Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Friday, described as baseless and defamatory allegations that some judges collected the sum of five million dollars as a bribe to sack him from his position.

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Some section of the media had on Thursday accused the former Governor of Plateau state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong of giving $5 million to three justices of the Appeal Court including Justices Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, Akams, and Waziri to sack Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor and declare the All Progressives Congress Candidate, Nentawe Yiltwatda as the winner of the 2023 governorship poll in Plateau State.

The report which was circulated in social media also said that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu had met with Lalong after a lawyers conference in Abuja on Thursday and had mandated him to deliver the bribe to the judges.

However, Governor Mutwang in a statement on Friday condemned the publication and distanced himself from the narrative.

The statement which was signed by Mutwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere said, “Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has strongly condemned the baseless and defamatory allegations circulated by certain individuals, accusing judges of receiving a $5 million bribe for the nullification of his victory.

“Governor Mutfwang vehemently condemned the publication and attributed it to the deliberate actions of his detractors aimed at sowing discord between him and the esteemed judges and other constituted authorities.”

Expressing his deep concern over the matter, Governor Mutfwang demanded thorough investigations by security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the libelous publication.

“He (Governor Mutfwang) emphasised the need to ensure that these individuals face the full consequences of the law with a view to setting a precedent that discourages similar misconduct.

“Governor Mutfwang unequivocally distanced himself from the false narrative, dismissing it as mere fabrications crafted by individuals who are being manipulated as pawns by the opposition party in Plateau State.

“The Governor noted that the latest move is an attempt to tarnish the image of the PDP Government in the state, and pointed out that such malicious actions will not deter his commitment and confidence in the Judiciary.

“Reaffirming his unwavering support for the judiciary, Governor Mutfwang warned those disparaging the justices and respected leaders, to desist from their destructive activities immediately or face the severe consequences of their actions” the statement added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificate Of Returns to Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and his running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Diri, PDP candidate for the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in the State, was declared winner by the INEC early in the week.

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The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificate to the duo at the state headquarters of the commission in Yenagoa.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, said presenting the Certificate of Return by the commission was a statutory provision in fulfilment of section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which also stated that the presentation must be done within 14 days following the declaration of a winner.

She thanked stakeholders for their commitment and contributions toward the peaceful conduct of the election and equally appreciated staff of the commission who displayed exceptional level of dedication to their job.

She also congratulated the governor and his deputy over their victory at the poll and wished them a successful second tenure in office.

Responding, Governor Diri said the event puts to rest the speculation that INEC would not present the certificate to him just as he commended the commission for its professionalism and impartiality during and after the election.

Diri said it was an historic moment for him, his deputy and Bayelsans, who he appreciated for standing behind him and his running mate, bearing in mind the antics of the opposition that brandished cooked results against their will.

He said it was unfortunate hearing the opposition, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, alleging that INEC cancelled 85,000 of the party’s vote as well as manipulation by the commission.

He stressed that his party would wait for them at the tribunal.

Diri said: “Presenting the certificate of return was almost becoming another issue as some were brandishing results of 85,000 votes in their pockets and saying that the certificate would not be issued to those declared winners in Bayelsa State. So, this event has brought to rest all those speculations that have been all over the country.

“After thanking God for today’s event, I also thank the Independent National Electoral Commission, from the chairman to the supervising commissioner to the REC and the administrative secretary as well as all the staff.

“This is one historic moment for me, my deputy governor and the people of Bayelsa State. I appreciate the electorate for standing behind what they believe was a government that has performed and must have another term.”

He assured the people of the state that he will be a servant-leader to the people as well as his deputy and other members of his cabinet.

He stated that if the election had gone the other way, it would have portended danger for the state, describing his victory as freedom for Bayelsa.

According to him, “Bayelsans know that we are a government of the people that wants all Bayelsans on board and also ensure transparency as much as possible, so that whatever we are spending, it is in the interest of Bayelsa State.“

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to the Governor-Elect of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, and his running mate in the election, Joel Salifu.

The certificates of return were presented at the INEC headquarters in Lokoja, the state capital on Friday, amid jubilation by a mammoth crowd of supporters.

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Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate, the Governor-Elect assured the people that he would make good his campaign promise to build on the sterling achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello, while preserving the unity of the state.

He expressed appreciation to the people of the State for the overwhelming support he enjoyed at the polls, describing it as a consolidation on the strength and unity of the Kogi State.

While promising to justify the confidence reposed in him, Ododo said, “My administration will be committed to sustaining the youth and women empowerment programs of the present administration. My resolve to provide employment for our teeming youths and ensure that education occupies the front burner of our administration remains unchanged.

“My victory at last Saturday’s election is a victory for all. We will run an all inclusive administration, where everyone, irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation, will be carried along.”

The presentation of the certificates of return was witnessed by Governor Yahaya Bello, who urged the people of the State to join hands with Ododo in building a greater Kogi State.

”The election has come and gone and a winner has emerged. I call on the people of the State to work towards the unity and togetherness our administration has achieved,” he said.

Presenting the Certificate, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Gabriel Longpet, said the presentation was part of the Commission’s mandate.

He said Usman Ododo was being presented the certificate, having met the constitutional requirements.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State.

The panel upheld the verdict of the tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay which sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023.

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The lower court had declared 165,663 votes of Yusuf, who contested under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), invalid on the grounds that they were not signed or stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor’s votes were then reduced to 853,939 while those of Nasir Ganuwa, his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, remained at 890,705.

Yusuf had rejected the tribunal verdict, which he described as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice”, and headed to the appeal court.

At the court, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, lead for Yusuf, asked that the judgement of the tribunal be set aside.

Kicking against the ruling on ballot papers, the senior lawyer said that was the first time in the history that a tribunal would annul an election over non-signing of the back of ballot papers.

He had said the tribunal erred, arguing further that, that was the first time that a political party would file a matter without joining its candidate as a party in the petition and the candidate would declared winner of the polls.

But Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel for APC, countered him saying the Appeal Court stated emphatically that the non-signing of ballots amounted to electoral malpractice.

In its ruling on Friday, the Appeal Court held that Yusuf was not eligible to contest the election because he was not a member of the NNPP.

The Taraba House of Assembly on Thursday passed the local government elected officials’ amendment Bill which reduced the tenure of officials to two years.

Nelson Len, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

Len noted that the bill, after all due processes required of by the House, was passed into law to enable the new set of local government officials expected to be elected on Nov. 18, to be bound by the amended law. (NAN)

The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have said there are no merger plans between them and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The spokesman of LP, Obiora Ifoh, on Thursday in a statement, said such reports were mere sensation and should be disregarded by Nigerians.

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“In my reaction (to enquiry from a journalist), I said that it was only a proposal and every Nigerian should be interested in making democracy work in Nigeria and that what we have presently is an autocracy. There was nowhere in the response that the purported merger between LP and PDP was mentioned,” Ifoh said.

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, AbdulRazaq AbdulSalam, in a statement said “NNPP is an independent political group as such we stand firm in our commitment to respect all political parties and refuse to engage in merging with any party to combat another.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday voided the election of Dauda Lawal as the governor of Zamfara State.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Omoloye Jombo-Ojo on ordered a rerun of the election in three local governments of Birnin Magaji, Bukuyyum and Maradun.

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In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Sybil Nwaka Gbagi, the appellate court faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s use of IREV for the collation of results when the Supreme Court had ruled that it is not a result collation system but only for public viewing.

The panel unanimously upheld four out of the seven issues for the determination in the appeal brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election, Bello Matawalle.

“I hereby declare that the governorship election of 18th of March, 2023 is inconclusive.

“That the return of the first respondent (Lawal) by the third respondent (INEC) is hereby set aside.

“The third respondent (INEC) is hereby directed to hold fresh elections in Maradun Local Government Area and the affected polling units in Birnin Magaji and Bukuyyum local government areas. This is the judgment of this honourable court,” the court held.

Matawalle and the APC had filed the petition following INEC’s declaration of Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election with 377,726 votes as against Matawalle, who polled 311,976 votes.

Matawalle, who was former governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence, had contended that election did not hold in many polling units in the three local governments, including 98,506 votes in Maradun, were not counted.

He contended that Lawal was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and that the conduct was not in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

But the Zamfara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition.

Efforts to speak to the Zamfara governor and those closed to him to hear about their next line of action were not successful.