President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with his special assistant on social media, Olusegun Dada, over the death of his mother, Ifejola Esther Dada.
President Tinubu’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
He joined the friends and well-wishers of the Dada family in mourning the irreparable loss of their beloved wife and mother, who was an outstanding educator and devoted years of her professional life to providing quality and affordable education for the least privileged members of society.
President Tinubu noted that as the president of the Association for Formidable Educational Development in Nigeria, Dada’s remarkable contributions to the provision of affordable access to quality education at the grassroots will be remembered for generations to come.
He said. “Her memory remains a blessing to the many disadvantaged children who benefited directly from her selfless service as an educator.”
He urged Olusegun, his siblings and his extended family, to find solace in the very worthy and timeless legacies of hard work, patience, forbearance, charity, and selflessness that have characterized the life of Mama Ifejola Esther Dada.
The president also encouraged them to work hard to honour Mama’s deep impact on the education sector by doing good to others and impacting lives by taking care of fellow Nigerians, even as he prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and for divine comfort for the family she lovingly left behind.
Nigerians in the United Kingdom under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Professionals in the United Kingdom have congratulated President Bola Tinubu over his election tribunal victory.
The group said that the judgement of the presidential election tribunal on Wednesday, September 6, which upheld Tinubu’s victory is a confirmation that he won the February 25 presidential election.
In a statement jointly signed by its coordinator, Comrade Innocent Udoidiong and secretary-general, Kingsley Omole, the group said: “The verdict by the tribunal is a confirmation that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was overwhelmingly elected by the majority of Nigerians who genuinely love him.”
A five-member panel of the Tribunal yesterday dismissed the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi; against the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The judgment was delivered by the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed.
The group urged the opposition petitioners to respect the election court’s verdict, adding that further embarking on an appeal at the Supreme Court would amount to “distraction to the president and his cabinet who should be allowed to tinker ways to salvage the nation’s current economic crisis occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.”
The group also solicited the support of Nigerians for the success of President Tinubu’s second term in office and assured them that they would not be disappointed.
Tribunal strikes out petitions of PDP, LP, APM candidates
Shettima, Ganduje, Damagum, Abure, governors, ministers, others in court
President welcomes verdict, seeks support
Jubilation in India
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election was last night upheld by the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC).
After a 12-hour pulsating judgment at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the five justices unanimously ruled in favour of the President.
They described petitions by Atiku Abubakar/PDP, Peter Obi/LP and Princess ChiChi Ojei/Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as unmeritorious. They dismissed the consolidated petitions.
The petition against the nomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima as running mate was also found to be untenable.
The judgment spark jubilation in far-away New Delhi, India as the President and his team on official trip there, were seen on video celebrating heartily.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, James Faleke; Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; and Senator Ajibola Bashiru were among those who sat through the proceedings.
Governors in attendance are Hope Uzudinnma (Imo);Bala Muhammed (Bauchi); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti);
But the PDP and the LP rejected the judgment, giving and indication that they might head for Supreme Court.
The judges who handled the matter are: Justice Haruna Tsammani, Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Moses Ugo and Justice Abba Mohammed. They are all Court of Appeal justices.
TIME TO CELEBRATE: President Tinubu (third right) celebrating his victory at the tribunal in New Delhi, India…last night. With him are from left: Minister of Finance Wale Edun; Minister of Trade and Investment Doris Uzoka-Anite; Chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Kwara State Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and others.
The court, in its judgment on the consolidated petitions, also held that the two sets of petitioners failed to establish through credible evidence that Tinubu and Shettma were not qualified to contest the election.
It further held that it was not the intention of the constitution that a candidate in a presidential election must score 25 percent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before he/she could be declared as duly elected .
The court, which resolved the four issues, identified for determination in each of the petitions against the petitioners, affirmed the declaration of Tinubu as president.
The court ordered the parties to bear their respective costs.
In the lead judgment in the petition by Obi and his party, which was decided before that of Atiku and his party, which was delivered by the Chairman, Justice Tsammani, the court held that it was wrong for the petitioner to have argued that Tinubu was not qualified, owing to a forfeiture order by a United States court.
The court found that the proceeding leading to the order was a civil forfeiture and not strictly criminal one as claimed by the petitioners.
It held that for somebody to be disqualified under the constitution, there must be indictment, trial, conviction and sentencing, which never occurred in the US court case.
The court held that the fine imposed by the US court was not a fine for fraud or dishonesty as provided in Section 137(1)(d) of the constitution.
It added that the petitioners evidently failed to prove their case that Tinubu was disqualified by virtue of the decision of the US court, adding that Obi and the LP did not comply with the requirement of Section 249(1) and (2) of the Evidence Act in proving conviction outside the country, by tendering a letter issued by a police officer in the foreign country, which the petitioners failed to do
The tribunal held that the US court case was in respect of a civil case, not a criminal case, adding that even if it was to be a criminal case, Section 137(1)(e) of the constitution requires that such conviction or fine must be within 10 years for such a person to be disqualified.
The court restated its decision in the petition by the APM that Shettima engaged in double nominations and was not disqualified from contesting the election.
The court faulted the petitioners, stating that in addition to scoring one-fourth of the votes in at least two-third of the 36 states of the federation, a candidate in presidential election is also required to score one-fourth of the votes cast in the FCT before he/she can be deemed to have been duly elected.
Justice Tsammani noted that the petitioners’ interpretation of Section 134(2)(d) of the constitution was founded principally on a fixation that the word ‘and’ appearing between the expression ‘he has not less than 1/4 of the votes cast at the election in at least 2/3 of the states of the federation and the FCT, ‘ was “completely falacious, if not outrightly ridiculous.
The tribunal stated that “even their recourse to the case of Abubakar and Yar’Adua does not help their argument…”
Relying on past decisions by the Supreme Court, Justice Tsammani held that the FCT is to be treated like every other states of the federation.
He added: “If the FCT is to be treated like every other states of the federation, then, it is not superior than any other states of the federation.
“It is also my considered view that if the framers of the constitution had wanted to make the scoring of 1/4 votes in the FCT a distinct requirement for the return of a presidential candidate, they would have made that requirement clear by using words that clearly separate the scoring of 1/4 of votes in the FCT as a distinct requirement.
“As expressly stated in Section 299 of the Constitution, for the purposes of fulfilling the requirement of Section 134(2)(d) of the Constitution for the return of a presidential candidate as duly elected, the FCT, Abuja is to be treated as one of the states in the calculation of 2/3 of the states of the federation, such that, if a candidate scores 25 percent or 1/4 of votes in 2/3 of 37 states of the federation, FCT Abuja inclusive, the presidential candidate is deemed to have been duly elected, even if he fails to score 25 percent of the votes cast in FCT, as was done by the 2nd respondent (Tinubu).
“I hold without any hesitation that in presidential election, scoring 1/4 or 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT is not a separate pre-condition for a candidate to be deemed as duly elected under Section 134 of the Constitution.”
On thei allegations of irregularities, malpractices, electoral fraud and non-compliance, the court, after an exhaustive analysis of their evidence, held that the petitioners failed to discharges the burden of proof placed on them by the law.
He noted that while Obi and his party claimed to have agents in all polling units across the country, they failed to call polling unit agents as witness.
According to the tribunal, the petitioners preferred to call people who gave hearsay evidence.
While ruling the respondents’ preliminary objections that challenged the competence of the witnesses called by the petitioners and the documents tendered, the court partially upheld them.
It struck out the evidence of 10 out of the 13 witnesses called by the petitioners, noting that the witnesses, who were subpoenaed at the instance of the petitioners, had their written statements, which contained their evidence, were not filed along or front-loaded with the petition within the 21 days allowed by the Electoral Act 2022.
The court also rejected the documents, including reports of analysis, tendered by the petitioners through the affected 10 witnesses.
The court also held that some of the witnesses are not only persons with interest in the outcome of the case, the reports they tendered were made during the pendency of the case.
The court also struck out some portions of the petition and held that in the affected paragraphs, the petitioners made allegations of malpractices and irregularities in the conduct of the election, but failed to provide specific details in support of the allegations.
The court noted that the petitioners failed to show the polling units where the alleged malpractices occurred, the number of votes affected; their polling unit agents who reported the alleged irregularities and malpractices, among others.
It rejected the respondents’ argument that Obi was not a member of the LP as at the time of the election, noting that party membership is an internal affair of a political party, who has the sole power to determine who its members are.
The court held that it did not lie with the respondents to question Obi’s membership of the LP.
The court also faulted the respondents’ contention that Atiku and the PDP, who came second in the election, were necessary parties that ought to be joined in the petition.
Respondents to the petition were INEC, Tinubu, Kashim Shettma and the APC.
The court also expunged from its records a copy of the report on the last presidential election made by the European Union (EU) Election Observers Mission tendered by Obi and the LP.
The court held that the document was obtained by the petitioners from its registry, which was certified by its staff who is not a person with original custody of the document that was produced by the EU mission.
The actual copy of the report was earlier tendered by Atiku and PDP while prosecuting their petition before the court.
The court also rejected the 18,088 blurred results sheets tendered by the petitioners on the grounds that they were not tied to any polling units in which the results related, which the petitioners failed to specify in their petition.
The court held that the petitioners lied that they could not identify the polling units because the result sheets were blurred.
It noted that one of the petitioners’ witnesses actually produced a report in which he analysed the same results, which he claimed to have sourced from INEC’s results viewing platform.
It further noted that, having admitted that it’s agents signed for and collected copies of the result sheets, the petitioners cannot claim not to know the polling units affected, but merely chose not to specify the polling units in their petition.
On the petition by Atiku and the PDP, the court made similar findings on issues relating to the US court case, the 25 percent votes requirement in the FCT and the the quality of evidence led by the petitioners in proof of their case of non-compliance, irregularities, malpractices, electoral fraud, among others.
The court struck out some aspects of the petition by Atiku and PDP, including where they claimed Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election.
The court held that while the petitioners claimed that Tinubu did not meet constitutional threshold to have contested the election, they failed stated what the required qualification was.
The court also struck out some paragraphs where the petitioners accused Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and one Friday Adejo (described as a Local Government Chairman in Kogi State), but failed to join them as parties to the petition.
It equally struck out some other paragraphs where it found that the petitioners made vague allegations of irregularities and malpractices.
The court further struck out some portions of the petitioners’ including where they accused Tinubu of having dual citizenship.
The court also rejected the aspect where the petitioners claimed that Tinubu was not qualified on grounds of alleged criminal conviction and criminal forfeiture in the United States.
It held that the information contained in the reply was an attempt to smuggle in fresh evidence to cover for the information they failed to provide in their petition in support of their claim that Tinubu was not qualified.
The court also held that the two witnesses statements and other documents filed along with the reply were inadmissible.
It equally struck out evidence of some witnesses, whose written statements were not filed along with the petition, along with documents that were tendered through them.
Other members of the court’s five-member panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo and
Justice Abba Mohammed-agreed with the lead judgment.
In her contribution, Justice Bolaji-Yusuf stressed that the US case did not qualify as criminal fine or conviction envisaged under the Nigerian Constitution.
She added that the constitution treated every Nigerian citizen equally and did nothing to envisage the creation of some citizens with special status as being canvassed by politicians to further divide the country and it’s people.
Justice Ugo wondered why the petitioners accused INEC of favouring Tinubu when they defeated Tinubu and the then President Muhammadu Buhari in their home states and in the Southeast.
Addressing journalists shortly after the verdict which lasted 13 hours, Atiku’s lead lawyer, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he had his client’s instruction to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Uche said: “We have our client’s strong instruction to appeal the judgment.”
In the courtroom, Uche requested for a copy of the judgment from the panel.
But responding to the request, Mr Tsammani said the day had been long and that copies of the judgment would be made available to parties in the suit Thursday.
In the same vein, Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) said: “Our clients are dissatisfied with the judgment just delivered. I have the firm instruction of our client to challenge the judgment on appeal.
“We have to be very careful in this country, otherwise electoral jurisprudence will disappear. When those who contest elections find it difficult to establish their case, they may resort to other means which might not be quite good.”
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election was never in doubt
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu said that Nigerians couldn’t have made a wrong choice on February 25, 2023 when they filed out enmasse to cast their vote for the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kalu said that the ruling of the tribunal only affirmed the peoples verdict and further lent credence to the legitimacy of Tinubu’s election.
The Deputy Speaker commended the thoroughness and the sense of professionalism displayed by the Justice Haruna Tsammani led five man panel in interpreting the law and dispensing justice.
According to Kalu, Tinubu’s victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the February presidential election was never in doubt.
He commended the President for staying focused on governance despite the obvious attempts by his opponents to distract him through litigations from the onerous task of fixing the country.
Kalu also commended Tinubu’s opponents in the election for deepening democracy by their actions that further tested the nation’s constitution and the electoral laws.
He also commended them for not resorting to violence or other extra judicial means after the polls but elected to pursue their grievances through the court.
He advised them to key into the Renewed Hope agenda of the current administration, urging them to put an end to the legal voyage and join hands with the president and all well-meaning Nigerians across all political divides to move the country forward.
The Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State also congratulated the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha on her victory at the Tribunal for the seat of Isiukwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency of the State.
The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Oba Francis Alao has felicitated President Bola Tinubu on his victory at the election petition tribunal.
The five-member tribunal in a unanimous judgement upheld Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
In the statement he personally signed, Oba Alao said: “Having secured the majority votes in the February 25 presidential election and met all the constitutional requirements for victory, today’s judgment has further cemented his electoral success, establishing his popularity among Nigerians from North to South.
“It was a judicial confirmation of the will of
Nigerians on who should lead them for the next four years.
“Today’s judgment, which affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the poll, clears the way for him to concentrate on governance, fixing the economy, securing Nigerians and uniting all citizens.
“With the assemblage of the distinguished men and women that made the Federal Executive Council, and the policies rolled out so far, it is clear that President Tinubu means well for Nigeria, and that he will pursue a vision that will make Nigeria a better country for all in the long run.
“I commend the petitioners for seeking redress at the Tribunal which is the laid down procedure in democracy.
“I also commend members of the Tribunal for painstakingly looking into the petition and doing justice to all the parties involved. Forthrightness and professionalism which mark out the Bench have been upheld in the course of serving justice to both the petitioners and respondents in the petition.
“Now that judgment has been given, I urge President Tinubu to be magnanimous in victory, and also urge the petitioners to join hands with him in building the Nigeria of our dream since the goal of all the candidates is to see a better Nigeria.
“May God grant Mr President more grace, strength and wisdom to steer the ship of Nigeria to safe habour.”
Judgment comforting, say Sanwo-Olu, Bello, Abiodun
President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday elicited a myriad of reactions from members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and support groups.
While some said that the judgment was a welcome development and an excellent step to actualising the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Others said it would strengthen democracy in the country.
Among the prominent APC leaders were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Yahaya Bello, and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
Pro-Tinubu and APC support groups that mobilised near the headquarters of the court ahead of the judgment, called on the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party(LP), Peter Obi, to join Tinubu in the task of developing Nigeria.
Sanwo–Olu and the APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi in their separate reactions, said the judgment would promote governance in the country.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Nigerians had spoken through the ballots and that the court had validated their decision.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated President Tinubu, saying that APC members across Nigeria and the President worked hard for the victory enjoyed at the February 25 presidential election.
The governor said: “What we are witnessing today is the beauty of democracy and the rule of law. We ordinarily thought the losers should have displayed the good spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating President Tinubu, but they chose to contest the results, which is within their rights. Now that election and the results have been upheld by the Court. I hope they will do the needful.
“I congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court.
“I also congratulate the leadership and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this very landmark judicial victory.”
Sanwo-Olu also enjoined Nigerians across party divide to team up with President Tinubu to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying ‘today’s judicial verdict is a victory for democracy and the rule of law.’
It’s a resounding victory, says Abiodun
Governor Abiodun described the verdict as resounding victory for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The Ogun helmsman said the unanimous decision of the tribunal has confirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi at the February 25 presidential poll
According to Abiodun, the tribunal’s verdict was an affirmation of the trust reposed in the President by Nigerians as evidenced in the outcome of the presidential election.
He described the judgment as sound, detailed and comprehensive, noting that the judges displayed unmatched courage in the discharge of their duties.
He said: “It is heart-warming that the tribunal judges did not succumb to intimidation by the opposition, who deployed various antics to sway the judgement in their favour.
“The judgement is a further testament to the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of our people.”
Bello : victory is affirmation of peoples will
Kogi State Governor Bello also congratulated the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their victory.
Bello said the triumph at the tribunal stands as a testament to the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and reaffirms that our courts remain the hope of the common man.
He added that the judgment was a significant milestone, as it upholds the will of the people, as clearly demonstrated during the elections on February . It underscores the importance of fair and transparent electoral processes in our great nation.
Ojelabi: we are satisfied
The mood was exciting at the Lagos APC Secretariat in Ikeja where the party members and faithful watched the proceedings live.
At intervals, they would clap and sing after certain parts of the judgment were read out.
Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, described the judgment as satisfactory.
He said: “We are glad and happy with the result. We are satisfied with the judgment. APC is not surprised because we diligently worked for this victory. President Bola Tinubu particularly worked hard in telling the people his intentions and plans for them when he became president. It also shows that integrity matters. The integrity of Asiwaju gave APC the edge in this matter, and we will keep at it.
“Labour Party’s rejection of the judgment is expected because of their expectations. But the judgment has proven that Nigerians really voted for the APC.”
Ojelabi also thanked party members and faithful for staying true to the party and urged them to continue to be steadfast. He assured them rewards will come sooner than expected.”
Verdict reaffirms choice of Tinubu, says Jibrin
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also hailed the judgment affirming the victory of President Tinubu at the poll.
Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the judgement has reaffirmed the choice of Nigerians.
While urging all to accept the outcome of the tribunal, he said Nigerians, irrespective of party differences, should team up with the administration to address the challenges facing the country.
Barau added: ‘’ The judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the presidential poll has reaffirmed the choice of the electorate who trooped out on February 25, 2023, to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of our beloved country.
“Now, it is time for all to team up with the President to turn around the fortunes of the country positively for the benefit of all.”
The Deputy Senate President reiterated the commitment of the parliament to come up with legislation to support the initiatives of the Executive in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
He stressed: ‘’ On our part, as assured by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, we will come up with necessary legislation to support the executive to address the challenges facing our nation. This will be pursued vigorously for the benefit of all.”
all Progressives Congress (APC) support groups and some pro-democracy organisations have advised the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi to put the February 25 election behind them.
They said the duo should support President Bola Tinubu in his developmental agenda.
The groups gave the advice during their solidarity walk in support of the President and Vice President Kashim Shetimma in Abuja yesterday.
The Patriots in Defense of Democracy(PDD), Tinubu Support Group(TSG), The City Boy Movement(CBM), and Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative(CGGCI) were among the groups.
CGGCI National Coordinator Okpokwu Ogenyi said: “We are saying that Atiku, Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are all welcome to be part of the Tinubu administration.
“All we want is to ensure the success and progress of the Nigerian system which we believe is going to be obtainable under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
“Nigerians rejected them with the mandate to lead us through the ballot. They should accept the verdict of the court and move on with the President.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would ease the sufferings of the Nigerian people, adding that the President is fulfilling his promises.
PDD Convener Tosin Adeyanju also called on Nigerians to keep faith with Tinubu to deliver democratic dividends to all.
He said: “We are here in celebration of our anticipated victory because we do not doubt our minds that the majority of Nigerians voted for Tinubu on February. 25.
“All we have to say now is that Nigerians should keep faith with Tinubu because he has what it would take to deliver true democracy dividends to the people.”
Appealing to Atiku and Obi to join hands with the President, Adeyanju commended them for adopting the legal option of challenging Tinubu’s electoral victory.
He maintained that “they had the right to ventilate their perceived grievance in court.”
Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, Convener of CBM, said: “ All I urge them to do is to join hands with President Tinubu, who has shown enough strength to move this country forward with the kind of inclusive government he has embarked upon.
“We can also see how he is empowering the youths, which is the strongest point of one of the petitioners. In other words, Tinubu is an all-rounder who has shown that he has the interest of Nigerians at heart”.
Also, a former National Youth Mobilisation Director of the APC Presidential Campaign Council(PCC) for Southwest, Kashim Raji, called for support from all Nigerians to enable Tinubu to deliver on his Renewed Hope agenda.
Advising Atiku and Obi to lead the way, Raji said, “ “Politics should not divide them, they all have what it takes to build the country, I appeal to them to join hands to build and move the country forward. Let’s all come together as brothers to build this country.
“It is only in peace and unity that we can have a country call Nigeria as ours, I therefore appeal to their supporters to embrace peace, because there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Security agents restrict support groups access
The adjourning areas of the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja came alive as early as 7.20 a.m. yesterday when some supporters of President Tinubu started arriving for the Presidential Election Petitions Court(PEPC) for judgment on cases challenging the February 25 poll.
It was jubilation in far-away New Delhi, India after the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the February 25 poll.
The President, who is in India with top government officials and business leaders for the G-20 Summit and investment conferences, burst into jubilation when the PEPC gave its judgment.
Savouring his victory, Tinubu reassured Nigerians that he will be president for all irrespective of party affiliations and religion, restating his commitment to achieving his vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous nation.
The reaction was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
He lauded the diligence, thoroughness, as well as professionalism of members of the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel.
The President noted that the process was a testament to the fact that the Nigerian judicial system has come of age.
According to him, the process from the participation of all the candidates and political parties in the 2023 general elections, to the judicial process that followed, “affirmed that democracy is developing in Nigeria”.
He urged his challengers and their parties to encourage their supporters to put patriotism above partisanship and rally them to support and work with his government in the interest of a better Nigeria.
The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians of his renewed and energized focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation, following the judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
“President Tinubu welcomes the judgment of the Tribunal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities.
“The President recognises the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, in interpreting the law.
“The President affirms that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Tribunal, as witnessed in the panel’s exclusive respect for the merits of the petitions brought forward, further reflects the continuing maturation of Nigeria’s legal system, and the advancement of Africa’s largest democracy at a time when our democratic system of government is under test in other parts of the continent.
“The President believes the Presidential candidates and political parties that have lawfully exercised their rights by participating in the 2023 general elections and the judicial process, which followed, have affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
“The President urges his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism will now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, manifesting into support for our government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.
“Once more, President Tinubu thanks Nigerians for the mandate given to him to serve our country while promising to meet and exceed their expectations, by the grace of God Almighty, and through very diligent hard work with the team that has been put in place for that sole purpose.”
Crusaders, under the auspices of Egbesu Brotherhood (EB), have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renew the contract of the private security firm, Tantita Security Services (TSS), owned by a foremost ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
The National Coordinator of the group, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, said in a statement yesterday that the appeal for renewal became necessary because since the award of the contract to TSS by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the security firm had reduced oil theft, increased oil production and provided jobs for thousands of youths in the Niger Delta.
He slammed some merchants of oil crimes trying to frustrate the process of the contract renewal owing to their dubious and selfish purposes, aimed at depleting Nigeria’s economy.
He said: “As a group, we are pleased to recognise and applaud the achievements of Tantita Security Services in the fight against oil theft, provision of job opportunities, fight against crimes and criminality.
“Their activities have recorded massive discoveries and confiscation of numerous illegal bunkering points and vessels, which have also contributed to the increase in oil production, which is evident to the country’s improved economy.
“The current realities of Tantita in the oil and gas industry have increased the figure of production benchmark per day as set by OPEC.
“Nigeria now enjoys about 1.6 million barrels per day from an abysmal 700 barrels of oil production, thereby saving a whopping $8 billion of the country’s resources from oil thieves, courtesy of Tantita’s inputs in securing crude oil facilities.”
Kemepadei called on those working to terminate the contract of Tantita to stop their gimmicks and attempt to satisfy their selfish gains and paymasters, who are beneficiaries of oil theft.
He noted: “Based on the above, we are calling on President Tinubu to act timely and grant the renewal of contract to Tantita Security Service to continue in their collaboration with the Navy in the fight against crude oil theft because the oil thieves are already gathering to plunder Nigeria’s resources.
“We remain resolute in our call for the renewal of Tantita contract and for the umpteenth time we are urging agents of oil theft cabal to desist from the politics of hate to halt the process and support Tantita, which is yielding progress in the increase of crude oil production for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.”
IT IS a two-round contest and the first round ended on a high note yesterday at the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC). Before their Lordships or sages, if you like, were three petitions. Of the three, two were well known to the public. Little or no attention was paid to the third case, brought by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The APM case was the first to be thrown out by the PEPC. The decision signalled what was to follow in the other petitions, which were full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
The noise was calculated and deliberate. It was deployed as a trick to make the court bend to the will of the petitioners – Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The noise was more than the proof, if there was really any, at the disposal of the petitioners. They relied more on making wild allegations and throwing dirt at the court, the electoral umpire and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the now reconfirmed winner of the February 25 presidential poll.
There was nothing anybody could do or say to convince these petitioners and their bunch of noisemakers, some were actually hired for the job, to let peace reign while the proceedings lasted. If they had restricted their muckraking to President Tinubu, watchers might have seen it all as politics, but dragging their Lordships into it for no other reason than that they had a job to do, was carrying their sacrifice beyond the worship place. Before yesterday’s judgment, they had gone to town again, claiming that it was being drafted by some hired hands. That was how low they were ready to go in order to force the Justices to see things their way.
Their Lordships saw through the shenanigan in their well-considered verdict, which coincided with the celebration of the present administration’s 100 days in office. For Atiku and Obi, their next line of action is to open a new front in the campaigns of calumny against the Justices. This is what they were preparing the ground for with all the noises they were making while the nation was waiting earnestly for the verdict. Atiku, especially knew that he had a bad case, which was why he went on a voyage of discovery for what he thought was further and better evidence long after judgment had been reserved. Only he and his lawyers can say what evidence he wanted to bring to court after closing his case.
They went to court claiming, among others, that Tinubu did not score the constitutionally required 25 percent of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not upload results in the result viewing (IReV) portal, as contained in the Electoral Act and election guidelines; that there was over-voting in some polling units and that their results were subtracted and added to those of the President. In law, he who asserts, must prove. So, the onus was on the petitioners to prove all these allegations. They could not. The only issue that they could hold on to was Abuja.
Now Abuja is not a state. It is the Federal Capital. But in order to have their way in court, the petitioners tried to twist the law to confer Abuja the status of a state. According to Section 134 (2) (b) of the Constitution: A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected, where, there being more than two candidates for the election – he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation and the FCT, Abuja.
The status of Abuja had never been in doubt since the return to democracy in 1999 and a series of elections thereafter, until this year’s polls. It was a row orchestrated by lawyers, who wittingly took the wrong position on an issue in which they should have stood for and by the law.
Their motive was self-serving. They wanted Obi to win at all costs and were ready to use everything in their arsenal to help his cause. They should wait for the next election for their man to try his luck again. The PEPC discharged itself well in the handling of the three petitions. Its reasoning on Abuja is refreshing. ‘’Abuja is equal to every other state in Nigeria. FCT Abuja does not attract special status and it is not more important than any other state in Nigeria’’, the court held. On the claims that they (Obi and LP) scored majority of the votes cast, the court’s conclusion was damning: ‘’But, they failed to state the number of lawful votes they scored. The determination of an election is about figures”.
Truly, election is a game of numbers. It is either you have them or you do not. Therefore, you cannot lay claim to what you do not have. If you make such claims, you must show proof and Obi failed to tender the needed evidence. The court sitting as a tribunal has done its job. It is another matter whether or not some people are happy. It is not the tribunal’s job to make them happy; its duty is to dispense justice without fear or favour; affection or ill-will, even if heavens fall. Those not satisfied know what to do next. They should not cry wolf where there is none. They should find their way to the Supreme Court. But, you will be shocked by their reactions to this well-considered verdict!
Wait, you will soon hear them call the Justices name and rubbish the verdict, using some handpicked lawyers. They have prepared the ground well enough for that. As for me, I will not be surprised by the bile they will spew forth.
