News

BREAKING: A‘Court Sacks Plateau Gov, Mutfwang

Published

2 years ago

November 19, 2023

Editor

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

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro has charged media practitioners particularly members of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum to promote ethical journalism through their reportage.

He gave the charge in Warri on Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF).

Represented by Princewill Binebai, spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Otuaro while stating that the Niger Delta stories have been told in such a way that is quite different from what is obtainable in the real sense, said this, IPF must do everything possible to correct.

The administrator added: “I am happy that Ijaw journalists have boldly come out together to champion the Ijaw struggle in a very dynamic perspective”.

“The Ijaw story was misrepresented over the years, but IPF’s emergence had corrected this error and the story is gradually changing for better.”

Otuaro, however, challenged Ijaw media practitioners to be objective, truthful, accurate and fearless in their reportage to correct many years anomalies of the Ijaw struggle.

He admonished members of IPF to see themselves as brothers and love one another in the discharge of their activities to achieve a common goal.

News

Police Confirm Edo Tanker Explosion, say No Casualty

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed tanker explosions that rocked Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Police Publice Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident via the phone, said the explosion occurred at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

Ikoedem said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

She explained that spilled fuel seeped into underground tunnels, which later ignited and caused three explosions in different parts of the Auchi community.

According to her, officers from the Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters and the Area Command were mobilised to the affected areas and successfully cordoned them off to prevent loss of lives.

She added: “No casualty was recorded. Our men on ground were able to cordoned the affected areas.”

It was gathered that three separate explosions rocked the town simultaneously in different parts, which led to properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

A resident who does not want his name in print said via the telephone that the blasts occurred along Igbei Road, Igbo Shade, and along the Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.

The resident, who alleged the explosions appeared to have been coordinated, called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Calls put across to Mr. Monday Edogiawere, Chairman, Red Cross, Edo State, were not picked.

News

IPF Hosts Media Conference, Seeks Protection For N’Delta Environment

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) on Wednesday , December 17, 2025 held its annual media conference in Warri, Delta State, where the media practitioners sought protection of the Niger Delta’s natural resources and environment for future generations.

In his welcome address at the conference themed: ‘Safeguarding the Niger Delta Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ IPF President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, while emphasising the importance of protecting the Niger Delta’ environment and resources, highlighted the devastating impact of oil theft, environmental pollution, exploitation by oil companies, federal government and deforestation on the region.

He called on oil exploration companies to prioritize the well-being of the people and the environment.

Comrade Austin also provided a brief history of the IPF, which was formed in October 2023 to promote the Ijaw struggle and its identity.

He noted that the IPF has made significant strides in telling the Ijaw story and advocating for the rights of the Ijaw nation.

Ozobo, who noted that the conference was aimed at addressing the challenges facing the Niger Delta region and find solutions to safeguard its natural resources for future generations, said: “We must stop oil theft, environmental pollution which has destroyed fishing and farming activities or occupation in our region. We must equally stop deforestation and waste of other forest and aquatic resources. Our resources are our future. Our environment is our wealth. Pollution does not just affect our environment but it shortens our life span. Stealing our crude or sabotaging it, is as well as stealing our common wealth, invariably creating poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities in our region. This message largely affects our oil exploration companies. The IOC and indigenous oil companies management should stop exploitation and deliberate environmental pollution if our well-being should be prioritized”.

“We have proactively told the Ijaw story in all dimensions, we have propagated and seamlessly advocated for the struggle of the Ijaw nation. We have actively defended the Ijaw nation from willful blackmails, people who are hellbent to hand twist, incite government, its military against Ijaw nation to jeopardise Ijaw identity. This is not to entertain you but well-meaning leaders, stakeholders and youths could attest to it”.

“There is no gainsaying that IPF has balanced the equilibrium, the Ijaw nation is now more significant in the media industry than ever, there is now a checks and balances between those who bastardise our collective image or identity in the name of telling our story. We have corrected many such narratives and we will continue to put a stop to it. I can assure you that the rate at which the foreign papers battered our identity have reduced to the barest minimum since we took charge and made Ijaw significant in the media industry”

“The Yoruba has their media houses, Hausa has its own, Igbo has, Itsekiri has, Urhobo has, so the commitments and efforts made by brilliant Ijaw sons and daughters to strengthen Ijaw presence in the media industry should be encouraged by all well-meaning Ijaw leaders and critical stakeholders. Our mission and visions are to defend, advocate, propagate Ijaw/Niger Delta self-determination struggle and build dependable media houses for the Ijaw nation in no distance time. So that when all papers and broadcasting stations will show patriotism to their origins, political Godfathers and hand twisted governments in the unforeseen dark days, Ijaw nation will not be left in the rain and sun to be battered”.

The conference was attended by prominent guests, including High Chief Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and RT. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Lawuru Promise, Amb. Godknows Igali, Pandef National leader, Chief Oyakemeagbegha Izinebi, INC publicity Secretary, Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba former commissioner of oil and gas, Delta State, Chief Udens Eradiri, IYC spokesman Princewill Binebai, Ijaw women Rights’ Protection Forum IWRPF, Ijaw women in politics, for peace and Culture, Ayakoromo ladies, President Amnesty students leadership and others.