Mrs. Juliet Egbo and Hon. Chima Atu 

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Friday struck out the petition filed by the House of Reps candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Enugu North/South federal Constituency, Mrs. Juliet Egbo, challenging the victory of the Labour Party candidate, Hon. Chima Atu.

Atu who was declared winner of the election by the INEC returning officer, Dr. Mrs. Evelyn Ijeoma Ezepue, secured a total of 65,247 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Nonso Nnamani of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)who polled 9,215 votes.

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Mrs. Egbo had gone to Court to challenge the outcome of the election, but the three-man tribunal on Friday struck out her petition for lack of merit.

In his verified Twitter handle, Hon. Chima Atu of the Labour Party while announcing the decision of the honourable tribunal, described the judgment as a victory for Democracy and Rule Of Law.

Atu thanked Ndi Enugu North/South federal constituency for their continued support and solidarity, assuring them of a robust representation anchored on the will of the people.

He said
“Few minutes ago, the Election Petition Tribunal in Enugu handing the petition of APC candidate against our victory at the February polls just struck out her petition for lack of merit. I appreciate God, H.E. Peter Obi, the Obidient family, my legal team & my constituents”

Daily Gazette recall that Mrs. Juliet Egbo of the APC came distant fourth in the election with 2,394 votes, while Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo of the Peoples Democratic party came third with 7,617 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered the Youth Party (YP) a new political party.

National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, said this on Thursday in Abuja in a statement.

This development raised the number of registered political parties in the country to 19.

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Our correspondent also reports that INEC had on 6 February 2020 deregistered 74 political parties for poor performance in the 2019 general elections and the subsequent re-run elections across the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said in addition to the extant provision for the registration of political parties, the Fourth Alteration to the Section 225(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, empowers the commission to deregister political parties.

During the 2019 general elections, 91 political parties participated in the exercise, while an additional party, Boot Party, was registered based on the order of a court after the election.

Okoye in Thursday’s statement recalled that the Youth Party (YP) was registered on 16th August 2018 by virtue of the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on 16th October 2017.

“Following the commission’s decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the commission from deregistering it.

“On appeal by the commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistration of the party,” he said.

The statement said based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, INEC interfaced with officials of the YP on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.

He said, “Consequently, the commission has recognised the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th Political Party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria.”

A witness, Festus Abiodun Inioluwa, on Friday told the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the State capital, that some police officers manning his polling unit ran away when thugs disrupted the exercise during the March 18 election.

He gave evidence in support of the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu against Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Adebutu and the PDP had in the petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, challenged the victory of Abiodun over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the March 18 governorship polls in the state.

For the second week returning, Adebutu’s lawyer, Gordy Uche, SAN, has been calling witnesses to testify in support of the petition.

As at Friday, the petitioners had called 83 witnesses who have given evidences, including two INEC adhoc staff who took part in the last election.

Four witnesses who gave evidences on Friday were Festus Abiodun Inioluwa, Balogun Oladipo, Mustapha Gbenga and Olugbile Emmanuel.

They were cross-examined by Dr Remi Olatubora (SAN) representing INEC, Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) who appeared for Abiodun and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who represented the All Progressives Congress.

While being cross-examined, Inioluwa, a member of PDP, told the tribunal that political thugs allegedly loyal to APC disrupted the election at his polling unit 12, ward 6 in Sagamu.

He said police officers and other security agents manning the polling unit ran away during the disruption of the exercise.

Responding to a question on whether or he reported the alleged disruption to the police, the witness said “I did not report. Police officers were ground, but they ran away when thugs stormed the polling units and disrupted the exercise.”

Inioluwa also agreed with his party that a total of 49,066 voters were disenfranchised during the March 18 governorship election in the state.

On his part, Oladipo, who a PDP youth leader in Sagamu, described the election as “not credible.”

He said “The last election was not credible. Almost 99 polling units were attacked across Ogun State. If it was credible we will not be in court.”

Gbenga, who is a witness from Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, said, “No result was recorded for any of the parties. The APC guys scattered everywhere and we all ran away. My mother dragged me home.”

Meanwhile, Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal has adjourned proceeding till Monday for the continuation of hearing.

Former Aviation Minister, Sen. Stella Oduah, and others on Friday, pleaded not guilty to a N5 billion fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oduah and eight others were arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on Monday, reported that Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel that appeared for EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, having filed the charge against them since December 17, 2020.

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Others arraigned alongside the ex-lawmaker, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, were Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

Oduah was arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as Minister during the Jonathan Administration.

In the 25-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, they are accused of conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

The proceeding was still ongoing as at the time of filing the reports.(NAN)

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An Officer of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Yahaya Isah Muhammad on Wednesday flooped while testifying in favour of Peter Mba, Enugu PDP Gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, at the election Petitions Tribunal sitting in the state.

Mr. Yahaya who said during cross examination that he is the Deputy Director Strategy of the DSS, was subpoenaed to appear before the Tribunal.

He however admitted his deposition was not authorized or signed by the Director General of the Department Of State Services, DSS.

A six page report he tendered before the Tribunal was neither stamped nor written in DSS letter-headed paper.

The DSS officer further admitted he was not aware that Mbah was Chief of staff as at the time he should be serving as a Corp member in Lagos.

Daily Gazette recall that no other authority or institution can authenticate or validate an already disclaimed certificate by the issuing authority.

The three-man tribunal headed by Honourable Justice Akano however adjourned the matter to Thursday, 20th July 2023 for the continuation of the trial.