Politics
Sylva, APC lose bid to stop Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal
The Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed a fresh motion filed by All Progressives Congress, (APC) and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva asking the panel to recuse itself from handling their petition challenging the election of Gov. Douye Diri.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye dismissed the motion after listening to arguments from counsel.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Mr Tunde Falola represented Sylva, Mr Charles Edosanwan represented the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and Mr Chris Uche, SAN was for Diri.
Mr Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, SAN represented the Deputy Governor while Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN represented the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Counsel to the petitioners told the tribunal that his clients filed the fresh application because they were convinced beyond reasonable doubt that they could not get justice from members of the panel.
The two petitioners further stated that the tribunal had exhibited strange circumstances that made them believe that they would be denied a fair hearing.
Falola therefore, asked the tribunal to step aside from the petition so that a fresh panel could be constituted to hear and determine their petition.
In a brief ruling, Justice Adeleye said that the President of the Court of Appeal in a letter dated March 5 mandated the tribunal to go ahead and hear the petition irrespective of any application by the parties.
The judge said that the letter of the Appeal Court president had overtaken the request by the petitioners for the disbandment of the tribunal.
Meanwhile, all the respondents, through their respective counsel, opposed the request for members of the panel to recuse themselves.
The respondents in the suit are Diri, his deputy, INEC and the PDP.
They argued that the application was an attempt to prevent the respondents from presenting their defense against the petition.
The respondents further argued that the motion by the APC and Sylva was a calculated attempt to blackmail the tribunal members to do their bidding.
The four respondents said that the petitioners closed their case even when the time allocated to them had not expired; hence, there was no basis for the allegation of denial of fair hearing.
The respondents also held that APC and Sylva were part of the pre-hearing session and both agreed to the schedule of time as agreed upon by all the parties.
Adeleye adjourned the hearing until March 13 and 14 for INEC to open and close its defence.
(NAN)
Politics
Ondo Guber: Ayedatiwa receives Obasanjo’s blessing
The governorship aspiration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, received the blessing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo who visited Ondo for the commissioning of the Ojaja park also visited Aiyedatiwa at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House in Akure, the State capital, in a show of political camaraderie and support.
Obasanjo rallied support for Aiyedatiwa urging the people of the state to reelect the Governor.
The former President who extended his well-wishes for the governor’s re-election campaign, shared his past political campaign experiences with Governor Aiyedatiwa.
The former President was in Akure for the commissioning of the Ojaja Park, an estate developed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
After being briefed by the Governor on his campaign activities ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Obasanjo wished the governor victory in the election.
The ex-president said: “I understand the challenges of this period for you. I remember my campaign for the 1999 election, I covered the entire six states of the South West in one day.
“I think we started in Akure, Ondo State here, then to Ekiti and we got to Lagos around 8pm. This is a crucial part of the process and I wish you all the best.”
Aiyedatiwa, who appreciated the former President for the visit, acknowledged his contributions to the development of Nigeria, adding that his achievements as President remain indelible.
The Governor described Obasanjo as a good recurring decimal in the life of the nation, a remark the former President laughed at and suggested to be a newspaper headline.
Aiyedatiwa also shared his past personal experiences multiple times with the former President, saying despite his high profile and military background, Obasanjo remains a very humble and humane leader.
Politics
Ex-minister Gwarzo kicks against dismissal from Tinubu’s cabinet
The sacked Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has kicked against his removal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Gwarzo claimed that he was not guilty of poor performance.
In a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024, Tinubu dismissed Gwarzo alongside four other ministers.
The other dismissed ministers are Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and the Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim.
Commenting on the development, Gwarzo said the president informed him about the decision to relive him of his duties before the decision was made public.
Speaking with BBC Hausa, the sacked minister said: “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance.
“And I was minister of state, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the Ministry’s activities.
“Before the announcement, the President had informed me of his decision.
“He said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance. We gave our advice, but it was ignored.
“From there, I began to suspect that certain individuals were behind this because, to me, that wasn’t a valid reason.
“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the position?
“Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.
“All other candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who contested for the governorships were appointed to positions.”
Politics
Gombe: NNPP ex-guber candidate, Mailantarki defects to PDP
The 2023 governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Gombe State, Khamisu Mailantarki, on Saturday, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Mailantarki had three months resigned from the NNPP, but did not join another party.
While speaking at the party secretariat during his reception ceremony, Mailantarki explained that he joined the PDP to help enhance the party’s chances.
He said that his entry would help the main opposition party unseat the All Progressives Congress in the state in 2027.
He decried the unfavourable APC-led government policies at both federal and state levels, stressing that they have failed miserably in delivering good governance to the people of Nigeria.
According to him, “PDP is the only strong party capable of seizing power from the APC, which is the reason for my decision to join it after quitting the NNPP.”
While lambasting Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, Mailantarki added that some of his administration’s uncompassionate policies, such as revoking land titles and compelling civil servants to undergo biometric registration every day at their workplaces, failure of which would render them ineligible for salary payment, were unacceptable.
The former gubernatorial candidate said that it was unfair to force workers to go to work five times a day during this period of economic hardship without a commensurate salary.
The PDP Gombe State chairman, Abner Kwaskebe, who received the governorship candidate, commended Mailantarki’s bold step.
He noted that Mailantarki’s defection is a huge success for the party and promised all members a level playing field.
-
News2 days ago
FBI reportedly arrests newly elected Anambra LGA Chairman over romance fraud totaling over $3.3million
-
News4 days ago
IGP orders ‘severe’ punishment for corrupt officers
-
News5 days ago
Kaduna Govt Gifts N100,000 And Smartphones Each To 39 Released Minors; Reunites Them With Their Families
-
News4 days ago
PDP will not allow APC rig Ondo guber election – Makinde vows
-
News5 days ago
SERAP battles DSS in court over alleged covert raid on Abuja office
-
News3 days ago
Gunmen invade quarry kill police inspector, kidnap two Chinese expatriates and one other in Cross River
-
Politics4 days ago
Court dismisses criminal summons against Edo governor-elect Okpebholo
-
Politics4 days ago
Ondo governorship election: 18 parties sign peace accord
-
News4 days ago
Lagbaja was an exemplary officer with integrity and courage- Buhari
-
Business4 days ago
FAAC distributes N1.298trn to FG, States, LGs in September 2024 Allocation
-
Education5 days ago
Otti renames Abia State Polytechnic after Ogbonnaya Onu