The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Douye Diri, dismissing the petition filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, as frivolous and lacking merit.

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In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, the three-member panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye ruled against Sylva’s claims, stating that the petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence of electoral irregularities.

The panel highlighted that Sylva and the APC did not present any electoral materials to substantiate their allegations of non-compliance with electoral laws.

The tribunal noted that the petitioners could not meet the legal burden of proof required to challenge the election results.

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Specifically, the panel pointed out that Sylva and the APC did not provide detailed evidence of non-compliance on a polling unit-by-polling unit basis, nor did they demonstrate how such alleged irregularities impacted the election outcome.

Additionally, the tribunal struck out as incompetent all supplementary evidence and witness statements submitted by the petitioners.

Sylva had contested the results of the November 11, 2023, governorship election, which saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Diri, the winner with 175,195 votes, compared to APC’s 110,108 votes.

Sylva also argued that INEC excluded results from the local governments of Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe.

In response to the tribunal’s ruling, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to the judiciary for affirming his victory and respecting the will of the Bayelsa people.

He reiterated his commitment to serving the state without distraction.

Meanwhile, Sylva announced his intention to appeal the tribunal’s decision, stating that he remains confident in the Nigerian judicial system despite the tribunal’s ruling.

He plans to consult with key party stakeholders before proceeding to the Court of Appeal.

Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus has confirmed her appointment as the Special Assistant on Social Events and Public Hearing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Tajudeen Abbas.

The news of Badmus’ appointment first emerged on May 10 when images of her receiving her appointment letter circulated online.

Speaker Abbas and Eniola

On Monday, Badmus took to her Instagram account to officially announce the role. “It’s Official. SA to the Speaker House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Social Events and Public Hearing,” she posted.

Expressing her gratitude, Badmus thanked Speaker Abbas for the opportunity, calling the appointment a “significant milestone” in her career.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, has addressed the possibility of a merger between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 presidential election.

In an interview on NoireTV-GlobalBlackTV released on YouTube on Saturday, Obi also responded to the idea of being backed by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, as a Southeast candidate.

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Expressing gratitude for Abubakar’s supportive remarks, Obi said, “I commend him and I’m grateful for his statements, especially where he said he will support me if it (the presidential ticket) goes to the South East.”

Obi emphasized that his primary focus is the well-being of Nigeria and its people, rather than personal ambition or political maneuvering.

“I’m not desperate to be president; I’m desperate to see Nigeria work, especially for the poor people because we have a lot of potential,” he stated.

Regarding a potential PDP-LP merger, Obi expressed openness to the idea if it aims to improve governance and unlock Nigeria’s potential.

“If the merger is to be able to govern Nigeria properly, unlock all those things that will make Nigeria a better place, I’m for it,” he affirmed.

However, Obi made it clear that he is not interested in mergers or alliances that are solely for gaining power or winning elections.

“If it’s just a merger for election or state capture, I’m not for it or part of it, I don’t want to be part of anything like that,” he asserted.

The former Anambra State governor stressed the importance of unity and cooperation among individuals and parties, but only if the objective is to build a better Nigeria.

“It might be at the party level, it might be at the individual level, might be at any level, but we must come together to be able to build a better Nigeria,” he said.

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has upheld the election of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023, gubernatorial poll.

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On Monday, a three-member panel led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu dismissed the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, citing lack of merit.

The tribunal found that the petitioners failed to substantiate their claims of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022.

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The panel ruled unanimously that the evidence presented by the petitioners’ witnesses was inconsistent and therefore unreliable.

Furthermore, the tribunal agreed with the respondents that allegations of forgery brought up in the petition were pre-election issues that should have been addressed within 14 days of the documents being submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During the November 11, 2023, off-cycle election, Ododo of the APC secured a decisive victory over his closest rival, Ajaka of the SDP.

Dissatisfied with the result, Ajaka lodged a petition challenging the election outcome.

The tribunal proceedings began in December 2023, culminating in the final written addresses by the parties involved on May 13. INEC, Governor Ododo, and the APC argued for the dismissal of Ajaka and the SDP’s petition, citing incompetence and lack of merit.

Represented by their legal counsel—Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN; and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN—the respondents maintained that the petition did not hold substance.

In contrast, Ajaka’s lawyer, Pius Akubo, SAN, urged the tribunal to reject the respondents’ arguments and uphold the petition.

Ultimately, the tribunal sided with the respondents, affirming Governor Ododo’s election and dismissing the petition from the SDP and Murtala Ajaka.

A violent clash erupted at the Labour Party (LP) Secretariat when a mob, suspected to be thugs loyal to the National Chairman, Julius Abure, attacked protesters from the Edo State chapter who were demanding Abure’s removal.

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The confrontation began as the anti-Abure protesters arrived at the party headquarters in several vehicles, holding placards and chanting slogans.

As soon as some protesters disembarked, the suspected thugs, armed with sticks and other weapons, attacked the vehicles, forcing the drivers to flee.

The situation escalated when the thugs began throwing stones into the nearby Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, targeting reporters covering the incident.

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Armed policemen and operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) intervened promptly, preventing the violence from spiraling out of control.

Currently, a police vehicle is stationed between the opposing factions to maintain order and prevent further clashes.