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.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State, on Saturday, sacked Hon Emeka Nnamani of the Labour Party as the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency over certificate forgery committed in 2015.

The court declared Alex Ikwechegh of APGA winner of the Constituency.

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The appellate court upheld the ruling of the Tribunal on September 11th which held that Nnamani was convicted of forging UNIPORT degree certificate in 2015 and was barred from seeking for public office for 10 years.

The appeal court said that the ruling of the tribunal in 2015 which was upheld by the Appeal Court in the same year still subsists and dismissed the Labour Party’s candidate appeal.

With this sack, Nnamani has lost twice on the basis of certificate forgery.

Senator who represented Kogi East at the beginning of the 4th Republic (1999-2003), Alex Kadiri has said it would be a tragedy if the All Progressives Congress, APC, wins the November 11, 2023 Kogi State governorship election.

Kadiri, a Kogi State chieftain of the APC, said this while speaking with journalists in Abuja, on Saturday.

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He described his party’s performance in Kogi State over the last eight as a waste because the quality of life of ordinary citizens has been on a steady decline.

Kadiri said, “Where are we going in this country? The thing that pained my heart is what is going on in Kogi State. I have said it openly at the APC national secretariat, I have said it in press releases and the party does not care.

“As we are talking, my party is fielding a candidate to succeed Yahaya Bello. I think it will be a tragedy if my Party wins the election on the 11th of this Month. What have we done to justify being reelected?

“What we have is bloodshed, shooting, killings left right and center and all the security are just looking, nothing, nobody has been arrested or apprehended.

“No gun has been retrieved or recovered. Before they used to shoot in the night but now they shoot in broad daylight, nobody is apprehended, people are dying and we want to say we have won election on that platform and you ask people to go to the Tribunal, which tribunal?

“I think this party is taking Nigerians for granted too much. It is unfair, we have not conquered Nigeria, Nigerians are being treated like conquered people.

“Unfortunately with this system that we have, criminals are in charge left right, and center. Criminals have all the means, they have all the funds.

“I think it is not right, this country is dying slowly, please do not kill it. I want to be alive to see things change for the better but things are getting worse, getting extremely bad while I am still watching.”

The former federal lawmaker also commended Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduagjan for her fighting and never-say-die attitude in pursuing her stolen mandate.

He said, “I like Natasha’s case, she is a dogged fighter. She used to be a schoolmate to my last daughter in the University.

“I have not seen or spoken to her in the last two years but I like her fighting spirit, though she actually won her election Tribunal or no Tribunal. Denying somebody’s victory is wrong.”

Imo state Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Senator Athan Achonu, on Saturday rejected the plot to collate results in the local government area headquarters in Imo.

He stated this to newsmen in Owerri, while raising alarm over suspicious moves to rig the Imo 2023 governorship election.

Senator Achonu insisted that collation of results should be done in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, designated areas and not LGA headquarters and that he would apply the law adequately to stop it.

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He also expressed fears that the ruling party agents were allegedly harvesting voters card details in council areas of Owerri west, Oguta, Ihitte Uboma, Okigwe others.

Achonu among other things said: “INEC should ensure they provide adequate security in all polling units and Collation Centres in Imo State so that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.

“It is no longer secret that there are reports (allegations) of APC perfecting plans to influence INEC Polling Officers and Ad Hoc Staff. We officially put INEC on notice that the APC is planning heavily to Influence the outcome of the election through compromised ad hoc staff and a few corrupt officials.

“In the last two weeks, video evidences in circulation show that communities (Owerri West, Oguta, Okigwe, Ihitte Uboma, etc.) where APC leaders are harvesting details of Voter Cards. This is criminal and an attempt to subvert the will of the people. I call on INEC and security agents to be alert and checkmate these efforts at rigging the election and ensure that sensitive materials do not get into the wrong hands.”

“It is important to restate that all collation should be done at the official designated centres not LG Council headquarters. Specifically, Isiala Mbano INEC office was burnt down. So INEC should publicly announce a public primary school as collation centre for Isiala Mbano. This should also be the case in every other locations with similar challenges.

“We will use all lawful means to resist any plan to collate results in any place other than officially designated locations at the ward level and at the local government level. I call on security agents to maintain order on Election Day and to be impartial,”he said.