There were protests in Jos, Plateau State capital on Wednesday following a court of appeal judgement which sacked four federal lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The protesters blocked major roads within Jos metropolis, expressing their displeasure with the ruling of the appellate court which nullified the victories of the lawmakers based on pre-election matters.

The points where the protests were held include Old Airport Junction, Maraban Jos and some other major junctions in Jos.

One of the sacked lawmakers is Napoleon Bali.

Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the tribunal’s decision that pronounced the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, as the legitimate winner of the Plateau South Senatorial seat.

The appellate court made this known on Tuesday in a ruling read by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, who held that the matter was both a pre-and post-election matter.

Justice Williams-Dawodu added that the tribunal’s decision was correct on the matter.

Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party was announced as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission after he secured 148,844 votes to defeat Lalong who got 91,674 votes.

But the Tribunal, while deciding on a petition filed by Lalong, ruled that Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party did not have a valid right to participate in the election.

The panel ruled that Bali’s votes in the general election on February 25, 2023, were void.

Bali approached the appeal court, asking the court to set aside the judgment.

The Appeal Court has also held that the PDP was wrong not to have obeyed subsisting orders asking that a new congress should be conducted in the state.

“Section 287 of the Nigerian Constitution said all are expected to observe orders of the court. The order was in the realm. It is binding on all persons. It is immutable and until it is set aside and must be complied with.

“This issue is hereby resolved against the appellant. Invalidly nominated candidates cannot attract lawful votes. This appeal fails. The tribunal judgment is hereby affirmed,” Justice Williams-Dawodu said.

The Court Of Appeal sitting in Lagos state on Monday reserved verdict in the appeal filed by the Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, challenging the declaration of Mr. Peter Mba of the People’s Democratic party, PDP.

On Monday, the three-member panel of justices adjourned for judgment after taking arguments from counsel to the parties.

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Counsel to the Petitioners told the apallate court to set aside the judgment of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu which earlier affirmed Mbah’s election, on the ground that Peter Mbah of the PDP was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to contest having presented a forged certificate of national service, NYSC, to INEC.

He avarred that Justice Kudirat Akano led tribunal erred in law by dismissing a proven case of certificate forgery, stamping the repulsive act of illegality with judicial imprimatur.

Labour Party and her candidate further prayed the court to void the judgment of the lower court and grant the reliefs sought in their petition.

According to the Petitioners, aside the proven case of certificate forgery against Mba, there were proven case of over-voting in Nkanu East local government area of the state, computational errors in Udenu Council area, results swap among other irregularities.

Counsel to the respondents asked the court to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and uphold the decision of the Enugu governorship Tribunal.

The onus is now on the justices of the appalate court to dispense Justice without fear or favor.

Attan Achonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the Novermber 11 governorship election in Imo State, on Sunday accused the police of attacking him and his convoy.

He also accused the police of preventing him from attending a church service in Owerri, the state capital.

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Achonu told journalists on Sunday that he had gone to the church to honour an invitation but was prevented by police personnel and some thugs from gaining access to the church premises.

The LP governorship candidate said the police told him that the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election, was in church, therefore, he would not be allowed in.

Achonu alleged that the police personnel and some thugs attacked his convoy when he questioned them.

He also accused them of shooting at his vehicles.

Achonu said, “Today, I was attacked by policemen together with thugs working for APC. Myself and my supporters were attacked and they shot at us. We were at St Peter’s Anglican church at Obibiezena in Owerri North to attend a church service. I was dully invited by the church to attend its synod but policemen stationed Amoured Personnel Carriers and thugs said I was not going to be allowed to enter the church. They said that the governor was worshipping there.

“I confronted them and asked them why should I be stopped from worshipping God in my own state simply because the governor is there. I called the Director of the DSS who called the state Commissioner of Police who spoke to one Officer Ola, who literally disobeyed the Commissioner of Police. A lower ranked officer disobeying a Commissioner of Police. I have not seen this one before. I confronted them but my wife held me and I was with women, I had to obey her.

“We turned our vehicles around and went home. They attacked my vehicles and shot at them. If not that my cars are bullet proof, there would had been casualties.

“I want to put the president of Nigeria and all Nigerians on notice about what Hope Uzodimma is using the police and thugs to do in Imo State. They want to annihilate us but I am more emboldened to lead this charge. I am leading the charge to liberate my people.

“Imo people should come out and vote Labour Party and defend their votes so that we will take back our state. I am happy that everybody has embarrassed Labour Party in Imo state and we are working towards having the Imo state of our dreams.”

However. the spokesperson for the state police command, Henry Okoye, denied the attack.

He said that the police only advised Achonu not to campaign in the area since the candidate of the APC was already campaigning there.

Okoye said, “Nobody attacked the Labour Party candidate. We only advised him not to campaign in the area at the same time the APC candidate was campaigning in the area to avoid a clash of interest and possible breakdown of law and order in the state.

“The Labour Party candidate didn’t inform us about his campaign in the area but the APC candidate informed us and we were there to provide security. The Commissioner of Police advises political players in the state to stop misinforming the public. This misinformation is capable of escalating things which may lead to breakdown of law and order in Imo State.”

Days to the November 11, 2023 off-season governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Stephen Olanrewaju.

“I am aware that there have been allegations on social media against the Commissioner of Police in Imo State but for this election, we are changing the commissioner of police in Imo,” the IGP said on Sunday on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security.

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There had been widespread outrage by the Organized Labour including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress accusing Olanrewaju of complicity in the recent attack on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, last week.

The Organized Labour had also handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma who is seeking re-election of the attack on Ajaero though the governor had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.

The IGP also said the police have taken care of all the threats in the three states.

According to him, mopping up of arms will be periodical, before, during and after the polls.

Egbetokun said the police will respond appropriately to vote buying and all electoral offences with respect to the provisions of the electoral laws. Anybody found engaging in vote buying will be prosecuted appropriately, he said, addin that the allowances of policemen will be paid as and when due.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has sacked Darlington Nwokocha, the Senate minority chief whip, representing Abia Central under the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

The court declared Augustine Akobundu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the authentic winner of the 25 February election in the senatorial district.

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The court delivered the judgement on Saturday.

Mr Akobundu, a retired colonel, is a former minister of state for Defence and former national organising secretary of the PDP.

With his court victory, the PDP now has a senator from Abia State. The northern senatorial district is represented by Orji Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while the southern district seat is held by Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

With the sack of Mr Nwokocha, the total number of senators sacked so far by the appeal court from the 10th assembly has risen four.

Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) was the first to be sacked followed by Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere (Kogi Central).

Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau North) and the Senate minority leader, was the third senator that was removed by the appeal court. It, however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a rerun within 90 days.

Messers Abbo and Sadiku-Ohere are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Mwadkwon is a member of the PDP and the minority leader of the senate.

Akobundu, former minister of state for Defence and former national organizing secretary of the PDP.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has raised concerns over the integrity of the judiciary in Plateau State.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that recent events in Plateau have cast ‘a shadow of doubt’ and suspicion over the integrity of the state’s judiciary.

He raised questions about the impartiality of the judiciary and its role in ensuring fair and just elections in Nigeria.

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Onwubiko expressed deep concern over what he alleged to be a coordinated effort to issue contradictory judgments, particularly favouring the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the expense of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“These concerns go beyond post-election matters and extend to pre-election cases, which, according to established legal precedent, should not be revisited at the appellate level” he stated.

He added: “In some instances where the APC came in second, PDP candidates were removed, and the certificate of return was given to the APC, while in other cases where the APC came in third or lower, the courts ordered a rerun. HURIWA considers this inconsistency alarming and believes it raises suspicions of bias.

“Specifically, in the case of Plateau North Senatorial District won by Sen. Simon Mwadkwon of the PDP and the APC candidate coming in third, the Panel, in its judgment in Court of Appeal No.

CA/J/EP/PL/SEN/12/2023 delivered on Sunday, October, 2023, curiously annulled the PDP’s victory and ordered INEC to conduct a rerun election among all the parties.

“In the case of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency won by Hon. Musa Agar of the PDP and where the APC candidate also came in third, the Panel, in its judgment in Court of Appeal No.

CA/J/EP/PL/HR/14/2023 delivered on Friday, October, 2023, annulled the victory of the PDP and ordered a rerun excluding the PDP.

“In the third Appeal Case of Shendam/Quaan-Pan/Mikang Federal Constituency, won by Hon. Isaac Kwallu of the PDP with John Dafwan of the APC as runner-up, the Appeal Court Justices in Court of Appeal No.

CA/J/EP/PL/HR/18/2023 annulled the victory of the PDP candidate, declared the APC candidate as the outright winner, and ordered that the Certificate of Return issued to the victorious PDP candidate be withdrawn and a fresh Certificate of Return issued to the APC candidate.”

In response to these developments, HURIWA called for an immediate halt to the perceived systematic use of the judiciary to favor the APC in Plateau State.

HURIWA underscored the importance of restoring public confidence by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, and impartiality within the judiciary. They also stressed the significance of educating the public about the role and functioning of the judiciary to foster a better understanding of its importance in Nigeria’s democracy.

In conclusion, HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and justice. The organization pledged to monitor developments in Plateau State and across the nation to ensure that the rights of the people are upheld. HURIWA called on all stakeholders, including the judiciary, political parties, and the public, to work together to protect and uphold the values that define Nigeria as a nation.

Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Ireti Kingibe, has assured constituents that she will fight for their rights and ensure that the people and the district get what they deserve.

She said this yesterday while commissioning her constituency office behind Customs Quarters, Kadokuchi, Abuja.

“I have many things to do here. On Fridays, anyone who wants to see the senator should come here. Everyone looking forward to employment should bring their curriculum vitae to the constituency office,” she said.

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She said the case at the tribunal had been a distraction to her, adding that now that she won, the people of the FCT should expect robust representation.

The Imo State Election Petitions Appeal Court panel sitting in Lagos, has affirmed the victory of Emeka Chinedu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the winner of the House of Representatives election for Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency election, Imo State.

It also declared that the venue of the PDP primaries in the state was valid.

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In their ruling, the Appeal Court Justices led by Justice Georgewill, agreed with the findings of the lower tribunal and struck out the appeals by Nnanna Igbokwe of All Progressive Congress, APC, and Labour Party, LP, candidate, Darlington Amaechi as lacking in merit.

The court held that the issues canvassed were not proved.

The judgment also resolved the issue of the venue of PDP primaries, which is purely a pre-election issue that the Appeal Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain and was the basis upon which the APC and LP challenged the election of Chinedu.

Recall that on September 7, 2023, the tribunal for National and State Assembly for Imo State, which sat in Nassarawa State, declared Chinedu the rightful winner of the election for Ahiazu /Ezinifitte Mbaise Federal Constituency Seat.

It also determined that other political parties lacked the authority or locus standi to interfere in the internal affairs of their opposing party and that the issues of venue of primaries were purely pre-election issues which the tribunal lacks the powers and jurisdiction to dabble into.

The arguments of citing another judgment delivered on PDP primaries by Supreme Court, the court held, had no connection or relationship with the eligibility of the respondents as the same Supreme Court have earlier affirmed the issue of the primary election of Chinedu and no other judgment can be imported to affect the legitimacy of his emergence plus the fact that the issues were now pre-election issues which the Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to entertain.

The issue of PDP primaries venue had been considered by the High Court, Appeal Court, and Supreme Court respectively, with Chinedu emerging victorious at all times, and Igbokwe of APC being deemed an interloper, who was attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of the PDP.

Chinedu and Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (Ikenga) representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State had their PDP primary election at same venue before the election.

The Federal High Court, Appeal and Supreme Courts also in a unanimous judgment affirmed Ugochinyere’s primary emergence and declared him eligible to contest the election, hence making any challenge against his emergence on the issue of pre-election venue of primary baseless.

Surprisingly, the first tribunal gave a conflicting judgment, which voided Ugochinyere’s election in a petition by a candidate, who came 3rd, got only 2000 votes, and got only one polling unit out of 346 polling unit.

The candidate who had challenged Ugochinyere’s venue of primary at the Federal High Court and lost, including his LP counterpart, whose court case against Ugochinyere’s election was also dismissed.
Reacting, the Centre for Judicial Integrity Watch hailed the Appeal Court judgment as a victory for democracy because the venue of PDP primaries and sponsorship were clear issues that Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to entertain.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu state has witnessed dozens of resignation of her notable members since after the 2023 Governorship Election wherein Labour Party (LP) decimated the party.

Since 1999, PDP has been the rulling party in the state till this year’s general elections which came like a tsunami.

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Out of the three Senatorial positions in Enugu state, Labour Party in a landslide victory, won two seats.

Out of the eight house of representatives positions in the state, Labour Party won seven, leaving just one for PDP.

In the twenty-four member State Assembly positions, Labour Party gave a terrible blow and clinched fourteen seats, leaving PDP with ten seats.

Today again, the immediate past senator of Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Chief Chukwuka Utazi resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Daily Gazette reports that he announced his resignation through a letter dated October 25, 2023, and addressed to the Chairman of PDP, Nkpologwu ward, in Uzouwani local government area, Chief Rob Ezeagu.

In the letter obtained by Daily Gazette, Senator Utazi said;

“It is with reservation that I resign my membership of the People’s Democratic party which I had the privilege of being a foundation member at it’s inception in 1998.”

“Reason being that those ideals that attracted me to the party have since receded into oblivion leaving me with no option than to leave and find another party that will afford me with ample opportunity to operate maximally and contribute to national development”

“I am therefore wishing you all well as you continue to work hard to eke out a living in the best way possible understand the present circumstances”

“Thanks for your understanding and cooperation so far” it concluded.

On whether he is joining the APC or Labour Party, Senator Utazi did not announce his next move.