Politics

Appeal Court Begins Hearing Gov Adeleke’s Appeal Against Oyetola, APC

Published

3 years ago

March 13, 2023

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Monday, commenced sitting in an appeal filed by Mr Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against a judgment of the tribunal which invalidated his election as Governor of Osun State.

The three-member panel of justices began sitting in the appeal at about 10am.

While Adeleke is the appellant, Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are 1st and 2nd respondents in the appeal marked: CA/AK/EPT/GOV/01/2023.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP are also joined as 3rd respondent and 4th respondent respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, on Jan. 27, voided the July 16, 2022 election that produced Adeleke of PDP as the elected governor.

INEC had declared Adeleke the winner of the election after polling a total of 403,371 votes.

He was said to have won in 17 of the 30 local government areas in the state.

But the panel led by Justice Terste Kume, in its judgment, invalidated the election and declared Mr Gboyega Oyetola of APC as the valid winner of the poll.

The tribunal directed INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi, both of whom had been sworn in.

It, however, directed that the certificate of return should instead be issued to Oyetola.

Justice Kume held that the governorship election was not held in compliance with Nigeria’s Electoral Act.

The tribunal also held that the governorship election was characterised by over-voting.

It said after deducting the excessive votes, the figure Oyetola polled at the election was 314, 921.

The tribunal, thus, ordered that Oyetola be returned as governor of Osun State.

INEC, in its earlier results, said Oyetola won in 13 LGAs with 375,027 votes in the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

In his petition, Oyetola, the immediate-past governor of the state, alleged that the election was characterised by over-voting in 749 polling units.

He also argued that Adeleke forged the academic credentials he submitted to INEC to contest for the election.

The tribunal commenced sitting in August 2022, a few weeks after the governorship election.

Oyetola and the APC were petitioners in the case with Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Akin Olujimi, SAN, as their lead counsel.

Politics

PHOTO: Rivers Residents Throng Govt House To Welcome Fubara

Published

13 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Rivers State’s capital is a sea of jubilant supporters on Thursday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara is expected to triumphantly return to office following the end of the state’s six-month emergency rule.

Throngs of residents, politicians, and key stakeholders have converged on the Government House in Port Harcourt, eagerly awaiting the governor’s arrival.

The atmosphere is one of profound relief and celebration, with various groups dressed in their uniforms, standing outside the gates and anticipating the moment their leader will make his appearance.

The collective joy reflects the widespread satisfaction with the restoration of democratic governance.

Residents who spoke with Nigerian Television Authority expressed their delight, with many voicing hope that the state will now usher in a new era of development and progress.

As the governor prepares to resume his duties, all eyes are on the renewed promise of stability and accelerated development for the people of Rivers State.

“Although the governor has yet to arrive at the Government House, various groups clad in their uniforms are standing outside the gate, anticipating his arrival”, NTA report indicated.

Residents of the state who spoke with NTA News expressed satisfaction over the restoration of democratic rule in the state, expressing hope that the state would now witness more development.

Politics

Rivers: Supporters Disappointed As Fubara Fails To Show Up

Published

13 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Thousands of supporters who had thronged the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday morning to welcome Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, went home disappointed after waiting for hours.

Many of the supporters, who came as early as 6 a.m. from different parts of the state, including rural areas, started leaving the Government House entrance between 12 noon and 1 p.m.

Some of their leaders, including the immediate past local government chairmen loyal to Fubara, were seen making frantic calls as the whereabouts of the governor remained unknown as of 1 p.m.

Among the sacked LG chairmen who led their supporters to the Government House in anticipation of the governor’s return were the former chairman of Obio/Akpor, Chijoke Ihunwo, and his counterpart from Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, among others.

Politics

JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-month Suspension

Published

16 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.

The plenary is being presided by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule,at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex.

On March 18, Tinubu declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state in the wake of a prolonged political crisis arising from the rift between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

More to come…