Politics

Edo Tribunal: Ighodalo, PDP Field More Witnesses

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2025

Editor

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

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

3 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

46 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

53 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.