit worthy or that China no longer has confidence in us as borrowers, but rather, with the COVID emergency several countries including China reviewed their exposures to other countries especially in terms of debt.

“So as part of that review, they dropped a few on-going loans and suspended some that have not even taken off so am sure this fell into that category. The only argument is to say perhaps the amount now on offer is lower than the original one”.

 Asked how th Chinese loan rejection will impact Nigeria’s debt portfolio, the DMO official said: “We can’t calculate this into Nigeria’s existing debt, if anything it becomes a minus to the entire stock, but you know government will not rush to exclude it just because of this. “It’s a rejection alright but it can still happen perhaps under different terms in the future.”

He was confident that “it’s not like we can’t really pay our loan, we are working towards that, should we want money we can get it anytime” re-echoing what the Director General said earlier.

The National Assembly had approved the sum of $22,798,446,773 under the 2016–2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan following a request for approval to raise funds for the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project spanning (Kaduna–Kano segment) occasioned by the COVID–19 pandemic.

It is the facility for this project from China Exim Bank that the Chinese government withdrew its support to finance the project.

However, to secure funds for the project, the contractor, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC Nigeria Limited), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, engaged China Development Bank to finance the project in the sum of $973,474,971.38.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to harmonise the terms of the facility as well as the change of financier from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank.

The House also approved the conditions provided in the harmonised term sheet as follows: Segment – Kaduna–Zaria–Kano; financier  – China Development Bank; type of loan – commercial loan; maturity – 15years; currency – euro; interest rate – 2.7 per cent + 6 months Euribor; commitment fee – 0.4 per cent; and upfront fee – 0.5 per cent.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by three members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which sought to disqualify the President-elect Bola Tinubu, claiming he was not qualified to contest the last presidential election.

In a judgment on March 29 held that the appellants led by one Memuna Suleiman, lacked the locus standi to have instituted the case before the Federal High Court.

When the case was called, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court noted that the appellants, who were not aspirants at the APC presidential primary could not challenge Tinubu’s nomination.

Upon the court’s observation, lawyer to the appellants applied to withdraw the appeal, following which the court dismissed it.

The court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on February 17.

Suleiman and two others had in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked:

FHC/ABJ/CS/1094/2022 listed the v. APC, Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

They had prayed the court to, among others, declare Tinubu has not met the minimum

educational qualification to contest for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They urged the court to issue an order disqualifying the Tinubu as the candidate of the APC for the February 25 presidential election.

The plaintiffs equally sought an order restraining Tinubu from parading himself as the presidential candidate of the APC and a further order directing INEC not to recognise Tinubu as APC’s candidate.

In a judgment on November 2022, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court held that the plaintiffs had misjoined causes of action and lacked the locus standi to institute and maintain the action against the APC.

Justice Mohammed, after holding that the plaintiffs, who were not aspirants in the primaries of the APC, lacked locus standi and being a threshold issue, the court dismissed the suit as lacking in merit.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal in a judgment on February 17, 2023 upheld the respondents’ objection and struck out the notice of appeal filed by Suleiman and others.

The court, while determining the appeal on the merit, held, among others, that the appeal lacked merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

It was the February 17 decision of the Court of Appeal that the Supreme Court affirmed in its March 29 judgment.

Apex Yoruba socio-cutural organisation Afenifere has declared the President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was validly elected. 

The organisation said nobody other than Tinubu who was declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll won the contest. 

It believed Tinubu would take Nigeria to higher heights, debunking claims that it pronounced Peter Obi of the Labour Party as winner of the presidential poll. 

The Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in a statement he personally signed, also quashed the purported suspension of the National Publicity Secretary of the body Jare Ajayi and National Organising Secretary Comrade Kole Omololu Abagun by a ‘commnique’ of the organisation after a meeting in Isanya Ogun on Tuesday. 

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to the Communique purportedly issued after a meeting that held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. This statement is being issued because of the content of the said document.

“Section 2.02 of the document claims that “the results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election”.

“Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorized by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria. 

“The body mandated to conduct elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after the completion of this year’s presidential election on February 25th, has declared the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the said election. Our National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, issued a congratulatory message to the President-elect after he had been issued a Certificate of Return by INEC. 

Read Also: ‘Nigeria blessed to have Tinubu’

“This was cited as an ‘uncouth activity’ by the Communique mentioned above which further stated that Abagun and Ajayi were ‘suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee’. Meaning that the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a Disciplinary Committee. 

“This type of position is alien to us in Afenifere which does not conduct itself as an agent of the state let alone as an electoral umpire. We accept the results of the elections at all levels as declared by INEC until otherwise decided by competent courts in the land.

“Presently, the whole world knows that Nigeria has a President-elect in person of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a true Yoruba son and nationalist. We in Afenifere not only acknowledge this, we take delight in his in-coming Presidency and are confident that he will, by the grace of God, return Nigeria to the glorious position that all of us will be proud. Which was why I also congratulated in a personal letter I sent to him.

“The whole world is aware that I personally blessed and anointed Ahmed Bola Tinubu on October 30, 2022 in the presence of notable people from all parts of Yorubaland right here in my place in Akure. How can we then turn round and condemn the election of such a person? We never did.” 

“I also read in the said Communique, the purported removal and suspension of the National Publicity Secretary and the National Organising Secretary of the organization in persons of Comrade Jare Ajayi and Abagun Kole Omololu. 

“At no time was any of these officials reported to me as doing anything against what Afenifere stands for or doing anything against the interests of our race, the Yoruba. Thus, at no time was I informed that they were queried, warned or sanctioned for conducting themselves in a manner contrary to what Afenifere or the Yorubas stand for. 

“Being an organization that believes in justice and fairness, being an organization that always maintains that those at the helms of affairs should follow the rule of law, Afenifere, our organization, cannot just wake up and pronounce some officials removed and suspended without telling them what their offences are and without giving them the opportunities to defend themselves.

“Such a step is not only against natural justice; it is also in clear defiance of the law of the land. Afenifere believes in the rule of law and in the fundamental rights of all, including right to fair hearing. For these and other reasons, the purported removal and suspension are null and void. The two officials should be commended rather than condemned for the selfless services they are rendering to Afenifere, to the Yoruba race and to Nigeria and humanity. They are hereby so commended”.