Politics

Edo Tribunal: Ighodalo, PDP Field More Witnesses

Published

11 months ago

January 22, 2025

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside its candidate for the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, on Wednesday fielded three more witnesses from three local government areas in the state.

Recall that the PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.

The petitioners at Tuesday sitting commenced its presentation of witness as three witnesses drawn from Ikpoba-Okha, Akoko-Edo, and Owan West Local Government Areas testified in support of the petitioners’ claims.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-man Tribunal later adjourned sitting to Wednesday for continuation of hearing of the petition.

At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, the witnesses of the PDP and its candidate gave testimonies before the court, claim wide spread irregularities marred the conduct of the poll in their local government areas.

Destiny Oghayerio Enabulele, led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners, Abiodun Owonikoko, said that in arriving at the averment on his witness statement on oath, he personally examined documents used in the election which include but not limited to certified true copies of INEC’s summary of the Wards collation results.

“These are documents I personally examined carefully to arrive at my witness statement on oath.

“There was not prior recording of sensitive materials deployed by INEC to 19 polling Units in Ovia South West Local Government Area,” he said.

When asked by counsel to the respondents whether he participated in the makings of the documents he used to arrived at his statement on oath, Enabulele said that he only participated in the making of Form EC8C (Ward Collation result).

However, there was a mid-drama when the petitioners’ witness from Etsako West Local Government Area, Babah Idenobhe, told the court in his testimonies that there was over voting in three polling Units (units 021-023) amin his local government area.

It was however, discovered that some of the documents the witness claimed to have relied on in arriving at his statement on oath were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025, while his statement on oath was deposed to October 10, 2024.

“One of the materials I took into consideration in my deposition is the original certified true copies of polling units results, photographed with the BIVAS machines”, he posited.

Also, Moses Agbukor, from Etsako East Local Government Area, who functioned in the exercise as Collation Agent for his party PDP in the LGA, in his testimonies also claimed over voting and non prior recording of sensitive materials.

The witness had earlier prayed the court to admit his Party’s Ward Collation Agent Tag, as well as his witness statement on oath as evidence for the petitioners.

Meanwhile, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Ukala, SAN, who are counsel to the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC respectively objected the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Kpochi, in his ruling, said the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.

He then adjourned the sitting until Thursday, January 22, 2025 for continuation of hearing.

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.