Politics
Kogi Tribunal: Gov. Ododo, APC to open defence April 15
Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will, on April 15, open their defence at the state’s governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja against the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, fixed the date on Friday after SDP and Mr Ajaka, the petitioners, who had initially said they had 400 witnesses, closed their case after calling 25 witnesses.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also expected to open its defence in the matter with two witnesses.
It would be recalled that the SDP and its governorship candidate in the Nov. 11, 2023 poll, are challenging Gov. Ododo’s victory in the election.
In the petition, INEC, Mr Ododo and APC are listed as 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively.
When the case was called on Friday, INEC, Mr Ododo and APC’s lawyers opposed the move by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, to lead the witness, Edidiong Udoh, a digital forensic expert, in evidence.
Kanu Agabi, SAN; Alex Iziyon, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who appeared for INEC, the governor and APC, respectively, argued that the petitioners did not list the name of the witness in their proof of evidence and that the witness statement on oath was not front-loaded alongside the petition.
They also contended that the petitioners served the reports of the witness’ analysis on them 20 minutes before the commencement of the proceedings.
But Mr Okutepa insisted that the forensic expert was listed on Page 56 of the petition as item 10, adding that his statement was also front-loaded.
He, however, admitted that the report was served on the respondents a few minutes to the proceedings.
The lawyer, therefore, prayed the tribunal to allow him lead Mr Udoh in evidence and stand down the matter for 30 minutes for the respondents to study the report.
Mr Udoh, who described himself as a digital forensic expert living in Port Harcourt in Rivers, begged the tribunal to allow him to amend Paragraph 7, Line 3 of his statement on oath, which he submitted on Jan. 12, before adopting it.
“The particular words that I used were not proper. I said, ‘There was some very suspicious software.’ I apply to change it to ‘there was no suspicious software used,’” he prayed.
But Mr Agabi, Mr Iziyon and Mr Ukala disagreed with Mr Udoh’s oral application.
“If this kind of amendment is permissible, then there is no kind of amendment that cannot be permissible,” Mr Agabi said.
The judge asked them to reserve their objections for their final written addresses.
Messrs Iziyon and Ukala, who backed Mr Agabi’s submission, agreed to raise the objection at the appropriate time.
While giving evidence, Mr Udoh said he had 12 certificates in support of his qualifications.
And when Mr Okutepa sought to tender the certificates of the witness as exhibits, the respondents’ lawyers objected.
They queried why the counsel only sought to tender photocopies of the certificates without supporting the documents with the originals.
The witness responded that he forgot to come with the original certificates.
“The originals were mistakenly left in my office in Port Harcourt but I have them,” Mr Udoh said.
Although the tribunal refused to admit the photocopies, the petitioners’ lawyer pleaded, insisting that the certificates were personal documents and that they could be admitted.
Mr Birnin-Kudu admitted the documents and urged the counsel for the respondents to reserve their objections till the final written addresses.
While being cross-examined, the witness was asked if he was the only one who worked on the report, and he said seven other experts worked on it with him.
His attention was drawn to the fact that he did not signify the names of these experts in the report and that their signatures were not also included.
Mr Udoh responded that his name and signature were on the report because he was the team leader.
“Eight of us conducted the analysis. As digital forensic experts, our qualifications are identical.
“I signed the report as the team lead. The reason I did not include their name is because I was the team lead,” he said.
The witness was also asked if he knew the meaning of the BVAS Machine and what it contained.
He said BVAS were supposed to contain information on accredited voters and registered voters and any other information.
The respondent’s counsel asked if such information included Form EC8A, and he said, “Yes, it may include it.”
The respondents’ lawyer then asked if all the snapshots of the BVAS Machine that were included in his report contained Form EC8A.
Mr Udoh said the snapshots were only for accredited voters and registered voters.
The INEC guideline provides what BVAS should contain, and Form EC8A is one of it.
When asked if he examined the ballot papers and if his findings on the ballot papers were contained in his report, he responded in the negative.
He, however, confirmed that INEC gave him the voters register but that he could not remember the number given to him.
A major discrepancy observed during the hearing was that figures reflected in the witness’ report conflicted with the figures contained in SDP’s petition.
But he said he did not depend on the petition to write his report.
The witness, who was said to have used the word, dactylography, in his report, was asked if he knew its meaning.
Mr Udoh said he knew the meaning as an expert in fingerprints.
His attention was then brought to his curriculum vitae, as tendered, which did not contain the certification in dactylography.
When asked if he knew that there was a certificate for experts in dactylography, he said he didn’t know.
Source: PEOPLES GAZETTE
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Special Duties, Comrade Ini Ememobong, has resigned his appointment as a member of Governor Umo Eno’s cabinet over political differences.
Governor Eno had earlier on Friday announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the need to connect Akwa Ibom to the government at the centre, among others reasons.
But, his appointee Ememobong, who also doubled as the Commissioner for the Ibom Deep Sea Port Project, quit his role in the State government, saying he couldn’t follow his principal to his new political party as a matter of principle.
Taking to his Facebook page shortly after the governor’s announcement of his defection, the erstwhile Commissioner said he had also complied with Governor Eno’s directive to his aides who won’t follow to APC to quit, calling his own decision to quit as ‘another bend’.
Ememobong wrote: “Today, I have tendered my resignation to the Governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign.
“While I cannot question or fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in politics with principles and my long standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors. This decision does not affect my personal relationship with the Governor, who calls me his brother and reposed great confidence in me by saddling me with two very important ministries(Information and Special Duties & Ibom Deep Sea Port).I have and will continue to have tremendous respect for HE Governor Umo Eno, even out of EXCO.
“About my history in political and public service, I look back with great satisfaction at the work I have done and leave the ultimate judgement to history and posterity. Given another opportunity, I will do more.
“Let me convey the very sincere appreciation of my family to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for appointing me into his cabinet. Our very special appreciation goes to Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State for his enduring love and belief in me, especially for appointing me into the Executive Council during his administration.
“I understand this decision may not please everyone, and to those who are disappointed, I humbly seek your understanding.
“As usual, I do not know the future, but I know HE who holds the future and I trust that at the end, all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord and are the called unto HIS purpose.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to lose its state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since the formation of the ruling party.
The APC has not hidden the desire to take over more states through defections of governors ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest to join the train of PDP governors to join the ruling APC is Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state.
Governor Umo Eno officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, June 6, 2025
The Akwa Ibom is not the first PDP governor to have dumped the party for the ruling party since the emergence of the APC .
The article compiled the list of all the PDP governors who dumped the party and defected to the ruling APC .
Eno hinged his reason for defection on the critical admiration for President Tinubu’s leadership and what he described as “three months of wide consultation” with critical stakeholders across the state.
List of PDP governors who defected to APC
As reported by The Nation, below are the PDP governors who dumped the party for APC.
Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State)
Governor Umo Eno is the latest PDP governor to have dumped the main opposition party for the APC. Eno is the first Akwa Ibom State governor to defect to another party. The governor’s defection could significantly alter the south-south state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State)
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of a core PDP state since 1999 defected to the APC after months of defection rumours.
Oborevwori’s defection marks a significant political shift in Delta state.
Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State)
The current minister of work, Dave Umahi defected to APC in November 2020 during his second term as Ebonyi state Governor.
Umahi accused the PDP of marginalising the Southeast region and praised APC’s infrastructure focus under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ben Ayade (Cross River State)
Governor Ayade of Cross River State defected from the PDP to APC in May 2021. Ayade claimed he wants to align Cross River state with the federal government to attract more development projects.
Bello Matawalle (Zamfara State)
Another PD governor to dump the party for APC was Bello Matawalle in June 2021. The minister of state for defence defected to the APC as Zamfara state governor to maintain stability and control of the state.
Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara State)
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state defected to APC in 2014 with Bukola Saraki during the formation of the ruling party.
He later returned to the PDP but lost the north-central state to the ruling party in the 2019 elections.
Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto State)
Governor Aliyu Wamakko joined the APC in 2014. He was among the early defectors whose moves helped shape the APC’s victory in the 2015 general elections.
Suspended Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara is facing fresh obstacles towards his return as the state governor following the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu a few months ago.
Despite all indications that both FCT minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara have reached a dialogue with the intervention of President Tinubu to end the crisis in the state.
Fresh details have emerged from disgruntled supporters of Wike, insisting that Fubara’s return should come with certain conditions in order to end the political crisis in Rivers State.
According to a source within Pro-Wike’s camp who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that the suspended governor should not be given a second chance due to the damages he caused in the state, and his return should be on total restrictions under certain conditions.
“We are not aware of the peace talks until we meet the president. I would like to commend the President for being the father figure, and we appreciate his efforts so far, but in truth, Fubara does not deserve to be Rivers’ governor again. He has caused lots of damage in the state, and based on this, we shall demand certain things before we can accept him bac,k and that would be disclosed in the meeting with the President,” said the source.
On March 18, 2025, the President proclaimed the emergency rule in Rivers and suspended Fubara, his deputy,y and lawmakers in the state for six months in the first instance.
He also appointed Ibas as sole administrator to govern the state during the emergency, as approved by the National Assembly.
The suspension followed more than 18 months of political upheaval in the state, driven by a supremacy conflict between Fubara on one hand and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, along with the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 lawmakers.
Tension has begin to heats up among the leaders of coalition due to the choice of presidential candidate to contest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming election in 2027.
ThePaper.ng reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and other coalition leaders recently met to gain the support of certain northern leaders in their effort to defeat President Bola Tinubu.
The meeting, convened by the National Political Consultative Group (North), was held behind closed doors last Sunday at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Various reports indicated that Atiku has been the principal of coalition in order to be the sole presidential candidate to contest against Tinubu again in 2027 but there seems to increasing trouble in the camp of former Vice President as ex-chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salifu Lukman, stated that the coalition mobilizing against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will prioritize fairness in its selection of a presidential candidate.
The former All Progressives’ Vice President from the North stated that the coalition acknowledges the significant issue regarding the South’s turn to produce a presidential candidate, and the coalition will consider that.
Sources among the coalition leaders have revealed to ThePapers.ng that they have received intelligence that some APC machineries are still within the coalition with intentions to disrupt any positive agender by the leaders and invent crisis.
“We are very vigilant and attentive, we know there are some APC moles among us but they will not succeed. I can tell you that this coalition will work and the purpose would be achieved,” the source revealed.
“We are beginning to identify some machineries and we will disgrace them out of our plans.”
Another source revealed that APC are sponsoring some people to cause crisis among the leaders with intention not to have United decision.
“Of course some zonal leaders are beginning to be grumbling on who should be the presidential candidate but we don’t need to argue over that, all we want is to defeat Tinubu in 2027 irrespective of the candidate as long as there are agreements for succession,” said the source.
On March 20, Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others in Abuja announced the formation of a coalition aimed at challenging President Boka Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The announcement sparked widespread debate about the prospects of opposition unity, with political stakeholders expressing varied opinions.
Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed resolve to continue serving the state, citing the support of the people as his source of strength and motivation to forge ahead.
Fubara urged those still burdened by the state’s recent political turbulence to lay down their grievances and unite for the collective goal of rebuilding Rivers State.
Despite the ongoing political challenges, the governor said he remains determined to emerge stronger, more united, and more results-driven.
The embattled governor made these declarations in a personally signed statement marking what would have been the second anniversary of his tenure.
Fubara, who was sworn in on May 29, 2023, titled his statement: “Our Journey: Challenging but Progressive and Impactful.”
The statement, released on Thursday morning, was shared with journalists by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.
“Today marks exactly two years since I took the oath of office as your 7th democratically-elected governor. On May 29, 2023, I was sworn in following the clear and overwhelming mandate you gave me during the March 18, 2023 elections.
“Once again, I thank you for the trust, honour, and privilege to lead our beloved state,” he stated.
Reflecting on the political developments over the past two years, Fubara emphasised his commitment to the state.
“In the past two years, our political landscape has undergone significant changes. Despite the turbulence, I have remained focused, guided by the oath I took and my solemn promise to always put Rivers State first.
“I pledged to protect and promote our collective interests and ensure you enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance. That commitment remains unshaken,” he said.
While acknowledging the setbacks posed by political crises, Fubara highlighted the strides made during his administration.
“Despite daunting political challenges that have, at times, slowed our pace, these two years have not been without meaningful progress. I am proud of the visible milestones we have achieved—modest but significant strides in healthcare, education, infrastructure, youth empowerment, human capital development, and the inclusion of women in governance,” he added.
He attributed these accomplishments to the support and resilience of Rivers people.
Fubara’s statement further read, “For your sacrifices, contributions, and roles played in your respective capacities, I say a heartfelt thank you.
“Your support has emboldened me to press on, not to retreat, but to work harder to foster peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness.”
The suspended governor emphasized that unity and cooperation are critical to achieving transformational growth for the state, assuring residents that every decision made will prioritise their welfare and the state’s enduring prosperity.
“As we reflect on the lessons of the past two years, I am hopeful for what lies ahead.
“I look forward to working hand in hand with all of you to build a state we can all be proud of—a Rivers State that stands as a model for the rest of Nigeria,” he added.
Addressing those still holding onto the weight of the state’s political struggles, Fubara made an appeal.
“To those still carrying the weight of our recent political struggles, I appeal to you: let us turn the page, come together, and focus on our shared goal of progress and unity. The time to rebuild and rise is now,” he said.
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