Tony Azeigbemi, the Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affirmed that Asue Ighodalo remains the party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election on September 21.

Azeigbemi issued this statement in response to a Federal High Court judgment that declared the party has no candidate in the election.

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He addressed the rumors suggesting Ighodalo’s candidacy had been nullified, attributing them to opponents intimidated by Ighodalo’s growing popularity.

“Let it be on record that the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the PDP’s flag bearer for the 2024 elections remains intact. The judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja does not affect the party,” Azeigbemi stated.

He urged PDP supporters to stay calm and steadfast, reassuring them that there is no cause for concern.

Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Justice Faruk Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, both judges of the Kano State High Court, to resign from their positions as chairmen of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets and the Commission on Political Violence and Missing Persons, respectively.

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The ruling came in response to a suit filed by former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Attorney General of Kano State, and Justices Faruk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf were named as defendants in the case.

In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Amobeda instructed the NJC to cease payment of any remuneration, allowances, and benefits to the two judges from the consolidated revenue fund if they did not comply with the resignation order.

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had inaugurated the two judicial commissions on April 4, tasking Justices Adamu and Yusuf with investigating misappropriation of public properties, political violence, and cases of missing persons from 2015 to 2023.

Justice Amobeda ruled that the judges must refrain from performing the executive functions assigned to them, as these roles are meant for adjudicating disputes in courtrooms, not for executing executive powers.

Citing the combined effects of sections 6, 84, 153(1), 271(2), 272, and paragraph 21(c) of part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the judge stated that Justices Adamu and Yusuf are not legally permitted to hold the office of a judge while simultaneously serving as chairmen of commissions of inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent to those of a Magistrate.

The court further held that the governor lacked the authority to appoint and administer the oath of office to the judges for these commissions, a role designated for commissioners exercising executive powers.

Additionally, Justice Amobeda referenced a decision by Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, which held that only the EFCC and the ICPC are authorized to investigate the former governor.

Setting up a commission of inquiry to investigate Ganduje’s administration was deemed an abuse of office and an undermining of judicial sanctity.

However, the court disagreed with the plaintiff’s counsel’s argument that the judges ceased to be judicial officers by accepting appointments to the commissions of inquiry.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the primary election that declared Mr. Asuen Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Ekwo determined that the primary held on February 22, 2024, was invalid due to the unlawful exclusion of 378 delegates who were eligible to vote.

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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, was brought to the court by Kelvin Mohammed and several aggrieved delegates from the PDP in Edo State, challenging the legitimacy of the primary election process.

Justice Ekwo found that the conduct of the February primary breached the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP’s own guidelines for candidate selection.

The election, held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, allegedly prevented 378 delegates from participating, leading to its annulment by the court.

Legal representatives of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, have withdrawn from the ongoing legal tussle over the Kano emirate before the State High Court.

The lawyers expressed dissatisfaction with a prior court ruling that denied their request to stay proceedings.

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During the hearing, Abdul Muhammed, SAN, representing the first respondent, highlighted that an affidavit of fact and a motion of appeal were filed, requesting a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.

He argued that once a higher court is notified, the lower court should pause proceedings. However, the trial court declined this request.

Frustrated by the court’s refusal to grant an adjournment, Muhammed announced his withdrawal from the case.

Following his lead, another team member, Barrister Sanusi Musa, SAN, also declared their collective withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Hassan Tanko Kyaure, representing the third, fourth, and fifth respondents, filed for an extension of time and a counter affidavit, urging the court to nullify the Kano State emirates council repealed law, citing procedural lapses.

He requested a dismissal of the application with a cost of N1 billion.

Counsel for the sixth respondent, Sunday Ekwe, chose to defer to the court’s discretion without making any submissions.

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Eyitayo Fatogun, representing the applicants, argued against the motion for a stay, stating that the filing of a notice of appeal does not warrant halting proceedings.

He contended that the affidavit of facts was merely a tactic to delay the case and urged the court to proceed with hearing all pending applications.

Judge Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu ruled against staying the proceedings, stating that the affidavit did not meet court rules or disclose any special facts.

She adjourned the case to July 18 for further rulings on various applications, including those for extension of time, preliminary objections, setting aside an ex parte order, and others.

The applicants, represented by Ibrahim Isah Wangida Esq, are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly.

They seek to restrain Ado Bayero and other dethroned emirs from Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from presenting themselves as emirs.

Respondents include Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and four other former emirs, along with the Inspector General of Police, Director of the State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) bill during its third reading.

This decision followed the review and approval of a report from the Senate Committee on Special Duties, presented by its chairman, Senator Kaka Shehu.

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The bill, sponsored by Senator Abba Morro, representing Benue South Senatorial District and serving as the Senate Minority Leader, was co-sponsored by senators from the North Central region.

It had previously passed its first and second readings on October 5, 2023, and February 21, 2024, respectively.

Once established, the NCDC will be responsible for managing funds from both the federal government and international donors.

Its primary focus will be on the resettlement, rehabilitation, and integration of victims affected by floods and farmer-herder conflicts.

Additionally, the commission will oversee the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises impacted by these disasters.

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja annulled a Rivers State High Court order that had restrained Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from identifying as members of the state assembly.

The appeal, marked CA/PH/198/2024, was brought by the pro-Wike lawmakers who requested the appellate court to stay the execution of the high court’s decision and invalidate all legislative actions taken by the Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly.

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The lawmakers, initially elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.

In response, the Rivers Assembly, under then-Speaker Hon. Edison Ehie, declared their seats vacant on December 13.

A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Jimi Olukayode-Bada, ruled that the high court lacked jurisdiction over the case, asserting that such matters are exclusively within the purview of a federal high court.

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Consequently, the appellate court nullified all restraining orders previously issued by the high court against the lawmakers.

The appeal, filed by Amaewhule, the factional speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and 24 others, aimed to overturn the high court’s order preventing them from acting as lawmakers. On May 30, High Court Judge Charles Wali had prohibited the lawmakers in Amaewhule’s faction from conducting legislative sessions, including within the legislative quarters, and restrained Governor Siminalayi Fubara from engaging with resolutions and bills from these lawmakers.

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The original suit was filed by Victor Oko Jumbo, another factional speaker, along with two other legislators, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, all loyal to Governor Fubara.

The high court had also ruled that any laws passed by Amaewhule and his faction would be invalid until the matter was resolved.

The appellants sought to have the appellate court dismiss the high court’s judgment and nullify the decisions made by Jumbo’s faction. The Court of Appeal’s ruling effectively reinstates the pro-Wike lawmakers’ status and invalidates the restraining orders against them.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has firmly stated that he has no plans to serve as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election.

This declaration came after a group, self-identified as “Diri Angels,” suggested that Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should consider Governor Diri for the role in 2027.

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Governor Diri, through his spokesman Daniel Alabrah, labeled the group as “faceless” and dismissed their proposal as a “Greek gift” from political opportunists.

He advised his supporters to completely disregard the group’s suggestions.

Diri highlighted that the group’s true intention was to create discord, a scheme he believes has failed.

He emphasized that his political path has always been divinely guided and that he remains steadfast in his principles against any contrary advocacy.

Governor Diri reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling his duties to the people of Bayelsa State, a trust first given to him in 2019 and renewed on November 11, 2023.

He urged Bayelsa residents to remain focused and not be swayed by “political buccaneers” aiming to cause confusion.