Politics

INEC, Tinubu, APC Kick Against Atiku’s Request For Live Telecast Of Petition Court Proceedings

Published

2 years ago

May 18, 2023

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have kicked against the request of the former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku for the live telecast of his petition challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

In their separate objections on Thursday, the trio insisted that the solemn nature of the court would be put in jeopardy if granted.

Tinubu, in his vehement objections raised by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN on his behalf, said that Atiku’s request was not only surprising but dangerous as it was capable of prejudicing the court itself.

Olanipekun told the five Justices that Atiku should not be allowed to turn the court into a football stadium, a crusade ground, a theatre or film grounds where all manners of telecast could be permitted.

The senior lawyer said that the court should not grant an order that cannot be enforced or supervised, adding that the present moment is not the best time for such a request to be granted.

Olanipekun warned that the request, if granted, could expose judicial officers to avoidable dangers and demanded that high costs be imposed on Atiku for making the request.

Lateef Fagbemi SAN, who opposed on behalf of APC, added that the facility and policy documents are not there for the application to be granted.

He said that Atiku failed to disclose injuries he would suffer if the request was not granted, adding that at the moment, nobody, including Atiku, had complained of inadequate coverage of the proceedings so far.

Fagbemi insisted that Atiku did not deserve to be granted the request.

The electoral body, in its own objections by its counsel, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud SAN, said that the courtroom is for serious business and not a marketplace where anything goes, adding that the request for live coverage is unnecessary and uncalled for and should not be granted.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, has reserved ruling on whether to grant the request or not.

Atiku had approached the court hearing his case against the outcome of the February 25 presidential polls for an order allowing live broadcast of the day-to-day proceedings regarding his petition because of its monumental importance.

Atiku and the PDP, in the application, specifically prayed the tribunal for: “An order Directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”

The application filed on their behalf by their team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is predicated, amongst other grounds that “The matter before the Honourable Court is a dispute over the outcome of the Presidential Election held on 25th February 2023, a matter of national concern and public interest, involving citizens and voters in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who voted and participated in the said election; and the International Community as regards the workings of Nigeria’s Electoral Process”.

They contended that being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it is a matter of public interest whereof millions of Nigerian citizens and voters are stakeholders with a constitutional right to receive.

Politics

Use Edo By-election As Template For APC’s Victory In 2027, Idahosa Urges Residents

Published

12 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

Deputy governor of Edo State Hon Dennis Idahosa, has urged the people to show their readiness to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 general elections by using the House of Representatives bye-election scheduled for August 16 as a template.

Idahosa hinged his call on the fact that Governor Monday Okpebholo had shown his readiness for governance within a year in office and deserved to be supported by the people.

The deputy governor stated this when the APC campaign team birthed at Uhiere, Okokhuo, and Isiuwa, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the Ovia Federal Constituency bye-election is for the people to show “capacity” and nothing more.

“The Executive Governor of our dear state, and my Principal, Monday Okpebholo, by the grace of God, through your support, has promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2.5 million votes.

“The efficacy of that promise starts on August 16 with the Ovia Federal Constituency bye-election.

“This is not a normal election, it is an election to show capacity. The results you give to Omosede unlocks the key to accessing the dividends of democracy.

“The margin of winning is important. This is why we are all here to convince you to ensure that we get at least 70 percent votes from the registered voters in this area,” he stated.

The deputy governor who led the APC team for the campaign said the party’s candidate, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, had the capacity to entrench the dividends of democracy to the area.

At Isiuwa, NIFOR Community, Idahosa praised the people for making the area an APC stronghold.

He said he was not there for the campaign but to introduce their daughter to them and asked them for their support to the party’s candidate for the bye-election.

Similarly, Idahosa also appealed to the people of Okokhuo community for support.

Omosede who was full of praises in visited wards, said “this is the first time, in a long while, since 2015, I am here with a broom, a symbol of development and advancement.

“You know, the umbrella is tattered and scattered, and you know the PDP has fallen. I am grateful to you all who took the time to be here.”

She told the people to hold her accountable for every campaign promise she made.

Politics

2027: Jonathan May Get Automatic Ticket, If… – PDP

Published

22 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly considering offering former President Goodluck Jonathan an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election, if he returns to the party and plays a more active political role.

This was revealed by Daniel Woyengikuro, the PDP’s National Financial Secretary, during an exclusive interview in Abuja. Woyengikuro emphasized Jonathan’s continued influence within the party and the nation’s politics, describing him as the PDP’s national leader.

“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro said.

He confirmed that the PDP has been consulting with Jonathan and his associates, aiming to bring him back into the party’s mainstream leadership as part of a larger strategy to reposition the party and address Nigeria’s growing political and economic challenges.

“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country — for our generation and for those to come,” Woyengikuro added. “When we talk about the Southern Presidency, someone like Goodluck Jonathan stands out.”

When asked directly if the party would consider granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro responded emphatically:

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere — I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.”

He further asserted that Jonathan’s return would significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Woyengikuro also praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, calling him a “vibrant leader” and a strong candidate from the South capable of bridging Nigeria’s generational divide.

“These are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he concluded.

The PDP is expected to intensify its internal consultations in the coming months as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Politics

PDP Announces National Convention Zoning Committee Inauguration Date

Published

22 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The People’s Democratic Party, on Wednesday, announced that the inauguration of its National Convention Zoning Committee will take place on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as part of preparations for its 2025 Elective National Convention.

The party invites key stakeholders to a significant event aimed at shaping the party’s future leadership structure.

This is contained in a press release by PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, on the party’s official X account.

The inauguration is scheduled to start at 12:00 pm WAT at the NEC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The event will bring together PDP governors, members of the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, the National Executive Council, serving and former National Assembly members, as well as other key stakeholders.

“This is to formally inform and invite all our governors, BOT, NWC, NEC, serving and former NASS members, and all our stakeholders to the inauguration of the National Convention Zoning Committee (NCZC) of our great party,” the statement read.