Politics

Edo: S’Court Reserves Verdict On Ighodalo’s Case Against Okpebholo

Published

2 months ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, reserved its judgement on an appeal that is seeking to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The appeal, marked: SC/CV/536/2025, was brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024, Asuerinme Ighodalo.

The Appellants are praying the court to set aside the May 29 judgement of the Court of Appeal which dismissed their case and affirmed Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.

PDP and its candidate maintained that the appellate court failed to properly evaluate the case they filed to challenge the outcome of the election which they insisted was not conducted with substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.

A five-member panel of justices of the Supreme Court adjourned to deliver judgement in the matter after all the parties adopted their final briefs of argument.

While the PDP and its candidate prayed the court to upturn the concurrent decision of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, on the other hand, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; governor Okpebholo and the APC, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the outcome of the election.

The apex court panel, led by Justice Garba Lawal, said it would communicate the judgement date to the parties.

It will be recalled that a three-member panel of the Appeal Court, led by Justice M. A. Danjuma, declined to nullify Governor Okpebholo’s election.

The appellate court held that it found no reason to dislodge the May 15 judgement of the tribunal which validated the result of the election announced by the INEC.

The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel tribunal had dismissed as lacking in merit, petitions by the PDP and its candidate; the Action Alliance, AA, and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje; as well as a case that was brought before it by the Accord Party, AP, and its own candidate, Dr. Bright Enabulele.

INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247,655 votes.

Dissatisfied with the result, the petitioners approached the tribunal, alleging that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, PDP and its candidate alleged that Governor Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.

It was equally the contention of the petitioners that INEC failed to serialise and pre-record some of the sensitive materials that were deployed for the poll, a situation they said aided the rigging of the election in favour of the APC and its candidate.

Specifically, PDP and its candidate alleged that there was wrong computation of results in 765 polling units in the state, even as they produced 19 witnesses that testified and tendered exhibits before the tribunal.

Among the exhibits the petitioners tendered before the tribunal, a total of 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVA, machines that were used in 133 polling units.

According to the petitioners, results from the polling units were manipulated at the collation centres, a situation they said resulted in over-voting, in Okpebholo’s favour.

In its judgement, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to, by way of credible evidence, establish why the outcome of the election should be set aside.

It held that the onus of proving that Governor Okpebholo was unduly returned by INEC rested squarely on the petitioners, a legal burden it said was not successfully discharged.

According to the tribunal, the PDP and its candidate merely dumped exhibits before it without demonstrating them through competent witnesses as required by the law.

It held that most of the witnesses who testified for the petitioners gave hearsay evidence, stressing that the failure to produce polling unit agents, presiding officers or voters who participated in the election to testify proved fatal to the case of the petitioners.

The tribunal held that section 137 of the Electoral Act did not preclude the petitioners from producing necessary and competent witnesses to testify in support of their case.

It further dismissed the contention of the petitioners that, contrary to the provision of section 73(2) of the Electoral Act, INEC failed to pre-record most of the materials that were deployed for the election.

More so, the tribunal held that none of the BVAS machines tendered before it were switched on to demonstrate that the number of votes recorded in the disputed polling units exceeded the total number of accredited voters.

Following the affirmation of the judgement by the appellate court, PDP and Ighodalo took the case before the Supreme Court.

Politics

2027: You Will Lose 80% Of Northern Muslim Votes If…, APC Forum Warns Tinubu

Published

2 minutes ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has warned President Bola Tinubu that dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election could cost him 80% of northern Muslim votes.

The forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, advised Tinubu to maintain the status quo and retain Shettima, citing the success of their ticket in the 2023 election.

Zazzaga argued that those calling for Shettima’s replacement didn’t vote for Tinubu in 2023 and won’t vote for him in 2027, even if he drops Shettima.

“Those that are calling on President Bola Tinubu to change Vice President Kashim Shettima, basing their agitation on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, if you check, you will notice that in 2023, most of their communities voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party,” he said.

The APC Forum also countered claims that the Muslim-Muslim ticket would lead to losses in the Middle Belt, pointing out key positions held by prominent Middle Belt Christians in the APC government, such as APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt… We can guarantee that Tinubu will get 90 percent of the votes from the North-Central,” the statement read.

Zazzaga further accused some individuals of seeking Tinubu’s defeat in 2027, saying, “The truth is most of these people are not Tinubu’s supporters, they don’t really want him to win reelection in 2027.”

He also warned against alienating northern Muslim communities while focusing on northern Christians, stating this approach could backfire.

The APC Forum’s advice to Tinubu, NIGERIAN TRIBUNE gathered, is to stick with the winning formula from 2023.Online newspaper subscription

“We advise Mr President not to gamble with the 2023 election. President Tinubu will lose 80 percent of northern Muslim votes if he decides to change Shettima,” the statement stressed.

Politics

I’m Not Desperate To Be President — Atiku

Published

24 minutes ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

…says ADC members will choose presidential candidate

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday said he is more interested in a better Nigeria, adding that he is not desperate to be the country’s president.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

Abubakar said this while speaking at an affirmation ceremony for new defectors into African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos on Saturday.

Atiku, who was the guest speaker at the programme, was represented by Professor Ola Olateju of the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.

The former vice president said he was not desperate to lead the country, but was very eager for a better, secure and prosperous country.

“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. So, it’s not about him being the president. It’s about having a better government, a good government that will be able to deliver for Nigerians.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“It’s not a personal thing for him and that’s why some of us are with him. It’s not about Atiku must be president at all costs.

“ADC, to us, is not a political party. It is a movement, a movement of Nigerians for a better Nigeria,” Olateju spoke on behalf of Abubakar.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

He said that the movement in ADC was for the repositioning of the country and taking it to great heights.

“It’s no longer politics as usual. It’s a new beginning. It is a new journey, a new beginning.

“We need a new beginning in Nigeria and that’s what Atiku is championing. It’s not about a personal thing that he must be president, No, it is not a matter of must.

“The must is for him to see Nigeria deliver as wished by all. We are expecting a better Nigeria.

“We want Nigeria to be able to deliver. We want Nigeria to be able to take care of Nigerians,” he added.

Claiming that Nigerians were facing challenges with the removal of fuel subsidy and attendant inflation, Abubakar said that a better Nigeria was possible with good leadership.

He said that God was ready to use the coalition members to bring about a change in the country.

On who would likely emerge the ADC presidential candidate in 2027, Atiku said that this would be determined by the members of the party.

“It is not a thing we can predetermine. Whoever emerges through free and fair contests, we are all going to support.

“Everybody has a right to contest; we are going to rally round anyone that emerges. We are not imposing anyone on the people.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“The point is better Nigeria, not Atiku for president at all cost, not Obi for president at all costs.

“Whoever picks the ticket shall be the representative of Nigerian people and will represent the collective voice and aspiration of Nigeria,” he added.

Politics

Crisis Rocks Sokoto APC As Defunct CPC Bloc Alleges Marginalisation

Published

14 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.