Politics
2023: Lawyer Asks Court To Disqualify Atiku From Presidential Race

An Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify Atiku Abubakar from vying for the 2023 presidential election.
With the fresh suit, Mr Abubakar, who emerged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Saturday, has one more legal hurdle to cross in his race to be Nigeria’s president.
But in February this year, a similar case challenging Mr Abubakar’s Nigerian citizenship was struck out by a federal judge – Inyang Ekwo.
Mr Ekwo cautioned the plaintiff – incorporated trustees of the Egalitarian Mission for Africa – a nongovernmental organisation – to desist from filing frivolous suits aimed at harassing politically exposed Nigerians.
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The judge held that the incorporated trustees lacked the right to institute the legal action, describing them as “busy body and meddlesome interlopers.”
Nigeria’s Supreme Court had also in 2019 dismissed a similar application by the APC in the aftermath of the 2019 presidential election.
Fresh suit
In the new suit, the plaintiff challenges Mr Abubakar’s Nigerian citizenship, despite serving as Nigeria’s vice president from 1999 to 2007.
According to court filings, Mr Jideobi mentioned Mr Abubakar, the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants.
He argued that Mr Abubakar is not constitutionally qualified to contest in the presidential election. He claimed that Mr Abubakar is not a Nigerian citizen by birth as required under the Nigerian constitution.
Mr Jideobi contends that Mr Abubakar “acquired his citizenship of Nigeria by virtue of the 1961 plebiscite which integrated some people of Northern Cameroon into Nigeria as new citizens of Nigeria.
The plaintiff claimed that, “Allowing the first defendant (Mr Abubakar) to a participant in the 2023 presidential election as the candidate” of the PDP would amount to a grave desecration of the otherwise sacrosanct and inviolable provisions of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The third defendant (INEC) is under a bounden duty to ensure that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”
Prayers
Mr Jideobi is asking the court for a “declaration that by virtue of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution, it is only a Nigerian citizen by birth that is constitutionally eligible to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He further seeks a “declaration that given the circumstances of the birth of the first defendant (Atiku), he is not constitutionally qualified to stand for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The plaintiff seeks an “order of the court disqualifying the first defendant – Atiku Abubakar – from contesting for election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He also begged the court to declare that the “PDP does not have a candidate for the office of the president in the 2023 presidential election to be organised by the third defendant.”
He requested for “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or occupying the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by whatever means and throughout his lifetime.
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“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant from fielding or presenting the first defendant as its candidate for the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the third defendant from accepting and or publishing the name of the first defendant as a candidate of the second defendant for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.”
This suit comes a couple of days after Mr Abubakar became the standard bearer of Nigeria’s main opposition party — the PDP — at a primary election held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
PREMIUM TIMES.
Politics
APC Queries Minister For Insubordination As Fresh Crisis Rocks Party In Kano

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, for making “unguided” comments capable of provoking misunderstandings and disunity within the party.
In a query letter signed by the Kano State APC Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, the party threatened disciplinary action against the Minister if he failed to respond to what it considers acts of insubordination.
The letter was copied to the party’s national leadership, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and zonal leaders.
The letter reads: “The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has observed with concern recent comments you made in the media regarding internal party matters and aspirants.
READ ALSO:APC Explains Suspension Of Senator Gbenga Daniel
“These statements have the tendency to provoke misunderstandings and disunity among members. Issues relating to party affairs fall strictly within the purview of the APC leadership and its designated spokespersons.”
Abbas added: “You are not assigned any public relations role within the party, and such public comments may be wrongly interpreted as official party positions.
“Although you have the right to support and promote any aspirant of your choice, by virtue of your position as a Minister and member of the Federal Executive Council, you are expected to engage on issues that facilitate the unity of all party members.
“The party has observed that you habitually make uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements. You are hereby warned to restrain from such behavior; failure to do so may compel the party to take further disciplinary action.”
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In response, Minister Ata described the query as baseless, lacking specific accusations, and said he had not received an official copy of the letter, learning of it instead through social media.
He insisted that he possesses the constitutional right to express his opinions freely and would not relinquish that right.
Ata stated: “I am not aware of any offense or breach of party rules. I believe it is inappropriate for a Minister of the Federal Republic or any party member to first see a letter intended for them on the internet before it is officially delivered.
“The letter does not cite any specific statement, action, or conduct that amounts to wrongdoing. As a Nigerian citizen, I fully reserve the constitutional right to express my personal opinions.
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“At no point have I claimed to speak on behalf of the party. Every comment I made was strictly in my personal capacity. I remain firmly committed to the constructive policies and renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.”
The exchange between the party leadership and the Minister has further exposed internal crises within APC in Kano, as various factions jockey for influence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Members of the party are reportedly divided among major power blocs, with some supporting the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, while others back former National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The crisis deepened when some party stakeholders endorsed Ganduje as the state party leader, bypassing Barau, who is the highest-ranking political officer in Kano APC. Although the endorsement was claimed to be unanimous, Barau denied any involvement.
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Recently, party stalwart Hon. Alwan Hassan accused Barau of obstructing the confirmation of Ramat Garba at the National Assembly for the presidential nomination as head of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Hassan also alleged that Barau orchestrated the removal of former Minister of Housing, Alh. Abdullahi Gwarzo, replacing him with Ata.
In a counter statement, Muhammad Abubakar, leader of the Coalition Tinubu Support Organization, dismissed Hassan’s claims, accusing him of advancing the interests of certain leaders to tarnish the reputation of the Deputy Senate President.
(GUARDIAN)
Politics
APC Explains Suspension Of Senator Gbenga Daniel

APC Ward 4 in Sagamu says it suspended Senator Gbenga Daniel because he refused to appear and defend himself over allegations of anti-party activities.
Speaking to journalists at the ward office in Sabo, Sagamu, the Ward Secretary, Hon. Oluwole Aduroja, said he spoke for the 19-member executive committee.
He explained that their clarification was necessary after a statement issued by MJS Partners on behalf of Senator Daniel, reacting to a November 17 letter from the APC National Secretariat.
Aduroja, who stood with the Ward Chairman, Hon. Adebayo Ismail, said the Ward Executive Committee agreed to suspend Senator Daniel because he failed to appear before a panel set up to review petitions against him.
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The petitions accused him of working against the party.
He said the problem started during the last general elections, when Senator Daniel “acted in open defiance of the party and engaged in actions inimical to the interest of the APC and its candidates in Ogun State.”
Aduroja added that after the elections, the senator, “attempted to obstruct and frustrate the course of justice during the Election Petition Tribunal sittings through actions and interventions that were directly hostile to the interest of the APC and its candidates.”
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He said these actions remain unchallenged.
Reacting to the position of the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Bashiru, in the November 17 letter, Aduroja insisted that the APC Constitution allows Executive Committees at all levelsward, local government, state, zonal or national to discipline any member.
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He said Article 21(5)(vii) gives the National Working Committee the power to suspend members, but does not override the powers of Executive Committees at other levels, and does not require them to seek approval from the NWC.
He explained that “any disciplinary action taken by an Executive Council, including suspension, is subject only to appeal as outlined in Article 21(4).”
He added that nothing in the constitution makes their decision dependent on NWC review.
Aduroja said Ward 4 is committed to discipline, fairness and due process, and stressed that the suspension of Senator Gbenga Daniel remains in full effect.”
Politics
Irresponsible Of You To Blame Trump Over Rising Insecurity – ADC Blasts Tinubu’s Govt

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the Federal Government of Nigeria for blaming the wave of attacks, especially in Kebbi and Kwara States on remarks by US President Donald Trump.
Recall that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume on Wednesday, said recent statements by Trump concerning the security situation in Nigeria have emboldened violent groups across the country.
Responding to the SGF, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement said Akume’s comment was an attempt to deflect responsibility.
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According to him, it is appalling that the APC-led government suggested that insecurity in Nigeria was triggered by a statement made by a foreign president.
The ADC mouthpiece further stated that the claim amounted to a shameful abdication of responsibility and a confirmation that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is overwhelmed by the security crisis.
He added that Nigerians had endured massacres, mass abductions and attacks on schools and places of worship for years under the APC-led government.
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Abdullahi said the situation has worsened under the current administration because of the government’s failure to respond decisively.
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“It is therefore disingenuous to blame one tweet for the state of insecurity in Nigeria,”
“Those killing Nigerians did not need to be instigated by Trump; they were already actively encouraged by a government that consistently fails to act decisively to stop the carnage, a government that is, even after nearly three years in office, still celebrating its electoral victory while the country is turned into a killing field,” he said.
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