Politics

Contempt: APC Threatens To Sue Bayelsa Speaker, Lawmaker

Published

3 years ago

September 8, 2022

The All Progressives Congress on Thursday threatened legal action against the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and the sacked lawmaker representing Brass Constituency 1, Daniel Charles, over alleged contempt of court.

Also in trouble for the same alleged offence is the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, following non-compliance with the sacking of Charles by the Court of Appeal.

Ingobere and Charles risk jail term for not abiding by the order of the court, which sacked the latter with immediate effect.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had on July 14, 2022, in a unanimous decision by Justices Joseph Shagbaor Ikeyegh, Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole and Olabode Adegbehingbe, in suit number CA/PH/79/2022, ruled that there was merit in the appeal filed by the APC, which sought the removal of Charles as a member of the House for defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party from APC on whose platform he won the election to the Assembly.

The court, which hinged its decision on Section 109 (1) (g) and (2) of the Constitution, ordered the speaker under constitutional duties to declare Charles’s seat vacant and directed Charles to return all monies and allowances he had collected since April 14, 2021.

Counsel to APC, Mr Tuduru Ede, who expressed dismay that Charles was still being allowed to participate in the legislature’s deliberation, said that INEC, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Ingobere and Charles were all in contempt of the court’s ruling.

He insisted that the appeal court made a declaratory judgment, saying the implication of allowing Charles to remain in the House is that all motions and decisions made by the House are null and void.

Ede said, “The Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, INEC, and the House of Assembly as an institution, and Hon. Dr Charles Daniel, are in contempt of Court by their actions for allowing Hon. Charles to be part of the House.

“The Court of Appeal has sacked him and INEC should have conducted an election into the vacant seat.

“Hon. Charles is no longer a member of the House and he should have returned all the monies he collected since April 2021. He risks going to jail for showing contempt to the order of the Court. This is part of the impunity we are talking about.

“The implication of what the House of Assembly has done is that by allowing Dr Daniel who has been sacked in the eyes of the law since April 2021 to be part of its deliberation means all their actions, motions are null and void. By allowing him to be part of any deliberation means all what they are doing is nullity.”

When contacted, Charles said he would need to speak with his lawyer before responding.

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.