Politics

Sokoto guber: Appeal Court upholds Tribunal judgement affirming APC’s victory

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal brought before it by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State, Sai’du Umar, challenging the election of Governor Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three-member panel of Justices of the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the case challenging Aliyu’s election for lacking in merit.

The appellate court held that the appellants failed to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election and other electoral malpractices contained in their petition before the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Adopting the processes filed in the matter, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh (SAN), representing the appellants prayed the court to find merit in the appeal and allow it, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr Hassan Liman (SAN) and I. S. Mohammed, representing the first to fourth respondents, asked the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the Tribunal which declared Aliyu as the winner of the governorship election in the state.

It would be recalled that a three-member panel of Justices of the Tribunal, led by Justice Haruna Msheila, had, in a unanimous judgment delivered on September 30, dismissed the petition of the PDP and its governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Sokoto State.

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove the six grounds formulated in their joint petition.

According to the tribunal, the grounds stated in the petition bordered on alleged ineligibility of Aliyu and his deputy to contest, falsification of certificates, variation of names, election frauds and non compliance with electoral guidelines.

The lower court held in its judgment that the petitioners were unable to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt as required by law, as 70 per cent of exhibits they tendered were out of context because they relate to State Assembly elections conducted on the same day.

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).