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Edo Guber: Court Fixes Date To Hear APC Suit Seeking Ighodalo’s Disqualification

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday fixed September 19 to hear a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, seeking the disqualification of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

Justice Peter Lifu fixed the hearing of all pending applications after lawyers to the parties in the suit reached an agreement for the adjournment to allow PDP’s counsel, Oyetola Atoyebi, SAN, respond to the plaintiff’s amended originating summons.

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The APC, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1001/2024, had sued INEC, Ighodalo and PDP as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.

In the application filed by Prof J.O. Odion, the APC sought an order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to immediately remove from its online portal and ballot documents Ighodalo and his party’s names for alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, among others.

On its part, INEC urged the court to dismiss the suit.

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READ ALSO: Edo Guber: APC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot To Rig Poll Using Fake Security Personnel

The electoral umpire, in its counter affidavit deposed to by Hussaini Abdullahi, a staff in the Legal Services Department, said Ighodalo is the PDP’s nominated candidate for the September 21 poll.

However, the APC, in a motion on notice filed on August 30, sought the leave of the court to amend its originating summons.

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Part of the prayers sought was an order granting leave for the striking out of Ighodalo’s name from the suit.

The APC argued that the amendment was to remove irrelevant references and to meet the purpose of the suit which is to seek the determination of INEC’s statutory power to disqualify an erring political party under Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and in pursuance of the plaintiff’s right of action as guaranteed by Section 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: Yakubu Allays Fear Of System Breakdown, Promises, Free, Fair, Credible Election

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But, in a preliminaery objection filed by Ken Mozia, SAN, on Ighodalo’s behalf, the lawyer sought an order striking out the APC’s motion on notice.

Mozia, in his two-ground argument, said the court had no jurisdiction to hear the motion for amendment when there is a pending preliminary objection.

The lawyer also argued that the proposed reliefs sought to be introduced by the APC’s “application are statute-barred.”

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In its proposed amended originating summons, the APC sought a declaration that Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act 2022, Section 285(14)(c) and Paragraph 15(a),(c) and (f) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) confers a statutory duty or power on INEC to disqualify from participating in an election the candidate of a political party that fails to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act (as amended).

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Obi Locks Down Benin For Akpata, LP As Residents Vow To Chase APC, PDP Away

It also prayed the court for an order declaring the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022 as unconstitutional, null and void by virtue of its inconsistency with the provision of Section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.

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When the matter was called on Tuesday, Adaze Emwanta, who appeared for APC, informed the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing of all pending applications.

The lawyer said at the last adjourned date, he notified the court that the plaintiff would be amending their originating process.

“We have filed our motion for amendment and served same on the defendants. But unfortunately, we couldn’t serve the 3rd defendant (PDP) until this morning,” he said.

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Crisis Rocks Sokoto APC As Defunct CPC Bloc Alleges Marginalisation

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A fresh crisis is rocking the Sokoto State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have accused the party of sidelining them in appointments and decision-making.

Speaking at a CPC reunion meeting held on Saturday at Sokoto Guest Inn, the group’s leader, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, alleged that despite forming a large segment of APC members in the state, they have been systematically marginalised.

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Gusau recalled that after the 2025 general elections, former President Muhammadu Buhari promised CPC loyalists ministerial slots, federal board chairmanships, and special assistant positions—commitments that, according to him, were never fulfilled.

READ ALSO:Group Demands Edo APC Secretary Resignation Over Alleged Marginalision

We played a crucial role in the formation and success of APC, yet our contributions have been ignored. If these grievances are not addressed, we may be left with no choice but to seek alternative political platforms ahead of 2027,” Gusau declared.

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The development has heightened internal tensions in the Sokoto APC, raising fears of a possible implosion as the 2027 elections approach.

Analysts say the crisis mirrors similar complaints from CPC loyalists across northern states, who feel increasingly alienated under the dominance of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence.

READ ALSO:EFCC Releases Former Sokoto Gov Tambuwal

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In Sokoto, the situation is further complicated by the ongoing supremacy battle between Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Senator Ibrahim Lamido, a rivalry that has split the party into two factions.

Political observers warn that if left unresolved, the crisis could cost the APC its stronghold in the North-West. Stakeholders are now urging the party’s national chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yildwata, to intervene and reconcile aggrieved members.

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US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again regarding the vice president, Kashim Shettima, and his 2027 second-term ambition, while also stating that America is “desperate to remove” the president.

Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Tinubu not to drop Shettima as his running mate, noting that even if the VP offends the president, he should settle it for his own good.

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He explained that an attempt to bring another person on board would be a “huge minus” and would “destroy his chances and bring unnecessary enemies to him.”

“Dropping Shettima will cause trouble for you; those who want him out are your enemies who don’t want you to succeed. Anything that Shettima might have done, forget it, and let’s move the country forward,” the cleric advised.

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He continued; “If you remove Shettima, it’s a minus for you; don’t remove him if you still want to maintain your chances. There are things you need to settle between yourself and Shettima, settle with him and let him remain; if not, it will be a serious minus to your government.”

The cleric stated that Shettima is harmless to Tinubu, but that the president will still face challenges in the north, predicting that “the Emirs will gang up against you.”

He urged the president to “do extra work” because the “election won’t come by easily.”

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Primate Ayodele further revealed that America won’t support President Tinubu’s second-term ambition and will “do everything to see him removed from power.”

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He urged the president to avoid “self-inflicted problems by solving the issues of hunger and security.”

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“Also, make sure you sort out the issue of international communities, like I said, America isn’t your friend. America is desperate to remove you; they will do everything to see you out of power.”

He stated that there are people who can defeat Tinubu, and although none have openly shown interest yet, with the current situation on the ground, they will defeat the president if they contest.

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I am not in support of anyone. If anyone comes out to contest and can defeat you, I will tell you, but I have not seen it yet. However, you need to work very hard because if the person comes out with the situation on the ground, you will have issues.”

He concluded by reiterating that the true problems are not personnel, but the nation’s challenges.

Shettima isn’t your problem, but hunger in the country and other factors. If you don’t fix them, removing anybody from your government or adding anyone will not do you any good. You should also work on security, you can win terrorists, they are within Nigeria.”

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I’m Not Ready To Go Into The Gutters With Anyone – Makinde

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party, held in Lagos.

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He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

READ ALSO:Makinde, Wife Installed As Aare Omoluabi, Yeye Aare Omoluabi Of Akure Kingdom

I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”

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The governor added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.

“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.

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READ ALSO:2027: Makinde For President Posters Flood Kano

We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.

“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

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Dignitaries at the meeting include the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

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