Politics

Edo Govt accuses Philip Shaibu of impersonating Deputy Gov. Godwin Omobayo

The Edo State Government has accused Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of the state, of impersonation.

The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare accused Philip Shaibu of impersonating Godwin Omobayo as the Deputy Governor of the state .

Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had on July 17, 2024, reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy governor of the state in a case against his impeachment by the State House of Assembly.

The embattled Deputy governor was on March 18, 2024, impeached by the State House of Assembly over alleged disclosure of government’s classified information to members of the public.

Shaibu had in an interview after the court judgement, said he remained the authentic Deputy governor of the state.

He added that the judgment was declarative which the state government was duty bound to adhere to and implement.

However, in the statement, Chris Nehikhare noted that Shaibu’s purported reinstatement is currently before an Appeal Court.

According to him, ”It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that the former Deputy Governor, Comr. Philip Shaibu has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the State in a clear case of impersonation.

“In the interest of the safety of these organizations, we want to restate that Shaibu is not the Deputy Governor of Edo State and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.

“The issue of his purported reinstatement is still active in court and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the State Government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging the purported reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court is fixed for 24 September 2024.

“The State through the Attorney General of Edo State and the Edo House of Assembly by their lawyers, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, and Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively, had in the motions sought an order for a stay of the execution of the purported reinstatement and an order suspending the judgment and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

“Therefore, the status quo is that His Excellency, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State and any correspondence carried out by any other person, including Philip Shaibu is an act of impersonation, and anyone who deals with him does so at his or her own risk”, he said.

The commissioner, who said the Security agencies have been alerted to the potential breach of peace, however, urged the security agencies to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the State arising from his alleged ignoble actions.

Politics

Court upholds Akpata, dismisses suit seeking his disqualification as LP guber candidate in Edo

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Kenneth Imansuangbon seeking to disqualify Olumide Akpata as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the appellate court held among others that Imansuangbon failed to explore the intra-conflict resolution mechanism of the labour party before rushing to court.

The court also held that his case was premature in law and could not be entertained on the ground that conditions precedent were not met.

The unanimous judgment of the three-man panel of justices also held that Imansuangbon failed to tender the disputed results of the February 23 primary election of the party, which he claimed to have won.

It would be recalled that in June, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to void the nomination of Akpata as the LP candidate in the September 21 election.

In the judgement, Justice Omotosho upheld the arguments by Akpata’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, (SAN) that the plaintiffs were without the legal right to institute the suit.

Politics

APP refutes allegations that Fubara is handpicking the party’s LG chairmanship candidate

The Action Peoples Party, APP, in Rivers State has refuted allegations made by a Labour Party chieftain, Prince Favor Reuben, claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is handpicking the party’s candidates for the upcoming October 5 local government elections.

Reuben, the South-South Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, made the accusation during a press briefing on Monday in Port Harcourt.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, APP urged Reuben to focus on preparing for the elections instead of engaging in baseless accusations.

The party’s state chairman, Sunny Wokekoro, dismissed Reuben’s claims as “childish” and “misinformed”.

He said, “In that statement, Reuben clearly showed a very deep lack of knowledge about how party administration is run. Ordinarily, one won’t respond to the gibberish or give him the publicity he is looking for.

“The issue of political party administration regarding their congresses and primaries is contained in each party’s constitution; every party has its modus operandi, and the Action Peoples Party is not exempted from that;

“We have done our primaries in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution, and we have gone beyond that.”

“Reuben and his paymaster, rather than showing gross ignorance of how a political party operates, should go and prepare for the election.”

“For the purported meeting that was held in the government house, I want journalists to ask that unknown figure if he was in that meeting and if he identified any party official of the Action Peoples Party as to allege that Governor Fubara was handpicking candidates for our party.”

“We have said it severally that Governor Siminilayi Fubara is not a member of our party and, as such, cannot handpick candidates for the party.

Wokekoro, stressed that Reuben has no locus standi to question the party’s internal affairs.

He assured that the APP remains focused and open to welcoming members from other political parties.

The APP state Chairman expressed confidence in the party’s ability to win in all local government areas in the upcoming election, adding that it is strictly adhering to the timetable set by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RESIEC), while accusing those following the directives of external influences of acting in ignorance.

Politics

Kano council polls: 20 aspirants test positive for multiple drugs

Twenty (20) chairmanship aspirants in Kano State have tested positive for multiple drugs screening for the upcoming local government elections, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said.

Abubakar Idris Ahmad, the NDLEA’s Commander in the state, explained that the aspirants presented by the ruling NNPP in the state tested positive for substances, including opioids, hemp benzodiazepines and nicotine.

Mr Ahmad noted that, “while no female aspirant had tested positive so far, the screening process was ongoing and that more candidates were expected to be tested before the final verification by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).”

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), had scheduled the elections for October 26, 2024, where 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions will be contested.