Politics
Presidential Election: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi In War Of Words Over Victory Claims

Forty-eight hours after the keenly contested presidential election, mixed reactions have continued to trail the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Party, APC, president-elect, after defeating his contenders with majority votes at the Saturday, February 25 polls.
It has been a season of cheers and rejections.
Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, on Thursday declared their resolve to challenge the outcome of the poll.
Obi, on Thursday, against the declaration of INEC, said he won the election and would explore all legal and peaceful means to prove that he won at the polls.
Atiku Abubakar of the PDP advanced a similar position.
Amid the confusion, Tinubu’s camp has stated its readiness to defeat challengers in court.
I’ll prove my victory in Court- Peter Obi
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Obi, in his first public appearance since the conclusion of the presidential poll, which saw INEC declare Tinubu winner of the election, having polled 8,794,726 votes, said as demanded, he would approach the court to register his displeasure over the outcome of the polls.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Atiku, Obi Approach Court, Demand Election Materials Inspection
He said the polls did not meet the minimum standard to be qualified as free and fair.
Obi, who said he had challenged several election results and came out victorious, said this case would not be an exception as he would be approaching the court for justice.
He assured Nigerians, especially party supporters, that he and his principal, Obi, were prepared to pursue and retrieve their mandate through the legal system.
“On this issue (presidential election), I am challenging the process. I will challenge this rascality for the country’s future,” he said.
INEC failed, election ‘rape of democracy’- Atiku
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, in the just concluded polls, has rejected the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential polls, arguing that the level of “manipulation and fraud that attended this election were unprecedented in our nation’s history.”
Atiku on Thursday, in his first media briefing in Abuja, after the poll, described the process as flawed – “a rape of democracy” which he said “must be challenged.”
Atiku lamented that he was addressing Nigerians with a heart full of sadness, mentioning that INEC failed in its responsibility to live up to expectations.
“I hope the judiciary will redeem itself this time and rise to society’s expectation as the last HOPE. Ultimately, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes.
“I call on all men and women of goodwill to join hands with us in the vanguard to defend our constitution from the brigandage of anti-democratic forces”, he stated.
Tinubu responds to Obi
Meanwhile, in reaction to Obi’s stance, president-elect, Tinubu, who called on Nigerians to ignore his opponent at the poll, stated that Obi is well-acknowledged with “penchant for spewing falsehood.”
He said Obi’s accumulated votes neither came close to his (Tinubu) at the polls nor did he “fulfil the minimum requirement of our constitution which requires a spread of 25 per cent in two-thirds of the States of the Federation.”
READ ALSO: Nigeria Presidential Election Flawed – Financial Times
In a statement he signed on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, SAN, advised the former governor of Anambra State to stop misleading the gullible, noting that Tinubu won the election.
According to the results announced early Wednesday morning by the INEC, Tinubu of the APC polled 8,794,726 to defeat Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP with 6,884,520 votes.
In comparison, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Sen Rabiu Kwakwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) recorded 6,101,533 in the third position and 1,496,687 votes (the 4th position), respectively.
The margin between Tinubu, who polled 8,794,726 votes and Obi who polled 6,101,533, is over 2.6 million votes.
Atiku, 76, who has now run for the presidency race six times, polled 6,984,520 votes, ahead of Obi, who polled 6,101,533.
Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi led in 12 states each, while Kwakwaso of NNPP led only in one State (Kano).
“It is also ludicrous that Mr Peter Obi is laying claim to victory along with his new-found partner, the PDP, that is also laying claim to victory. I tweeted this morning, thus: ‘This is the first time in my entire life that I am seeing people who came 2nd and 3rd in an exam both claiming they took first and then agreeing to protest together to the examiner to record that both of them took first, yet they are not seeing the contradiction in their actions.’ We stand by that comment.
“The President-Elect, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has extended a hand of fellowship to his defeated opponents, including Mr Peter Obi, to join hands with him in nation-building.
“Mr Peter Obi should embrace that hand of fellowship and brotherhood by the President-elect as a committed patriot instead of engaging in this crass grandstanding,” he added.
Although Tinubu, in his acceptance speech which was delivered at the headquarters of his campaign office on Wednesday morning, extended hands of fellowship to Atiku, Obi, and others who contested the race with him, there are enough indications that the major contestants would challenge the outcome in court.
Tinubu said his victory is for all Nigerians after the presentation of the Certificate of Return to him and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, by Independent National Electoral Commission, Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday in Abuja,
On Atiku’s comment, Tinubu reacted in a statement by his campaign spokesperson and Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, describing his reaction as a “typical fashion of the last kick of a dying horse.”
READ ALSO: JUST IN: I’ll Challenge Tinubu’s Victory, Says Atiku
Tinubu said with all the distractions and fractures in Atiku’s party, the PDP, under which he campaigned, he ought to have sensed beforehand that “he was headed for a humiliating defeat that should have put him a distant 3rd or 4th in the elections.”
Tinubu, who said Atiku’s performance was the best he could get, said his failure to unite his party and manage post-primaries’ fall-out was his eventual undoing.
“Atiku Abubakar’s decision to challenge the outcome of the results is welcome. We are prepared to meet his challenge, no matter the nature of the challenge, anywhere and anytime,” he added.
DAILY POST
Politics
2027: Senator Imasuen Visits His Ward, Seeks Support For Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Ward 5, Umagbai, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday, rolled out the drums as Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, visited for an interactive session with party faithful at the grassroots level to mobilise support for President Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections.
The interactive session, which drew chieftains, ward chairmen and party faithful from the 22 units in the ward, was marked by jubilation and reaffirmed the party’s strength in the district.
Speaking at the gathering, Senator Imasuen expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stressing the need to build bridges with his local base.
He noted that while he joined the APC at the State level on June 12, it was crucial to identify with his ward because “politics is local.”
READ ALSO:Senator Imasuen Empowers Edo South Farmers With Farm Implements
“It was very imperative that I come to my ward, not only to officially inform them of my joining the party since June 12, but also to meet the ward executives,” the lawmaker said.
“This move will strengthen the party, promote unity and ensure victory at the polls.”
Imasuen lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “bold and courageous” economic reforms, adding that such steps were necessary to turn the nation’s fortunes around.
He also echoed the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes to Tinubu in 2027, declaring the target a “done deal.”
READ ALSO:Edo Senator, Neda Imasuen Defects To APC, Says LP In Shreds, No Direction
“By the grace of God, Asiwaju 2027 is settled. Part of that settlement is to begin to work towards that goal from the grassroots,” he added.
APC leaders in the local government hailed the senator for the move to galvanize support for the president ahead of 2027, pledging their support for the movement.
The All Progressive Congress, LGA Chairman, Osayimwenre Osawe, described him as “an asset” whose presence as a federal lawmaker would bring democratic dividends to Uhunmwonde.
READ ALSO:Call For Sen. Imasuen’s Recall: Group Tackles Omobude, Uwangue
“He is not a liability. He came to add value. Being a senator of the Federal Republic is a plus to our party. Beyond development, his return for a second term would make him a ranking senator, and that will position him for more influence on the Senate floor,” Osawe declared.
Also speaking, Acting Council Chairman, Augustine Imafidon Uhuonde, pledged unwavering support for the senator, praising his performance in facilitating projects in the senatorial district.
“Even watching him from the other side, he made us proud. Today, he has come down to the ward level to join hands with us. That shows he is ‘grass-rooted’ and truly the man of the people,” Uhuonde said.
Prominent party figures at the event included Festus Aimierovbiye, Chairman APC Ward 5; former Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo; Hon. Derick Uhunmwagho, Liaison Officer and Chief of Staff to the senator; Iziegbe Gabriel, LGA Coordinator; and Ese Edegbe, Ward 5 Assistant Coordinator.
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.
READ ALSO:South African Court Finds Radical Politician Malema Guilty On Gun Charges
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.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board
“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.
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