Politics

Kogi Guber tribunal adjourns hearing to April 1

The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja on Saturday, adjourned until April 1 for continuation of hearing.

The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, fixed the date after six witnesses of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gave their evidence and were cross-examined by the defence counsel.

Upon resumed hearing, the six witnesses gave testimonies contrary to their depositions on oath and confirmed that they were not polling agents as stipulated by law, but voters.

In his evidence, Yakubu Dahiru, the 10th prosecution witness, who was confronted with the contradictions between his claims and depositions during cross examination, said he was suffering from eye problem and could not see for about a year.

However, Dahiru claimed to have written his witness deposition.

Another witness, Isah AbdulGaniu from Okene Local Government Area, who told the tribunal that he was a fashion designer, said he was neither a member of the SDP nor polling agent.

He denied knowledge of Form DCE-41, which was part of his deposition

While some of the witnesses denied averments in their depositions, some claimed they made mistakes when it was found during cross-examination that what they said in court was different from what they submitted.

Some of the witnesses said they dictated the statement to their lawyers and later crammed it before coming to the tribunal.

Inspite of the fact that their petitions showed the names of the petitioners, petition number and lawyers’ names, some of them interestingly claimed that they did not know the petitioners and their lawyers.

The testimonies of the six witnesses were similar in nature but contradictory.

After the 6th witness concluded his evidence, the petitioners’ lawyer, Pius Akubo, SAN, sought an adjournment.

The tribunal consequently adjourned until April 1 for continuation of hearing.

While Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alex Iziyon, SAN, represented Governor Usman Ododo, while Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, appeared for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The witnesses from Okene Local Government Area, who testified, were: Isa Abdulganiyu, Aliyu Musari Abdul, Ohieku Rebeka, Abdulsalam Baki, Yakubu Dahiru and Ibrahim Majeed.

Politics

Reps member, Ikenga Ugochinyere expelled from PDP for anti-party activities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the House of Representatives member from Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and Spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.

PDP expelled Ugochinyere over gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.

His expulsion was contained in a letter from the Ideato LGA chapter of PDP, dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okeke, and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh.

The letter was addressed to the state chairman of the party.

The expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, dated November 27, 2024, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP constitution 2017, as amended.

The lawmaker had been suspended at his Umuopia/Umukegwu ward on October 14, 2024, after failing to honor an invitation to appear before the ward Executive Committee on October 5, 2024, to answer allegations of disciplinary offenses, and ignoring reminders and further invitations sent to him on October 7, 2024.

The letter partly read: “Upon receipt of the report, the LGA Executive Committee of Ideato North met on December 5, 2024, and unanimously adopted the report of the disciplinary committee.

“In light of this, Hon. Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwonu is hereby expelled from the party (PDP) with immediate effect, and he ceases to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Umuopia/Umukegwu ward of Ideato North LGA.”

PDP found Ugochinyere guilty of deliberate failure to attend meetings and participate in activities of the party for a long time, in breach of Section 58 (1)(e) of the PDP constitution 2017, as amended.

He was said to have engaged in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the party, which contravenes Section 58(1)(i) of the party’s constitution. Additionally, he formed parallel executive and organs of the party in his ward, at the LGA, and at the national levels, which also breaches the party’s constitution.

The lawmaker was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule

Politics

Labour Party plans ‘hall of shame’ for reacts to defection of four Reps are ingrate, plans hall of shame

Labour Party (LP) has announced plans to take legal action against five of its lawmakers in the House of Representatives who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party is also planning a hall of shame for the defectors.

The defected lawmakers include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Esosa Iyawe (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

Their decision to leave the party was officially disclosed during plenary.

The Labour Party expressed disappointment, stating that the defections were unjustified.

The party referenced the 1999 Constitution, which requires a valid reason, such as internal division, for a lawmaker to switch parties without losing their seat.

The party said these lawmakers abandoned their mandate and betrayed the trust of voters who supported them under the Labour Party platform.

According to the party, these lawmakers benefited from its support during the 2023 general elections, where the Labour Party achieved historic victories.

Many of these candidates, the party claimed, were ordinary citizens who gained political opportunities through LP’s grassroots-focused policies.

Despite the party’s assistance during their campaigns and legal battles, the defectors have allegedly failed to contribute back to the party.

The Labour Party has instructed its legal team to pursue the retrieval of the defectors’ mandates and will also ask the Speaker of the House to declare their seats vacant.

Furthermore, the party plans to create a “Hall of Shame” to document cases of defections it considers a betrayal of public trust.

The party urged Nigerians to hold such politicians accountable in future elections, describing their actions as a disregard for democratic values and loyalty to voters.

Politics

Four Labour Party’s federal lawmakers defect to APC

A major defection wave has rocked the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, as four members have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The four LP candidates that defected on the floor of the House on Thursday are from four states: Kaduna, Imo, Edo and Cross River.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced the defection on the floor of the House.

The lawmakers are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency) and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo).