Politics

Ex-presidential Candidate Fined N40m For Trying To Stop Tinubu’s Inauguration

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2023

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, declined to stop the swearing-in of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29, even as it slammed N40million fine against the appellant.

The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, described as frivolous, the appeal, which was brought before it by a former presidential candidate of the defunct Hope Democratic Party, HDP, Chief Ambrose Owuru.

It ordered the appellant to pay damages to the tune of N10m, to each of the respondents in the appeal.

Cited as 1st to 4th respondents in the matter, were; President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as the President-elect, Tinubu.

Delivering the lead judgement in the matter, Justice Jamil Tukur, held that the erstwhile presidential candidate, Owuru, engaged in gross abuse of the judicial process.

The appellate court held that the “strange” suit he filed to stop Tinubu’s inauguration as President, was not only vexatious but all aimed to irritate the respondents.

The court held that issues Chief Owuru raised against Tinubu’s swearing-in, bordered on the presidential election that held since 2019, which it noted was previously dismissed by the Supreme Court for want of merit.

It held that the attempt by the appellants to resurrect the case that died since 2019, was aimed at pushing the lower courts to embark on a collision course with the Supreme Court.

It, therefore, dismissed the appeal and awarded punitive damages against the appellant.

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja had on January 30, also dismissed the suit which Chief Owuru, who is also a legal practitioner, filed to remove President Buhari from office.

In the judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the trial court maintained that the legal action was baseless, frivolous, irritating and vexatious, adding that the suit had become statute barred since it was based on the presidential election that held four years ago.

Justice Ekwo further held that the suit was a direct affront to the supremacy of the Supreme Court which had earlier decided a similar request by the plaintiff.

Specifically, Owuru, who was the presidential flag-bearer of the HDP which has since been de-registered by INEC, had approached the court, praying it to sack President Buhari from office, insisting that the election through which he won his re-election in 2019, was fraught with manifest irregularities.

The plaintiff urged the court to declare that he was the authentic person that ought to have been sworn in as President instead of Buhari who contested the said election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He had among other things, contended that INEC assisted President Buhari to manipulate the outcome of the election against him by shifting the earlier date it fixed for the poll.

Owuru prayed the court to determine the legality or otherwise of INEC’s decision to postpone the election date from February 16 to March 23, 2019.

According to the plaintiff, INEC, acted against the Constitution by “the illegal and unlawful way” the date for the presidential poll was shifted, adding that the declaration of President Buhari as winner of the unlawful act should be declared null and void and of no effect.

Owuru, who is a British-trained lawyer that was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, told the court that prior to the postponement of the election, he emerged as the winner of a referendum he said was conducted and monitored by both foreign and local organizations.

He told the court that he had at the end of the said referendum, garnered over 50million votes, which he said was far and above the number of votes that other candidates that contested the presidential election secured.

Owuru argued that the petition he lodged against Buhari after the election was not adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court as required by law.

He claimed that his petition was unjustly dismissed by the apex court following his absence that was occasioned by discrepancy in the hearing date that was served to him.

He, therefore, urged the high court to validate his case by removing Buhari and declaring him the President.

He further applied for an order to compel President Buhari to refund all monies he “illegally” collected as salaries, emoluments and security votes.

More so, the plaintiff prayed the court to halt the 2023 presidential election and order his immediate swearing in as President for a four-year tenure of office.

Meanwhile, following the dismissal of his case and the conduct of the presidential election on February 25, Owuru, approached the appellate court to stop the swearing-in of the President-elect, a prayer the court refused on Thursday.

Politics

2027: Power Minister Declares Oyo gov Ambition, Begins Consultation

Published

3 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, on Friday, met with All Progressives Congress leaders and stakeholders in Ogbomoso and Oyo zones in Oyo State, respectively.

Addressing party members in Ogbomoso at the residence of one of the leaders of the party, Ayoade Adeseun, the minister said the meeting was part of his consultations across geopolitical zones in the state towards realisation of his governorship ambition in 2027.

He, therefore, allayed the fear of the party stakeholders that APC would not impose any aspirant in 2027, saying, “I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.”

While seeking their supports towards the realisation of his ambition, Adelabu pleaded for forgiveness from aggrieved members, saying they should be concerned of how the party will come back to power in 2027.

He said, “I’m here to tell you that I want to contest for governor of Oyo State in 2027. I’m ready to put to test all experience I’ve gathered from the past two elections.

“I’m not against other zones becoming governor of the state, all I know is that God’s time is the best.

“Ogbomoso is very important in this state election, I’m here to seek for your support and backing, I’m happy to see that all the factions in Ogbomoso are now one.”

He also called on people in the zone to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for more dividends of democracy.

“This is another turn of Yorubas to serve their two terms as President of Nigeria. Nigeria has a lot to benefit if Tinubu is re-elected,” Adelabu added.

In Oyo town, Adelabu pleaded for their supports, saying “I will run all inclusive government where everybody will be involved in governance of the state and no one will be left behind if I become governor of the state in 2027.

“I’m here for people to know that no one can impose anybody, I want to work and prove to our party members that I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.

“Oyo is like a second home to me, my supporters, followers, associates and allied are all here, they have been supporting me in the past and they are ready to support me again.

“I will give what is due to Oyo. Oyo zone deserves better treatment because it is symbolic, Oyo is historical, symbolic and blessing to the entire state.”

Adeseun and son of former governor, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, urged members of the party to come together and ensure emergence of the APC in 2027.

Politics

JUST IN] 2027: South-South APC Endorses Tinubu, Four Govs For Re-election

Published

5 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress South-South zone, on Saturday, rose from its zonal stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo State capital, with a resolution to adopt President Bola Tinubu as the zone’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The party also adopted the four governors of the party in South-South as sole candidates for the party in the 2027 governorship elections in the four states controlled by the party.

The four governors who benefited from the resolution are Governor Bassey Edet of Cross River State, who doubles as the South-South APC Coordinator, and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The two others are governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom States, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Umo Bassey Eno, respectively, who joined the APC from their former People’s Democratic Party, a few months ago.

The communique containing the resolutions was read by Chief Victor Giadom, APC National Vice Chairman, South-South, and the motion for its adoption was moved by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and seconded by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, presiding.

Details later…

Politics

Coalition: Why Tinubu Must Not Sleep —Primate Ayodele

Published

10 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has warned President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant, stating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already making mistakes that could cost them victory in the 2027 elections.

According to Primate Ayodele, the APC’s national convention will mark the beginning of the party’s crisis.

“For APC, their convention is dangerous, and the convention will mark the beginning of APC’s crisis. Tinubu must not sleep because mistakes are being made already. I see serious problems in the party, but they are not yet seeing it,” he revealed.

Primate Ayodele also revealed that there are several things God has shown him regarding the 2027 elections, and more will be revealed at the launch of his annual prophecy book, “Warnings to the Nations,” on July 5, 2025.

The book, which has been published annually since 1994, features prophecies concerning various nations, world leaders, and influential individuals.

In addition to his warning to President Tinubu, Primate Ayodele advised opposition candidates against relying on their proposed coalition platform, All Democratic Alliance (ADA), saying it will fail.

Instead, he suggested they adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, which he believes has the capacity to build something strong.

“ADA Party will not give you anything, ADC is better for a coalition front than ADA. Even SDP cannot make any tangible movement, let them use ADC so they won’t build on an infertile ground.”

The upcoming edition of “Warnings to the Nations” spans over 600 pages and features prophecies on Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, Ghana’s President John Mahama, and prominent Nigerian billionaires such as Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, and Abdul Samad Rabiu.

The book has a track record of accurately foretelling significant global events, with over 15,000 prophecies coming to pass since its inception.