Politics

Rivers LG poll: Court reserves judgment in APC suit against INEC

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, reserved judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the local government election in Rivers.

Justice Peter Lifu said that a date for the judgment would be communicated to parties after lawyers in the suit adopted their processes and argued their case for and against the suit.

APC in the suit prayed the court to pronounce that INEC can only release the register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) “in strict conformity and compliance with the mandatory provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.”

The party argued that the electoral umpire, in line with the provision, can stop continuous voter registration at least 90 days before the poll date.

It argued that the condition precedent for the conduct of local government election in Rivers had not been met by RSIEC.

Upon resumed hearing, the court listened to all pending preliminary applications, including those seeking joinder brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Boot Party as well as the substantive suit.

Goddy Uche, SAN, also presented his motion for change of counsel and discontinuance of the suit on behalf of the Rivers chapter of the APC.

The motion was filed by Uche and signed by chairman of the party in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, and Sam Etetegwung, APC Secretary in Rivers, respectively.

However, Joseph Daudu, SAN,.who appeared for the plaintiff (APC national body), prayed the court to grant their reliefs.

In their arguments, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, counsel to for the Attorney General of Rivers, and Femi Falana, SAN, who appeared for INEC, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

They equally challenged the competence of the suit on the ground that it was statute-barred.

The respondents further contended that the proper court with jurisdiction to entertain the case is the Rivers division of the Federal High Court.

They also argued that being a vacation court, the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case without obtaining the consent of both parties.

Justice Lifu consequently reserved judgment in the matter after listening to the parties.

(NAN)

Politics

NAF begins Edo guber election materials transportation

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the transportation of election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, ahead of the Sept. 21 Governorship election in Edo.

This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Director Public Relations and Information, NAF, Group Capt. Kabiru Ali, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ali said the move was part of a broader effort to ensure timely and secured delivery of sensitive materials necessary for the smooth conduct of the elections.

He said the transportation operation had demonstrated the collaboration between NAF and INEC, aimed at facilitating logistics and ensuring a peaceful election process in Edo.

According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had recently reiterated NAF’s commitment to provide transportation for the swift movement of electoral materials.

“This is in fulfillment of NAF’s constitutional responsibility of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority,’’ he said.

Politics

Fubara directs all 23 LGA chairmen in Rivers to contest under APP

Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has directed all 23 local government chairmen in the state to contest the forthcoming local government elections under the banner of the All People’s Party (APP).

The decision comes in the wake of Governor Fubara losing control of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers State to former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The local government elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024.

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Wike has maintained significant control over the PDP structure in the state, causing friction between the two leaders.

The power struggle has culminated in Governor Fubara opting to back the APP, a move many see as a bid to counter Wike’s dominance in the state.

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With the local government elections fast approaching, this move is expected to reshape the political dynamics in Rivers State.

The APP, previously a lesser-known party in the region, now stands to gain considerable traction, backed by the governor and the incumbent local government chairmen.

Politics

Court sets new date for judgment in suit seeking Ganduje’s sack

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Sept. 23.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matter, which was earlier fixed for today, was not on the case list.

NAN gathered that the parties in the suit had earlier been reached by the court registrar for a new date because the judgement was not ready.

“We have already called the parties on phone to inform them of the development. A new date is next week, September 23,” a reliable source said.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on July 5, fixed today (Sept. 18) for the judgment.

Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.

The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.

It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.

It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo-political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.

It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.