Politics

INEC Tenders Edo Gov’ship Poll Result Before Tribunal

Published

1 year ago

February 5, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday, tendered before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, result of the gubernatorial poll it conducted in the state on September 21, 2024.

The commission, through its team of lawyers led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, produced the certified true copy of the disputed result, which was contained in its Form EC8D.

A member of the electoral body’s legal team, Mr. Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, equally tendered in evidence, a certified document that contained the declaration of the result as well as a copy of INEC’s Regulations & Guidelines for the conduct of eleRtions, 2022.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who are challenging the outcome of the election, through their own lawyer, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, said they were not opposed to the admissibility of the three documents in evidence.

Oyeyipo, SAN, noted that the petitioners had also annexed the same documents in the case they filed to prove that the outcome of the governorship election was flawed.

On their part, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who represented Governor Monday Okpebholo and Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who appeared for the All Progressives Congress, APC, did not object to the admittance of the three documents in evidence.

Consequently, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel tribunal, marked the documents as Exhibits R-1, R-2 and R-3.

Meanwhile, INEC told the tribunal that it has lined up about five witnesses to testify on its behalf.

Though 10 days were originally allocated for the electoral body to defend the result of the election it declared in favour of governor Okpebholo of the APC, however, INEC said it may only utilize three days.

The Commission persuaded the tribunal to adjourn further proceedings in the case till Thursday, disclosing that most of its witnesses would be coming from Benin, Edo state, to testify before the panel.

Among those that were at the tribunal on Wednesday to observe the proceeding, was the PDP candidate, Ighodalo.

It will be recalled that INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closet rivalry, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes.

However, aggrieved by the outcome of the poll, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the contest.

The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.

They equally argued in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, that governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.

Satisfied with evidence of 19 witnesses that testified and tendered several documents in support of their case, the petitioners closed their case on Monday.

INEC had earlier produced and tendered before the tribunal, a total of 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVA, machines that were used in the 133 polling units where results of the election are disputed.

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Politics

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

Published

2 hours 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

3 hours 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

3 hours 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.