Politics
Edo Tribunal: Ighodalo, PDP Field More Witnesses

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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined to hear an application filed by the African Democratic Congress’ 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, refused to entertain the motion.
Kachikwu, through his counsel, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had sought an order compelling INEC to withdraw the publication of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names as national chairman and secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
INEC had recently recognised Mark, a former Senate President, and Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State, as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.
READ ALSO:Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Refund Of Rivers’ Monies Expended By Ibas
On July 7, Kachikwu and four others – Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammed Khala, and Alaku Godwin William – filed an originating summons challenging the recognition of the duo.
The suit lists INEC, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first to fifth defendants.
When the matter was called on Friday, Akinlaja told the court that a motion dated September 19 had been filed. He argued that despite the pendency of the suit, INEC went ahead to recognise Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.
The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the recognition and publication of their names, describing it as a breach of the doctrine of lis pendens. They also sought an injunction restraining Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola from further relating with INEC as ADC’s national officers.
However, counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), along with other defence lawyers, opposed the application.
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After hearing arguments, Justice Omotosho declined to entertain the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025.
He said, “This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage, whether done before or now. This is a political case. I am not taking any interlocutory matter.”
The judge held that all processes filed by the parties, including preliminary objections, would be taken together with the substantive case.
Despite repeated pleas by Akinlaja for the motion to be heard, the court stood its ground.
Justice Omotosho also granted an application for joinder filed by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC deputy national secretary, and ordered that his name be added as a defendant.
He directed the plaintiffs to file the amended processes within 48 working hours and gave the defence seven days to respond. The case was adjourned till October 23 for hearing.
Politics
Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked all commissioners and other public office holders serving in his administration.
The decision, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, takes immediate effect and followed the recent Supreme Court judgment.
The governor, during a valedictory session with his cabinet to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Government House, Port Harcourt, thanked the outgoing officials for their services and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.
The statement read in part, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years.
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“The governor highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Independence, and called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all.
“Furthermore, the Governor has relieved all Commissioners and other public officers affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment of their appointments with immediate effect.”
Fubara also reiterated his commitment to serve the state “with renewed vigour,” while expressing gratitude to Rivers people for their support and wishing Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.
READ ALSO:Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara
Recall that the immediate past administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara. Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.
Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.
Politics
2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is enmeshed in crisis as a fierce power struggle among leading figures threatens the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
ADC stalwart, Malam Salihu Lukman, raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the party may not make a meaningful impact at the polls if the internal rift persists.
In a statement, Lukman alleged that some party leaders have aligned with certain aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections to the exclusion of others.
He called on former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, Alhaji Bashir Saidu, and other opposition leaders in the state to halt what he described as “the madness” of candidates bent on hijacking party structures.
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According to him, “anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.”
Expressing concern over the infighting, Lukman said his efforts to mediate had largely failed.
“The fact that Senator Musa Bello is aggressively seeking to control structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure, largely because I am associated with him.
“Senator Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him. I have met Malam Jaafaru Sani on this matter and had discussions with Malam Nasir. Sadly, we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem.”
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Lukman stressed that he has no political ambition but remains committed to building a united front. “As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.
“May I therefore appeal to Malam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but about producing a government controlled by our party based on collective leadership.
“We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as governors. Anything short of a government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”
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