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Tag: ruling

  • Andy Uba : CSOs laud judiciary over cert forgery ruling 

    Coalition of Civil Society Group (CCSG) has urged the judiciary not to relent on its oars in protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

    Speaking against the backdrop of the ruling of a Federal High Court, which cleared Senator Andy Uba of alleged certificate forgery,  the Coalition said such rulings were necessary as it puts politicians and mischief makers  with sinister motives in check as they continue to employ all forms of antics at outfitting targeted politicians.

    President and secretary general of CCSG, Etuk Bassey and Abubakar Ibrahim,  respectively,  stated this yesterday in Abuja at a press conference where they expressed excitement that the controversy over the allegation of certificate forgery was laid to rest  by an FCT High Court, especially as the Anambra governorship elections was fast approaching.

    “The leadership of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups observed that by this judgment all persons parading as civil society organisations being used by the enemies of democracy to distract the Distinguished Senator Andy Uba has been put to shame. Also, the victory of Andy Uba at Abuja High Court has vindicated the Coalition of civil society group on their earlier call to the judiciary to jettison the allegations from some faceless organisations that are being used by unscrupulous Politicians”, the group said.

    The coalition  further  reiterated their belief in Uba’s capacity to accommodate challenges and offer leadership.

    “The judiciary must now begin to apply punitive in order to discourage politicians from using the judiciary as a weapon to win political office. By this judgment, the Distinguished Senator is now qualified to contest any election in the federal republic of Nigeria.”

  • Many troubles of the ruling party

    The emerging crisis in the house of the All Progressive Congress is a matter of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians, not just because it affects a party many gave their all to see win the 2015 General Elections, but mainly because the way it is playing out, the crisis has a potential to launch Nigeria into a war we can hardly afford and which we really do not need.

    But before looking at the possible long term effect of the personality clash that unfortunately has come to shape the political character of the ruling party, the first challenge created by the crisis is in its effect on the testimony of the APC as a party that has come to salvage Nigeria from her exposure to the years of the vultures.

    Many express concern, perhaps, rightly so, that if this life time opportunity to fix Nigeria is again frittered away through impunity and subversion of the rule of law, which are worst forms of corruption, another opportunity might not come in this generation. This was why Nigerians defied the primordial ethnic, religion and regional sentiments to vote for change. President Muhammadu Buhari represents the real face of change.

    We all voted for APC; we all gave our best to the party when it was in opposition because many Nigerians saw, or perhaps, thought they saw in APC a party that could replace the PDP that had been bedeviled with impunity. It was that culture of impunity which did not give consideration to the feelings and opinions of others apart from a clique that had surrounded the topmost leadership of the party that Nigerians were rejecting when they voted APC. We must not go back to that era.

    But given the way the party handled a number of contentious issues such as the selection of ministerial nominees, the Ondo gubernatorial primary, the Kogi State election and now the ambassadorial nominees, many people have not only began to fear things might not have really changed for us except the change in the party slogan.

    And the situation has now been made worse by the open altercation between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a National Leader of the party and some interests within the party using Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman as a lab rat.

    Although the crisis is festering to the delight of the opposition, it is my considered opinion that the situation can still be salvaged in the interest of our dear nation.

    APC leaders need to sit down and look themselves squarely in the face and accept that they have made critical mistakes but that things can still be corrected with humility and determination. And the first step will be to correct itself over the errors that have been committed in the National Assembly. The unnecessary bickering that was allowed over the choice of its leaders was totally uncalled for in a party that promised fairness and justice as the hallmark of its ideology.

    As such, all steps taken so far against those who emerged as natural leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives should be reversed. I think this is the sense in which even leaders of the APC such as former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Tinubu along with other stakeholders have commended the withdrawal of the forgery case against Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

    The National Assembly issue remains a political crisis that should have been settled in the court of politics and not the steps being taken simply to embarrass the leadership of the National Assembly. The strategy has, however, rather than achieve its intended objective, created a strong pillar of a united third force within the party that is ostensibly able to work with the opposition to the detriment of the ruling party.

    The same error of strategy is being committed in the way the party is going about the Tinubu challenge. Imagine that they want to try the party’s National Leader for ‘anti-party activities’! Which party? The party he almost singlehandedly formed and only invited others to queue? Should a visitor invited to dine and wine, hold the hands of the host? What an irony! But the spider that attempt to prevent the elephant from having its way shall move with the elephant. Asiwaju, the master strategist, has fought and won bigger battles for democracy. As the last man standing, he weathered the storm of more ferocious adversaries.

    Already just as it happened in the Saraki case, Tinubu might have been garnering support from hitherto political foes which definitely will create more problems for the ruling party. To have the likes of Tinubu and Saraki as internal opposition is not something a serious party should celebrate.

    It was Saraki that cried out about impunity then in the ruling PDP, the rest is history. Now it is Tinubu that, like Saraki, has begun to cry out about impunity within the APC. The party should be careful not to give room to another internal rebellion that will break its backbone before 2019.

    This is not what our people sacrificed to get in 2015 and that is why men of influence and political capital within the party should have a rethink about their respective positions on the crisis and come together to save the APC. It is law of natural justice that those who participated in the baking of the cake must know how it is shared. It is not too late yet.

     

    • Oba is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State.

  • Whither opposition within ruling parties?

    SIR: Whenever yearly budgets are sent to the state Houses of Assembly, they are passed speedily. There are almost always, no inputs from stakeholders and the citizens for whom these budgets are drawn up for. They do not get the chance to debate them and choose programmes necessary before they are passed. If governance is truly meant for the people, then the chance for the people to express themselves by demanding accountability on issues impacting on their welfare shouldn’t be disparaged to the dust bin of irrelevance.

    Are politicians in the houses of parliament under pressure and are they arm-twisted by administrators to do their bidding? How is it, that anyone who criticizes a government or an administrator is seen as either paid to do a hatchet job, dances in the dark or is acting out a paid script? If in the same party, then they are “anti party.”

    How come a row within parties must always be seen in the context of a problem not as an opportunity to develop the polity? Some believe that following the herd instinct stops dissent and, shore up support amongst members of the ruling party and wins more allies to their side. The palpable gains notwithstanding, bowing to the pressure of group-think eventually removes the thrills of varying complicated political settings, the clash of bureaucracy, and the huge task around an office which calls for quick wits.

    Over the past years, political actors have always engaged in the blame game and of always pointing accusing fingers at the other party for all failures but their party and party men have likewise, engaged in the hoary tactics of not challenging party men even when they step out of order cashiering monies, in ways not in sync with national ethos. This seems to be part of Nigeria’s national political identity. This development is dangerous, because the right by parliamentarians and by party men to call leaders to question is being subordinated and many have put a reason to it: because they do not want to be seen as the proverbial black sheep, “who readily collude with the demons.”

    It was John F. Kennedy who said, “The hottest part of hell should be reserved for all those who keep quiet in the face of moral crisis.”

    When party men choose to become liberal democrats and do not criticize the wrongful use of power, do not give voice to issues of social contract that binds citizens to rulers, then it is fair to say that our democracy undermines the opportunity for real political development of state.

    Who then will fight for the masses; inspire pride and serve as the anointed Ombudsman for development?

    The danger in towing the line always, not rocking the boat, is the false impression that spirited criticism necessary for nation building is the handiwork of Major-Domos on a mission to destroy the credibility of principals.

    No democracy is free from criticisms and all stakeholders today in the democratic stake want an open and transparent government, and if democrats in Nigeria mean well to drive policies of state for growth, then they must refrain from serfdom that has destroyed Nigeria’s democracy.

    One wishes, that the political class in Nigeria will strengthen party politics like it is done elsewhere; political office must be seen as a sacred responsibility that must be discharged with utmost candour and selflessness.

    It should be clarifying for those who believe that Nigeria is a force politically due to the seamless transfer of power in the last general elections. She is not.

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port  Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • 47 princes from four ruling houses in race for Ooni

    •11 make Giesi ruling house’s shortlist

    No fewer than 47 aspirants have indicated interest in the contest for Ooni of Ife’s throne, it was learnt at the weekend.

    The late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, passed away on July 28. He was 85.

    The mourning of the monarch ended last weekend, clearing the way for aspirants to register their intention officially.

    From across the four ruling houses, over 47 princes have signified their intention to succeed Sijuwade.

    The four ruling houses are Lafogido, Giesi, Ogboru and Osinkola.

    Of the lot, 35 princes have submitted intention letters from the Giesi ruling house alone.

    The ruling house is expected to produce the next Ooni, according to a government gazette.

    But 11 princes from the ruling house have been shortlisted  from the 35 pushing for the stool.

    Among those shortlisted  are Princes Aderemi Adeniran, Alani Adelowo, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Taye Ogunleye, Adegboyega Ologbenla and Gbadegesin Ologbenla.

    Others are Princes Adetunji Adeyemi Ogunwusi, Bankola Ojulalayo Adediwura, Adegboyega Adediran, Olajide Adejoba, and Adetona Sikiru Ayedun.

    However, names of the proprietor of the Oduduwa University, Prince Rahman Adedoyin, and the Director-General of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Prince Soji Fadehan are not listed.

    It was gathered that 35 princes from the ruling house initially showed interest in contesting the stool.

    But to increase the chances of the ruling house, a committee was set up to work on the list of contestants.

    It was learnt that the ruling house held a meeting at the weekend at the family’s compound on Agbedede lane in Ile-Ife to screen the contestants.

    After the meeting  yesterday, the report of the Selection Screening Committee was submitted to Prince Modupe Fadehan, the family head of Giesi.

    A source at the meeting said the screening was fair.

    Preferring not to be named, the source said: “Well, that is a good development for us and we are sure that a good man will be picked as the Ooni. This is the normal process and we know it won’t cause any disaffection.

    “The normal thing is that the ruling house will send names of qualified candidates to the kingmakers. For instance, the Ogboru family sent 14 names out of which the late Oba Sijuwade emerged.”

    It was not clear if the kingmakers had narrowed the contest down to only the Giesi Ruling House, which last produced an Ooni over a century ago, when Derin Ologbenla ruled the town.

    In the Lafogido ruling house, no fewer than 10 princes are interested in the stool with at least one each from Osinkola and Ogboru ruling houses.

    Another source from Lafogido ruling house, who preferred anonymity, said that the ruling house had not adopted any aspirant.

    According to him, a meeting of the committee of the entire ruling house, which comprises eight royal families, is slated for today where aspirants are also expected to appear.

    Intention forms have been designed and some aspirants have picked the forms.

    Sources in Ile Oodua, the Ooni’s palace, said letters requesting submission of names of qualified candidates from the kingmakers may be sent out to ruling houses this week.

  • Industrialist appeals ruling in suit against Senator Obiora

    Industrialist appeals ruling in suit against Senator Obiora

    An industrialist, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos against a ruling by Justice Folasade Bankole-Oki of the Lagos State High Court over a property on 6, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi.

    The judge, on June 5, vacated an order stopping a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, from developing the property.

    In a notice of appeal, Onwugbenu said the judge erred in law when she dismissed his motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated August 12, 2013, as lacking in merit.

    He sought an order setting aside the lower court’s decision, and an order granting his reliefs in the motion on notice.

    The claimant had prayed the court to restrain the defendants from developing, advertising or selling properties in Ikoyi including Thompson Street; 4, Olumegbon Street; 1 Rumens Street; 3 Rumens Street; 1B Alagbon Close; 35 Lugard Avenue; 6, Olawale Dawoo Street; and 6, Okotie-Eboh, pending  the determination of his suit.

    Onwugbenu claimed that sometime in 2009, he gave Senator Obiora N1.4billion to buy the properties. According to him, the senator bought the properties, but has failed to deliver the certificates of occupancy to him or pay back the sum.

    In his claims, he asked for a return of the properties with the accompanying documents, or a refund of the N1.4billion with interest.

    He prayed the court to hold that he is the rightful owner of 6, Okotie-Eboh and is entitled to be granted the Certificate of Occupancy.

    Onwugbenu also prayed the court to direct the defendants, including Corporate Ideals Properties Limited and A.B.C. Orjiako, to return the original title documents perfected in his name.

    But Senator Obiora denied owing Onwugbenu any money. He said the claimant gave him money to invest in properties in Abuja, but that he rejected them and demanded for those in Lagos.

    Obiora said he has repaid what he owes Onwugbenu, adding: “The outstanding amount of N800million has been paid to the claimant upon conclusion of the sale of the property at 6, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi.”

  • EFCC reviews ruling on ex-UBEC men

    EFCC reviews ruling on ex-UBEC men

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it was still reviewing the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed corruption charges against a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Bridget Omotunde Sokan, and six others.

    The others are: Molkat Manasseh Mutfwang, Dr. Andrew Ekpunobi, Michael Aule and the companies used in perpetrating the alleged fraud, Intermarkets, USA; Intermarkets Nigeria Limited and Alexander John Cozman, a foreign contractor.

    There was uncertainty whether or not the EFCC would file an appeal against the judgment.

    The seven accused were arraigned at the Federal High Court on May 18, 2009, on a 41-count of fraudulent inducement, criminal conspiracy and subversion of due processes in the award of a N787-million contract.

    But Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 19, last year, discharged the seven accused, upholding their “no case” submission.

    EFCC is yet to appeal the judgment, which is unsettling officials of UBEC.

    It was learnt that counsel to EFCC Mr. Wahab Shittu claimed that the prosecution placed before the court 75 admissible materials.

    The evidence also included oral testimonies of seven witnesses.

    It was gathered that EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde insisted on treating the case on merit.

    A top source said: “As a matter of fact, the EFCC chairman last week demanded a brief from those connected with the case. As an objective leader, he said he would listen to arguments before taking a position.

    “Expectedly, there are arguments for and against the intent to file an appeal. There might still be a meeting on the matter this week.”

    EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said: “The only thing is that the judgment is still being reviewed by the commission.”

    Another source said: “There had been anxiety in UBEC on the fate of the affected staff because one of them is a top management staff.

    “If the former deputy executive secretary is reinstated in the light of the judgment, it means one of the present deputy executive secretaries would have to vacate his or her seat.

    “The timely decision of the EFCC would also guide the commission.”

  • Lawyer appeals ruling on girl in Etsu Nupe’s palace

    Lawyer appeals ruling on girl in Etsu Nupe’s palace

    Barring any last- minute change, legal fireworks will begin in the bid of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, Raymond Uzoechina, to challenge the ruling of a Sharia Court sitting in Bida, which gave the custody of his daughter, Charity, to the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

    She has been at the palace of the Etsu Nupe since March, allegedly on her own volition after converting to Islam and changing her name to Aisha.

    The 24-year-old, who was a National Diploma student of the Polytechnic, Bida, now dresses like a woman in purdah, wearing hijab, The Nation learnt.

    Pastor Uzoechina’s lawyer, Anthony Agbonlahor, said he would soon appeal the Sharia Court ruling to free Miss Uzoechina from the palace and return her home to her parents. Agbonlahor, in a petition to the Chief Judge of Niger State, complained about the conduct of the judge of the Sharia Court 1, Justice Abdulkadir Idris. He said the court had no right to take custody of the girl.

    The lawyer intends to prove to the court that the ruling giving the girl’s custody to the emir is null and void because fair hearing was abandoned.

    He said: “Contrary to the principle of natural justice vis- a-vis fair hearing, our client was not served either with the court summons/processes or hearing notice. The case was filed on March 4; the case was heard March 4 and judgment delivered on the same day. In fact, judgment was also executed on the same date. The question is: why the urgency?”

    Agbonlahor was urged by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appeal the decision of the Sharia Court, which he sees as a travesty of justice.

    He plans to prove to the court that since the defendant in the case is a Christian, the Sharia Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it.

    As the legal battle is being awaited, the row over the girl’s fate continues, with the Northern Christian Youth Solidarity and Emancipation Movement for Justice and Self-Determination (NCYSEM), faulting the alleged forceful abduction of the 24-year-old.

    The organisation condemned the comment by the Acting Director of Publicity for the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammed Kabir Kassim, which asked the government to call the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, to order for criticising the action of the Etsu Nupe.

    The NCYSEM, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr James Gani, said Pastor Oritsejafor’s condemnation of the Etsu Nupe’s action was the reaction of the Christian community in Nigeria.

    He said: “For the benefit of those not aware or conversant with the facts of the matter, Miss Charity Raymond Uzoechina is a Nigerian and a daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina, who was forcefully abducted by some Muslim fanatics and since then, had been kept out of the reach of her parents under the so-called ‘protective custody’ of the Etsu Nupe.

    “We would like to call on the Federal Government to take a critical look at the issue of abducting Christian girls into forceful Islamic marriages with impunity by some influential Muslims, particularly in the North, with a view to invoking the relevant laws that deal with crimes of this nature on them. This case should be seriously viewed as such.

    “Why should an Emir of the status of the Etsu Nupe be as insensitive to his responsibility as a royal father to the extent of abducting and keeping someone under a ‘protective custody’? Does he have such powers? Against whom is he protecting the lady?”

    “Whereas, we appreciate the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) that provides for the freedom of worship and choice of religion, we do not believe and cannot be deceived that the case under reference has to do with the choice of religion and or wilful conversion.”

    Pastor Uzoechina does not believe that his 24-year-old daughter willingly traded Christianity for Islam.

    He said he got a call from an aide of the emir on March 1, asking him to come to the palace.

    He said: “He repeated the call on March 2. Overwhelmed by the call, I had to travel to Bida to ascertain what was wrong.

    “At the man’s office, I met my daughter with two other women. The man said these women brought my daughter to the palace, that she has embraced Islam and she has also been withdrawn from school… I demanded that I am going home with her. But the man declined, saying only the emir has the power to allow the girl go with me. They took me to the emir but the emir refused my plea, saying I should come back next week.”

    Pastor Uzoechina said on March 4, two people, who claimed to be from the Bida Sharia Court, “emerged with my daughter with a folded paper and said ‘sign, sign’ but I refused”.

    When he tried to take his daughter, said the pastor, he was told she was now under the custody of the Sharia Court.

    The Sharia judge said: “This honourable court hereby orders that the custody of the plaintiff be entrusted in the hand of Etsu Nupe for the time being and the Etsu Nupe should employ a qualified Islamic scholar who will be teaching her and showing her how the Islamic customs is all about and the plaintiff can even be watching and selecting a man of her choice whom she will want to marry as her partner.”

    Pastor Uzoechina said the girl was not brought to court for cross-examination.

    He said: “They refused to bring the girl to the court for cross examination, knowing that they were the writer of all they purported my daughter had written.”

    Pastor Oritsejafor, at a news conference after his re-election as CAN President, said: “The Emir of Bida must understand that Christianity and Islam must stand side by side. So, we are using this occasion to say: ‘Release our daughter for us!’”

    The Bida Emirate, in a statement, said the Etsu Nupe should not be blamed for the girl’s alleged voluntary decision.

    The statement said Miss Uzoechina approached the monarch for protection following her change of faith from Christianity to Islam on February 15.

  • Oke hails Appeal Court’s ruling

    Oke hails Appeal Court’s ruling

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last October’s governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, at the weekend praised the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, which set aside the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Oke said the Appeal Court’s ruling showed that the Judiciary has men of impeccable character, who are determined to ensure justice at all times.

    Oke approached the Appeal Court to challenge the February ruling of the lower tribunal, which struck out the name of the PDP from his petition.

    The Justice Andoverr Kaka’an-led tribunal struck out some paragraphs in Oke’s petition and did not allow him present more facts to prove the alleged illegal injection of names into the voters’ register.

    The five-man appeal panel restored PDP as a petitioner in the case. It also restored some paragraphs of Oke’s petition.

    The Justice Habu Gumel-led panel dismissed the preliminary objections by the Labour Party’s (LP’) candidate, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, on the grounds that it was incompetent and an abuse of court process.

    Oke hailed the Justices of the Appeal Court for their courage.

    He said: “The ruling has vindicated our stance that the decisions of the Justices of the lower tribunal were jaundiced. Issues regarding leadership are too sensitive to be handled with levity. The ruling is a challenge to the lower tribunal to stand above sentiments.”

     

  • Voter cards: Court reserves ruling till Oct 22

    An Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate J. O. Adelegan, yesterday reserved ruling till October 22 in an application for bail brought by Labour Party (LP) chieftains, Mr. Olaolu Oladipo and Omolade Raphael.

    They were charged to court on Monday for conspiracy and unlawful possession of 1,123 voter’s cards.

    The offence was allegedly committed on October 5 about 4:30pm at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ondo West Local Government.

    At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the police prosecutor objected to the bail application of the accused on the grounds that by virtue of Section 150(2), it is only INEC or its lawyer that can prosecute an electoral offender under the Electoral Act.

    The prosecutor noted that he could not under the law respond to the bail application.

    He sought for an adjournment to contact (INEC) to take over the case or appoint a prosecutor.

     

  • Lagos ACN to appeal ruling on council poll

    The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has restated its decision to appeal the judgment of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal on the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    It assured its members and supporters that there was no cause for alarm. Last week, the Justice Dolapo Akinsanya-led tribunal nullified the election of Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the ACN on the grounds that the election result in some units were not collated and declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, ACN said its lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for an appeal.

    The party said even though it does not accept the judgment, it has exposed the hypocrisy of those who claimed there was no council election in Lagos.

    ACN said the judgment is “no big deal”.

    It said: “In a democratic dispensation, it is natural for disputes to arise after elections, and that is why the judiciary is there to sieve the grains from the chaff.

    “In the case of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, we saw the desperate efforts to claim the LCDA by every means possible. We expected to contest against other parties and as such, we expected to either win or lose elections.

    “After what we believe was a free and fair election, our opponents, who had planned another strategy, knowing their strength, went on an extensive campaign to tarnish the election and went to the extent of mobilising thugs to cause breach of the peace in Lagos. They denied that any election took place and in another breath claimed they won the election.

    “While we felt the election was free and fair, we advised those who felt otherwise to approach the court. Thank God they did so after seeing the futility of resorting to self help and thank God that the judgment they are now celebrating was gotten through the same system they desperately tried to rubbish.

    “Thank God what they presented as obtained in the same election they were desperately trying to deny is the basis of the present judgment, but we seriously object to this.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “We are pleased that the process in Lagos is giving room for the opposition to canvass for and win local councils, contrary to what obtains in PDP states, where the party merely awards itself all available local council seats in the name of election and where the courts have been made annexes of PDP head offices and approve whatever the party desires.

    “We have no doubt about the capacity of Lagos to midwife a free and fair democratic process in the face of the deliberate efforts of the PDP to rubbish the local councils and its electoral system for its selfish benefits.

    “The present judgment, even in its flawed nature, is proof of the credibility of the electoral system in Lagos. We had 60 cases arising from the election and, so far, we have won 46 and lost six, including two ordered re-runs. We have won one of the re-runs and are awaiting the other.

    “Lagos ACN has appealed the cases we lost at the tribunal, so it is an on going process that has not been concluded. We challenge the PDP and its allies to allow for such credible process in the states they govern.

    “A situation where it is only in Lagos that a different party from the one that controls the state can lay claim to victory and go to the tribunal to have such claim affirmed should worry the PDP, which delights in closing the democratic space in all states it control through foul means and striving to employ all means to control local government councils in states it does not control.

    “We want them to learn immensely from the Lagos State process and give other parties a fair chance of contesting and winning elections in the states they control. We equally believe that the margin of victory in the Lagos council elections should worry the PDP, which delights to award 99.9 per cent of registered voters to itself, as we saw in the 2011 presidential election.

    “Our lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for appeal at the Appeal Tribunal, so we urge our members and supporters to remain calm and law abiding as the judicial system runs its full course.

    “We want them to know that this is a democratic contest and we entered into it to win or lose. We acknowledge that we may not win it all and that if we eventually lose the case at the appeal, it is no big deal to lose one of 57 LCDAs. We urge our members to remain firm and steadfast in their support for our great party.”