Politics

Suits Challenging Ighodalo’s Candidacy: Court To Deliver Judgment April 30

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2024

A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, fixed April 30 for judgment in two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s primaries that produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the September 21 Edo poll.

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date, after counsel for the parties adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suits.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported that while the first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.

The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, PDP, Umar Damagun (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, and its National Executive Committee, NEC, as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

The three plaintiffs, in their separate ex-parte motions dated and filed February 19, specifically sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primaries in Edo State, slated for February 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

Mr Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, who moved the two separate motions, said that the primaries would amount to a nullity if allowed to hold on the grounds that the process which produced the delegates is defective.

According to Ibrahim, the PDP trampled upon the judgment of the court delivered on January 9 when the acting national secretary of the party announced the information of the ward congresses.

He recalled that the court, presided over by Justice Ekwo, had, in the January 9 judgment, declared Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP.

He argued that rather than comply with the judgment, the party went ahead to appoint an acting national secretary in flagrant disobedience of the court.

It was the claims of the applicants that the action of the acting national secretary amounted to an illegality, and by extension, the product of the ward congresses held on February 4.

They, therefore, prayed the court to restrain the party and INEC from making use of the list of delegates from the alleged defective congresses.

Although Justice Ekwo declined to grant the application to stop the poll conduct, the judge ordered the applicants to put the defendants on notice to enable them to appear before the court and show cause why the request against them should not be granted.

Upon resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, who appeared for Umoru, adopted all their processes, including the originating summons dated February 14.
Burkaa urged the court to dismiss the notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendants and grant their prayers.

INEC’s lawyer, I.S. Mohammed, PDP’s counsel, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN; and lawyer who appeared for Damagun and Koshoedo, Kehibde Ofunwumiju, SAN, and Robert Emukpoeruo, who represented the NWC and NEC, urged the court to dismiss the suit, saying that a notice of preliminary objection was filed by the commission. He prayed the court to strike out the suit on merit and award substantial cost.

Also the second suit was equally argued in the same vein.

Meanwhile, the judge fixed the third suit filed on behalf of the 378 ad hoc delegates in Edo primary poll against INEC, PDP, national secretary of PDP and the vice chairman, PDP South South (1st to 4th defendants) until May 2 for ruling on motion seeking for a change of counsel for the 4th defendant.

Related Topics:#edo poll Edo election Edo Guber

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Politics

BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has resigned from his position, Saturday Vanguard has learned.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding his resignation remain unclear as of press time, a senior party official confirmed the development, stating simply, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”

Sources revealed that Ganduje’s personal belongings were earlier moved from his office at the APC national secretariat, further fueling speculation.

The development has thrown the party’s headquarters into confusion, with staff and visitors visibly shocked by the unexpected news.

Politics

‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu

Published

8 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

After months of political tension and division in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have publicly declared an end to their rift, assuring residents that peace has finally returned.

The truce followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, where both leaders, along with other stakeholders, reached a resolution to work together for the state’s progress.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed gratitude to God for the breakthrough.

Wike said, “I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally returned to the state. We all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”

He acknowledged that disagreements are part of politics but emphasised that the resolution marked a fresh start for the state.

He said, “Just like humans, you have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr President that is what we have agreed.

“So for me, everything is over, and I enjoin everybody to work together with everybody. There is no more acrimony; there is nothing to say. We have disagreed; we have all agreed on everything, so thank God. For me, it’s a day we have to thank almighty God.”

Governor Fubara, who also spoke to journalists, said the return of peace is crucial to the state’s development.

He said, “For me, it’s very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God this night, with the help of Mr President and the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned to Rivers State.”

Fubara pledged to do everything within his power to sustain the peace, describing it as a step toward lasting stability and governance in the oil-rich state.

Politics

INEC Fixes Voter Registration Resumption Dates For Anambra Election, Nationwide

Published

22 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra on July 17 and nationwide on Aug. 18.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja.

Yakubu said that in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, the CVR exercise would be held at two levels.

He said the exercise would commence in the 326 wards across the state on July 8 and end on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.

“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra from other states of the federation or from one location to another within the state will have the opportunity to do so.

“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for replacement.

“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.

“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register,” he said.

The INEC chairman, however, explained that the online pre-registration option is currently unavailable.

Yakubu added that voter registration and compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.

“For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all states of the federation.

“The online pre-registration will start on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration will follow on Aug. 25.

“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all states and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Area offices nationwide,” he said.

Yakubu said the detailed schedule of activities would be released soon.
(NAN)