Dr. Bright Enabulele, the governorship candidate for the Accord Party (AP) in the recent Edo State elections, has announced that he is challenging the results at the Election Tribunal.

He alleges that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) committed fraud to favor the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was declared the winner.

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Enabulele claims that the election results were manipulated, citing his experience at Ward 5, St. Saviour Ivbiyeneva Primary School Unit 1 in the Ikpoba/Okha local government area, where he cast his vote on live television but was officially recorded as receiving zero votes.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City after his legal team submitted a petition to the tribunal, Enabulele expressed his desire for the tribunal to either declare him the winner of the election or annul the entire process and order a fresh election.

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He cited “fraud, intimidation, and the deliberate announcement of incorrect results by INEC” as his reasons for the challenge.

While he acknowledged he has no personal grievances against the declared winner, he criticized the electoral process that led to the results.

“The case is against two parties: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that conducted the election and the APC candidate who was declared the winner. My mandate was stolen due to fraud, intimidation, and the wrong announcement of results,” he stated.

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Enabulele also opposed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) obtaining a court order to inspect the BIVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), arguing that BIVAS should be preserved as evidence in court rather than being inspected, which he believes could lead to tampering.

“I was informed that the PDP obtained a court order to inspect BIVAS, but I find that wrong. No one should have access to the BIVAS, as it is meant to serve as evidence in court. You cannot go to court without evidence. It’s not just about winning or losing; it’s about ensuring that the will of the people prevails. Democracy is about the will of the people,” he concluded.

The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as factional Acting National Chairman, Ahmed Mohammed, formally accepted his new role.

In a letter dated October 13, 2024, and made public by suspended PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, Mohammed expressed gratitude for the support received and called for reflection on the party’s future direction.

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Mohammed stressed the importance of reassessing the PDP’s management, especially given its role as an opposition party in the current political climate.

“Recent events within our Party demand deep reflection on how the PDP is managed, particularly in this critical period in our nation’s history,” he said, emphasizing the need to return to the founding principles of equity, fairness, and justice.

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He admitted that internal conflicts have weakened the party’s ability to effectively serve as a strong opposition, stating, “We have not fulfilled the expectations of a dynamic opposition in a democracy.”

Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the party’s adherence to its Constitution and ensuring transparent leadership.

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His immediate priority is to restore members’ confidence by convening the long-awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 24, 2024.

He also urged the North Central Zone to nominate a replacement for former National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.

The PDP’s leadership turmoil deepened recently when a court ruling prevented the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) from removing Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, adding to the party’s internal struggles.

The Senate has moved to issue arrest warrants for the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, after they failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Other agencies at risk of similar actions include Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, and Sally Best Properties Limited.

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This decision was prompted by Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, who expressed frustration during a plenary session.

He highlighted that multiple invitations had been ignored by these officials and agencies, despite petitions filed by aggrieved Nigerians or corporate entities needing to be addressed.

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In a motion under Senate Order 42, Senator Imasuen called for the issuance of arrest warrants for those who continue to disregard the Senate’s invitations.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported the motion, citing Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the Senate authority to take such actions.

“You already have the power under Section 89 of the Constitution. Use it to issue arrest warrants against any head of agencies refusing to appear before the public petitions committee,” Akpabio affirmed.

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Senator Imasuen confirmed that fresh letters of invitation had been sent to the officials, warning that failure to comply would result in the issuance of arrest warrants.

He also mentioned that the committee would soon address a petition involving a student whose JAMB results were withheld due to an allegedly unfair report from an examination supervisor.

Faisal Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, the son of former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has passed away following a tragic accident.

According to a family source, Faisal was involved in an accident on Saturday evening along the Kaduna-Zaria highway. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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His father, Ahmed Makarfi, who is also a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was present at the hospital.

Faisal’s remains have been taken home for burial preparations, though Makarfi has not made any public statements regarding the incident.

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Faisal was a civil engineer by profession. He received his early education at Kaduna International School and Adesoye College in Offa, Kwara State, before continuing his studies at the University of Greenwich in London, where he obtained both his undergraduate and master’s degrees.

He was pursuing his PhD at the same university before his untimely death.

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This marks the second tragedy involving a prominent Nigerian family this weekend.

On Friday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lost his 23-year-old daughter, Fatima, who passed away in Abuja following a brief illness.

She was laid to rest according to Islamic rites.

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has raised alarm over the dire socio-economic conditions in northern Nigeria, blaming the recent naira devaluation, rising inflation, removal of petroleum subsidies, and increased electricity tariffs for exacerbating the suffering of the region’s populace.

At a recent community engagement program in Katsina State, President of the CNG, Jamilu Charanchi, stated that “Nigeria is no longer working,” emphasizing the widespread hardship faced by citizens who can barely afford a meal.

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“We cannot afford to be silent anymore; the challenges we face are immense. Insecurity has become a pervasive threat in the north,” Charanchi remarked during the event themed “Imperative of Popular Participation in Tackling Socio-Economic Challenges Bedeviling Nigeria Through Community Solutions.”

He underscored the urgent need for community-led initiatives to tackle the region’s issues, particularly given the failure of political leaders to effectively address these problems.

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Despite the north’s rich cultural heritage and abundant resources, Charanchi highlighted that the region remains underdeveloped, plagued by drug abuse, youth unrest, poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy.

He pointed out that ongoing issues, such as rising banditry and insecurity, have persisted despite various interventions, including a roundtable discussion on insecurity held in January 2024.

Charanchi criticized the recent economic measures, stating that the devaluation of the naira and inflation have led to widespread job losses and deepened poverty.

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He attributed the violent protests that have erupted across the country to years of leadership decay and failure to leverage the region’s potential for development.

“Northern Nigeria has faced a collapse of social values and immorality that has contributed to a leadership crisis, resulting in high numbers of out-of-school children and rampant insecurity,” he noted.

To remedy these persistent challenges, the CNG advocates for a shift from government-led to community-based solutions that focus on comprehensive assessments and coordinated efforts to tackle the root causes of the region’s issues.

At the event, Katsina State Governor’s representative, Commissioner for Information Bala Zango, praised the administration of Governor Dikko Radda for its initiatives aimed at improving socio-economic conditions.

He highlighted scholarship programs for underprivileged students pursuing medical and AI studies abroad, as well as the establishment of a ministry for internal security and the deployment of over 1,500 Community Watch Corps to combat insecurity.

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Zango also noted significant investments in agriculture, stating that the Radda administration has allocated over N30 billion for agricultural development and employed 7,000 teachers while renovating schools and providing essential learning materials.