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
“Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso ended shortly after the 2023 presidential election.”
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says its 2023 presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso do not have its platform for contest against President Bola Tinubu and or any other presidential candidate at the moment in 2027.
The NNPP National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major made this known in a statement on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Major was speaking on the backdrop of claims by Elder Buba Galadima that Kwankwaso will stay and run for presidency on the NNPP platform.
Galadima, who claimed that there is no evidence that Kwankwaso is joining the All Progressives Congress as speculated, said they would “strategically stay in the NNPP until the whistle is blown for 2027 politics” urging Nigerians to support Kwankwaso to take over as president.
Agbo stated that the NNPP platform is closed to Kwankwaso and Galadima, who had long been expelled from its fold for anti party activities.
‘The NNPP had long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima and so, they no longer speak for us nor can they use our platform for any political contest.
“Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso ended shortly after the 2023 presidential election.
“We cannot even allow Kwankwaso for whatever reason to return on the NNPP fold because of the problems and internal wranglings he created for us.
“Kwankwaso led us into unnecessary litigations and even changed our party logo to the Kwankwasiya logo, all in an attempt to hijack the leadership of the party.
“It was the Court’s interventions that led to INEC changing back to our Logo that they submitted after a Kangaroo convention in Abuja,” he said .
He said that Kwankwaso must be counting on another free ticket like he got for the 2023 presidential election but it would not happen again.
“Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled and we will not readmit them because they betrayed our trust massively.
“He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest and so his ambition is dead on arrival,” he said.
The NNPP chairman insisted that though it is Kwankwaso’s right as a Nigerian to seek to contest for any office, he should do so without getting the party involved in any of his antagonisms against the President.
He disclosed that the NNPP is being approached by some intending aspirants and shall dwell on that at the appropriate time.
“Whoever will emerge as the NNPP 2027 presidential candidate will do so, following due process and constitutionality.
“We will no longer handover our ticket on a platter of gold, and definitely not to someone who betrayed our trust and is no longer on the party,” Major added.
He urged Nigerians to disregard utterances against the Presidency and APC by Kwankwaso and his group, claiming they are speaking for the NNPP.
“The NNPP as a party believes in constructive criticisms of issues and not against personalities or other political parties. We advise Kwankwaso to float his own party and use it for his own agenda.
“NNPP has moved on and can’t be dragged into unnecessary controversies again,” he added. (NAN)
The former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has vowed to support the erstwhile governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, if he emerges as the coalition’s flagbearer.
Lamido stated this while responding to a question from newsmen as to whether he would support Obi, who has offered to spend a single term of four years if he wins the 2027 presidential election
According to him, he is ready to support Obi or anyone committed to rescuing Nigeria. He, however, stated that he would not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said, “If the coalition produces Peter Obi or anyone else committed to rescuing Nigeria, I will support them. But I remain PDP. We should have outgrown tribal and regional sentiments.
“Leadership should be about competence and vision, not geography. What has the North gained from producing the most presidents if the region remains underdeveloped? I’m open to any arrangement that can confront the APC and rescue Nigeria. I’ll support those who share that goal.”
The former governor explained that zoning between the North and South was a creation of the PDP, designed to solve a specific problem, which was the annulment of the June 12 election.
According to him, “it was meant to be a healing mechanism, a temporary measure to restore trust. But now, it has become an albatross.”
Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo, who represented Ondo South from 2019 to 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), has dumped the party for the Alliance Democratic Party (ADC).
Tofowomo’s resignation letter dated July 4, was addressed to Mr Joseph Akindolire, PDP Chairman, Ward 3, Ile-Oluji, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Confirming his resignation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Okitipupa on Friday, the former Senator lamented that the ongoing intra-party conflict in the PDP was taking its toll on the party .
“Most PDP members are moving out in droves and seems the crisis in the party will not settle soon. I had to seek advice from my political family and took my decision to join the ADC.
“If I want position, I should have joined the APC but I decided to join the coalition ADC which I believe has the power, strength, resources and political will to tackle the APC in 2027 general elections,” he said.
Tofowomo praised President Bola Tinubu for turning around the fortunes of Lagos State while he was governor, saying that Tinubu’s position has changed since he became the President.
He noted that the current economic hardship in the country was worrisome “without any sign of improvement in sight.”
“Tinubu was a fantastic leader when he was Lagos governor, but his position has changed since he became President. Today, there’s increasing poverty and hunger everywhere.
“The two mistakes Tinubu made was the subsidy removal and the floating of the Naira which has taken Nigeria to the back seat,” Tofowomo said.
He expressed confidence that ADC has the wherewithal to wrestle power from APC in 2027 and return Nigeria back to the part of economic recovery.
“When Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President was in charge with former President Olusegun Obasanjo form 1999 to 2007, the debt of Nigeria was reduced to zero and the economy was buoyant, and Nigerians enjoyed the administration.
“Even when David Mark was the Senate President, the Senate was not a rubber stamp and messier as we can see now, the Senate then stood up for all that was right and reject everything that was bad,” Tofowomo said.
(NAN
The Zamfara State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has extended an open invitation to Governor Dauda Lawal and other credible politicians in the state to join the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Friday, the State Chairman of ADC, Kabiru Garba, disclosed that the party had already received over 100 new members from various political parties in the last ten days, describing the defections as a major boost to the party’s strength and credibility.
“As I am speaking now, over 100 members from various political parties have so far defected to the ADC in Zamfara within the last ten days,” Garba said.
He expressed optimism that more politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would soon join the ADC fold in Zamfara, emphasising that the party is open to all who possess political integrity and a commitment to good governance.
“We are appealing to credible politicians who have a good record of political integrity to join the ADC. All we need is credibility,” he added.
Advertisement
Garba affirmed that the ADC leadership in the state remained solid and prepared to lead the party to victory in the upcoming election cycle. He said the party’s structure and manifesto are well-positioned to address the developmental needs of Zamfara State and Nigeria at large.
“We are ready to lead this party to success in 2027. We are capable, and our party’s manifesto is tailored toward the development of Zamfara and the nation as a whole.”
The ADC chairman described the party as a welcoming platform for all leaders who are focused on positive change.
“The ADC in Zamfara would be glad to welcome His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, if he chooses to join our party,” Garba concluded.
Efforts to influence the leadership transition have intensified following the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A prominent candidate has emerged as the leading contender to succeed the former governor of Kano State.
According to several reports, Ganduje, cited health reasons for his decision, stating that he needs to focus on his well-being.
Ganduje’s tenure as APC chairman has been marked by controversy and challenges. He was elected as the APC National Chairman in August 2023, amidst internal party conflicts. Prior to his election, Mr Ganduje served as the Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023.
While Ganduje’s resignation letter attributes his decision to health concerns, sources familiar with the matter suggest that political tension within the party may have also played a role in his decision to step down.
Allegations of financial impropriety have also been linked to his resignation, with some party members reportedly protesting “excessive financial demands” imposed by his office.
Several names have been flying around as possible replacement for Ganduje while President Tinubu is also considering a former governor to fill the post immediately.
According to a source within APC, Tinubu would prefers appointing former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, as a scapegoat to pacify the CPC factions that are trying to defect from the APC.
Reports indicate that Al-Makura has been offered the APC national chairmanship if he can convince former President Buhari to intervene and prevent his supporters from leaving the APC.
In a surprise move, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has resigned from his position, effective immediately.
Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State, cited health reasons for his decision, stating that he needs to focus on his well-being.
Ganduje’s tenure as APC chairman has been marked by controversy and challenges. He was elected as the APC National Chairman in August 2023, amidst internal party conflicts. Prior to his election, Mr Ganduje served as the Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023.
While Mr Ganduje’s resignation letter attributes his decision to health concerns, sources familiar with the matter suggest that political tension within the party may have also played a role in his decision to step down.
Allegations of financial impropriety have also been linked to his resignation, with some party members reportedly protesting “excessive financial demands” imposed by his office.
Specifically, aspiring FCT area council candidates had complained about hefty fee requirements for receiving the party’s ticket.
Ganduje’s resignation marks a significant shift in the APC’s leadership, and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting further clarification on the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The APC has yet to issue an official statement on his resignation, leaving many to speculate about the implications of this development for the party.
Ganduje’s tenure as APC chairman was also marred by suspension and court battles. In April 2024, a Kano State High Court granted an ex parte order restraining Mr Ganduje from parading himself as a member of the party, following a suit filed by some party executives.
Additionally, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out a suit seeking Ganduje’s removal as APC Chairman, filed by the APC North Central Forum.
Wike: ‘When he’s eating, food will be falling down from his mouth’
Reaction as Cristiano Ronaldo absent from Diogo Jota’s funeral
‘Why I can’t join Tinubu, APC’ – Adeleke denies defection
Coalition: What Aregbesola told ADC supporters to do, details emerge
Tiwa Savage marks 12 years of debut album ‘Once Upon a Time’
Five serving governors expected to join coalition platform, ADC
Rivers women slam FCT over allegations against Amaechi’s wife
Nigerian pastor jailed by US court over $4.2m COVID-19 fraud
Zenith Bank emerges Nigeria’s Number one bank for sixteenth consecutive year
Kwankwaso: ‘He does not have pedigree to match Tinubu’
Sports2 weeks agoOfili: ‘Nigeria doesn’t deserve you’ – Fans react as athlete switches allegiance to Turkey
News2 weeks agoUS Back Out: Angry Trump withdraws support for Israel, issues fresh warning, “Do not drop those bombs”
Sports2 weeks ago‘Don’t sign him, he doesn’t follow instructions’ — Club warned against signing Super Eagles star
Spotlights2 weeks agoNo More War: US plots Donald Trump impeachment over unauthorized Iran bombing
Spotlights2 weeks agoAtiku sidelined again as ADA picks Presidential Flagbearer
Politics1 week agoFresh crisis hits coalition as El-Rufai, Obi may pull out over Atiku’s silence game
Politics2 weeks ago2027: Shettima fights back over plot to drop him as Vice President; crisis hits APC