The Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Er Hon Olamide Oladiji, has raised the alarm that his life is under threat over the impeachment notice served by the deputy governor of the state, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct.

Rt. Hon Oladiji raised the alarm in Akure after some fetish objects were dumped in front of the gate of his residence, at midnight on SundayAdvertorial

The fetish objects were dumped at the gate of the Speaker lodge, ahead of the plenary to commence the impeachment of the deputy governor, tomorrow (Tuesday)

This development created apprehension in the state, as residents discuss it in hushed tones.

Following the scary development, the speaker, has called on the security agencies to save his soul and that of other members of the House following threats to their lives since the commencement of the impeachment process against the State’s Deputy Governor,

According to him, “Early this morning, his attention was drawn together a ritual sacrifice placed In front of his official lodge.”

The lodge which” requires renovation is only used sometimes for Parliamentary meetings.

“I have not been using the place except sometimes for parliamentary meetings. At least, we have been there for more than two times for meeting but I don’t sleep there because the place requires overhauling with its present state.

“Early this morning, we discovered that a sacrifice was placed in the lodge. Aside that, I have been receiving strange calls from strange people threatening my life and other members. There have been a lot of pressure on me.

“I am using the medium to tell the world that my life is under threat. I call on the security operatives to checkmate these people who have been threatening my life and other members.

“This threat started since the day we began the impeachment notice . I have already reported to NSCDC among others security agencies”

The Speaker, also debunked the rumour that the lawmakers collected N5 million to initiate the impeachment process

Rt Hon Oladiji said that the 10th Assembly under his watch will not compromise on such sensitive matter.

“Whenever there is an impeachment case like this, people think that the executive must have lured the legislature to begin the process.

” I want to tell the whole world that we did not receive any gratification from anybody or anywhere. We are doing our work as lawmakers

“We appropriate and at the same time, monitor what we appropriate. Let me tell you, 26 lawmakers have now signed the letter which we will serve the deputy governor today”

“The House will today serve the Deputy Governor of the State, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa a letter on the alleged gross misconduct.”

The Speaker noted that the House was unable to serve the Deputy Governor the Notice since the commencement of the process last week.

He, however, said that the house has now secured court affidavit which gives the house a legitimate right to serve the Deputy Governor.

According to him “all the 26 lawmakers have appended their signature on the petition. The Deputy Governor is expected to reply the house within seven days of notice.

A Constitutional Lawyer, Nnadume Offorkansi, has described as judicial rascality the verdict of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which dismissed the petition of the Labour Party and its governorship candidate in the March 18, 2023 polls.

The three-man panel, headed by Justice Kudirat Akano, on Thursday, upheld the election of Gov Peter Mba of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

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The panel ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their case, including that the contended NYSC discharge certificate which LP advanced did not hold water because an NYSC discharge certificate is not a requirement to become a governor.

Reacting to the ruling, Offorkansi, said, “It’s laughable. The panel relied on Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution, but ignored Section 182 which stipulates what ought not to be done, including forgery.

“The respondent submitted an NYSC discharge certificate on oath. Yes, it is not mandatory to contest, but here it was submitted, and the petitioner proved it to be forged, because NYSC said it did not emanate from it.

“Section 182 said forged certificates, not specifying any. Cases of proof can only be done by the issuing authorities, which was established in this case,” the lawyer argued.

“In those days, judges looked at lawyers who argued cases in courts, and asked them to fill forms to become judges, and not members of the bar.

“I’m not saying there are no credible judges today. But the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal of Atiku, Obi versus Tinubu emboldened what is happening today at various tribunals.

“The judges no longer look at precedents.

“Judges should understand that judgements are living documents. They are read at law schools where lawyers are trained,” the lawyer added.

Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, has asked a legal firm, Eghobamien & Eghobamien, requesting certified true copies of Voters Register, Result Sheets and Ballot Papers used for the conduct of the chairmanship election in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Government Area of Edo State, to pay the sum of N94,381,340 for the documents.

The legal firm had in a letter dated September 15, 2023 requested for Certified True Copies of Voters Register, Result Sheets and Ballot Papers used for the conduct of the local government elections held on September 2, 2023 for the chairmanship position in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

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But responding to the request, EDSIEC in a letter dated September 21, 2023 and signed by its Administrative Secretary in Edo State, Sunday A. Osayande, said that the firm would pay N30,000 each for photocopy of Form C, D, D2 and E, and N5,000 for the certification of each of the ballot papers used in the election.

The EDSIEC response letter to the legal firm read, “With reference to your letter dated September, 15th 2023 on the above subject, I am directed by the Board of the Commission to advise you to apply to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a certified true copy of the Voters Register used by EDSIEC for the conduct of the elections in the ten (10) Wards of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

“I am further directed to inform you that you are to pay the sum of Five Hundred Naira) for the certification of each of the ballot papers used in the conduct of the elections in Ikpoba-Okha LGA. You will also be required to pay the sum of N30.00 to photocopy each Form C, D, D2 and E used in the said election.

“To this end, you are to pay the sum of N94,381,340.00 (Ninety-four million, three hundred and eighty-one thousand, three hundred and forty naira) only to the Account Department of the Commission for the photocopying and Certification of the different result sheets used in the election as requested by you. The breakdown is stated in Annexure “A” attached.”

The Labour Party has said its commitment to taking back Nigeria is one anchored on strict adherence to the rule of law and devoid of any form of violence.

The party said this clarification was necessary to set the records straight in the light of speculations making the rounds that a plot is afoot to arrest its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on charges of instigating his supporters to violence.

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This was contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja, on Monday.

He said, the party has “been made aware of various trending stories in print and video suggesting that its Presidential Candidate Mr. Peter Obi will soon be arrested.

“The stories are draped with some so-called prophecies calling for prayers on Obi as he would be arrested.

“Ordinarily, such stories should not deserve our attention. However, we are concerned when the faux stories flying around are juxtaposed with video clips spliced from pre-election and campaign speeches where Obi had underscored to Nigerian youths, the importance of taking back our country.

“To contrive such videos as recent remarks and effort to make them look fresh, is simply mischievous, if not criminal.

“The ploy is simply and surely aimed at orchestrating a false culpability and entrapment. We must reiterate here for the record, Obi’s adherence and commitment to the rule of law and avowal of non-violent politics.

“On March 1st, 2023 when the INEC announced its charade election result by 4 a.m., Obi supporters across the country and in the diaspora mounted pressure on him to authorize a mass protest but he declined insisting instead that taking back Nigeria through him will come through due and peaceful process and not via violence.

“The insinuation of late that Obi is orchestrating violence is a figment of the imagination of the authors and giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Obi is not a violent man but he believes justice must reign no matter how long it takes.

“As a man of faith, the former Anambra state Governor strongly believes that a new Nigeria is POssible following due process and does not need to drag his supporters out in the street to achieve it.

“The Labour Party; therefore, wishes to advise the prophets and soothsayers whether real or imagined, to leave Obi out of their prophecy because his faith is in Nigerians and his God and not on imaginary fortune tellers.”

Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Monday, dismissed the petitions brought by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party, and Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor of the People’s Democratic Party, challenging the victory of Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 governorship election.

Jandor had contested the results of the March 18 governorship election in Lagos state, challenging the victory of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

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Justice Mikhail Abdullah announced the decision while delivering judgment on the objections raised by the respondents in the case.

Full detail soon ….