The election of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state was on Wednesday upheld by the court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state.
The election Tribunal had affirmed the qualification and election of Ortom as governor of Benue state, but Terhemen Tarzoor, the governorship candidate of the PDP, had asked the court to reverse the tribunal’s judgment in his favour.
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday said that no amount of intrigues, blackmail and manipulations by the opposition Accord and its governorship candidate in the last general elections, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, could unseat him as governor.
He stated this while addressing hundreds of artisans, traders, market men and women, as well as religious bodies who thronged the Governor’s Office to congratulate him on his victory at the election petitions tribunal on Tuesday.
The group comprised over 25 professional associations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees (NUPENG), National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO), National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Igede Development Association and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others.
In apparent reference to Ladoja’s decision to appeal against the tribunal’s judgment, the governor said his mandate was of God, stressing that no amount of blackmail could change the will of God and the mandate freely given by the people of the state.
Ajimobi said: “When I heard that my egbon, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, said that he was not satisfied with the tribunal judgment and that he vowed to head for the Court of Appeal, I said he (Ladoja) should go to wherever he wants to go.
“But I want to assure you all and the good people of Oyo State, that thousands of Accord Party and its candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, cannot unseat me. This mandate is of God and popularly given to me by the good people of this state.
“We must all work together to develop Oyo State. We must never allow enemies of this state to thrive again. We give glory to God that he has taken care of all the troublers of our state. So what should be our concern now is how to ensure that this state is taken to greater height.’’
While thanking the people of the state for their unflinching support for his administration, especially before, during and after he succeeded in breaking the second term jinx, he promised to spare no effort to ensure all-round development of the state.
Ajimobi pledged that his administration would continue to implement policies and programmes that would promote the well-being of artisans, traders and all professional associations as a deliberate step to boost small and medium scale businesses.
The Deputy State Chairman of NATA, Alhaji Rahman Oyediran and Alhaja Motilade Adedeji, President of Pepper Sellers Association, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked God for the victory and pledged their unalloyed support for the Ajimobi’s administration.
The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Yobe State has upheld the victory of governor Ibrahim Gaidam in the April election.
Gaidam was the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the election.
The Ondo State House of Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Akure Tuesday upheld the elections of two PDP lawmakers at the State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers are Fatai Olotu representing Akoko North East and Tuyi Akintimehin from Idanre Constituency.
In a separate judgement in the two suits, the three man tribunal led by Justice Ojobor Ogar ruled that the petitioner, Muyiwa Ogunyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could not tender enough oral and documentary evidence to prove that the re-election of Olotu was characterized with electoral irregularities.
Also, the panel held that the APC candidate in Idanre constituency, Adeuyi Omotadowa equally failed to prove his petition beyond reasonable doubt that the election of the PDP lawmaker was marred with electoral frauds.
Reacting, lead counsel to the APC, Dr Tunji Abayomi vowed that he would challenge the two judgements at the appellate court where he expressed optimism that his clients would be declared the winners of the April 11, 2015 Assembly elections.
However, the two PDP lawmakers praised the tribunal for what they called “sound judgements”.
The Akwa-Ibom National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday entertained two witnesses in defence of the election of Sen. Godswill Akpabio, (PDP-Akwa-Ibom North-West).
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to Akpabio, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), told the tribunal that the first respondent intended to call 25 witnesses.
One of the witnesses, Prof. Adewale Ladipo, who is the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the Akpabio won the party’s primaries for Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
“ PDP sponsored Chief Goodswill Akpabio for Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial District election and he won with a very wide margin.
“ Also, I am aware that parties submitted to INEC, forms indicating list of names for contestants and Akpabio`s name was among. INEC did not complain that we mislead it,’’ he said.
In his testimony, the second witness, Mr Olatunji Oshuntokun, who supervised the PDP primaries in A’Ibom North-West and South Senatorial districts, said the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
Oshuntokun added that they were free and fair adding that d Akpabio won the A’Ibom North-West primary election.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Inibehe Okori for the election and APC, had taken Akpabio, PDP and INEC to court over the outcome of the election.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Goddy Anunihu, adjourned sitting to Sept. 10, to enable Akpabio produce other witnesses.
•Two documents tendered
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday closed its defence at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta.
It said it was contented with the evidence derived from cross-examining the petitioner’s witnesses as an anchor in the defence.
Counsel to APC, George Oyeniyi, said having reviewed his case, he was able to extract evidence through the witnesses called by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Gboyega Isiaka (petitioner) and the first respondent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
During the pre-trial phase, Oyeniyi told the tribunal that 11 witnesses would be called to give evidence, but yesterday, he opened his defence and closed same in less than 30 minutes without calling a witness.
He, however, tendered the declaration result sheet (form EC8E) as evidence and it was marked by the tribunal Chairman, Justice Henry Olusiyi, as exhibit R3.
Also, a certified true copy of a seminar report conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was tendered by him and admitted in evidence as exhibit R4.
He said: “I have reviewed the evidence of the petitioners’ witnesses and have extracted the evidence in my own case through their witnesses. These are our pleadings and we have been able to prove them during the cross examination of their witnesses. There is no need to call other witnesses.
“We have looked at the petition on hand, commend the evidence put forward to your Lordships, take note of the cooperation enjoyed from the petitioners so far and hereby close our case.”
But counsel to INEC (third respondent), Oluwajare Ogunnaike, sought adjournment till tomorrow, saying the electoral body was not ready to open its defence.
According to him, the expected witness had been moved out of the state and would require sometime to produce witness.
Justice Olusiyi adjourned the case till today for INEC to open and close its defence, since it has one witness to call.
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Anambra has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disregarding orders made by it.
The tribunal chairman, Justice Nayai Aganaba, gave the warning during the hearing of a petition filed by Mr Ifeanyi Ibezi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against the election of Mr. Obinna Chidoka of PDP.
Ibezi is challenging Chidoka’s victory in the March 28 election in Idemili North and South Federal Constituency of the state on grounds of alleged electoral malpractices.
The tribunal expressed displeasure over the failure of INEC to respond to its subpoenas.
“I am not happy with the way and manner INEC officials treat orders of the tribunal.
“Once a subpoena or any court order is issued, those concerned should respect and respond to the directive to avoid clogging the wheel of justice,” the chairman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a bailiff, Mr Peter Obuesi, had during the hearing of the petition, informed the court that he served the subpoena to officers at the INEC headquarters but they refused to receive it.
Obuesi said that INEC officials insisted that the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Edwin Nwatarali, had given a standing order that he would personally collect all court orders.
However, the bailiff said he could not serve the REC as he had travelled out of the state.
Meanwhile, Counsel to Chidoka, Mr Osita Nnadi (SAN), had applied for the subpoena to enable INEC to tender some electoral materials used for the conduct of the poll in the area.
Following the failure of INEC to appear in court, the tribunal adjourned the petition till Tuesday for continuation of hearing.
States and National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano, Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Alhaji Bashir Garba Lado of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the victory of the immediate past governor of Kano state, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the APC in the race for Kano Central Senatorial District.
Dismissing the petition, the presiding judge, Justice Cornelius Akintayo said the petitioner had failed to establish a prima facie evidence against the respondent, hence the decision to dismiss the case over lack of merit.
According to him, even though the petitioner was eminently qualified to contest for the seat of the Kano Central Senatorial District, his submission on challenging the substitution of the name of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the aspirant, who initially purchased the nomination form with that of the immediate governor was untenable and lacked merit.
Akintayo, however stated that the Tribunal did not find any incontrovertible evidence to declare the election null and void, saying the Tribunal considered the outcome of the Kano Central Senatorial District Election credible in the absence of any admissible evidence to prove otherwise.
Counsels to the petitioner and the respondents had unanimously concurred that the verdict of the election petition Tribunal was sound and credible and adduced that the clients would be fully consulted on the next line of action.
The Tribunal verdict was however greeted by considerable euphoria and jubilation by Kwankwaso’s die-hard supporters, who had seen the futility of challenging the outcome of the election they considered as free, fair and credible.
According to an APC Chieftain in Kano, who craved for anonymity, the petitioner had only wasted his energy and resources in chasing a wild goose, which could not deliver the expected golden eggs.
He said the petitioner was only myopic in his political calculation, given the landslide victory recorded by the immediate past governor, stressing that the petitioner was a victim of the new revolution in Nigeria’s politics.
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has, once again, exposed the sinister plot of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the suits before the election petitions tribunal in Abuja.
APC, through the Secretary of its Media and Publicity Committee, Godstime Orlukwu, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, revealed that the PDP leaders were plotting to pay money into the bank account of one of the tribunal judges, thereby implicating the APC through frivolous petitions.
The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and most candidates of the party for the state and National Assemblies filed petitions at the tribunal, in view of the massively-rigged March 28 and April 11 polls.
Peterside dragged his counterpart of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, now governor, to the tribunal, on the sham elections, while all the motions and applications of the PDP’s governorship candidate to stall the petition have been dismissed by the fearless judges, with full hearing to commence soon.
Rivers governorship candidate of the APC had consistently accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working with the PDP and Wike to frustrate his petition before the tribunal.
The party said: “The APC has just uncovered another desperate arrangement by the PDP to put a cog in the wheel of justice in the ongoing governorship/legislative tribunal cases in Abuja. At a meeting they held in Port Harcourt, the PDP leaders perfected moves to pay a huge sum of money into the account of one of the tribunal judges hearing the Rivers State petitions.
“This might not have been a strange occurrence, since the PDP leaders would not imagine that every Nigerian is up for sale. The plan is to make the payment in the name of a chieftain of the APC and then write a petition to the National Judicial Council, (NJC) and the unsuspecting public.
“The aim of the sinister move is to cast aspersion on the integrity of the members of the tribunals hearing the Rivers State petitions, and raise doubts in the minds of Nigerians and especially Rivers people.”
The APC also stated that its candidates had good cases before God and man, while having absolute confidence in the Nigerian judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
It noted that it did not have any reason to coerce, blackmail or corrupt the process to get justice.
APC said: “We wish to reiterate that the APC and its candidates will not be party to any plot or ploy to compromise any judge, as we believe wholly in the rule of law and in the sanctity of the judiciary.
“We are confident that justice will prevail and we have repeatedly said that we would pursue our matters legally and without recourse to illegality or self-help of any kind. We have never been and will never be party to any untoward act, even in the face of outright provocations and deliberate denial of our rights.
“We have remained steadfast in our pursuit of justice and trust that God and the will of Rivers people will see us through. Eternal vigilance remains the price of freedom.”
The APC also called on the security agents to be on the alert and monitor very closely any act that might be inimical to the peace and progress of Rivers State.
It noted that Rivers people had suffered enough and would not believe that the state should continually be in the eye of the storm, in view of some people’s greed.
Wike had earlier in Port Harcourt stated that he had a good defence at the tribunal, with formidable legal team and would not be involved in any criminal act to get justice.
Senate President Bukola Saraki has closed his defence at the Kwara state Legislative Houses Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
Kwara central Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (petitioner) in the March 28th Presidential/National Assembly elections is challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Bukola Saraki at tribunal.
Counsel to Saraki, Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) on Monday closed his defence without calling for any witness, but his APC counterpart, Abdulwahab Bamidele requested for short adjournment to enable him call forth their witnesses.
Petitioner’s counsel, Francis Obumse also closed his case, giving way to respondents’ counsels for defence.
Four witnesses called by the petitioner all testified before the tribunal during the five days allotted for PDP candidate to prove his case.
The tribunal admitted two additional exhibits; the exhibits include stubs/counterfeits of used ballot papers in respect of senatorial election in Kwara Central and the Issued but unused ballot papers in the election were marked as Exhibits P5 and P6.
Justice Josiah Majebi-led three-man tribunal, however, adjourned the petition till today (Wednesday) for continuation of defence.
Saraki had at the previous sitting opposed the tendering of electoral documents, arguing that the documents were not listed or referred to in any of the deposition of the witness.