Southwest Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have lambasted the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state for asking the state House of Assembly to commence the impeachment of governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Zonal youth Leader of the APC, Comrade Kolade Paff Lawal said in Akure that the governor has not breached any law by working from his residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

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Recall that some PDP youths in Ondo state have given the governor ultimatum to either resume work in Akure, the State capital, or resign from office in line with the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended.

However, speaking in Akure, Lawal said the demand of the PDP was mischievous as the governor has been meeting with relevant stakeholders including traditional rulers on the affairs of the State.

According to him “The governor will soon join the people of the State. The call for the whereabouts of the governor is a result of his love for him. When the opposition asked the question, it was borne out of mischief. You have the right to protest, but should not be to undermine the administration of Governor Akeredolu.”

Lawal said governor Akeredolu has been performing his official duties including the payment of salary, and meeting members of the State Executive Council even though he has not resumed physically in the state.

“Governor Akeredolu’s administration has continued to show its unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare. We are aware that salaries are being paid up to date.

”Just last week, the governor gave approval for the payment of the leave bonus. The administration’s commitment to good governance and the welfare of its workforce is unparalleled.

“As part of the efforts to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Governor Akeredolu’s administration has also embarked on the distribution of palliatives across the 18 local government areas of the state. This, to us, underlines Mr. Governor’s steadfast dedication to those in need.

“Several ongoing major road construction projects and other initiatives throughout the state demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment to enhancing infrastructure and ensuring the welfare of the people.

“Presently, this administration is constructing the first flyover in Akure, the state capital. It’s a major stride.”

Lawal said since God rested after the creation of heaven and earth, the decision of Governor Akeredolu to seek rest and adjust his normal work schedule to allow him to fully recover is a testament to his human nature, reminding us that even leaders are not exempted from the trials of flesh and blood.

He added that recent days have witnessed remarkable progress in various projects overseen by the administration, affirming unequivocally that governance in the State is robust and resolute even with his absence.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of the nomination of Engr. Imam Kashim Imam to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The appointment of the 24-year-old fresh graduate had sparked reactions across the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced that the president had revoked the appointment.

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“The President’s withdrawal of the above-mentioned nomination is directed with immediate effect. All other appointments to the Board and Executive Management team of FERMA are not affected by this directive,” the statement read.

Mr Aloy Ejimakor, Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the illegal continued detention of the pro-Biafra movement leader was because of tribalism holding Nigeria to the jugular, and not based on any known law.

Ejimakor who took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in matters concerning Kanu.

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Insisting that the continued detention of Kanu against court orders was not only illegal but a slap on the face of democracy, Ejimakor called for immediate release of the IPOB Leader.

Quoting a former US President, Barak Obama, Kanu’s Special Counsel said:”Politics that’s based on tribe and ethnicity is doomed to tear a country apart”

Continuing, he wrote: ”Buhari’s detention of MAZI NNAMDI KANU was not based on law but on the politics of tribalism that has dogged Nigeria since time. Tinubu (@officialABAT shouldn’t validate it. #FreeMNK.”

Kanu has been detained at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, since his abduction from Kenya and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in June 2021.

The Abuja Court of Appeal had ordered his unconditional release but the Federal Government has refused to comply with the order but later got the court to reverse itself.

Dissatisfied with the development, IPOB filed an appeal at the apex court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court after months of delays, has finally fixed December 15, 2023 to decide Kanu’s fate.

Many have blamed the growing insecurity in the South East especially the unending Monday sit-at-homes to his continued illegal detention.

President Bola Tinubu has filed an application before a United States District Court of Columbia to stop the country’s agencies from releasing records related to his residence in the country.

The defendants in the suit are the Executive Office for US Attorneys, US Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

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The application was brought by Tinubu as an intervenor following a Freedom of Information request dated July 21, 2022, made by an IT consultant, Aaron Greenspan.

Although the US agencies had reportedly claimed that the details of the president’s files would not be made public until 2026 for what was termed “unusual circumstances”, the applicants have continued to push for the early release of the documents.

In the motion for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice dated October 18, 2023 by Brian A. Carey, sought to admit Christopher Carmichael as an attorney in the matter, adding that he is in good standing in the courts and bars of “the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of Illinois, the United States Courts of Appeal for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern Central and Southern Districts of Illinois.”

President Tinubu had earlier filed as an intervenor in a similar application by former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar before another court in Illinois, USA seeking the release of his academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU).

However, Justice Nancy Maldonado overruled him and ordered the release of the documents under deposition from the institution and Atiku has since sought to tender the same before the Supreme Court in Nigeria in aid of his petition appeal over the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has greeted former military Head of State, statesman and leader, General Yakubu Gowon, as he marks his 89th birthday.

Buhari, in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, said the celebrant served Nigeria with diligence and determination.

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He said history would “kindly” remember him for setting the country on the path of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction after the civil war.

“I convey my warm greetings to respected former Head of State, General Gowon, on his birthday and pray for his long and healthy life.

“Gowon’s national development plans, including the hydroelectric power at Kainji, are some of the major achievements of his visionary leadership.

“I remain eternally grateful for his insightful wisdom and support throughout my years in office,” the former president said.

Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has urged Nigerians to exercise patience, saying that they will soon begin to enjoy the gains of the vision and policies of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

He stated this on Wednesday while speaking with State House reporters after a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The former governor of Nasarawa State said a lot of efforts were being made to calm the fears of Nigerians in the areas of security, economy, and general wellbeing.

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On his meeting with President Tinubu, he said: “I was opportune to have an audience with him. A very fruitful audience. And I seized the opportunity to congratulate him and commend his efforts for the great work he’s doing and the hard decisions he has to take in order to move this country forward.

“I had a very wonderful discussion with him, and given his disposition and vision towards making this country great. I’ve seen the renewed hope agenda as something that will change the scheme of things for the better for this country, especially in the areas of security, economic development, and already you can start seeing how sustainable growth and sustainability is being achieved.

“If you look at the area of security, you’ll see that a lot of efforts are being made to calm the fears of Nigerians in the economic sector too and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“I think Nigerians should be patient, I’m sure sooner than later, the vision and policies of this administration will look positively on Nigerians.”

There is tension in Obuno Autonomous Community in Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State over alleged issuance of a certificate of recognition to one Mr. Jack Nwatu without following due process.

Daily Gazette learnt that crisis is brewing in the community, with the people of the area vowing to resist what they termed imposition of a community leader.

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They accused the Enugu State commissioner for chieftaincy matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo of ignoring wise counsel and going ahead with the illegality.

Ogbodo was alleged to have presented a certificate to Nwatu at the ministry of chieftency matters in Enugu in total violation of the chieftency laws.

Addressing journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, a top contender for the position, Prince Okwy Agbo, who was flanked by other members of the community, said he placed a call to the commissioner to remind him that there had never been verification/election in Obuno Autonomous Community and that the matter was also pending before the Enugu State High Court, Agbani division.

He expressed shock that the commissioner ignored him.

“What type of man did our Governor bring into his administration? When I heard that he was going to give Chief Jack Nwatu certificate without verification, no election, I thought it was a joke.

“Since 2016, Nwatu has been writing to be recognized without due process, but the government of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the commissioners that worked under the ministry of chieftency matters refused.

“I know Governor Peter Mbah did not instruct him to do what he did, because he is a lawyer and understands what it means that a matter is in court.

“The Governor should know those that mean well for him. Deacon Okey Ogbodo is not one. He should be sanctioned immediately,” he appealed.

Prince Agbo while urging the people of the community to remain calm, said no one would accept such imposition in a democratic society.

“We want the Governor to reverse whatever Deacon Okey Ogbodo did and direct him to follow due process.

“We are challenging the obnoxious constitution of our community in court.

“Even last Wednesday, we were in court and we will go back on 30th of this month. So, Okey Ogbodo has decided the court case. What a shame!” He said.

He called on the Governor, security agencies, religious bodies and human rights organization to hold the commissioner responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the area.

Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has faulted the Enugu State Governorship Election Tribunal judgement which gave victory to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Mbah.

National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said this at a Press Conference in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He alleged that the tribunal ignored documentary evidence of malfeasance and electoral fraud provided by its candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, to award victory to the PDP.

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Ifoh expressed the party’s disappointment that its case had similar traits with the case filed by the PDP in Nasarawa State but that while PDP got justice in Nasarawa, the Labour Party which was coasting to victory, was denied because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC allegedly connived with the tribunal to turn justice on its head.

Recall that a three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Kudirat Murayo dismissed the petitions of the Labour Party and its candidate, insisting that they failed to prove claims contained in their petition.

Edeoga had in his petition, challenged the return of Mbah as the duly elected governor of Enugu state on the grounds that he submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate, and that the PDP engaged in electoral fraud especially over voting.

He said, “The Labour Party candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, was cruising to victory with the results of the election declared in 16 out of 17 LGAs of the state when the PDP colluded with INEC to manufacture 30,000 plus votes for Mbah in the remaining Nkanu East LGA, even when only about 15,000 voters were accredited to vote in that home LGA of Mbah.

“The INEC returning officer for the state, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, rejected the figures from Nkanu East because the BVAS was discarded, prompting the INEC headquarters to invite him to Abuja.

“After three days, an Abuja INEC panel led by Festus Okoye reduced the total 33,000 plus votes illegally hurled from Nkanu East alone to about 19,000, but gave Mbah almost 17,000 votes to enable him beat LP’s Edeoga (who was leading with 11,000+ votes) with 3,000+ votes.

“It was essentially the above clear cases of over-voting in Nkanu East LGA, especially in Owo and Ugbawka, that prompted the Labour Party and its candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, to approach the Tribunal in the hope that the judiciary will review and correct that anomaly.

“To be clear, it is important that Nigerians understand that Enugu State is a Labour Party State and we make bold to say that the Labour Party’s candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, clearly won the March 18 governorship election held in Enugu.

“This claim is justified by the outcome of all the other elections held in the State between February and March this year. The Labour Party won 2 out of the 3 senatorial seats in the State; 7 out of the 8 Rep seats in the State and 14 out of the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly.

“Notwithstanding the above true position, the Enugu State Governorship Election Tribunal on Saturday, 21st September, 2023 shockingly delivered a judgment on the disputed election that appeared to have ignored the facts in issue.

“The judgment fell short of the expectations of both the majority of Nigerians and legal pundits who have continued to criticize the fundamental logic and the premise upon which the decision was reached.

“With the recent judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Nasarawa State and the Nkanu East State Constituency Tribunal judgment, the Labour Party is forced to revisit the travesty of justice that took place in the Enugu governorship tribunal judgment, especially given that the three situations presented similar facts, yet different pronouncements were made by the judiciary.

“Recall that the Enugu Governorship Election Tribunal discountenanced the testimonies of our material witnesses who testified that there were manifest over-voting in Owo and Ugbawka for the erroneous reason that they were not accredited witnesses of the Party.

“One, the tribunal erred in that regard because the law has always been that every voter in Nigeria is an eligible witness before a tribunal, more so when the said witnesses were members of the Labour Party.

“ Two, as already established in Torti Vs Ukpabi, it has long been a settled issue that what determines the admissibility of an evidence is its relevance.

“In juxtaposing the above decision with the judgment delivered in the case of Nasarawa, the
Governorship Tribunal in Nasarawa rightly admitted the testimonies of the material witnesses who came to testify that the votes of the PDP in Ashigie Ward, Chiroma Ward, etc were wrongly suppressed and thereafter ordered the restoration of the said votes to the PDP, even when the witnesses therein were not accredited witnesses of the PDP.

“Second, the Tribunal in Enugu jettisoned the provisions of Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022 which provides that where there is original or certified true copy of a document before the court or tribunal that can establish non-compliance and it is shown that the said non-compliance is manifest on the face of that document, parties are not required to adduce oral evidence.

“The Enugu Tribunal strangely feigned ignorance of the above provisions of Section 137 of the Electoral Act and the mischief it seeks to cure by insisting on the needless and additional requirement of calling of oral witnesses to prove over-voting in Uwo and Ugbawka, even when the Labour Party already filed copious INEC certified true copies of the BVAS Accreditation Reports that evidentially proved the case of the Petitioner.

“Again, in juxtaposition with the judgment delivered in the case of Nasarawa, the Tribunal in Nasarawa, in line with the provisions of Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, rightly relied on the documentary evidence contained in the certified true copies of the print out of the BVAS Accreditation Reports to cancel the votes in Gadagwa Ward, Nasarawa Eggon Ward, Shege Ward, Sabon Gari and in other words, where over voting took place without necessarily insisting that oral witnesses be adduced in support of the tendered documentary evidences Sent from my iPhone”

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of senators engaging in physical fight no matter the level of disagreement among them.

The President of the Senate also said in democracy, the minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way.

Senator Akpabio spoke to journalists after meeting behind closed-doors with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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According to him, “In the parliament, sometimes you disagree to agree. We are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree on some of the happenings in the senate, still, it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail and parliament is like that.

“But we will never get to a point of throwing chairs. We will never get to that point. The senate is too mature, full of matured people, so, if we have a disagreement, we immediately go into a closed session, resolve it and come out smiling.

“We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is is the interest of the nation. To support the President, support his administration in legislation, oversights functions to succeed, in order to move the country forward and that is what we have been doing and that is what we are committed to doing.”

He explained that he was at State House to inform the President of the first 10th Assembly retreat which he said is taking place on Thursday in Akwa Ibom State and also to solicit his support towards ensuring representation at the retreat.

“And he has graciously done that and I told him some of the things we are going to discuss – task reform and ways of ensuring the generation of revenue for him to work for Nigerians,” he said.

He further added, “He needs to be informed that the Senate will not be available in Abuja. We are moving the Senate all the way to Akwa Ibom for the next four days. Thereafter, will be travelling to Angola to attend the international parliamentary union so, before he sees me, it will take probably another nine days. So, I needed to inform him.”