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Edo Guber: Imansuangbon Drags Akpata To Appeal Court Over LP’s Nomination

Published

1 year ago

August 4, 2024

Editor

Dissatisfied with the judgements of a Benin High Court and Federal High Court Abuja respectively, Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon, former governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) has dragged the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the Edo election, Barr. Olumide Akpata, to the Court of Appeal.

Also joined in the suit before the Appellate Court is the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

Recall that Justice Babatunde Quadri of the High Court in Benin and Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja had dismissed Imansuangbon’s applications on the 15th and 22nd July, 2024 respectively.

Justice Quadri declared in his ruling that Imansuangbon’s lawsuit was premature and without substantial evidence to support its claims.

The Court, therefore, upheld Olumide Akpata’s position as the LP’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming election.

But in a notice before the Appellate Court Abuja with suit no:
suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/472/2024, Imansuangbon stated that “the learned trial judge erred in law and arrived at a perverse decision occasioning a miscarriage of justice to the plaintiff/appellant when he dismissed the plaintiff/appellant’s suit on the strength of the 1st defendant/respondent’s contention in his preliminary objection at the lower court.

“That the suit was statue barred, without considering Section 285(13A) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(fifth alteration) act, (No. 10), 2023, to which the attention of the lower court was drawn at the hearing of the suit.”

Particulars of the ground being that “the learned trial judge found as a fact in his decision that the letter forwarding the personal particulars of the 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents as in INEC Form EC9 to 4th defendant/respondent(the Independent National Electoral Commission) was received by the 4th defendant/respondent on the 24th of March, 2024.”

Also, that “the learned trial judge further found as a fact that the commencement date of computation thereof, of time allowed for filling of pre-election matters in the circumstance, was the 24th of March, 2024.

“A simple arithmetical computation of the 14 days provided for under the law, from the date of submission of the said INEC Form EC9 of the 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents(that’s 24th of March, 2024), to the 12th of April, 2024, when the plaintiff/appellant filed his suit, reveals a total number of 18 days in between.”

Imansuangbon is seeking for an order allowing the appeal; an order setting aside the decision of the lower court; an order directing the 3rd defendant/respondent to immediately issue certificate of return to the plaintiff/appellant as winner of the primary election organized on Friday, 23rd February, 2024.

Also challenging the ruling by the Federal High Court, Benin in the notice of appeal with suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/472/2024, Imansuangbon set his appeal on nine grounds which include that “the learned trial judge erred in law when he failed, refused and or neglected to consider, pronounce upon, decide, one way or the other, the 1st defendant’s motion/application for extension of time to file his responsive processes to the originating summons which the plaintiff/appellant ferociously or vehemently opposed on the strength of the constitutional provision prohibiting extension of time in election related cases and thereby breached the plaintiff/appellant’s right to fair hearing.”

Imansuangbon on ground two, stated that “the learned trial judge erred in law and thus occasioned a miscarriage of justice on the plaintiff/appellant.”

On the third ground he asserted that the trial judge misdirected himself when he held that “the plaintiff has argued that since every pre-election matter must be filled not later than 14 days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit that an aggrieved aspirant need not wait to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the second defendant.”

Reliefs that Imansuangbon sought include an “order allowing the appeal; an order setting aside the decision of the lower court; an order striking out all the processes filed by the 1st defendant at the trial court; an order directing the 2nd defendant to immediately issue a certificate of return to the plaintiff as the winner of the primary election organized on Friday, 23rd February, 2024 and an order directing, commanding or otherwise mandating the 2nd defendant to submit, forward or otherwise transmit the plaintiff’s name to the 3rd defendant as winner of the primary election.”

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Nigeria Faces Breakup Without True Federalism, Nwodo Warns

Published

3 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A former Minister of Information and past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo

A former Minister of Information and past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s future, warning that the country could break apart before the 2027 general elections if sweeping constitutional reforms are not urgently implemented.

Delivering a keynote address at the launch of two books authored by veteran journalist Ike Abonyi in Abuja, Nwodo said Nigeria’s current system of governance was deeply flawed.

“What we practice today is not federalism but a unitary constitution in disguise,” he said.

Nwodo emphasised that the structure of power must be revisited to allow regions greater control over their resources and internal affairs.

“Let each region manage its resources and development, while contributing taxes to fund essential federal responsibilities like external defence, foreign affairs, customs, and immigration.”

He warned that failing to restructure before the next national election could have grave consequences.

“If we head into 2027 without addressing these structural imbalances, there may be no election—and worse still, no country.”

Citing Nigeria’s economic woes, Nwodo highlighted the alarming state of public infrastructure and declining quality of life.

“We are bleeding billions annually due to poor infrastructure. Life expectancy is now one of the lowest globally. Our youth are unemployed and frustrated. Something must give.”

Calling for bold reforms, he stressed the need to prioritise education, digital skills, and agricultural development as tools for economic revival.

“The future lies in education that meets today’s realities. Every Nigerian child should be digitally literate. We must return to agriculture and vocational training.”

The event drew political figures, scholars, and civil society actors, many of whom echoed the call for urgent restructuring as a path to national stability and growth.

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FG Shortlists Candidates For Civil Service Jobs

Published

5 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government has shortlisted candidates for the ongoing recruitment into the Federal Civil Service.

In January 2025, the Federal Civil Service Commission announced vacancies for over 70 positions across various government agencies.

The announcement, contained in a newspaper advertorial signed by the Director of Recruitment and Appointment, Ogaba Ede, listed several roles.

Some of the listed positions include: Administrative Officer, Planning Officer, Programme Analyst, Procurement Officer, Senior Computer Engineer, Dentist/Dental Officer, Population Programme Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Education Officer, and Senior Youth Development Officer.

Also on the list of positions are Psychologist, Biomedical Engineer, Surveyor, Aerodrome Engineer, Computer Engineer, Geologist, Programme Analyst, Statistician, and Foreign Affairs Officer.

Applications were submitted through the official recruitment portal, which many applicants reported was difficult to access during the registration period.

The deadline, initially fixed for March 10, was later extended to March 17.

The Head of Press and Public Relations at the FCSC, Taiwo Hassan, in an interview with our correspondent, denied insinuations that the process had been abandoned.

He stated that the screening process had progressed, with some applicants already shortlisted.

“We have not been quiet and we have not abandoned the exercise. As a matter of fact, work has been ongoing on the recruitment exercise.

“Candidates have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted have been sent an email on their preferred location for their Computer-Based Test among other details.

“It is not correct to say those who applied have not been contacted. We have picked from those who submitted their applications. These are the ones that will sit for the CBT,” he said.

Although he did not provide specific figures, it was previously reported that applicants were vying for 2,130 available positions in the federal civil service.

News

WAEC Under Fire As Results Portal Goes Down

Published

5 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The West African Examinations Council has come under renewed fire following the temporary shutdown of its result checker portal on Wednesday evening, a move it attributed to “technical issues.”

The announcement, posted via WAEC’s official X handle, @waecnigeria, sparked fresh criticism as many Nigerians continue to express outrage over the poor performance recorded in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, particularly in English Language.

“WAEC hereby informs the general public that the result checker portal @waecdirect.org is temporarily shut down due to technical issues.

“However, the Council is working assiduously to ensure that candidates are able to access their results in the next 24 hours. We apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused you,” the notice read.

Wednesday’s notice has further fuelled speculation and public discontent over the examination body’s credibility, especially after Monday’s announcement that only 38.32 per cent of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat the 2025 WASSCE obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, the worst performance recorded in a decade.

Across social media platforms, many candidates and concerned Nigerians pointed fingers at WAEC’s logistics failures, especially the delayed conduct of the English Language paper, which reportedly held late into the night at many centres on May 28.

On X (formerly Twitter), several users shared screenshots of results showing credit passes in other subjects but failure in English, calling for a comprehensive review of the English Language scripts.

Tweeting at @sikimark, Mark Imohi wrote, “It is concerning that the English exam, which was delayed at centres nationwide, is now resulting in widespread failures. If JAMB could make amends, we hope you (WAEC) will take steps to rectify the situation. It was a national disgrace.”

Another user, @_samad1, lamented, “We wrote exams at 8 pm. We were given one hour or 30 minutes to answer questions that should last two and a half hours. There was no light, and everyone was in a hurry to leave. Please rethink.”

Some candidates expressed optimism that once the portal is reopened, there could be changes in the scores.

“When the portal is reopened, you will see magic,” tweeted Daniel Ebitimi (@ebitimi_da15726).

Others alleged deliberate manipulation and revenue generation motives behind the poor grading.

“Just like JAMB, WAEC is gambling with the future of Nigerians. If the majority of the D’s, E’s and F8’s awarded in English are rechecked, WAEC will pay dearly,” @JayTrezy posted.

Parents also joined the chorus of displeasure, expressing confusion over how students who excelled in other subjects could have failed English.

“My daughter got five A1 and two B2, only to get D7 in English and Physics (withheld),” tweeted a parent, @Johnway11145073.

Another user, @DEYHOT_official, pleaded, “WAEC, please I am begging, help us check the English Language exam again. I can’t accept this result. I struggled so hard to get money and pay for this exam, and now you failed me. This result is affecting my future.”

Some went as far as demanding a total recall of the 2025 results.

“We reject this year’s results, particularly the English and Maths. WAEC, please do the needful to avoid mass protests,” @pastorbtdaniels posted.

The Teacher, @MarquizDejavex wrote, “Students wrote English paper in the mid night and yet WAEC failed them.”

King Jeporphs, @e_okwori tweeted, “The students who were robbed and given abysmal grades in English should tag presidency, Minister of education to have an external body revise the whole exam process.”

WAEC has yet to issue any further clarification on the English Language grading or respond to the growing demands for a review of the affected scripts.