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BREAKING: A‘Court Sacks Plateau Gov, Mutfwang

Published

6 months ago

November 19, 2023

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Sunday, nullified the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, held that Mutfwang was not validly nominated and sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to participate in the gubernatorial contest that held on March 18.

It held that all the votes that were credited to him and the PDP after the election amounted to wasted votes.

Consequently, the appellate court panel, led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the Certificate of Return that it earlier issued to Mutfwang of the PDP as winner of the governorship poll.

It ordered that the candidate that got the second majority lawful votes at the election, should be sworn in as governor of the state.

The judgement followed an appeal that was lodged against governor Muftwang’s election by the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state, Mr. Nentawe Goshwe.

INEC had declared that Mutfwang of the PDP won the gubernatorial contest with a total of 525,299 votes, ahead of the APC candidate, Goshwe, who polled 481,370 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Goshwe, went before the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to challenge it.

He, among other things, contended that the PDP lacked a political structure in the states and was therefore incapable of validly nominating or sponsoring any candidate for the governorship poll.

Besides, he argued that the election of Mutfwang was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act, insisting that he did not win the majority of lawful votes cast during the election.

Meanwhile, a three-member panel of the tribunal headed by Justuce R. Irele-Ifijeh, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Goshwe’s petition as lacking in merit.

Not happy with the judgement of the tribunal, Goshwe brought the case before the appellate court, maintaining his ground that the PDP candidate, governor Muftwang, lacked the platform and legal qualification to contest the election.

He further alleged that the election was marred by over-voting and non-compliance with key provisions of the the 2022 Electoral Act.

While adopting his final brief of argument, Goshwe, through his team of lawyers led by Prof. Fakunle Olagoke, SAN, told the court that Mutfwang was not qualified to contest the election by virtue of a lack of valid sponsorship by a political party, contrary to section 177 (C) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

However, the governor, through his counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the earlier verdict of the tribunal.

Agabi, SAN, argued that the issue of nomination and sponsorship of a candidate for an election was purely an internal affair of a political party which no court had the jurisdiction to wad into.

More so, he contended that the Appellant lacked the locus standi to query a nomination and sponsorship of the candidate of another political party.

Likewise, the counsel for the PDP, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, SAN, urged the court to strike out grounds 1 and 8 of the Appellant’s grounds of appeal, saying they lacked competence.

Etiaba, SAN, argued that governor Mutfwang emerged as gubernatorial flag-bearer of the PDP, through a validly conducted primary election he said was duly monitored by INEC.

Delivering its judgement in the matter on Sunday, the appellate court upheld the appeal and nullified the election of governor Mutfwang.

Other Justices on the panel were; Muhammed Mustapha and Okon Abang.

It will be recalled that the same panel of the appellate court had on November 7, also sacked a Senator and three members of the House of Representatives in the state that won their respective elections on the platform of the PDP.

The panel based its decision on failure of the PDP to fully comply with a court order that was made in 2022, which it said directed the party to conduct congress in the 17 Local Government Areas in the state.

It held that an evidence the PDP produced to prove that it complied with the order, showed that 12 LGAs were excluded in a purported congress it held to select its candidates for the 2023 general elections.

The appellate court, therefore, held that though the lawmakers won their respective seats during the National Assembly election that held on February 25, all the scores that were credited them, amounted to wasted votes as they were not valid candidates.

News

UPDATED: Court Stops Rivers Speaker, 24 Others From Parading As Lawmakers

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, has granted an interim injunction restraining the pro-Wike Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers from parading themselves as legislators.

The interim injunction was filed by the pro-Fubara Speaker, Victor Jumbo and two other Assembly members loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Justice Charles Wali, who gave the order on Friday, in a case with suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024, also ordered that the 25 defendants from “meeting/sitting at the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant.”

Justice Wali, following the Motion Ex-parte and after hearing from Sammie A. Somiari, SAN with B.N.Owunabo, Esq. and others for the Claimants/Applicants entered that Amaewhule should stop acting as lawmakers.

Wali, also ordered that the government of the state should stop dealing with the said lawmakers as their seats have remained vacant after they defected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party that produced them.

The order read, “An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“An order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“It is further Ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice and the writ and other processes in this case be served on the 1st to 25th Defendants/Respondents within seven (7) days from the date by substituted means to wit: by pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”

The court, however, adjourned the case till May 29 for Motion on Notice.

Recall that 27 lawmakers of the State Assembly led by Amaewhule had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress in the heat of the political crisis that rocked the state, occasioned by the feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike.
PUNCH

News

Nigerian Army Pulls Out 29 Retired Generals

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The Nigerian Army on Friday pulled out 29 Generals of the Infantry Corps who retired from active military service.

Out of the 29 retired infantry officers pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State, 19 were Major Generals and 10 were Brigadiers General.

Leading the pack was Maj.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, who spoke on behalf of the retirees.

Ezugwu encouraged their successors to not only sustain the modest strategic, operational and tactical achievements made but also to surpass them.

”The frontline is expanding and the Nigerian Army is becoming increasingly committed with the eyes of the nation and the world on it.

”Our Infantry Corps must therefore not relent or rest on her oars as the entire Nigerian Army depends largely on the Infantry Corps to achieve its core mandate and mission.

”I admonish the Infantry that as the threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty are becoming asymmetric in time and space, you must be proactively way ahead of our adversaries in all aspects of the unfolding combat scenarios,” he added.

Ezugwu also called on the Infantry Corps to review some of its tactical and operational strategies in the areas of night fighting capabilities, and frontline intelligence gathering on enemy activities.

He further advised the corps to strengthen basic field crafts training in the areas of aggressive fighting patrols to dominate at least a 5 km radius of their locations, Ambushes, listening and observation posts as well as all levels of battle drills.

Ezugwu advocated for employment of modern technology and ICT enablers, and deliberate efforts to develop the leadership skills of junior commanders.

“Be rest assured that my colleagues and I will be glad and willing to avail the Infantry Corps of our time, energy and resources until our last breath on earth,” he added.

He announced the donation of 200 books and encyclopedias to the Infantry Corps Centre and Nigerian Army School of Infantry libraries to promote training, reading culture, mentorship and capacity development of officers and soldiers.

“We are also availing the infantry corps the sum of N1 million to purchase more Corps-related books.

“This is our modest way to encourage the edification of younger infantry officers and soldiers to inspire and motivate them to reach their full potential as they grow in service,” Ezugwu said.

He described a military career as the most priceless, honourable and sacrificial call to duty globally, and thanked God for allowing them to end their careers alive after serving the nation for between 30 -38 years.

The general described the day as full of emotional feelings, nostalgic memories, wholesome gratitude, unending joy and unwavering fulfilment.

“For every service personnel, retirement from active service remains a natural and inevitable end which begins to count from the day we passed out from NDA as officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

”Our joy and that of our families, colleagues and friends gathered here today knows no bounds as we take a final bow from the Infantry Corps.

“On behalf of my retired colleague Generals, I most respectfully and dutifully appreciate the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja for organising this benefitting and memorable pulling out parade in our honour,” he added.

He also appreciated the Commander Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for mobilising the entire Infantry family including veterans and other luminaries in the Infantry Corps to honour them.

”As I stand on this podium and look around this Parade Ground, I am moved with hysterical feeling of excitement considering the mammoth turnout of the infantry family.

”Host and neighbouring communities of Jaji, Labar, Wusono, Railway, Birnin Yero, Angwan Loya, and other parts of Zazzau Emirate, led by our revered Emir, to celebrate our retirement.”

NAN

News

NIN Enrolment Hits 107.34m

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The National Identity Management Commission says 107.34 million Nigerians have been enrolled into the national identification number database as of May 2023.

The Commission’s Director General Abisoye Coker-Odusote, gave the new figures at a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.

She said the country’s NIN enrolment figure has reached 107 million as of May 2024, up from 85.6 million that was recorded in December 2023.

According to her, the figure was an increase of 3.2m or 3.2 per cent, from 104m in December 2023.

She stated that this accomplishment stems from the strategic plan implemented by the current NIMC management, aligned with its 5-Point Agenda to capture all Nigerians in the shortest possible time.

She said, “As of this morning, the total enrolment on our database is 107.34m which is more than half of the projected Nigerian population.

“We hope to get to the 200 million mark upon completion of the upgrade of the system and equipping of all NIMC centres soon.”

The NIN, a unique identifier assigned to each citizen, has gained prominence in recent years as the cornerstone of various government initiatives aimed at enhancing security, governance, and service delivery.