The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that the return of the Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, after his medical vacation abroad is a testament to his strength and resilience.

Recall that the governor travelled to Germany for medical attention.

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He returned to the country on Thursday and held a stakeholders meeting with political leaders and members of his Executive Council at his lbadan, Oyo state residence on Friday.

Akeredolu has since resume duty officially on Friday after notifying the state House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, extended his heartfelt welcome to the governor on his return to the country after the medical vacation.

According to him, ” the return of the governor is not just a testament of his strength, resilience, and will, which the majority admire him for, but also a proof of God’s faithfulness.”

“The people of Ondo State, who have eagerly awaited the return of their beloved governor, are filled with joy and gratitude to have him back.

“Your unwavering commitment to the well-being and progress of Ondo State has been an inspiration to us all, and we are pleased to see you back in good health.

“Your leadership and dedication to the people of Ondo State are invaluable, and we look forward to the continued development and prosperity of the state under your guidance.

The Minister added that ” as you formally resume duties, I pray our state witnesses more development under your watch.

The Labour Party House of representatives candidate in the 2023 general elections for Nkanu East/West Constituency Enugu state, Barr. John Amechi Edeh has vowed to appeal the judgment of the Tribunal sitting in Enugu.

Chief Edeh who is challenging the declaration of PDP’s Nnoli Nnaji by INEC, alleged that the House of Reps election for Nkanu East/West federal constituency held on 25 February, fell shot of all indices of a fair, transparent and credible election and prayed the tribunal to order for rerun as the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices as well as non compliance with the electoral act.

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According to him, mutulation of figures, multiple thumb printing on ballot papers, results swap at the local government collation centers, non use of BVAS in polling units of Akegbe-ugwu ward 1 and Ibite Akegbe-ugwu, as well as other wards in Nkanu East LGA, voters intimidation and use of PDP thugs to coerce voters, marred the entire process.

But Counsel to Nnoli Nnaji argued that the election was free and fair.
He told the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and averred that Barr. John Edeh, candidate of the Labour Party was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to contest having failed to resign from PDP.

Delivering her judgment on Saturday, the three man tribunal ruled that the issue of nomination is entirely a pre-election matter and that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain such matter.

It said “based on evidences before the Tribunal, the first Petitioner resigned his membership of the PDP and was duly sponsored by the second petitioner to contest. Even if he didn’t resign, it is a pre-election matter”.

However, the tribunal later struck out the petition for lacking in merit and declined awarding any cost on the Petitioners.

Reacting to the judgment, Chief Barr. John Edeh (Okaa Oburuzo) said he would appeal the judgment.

Edeh called on his teeming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as he would get justice in Appeal Court.

According to a public affairs analyst, Simon Edeh, the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sacking the member representing Enugu East/ Isi-Uzo federal constituency, Prof. Paul Nnamchi is appealable and not final.

Edeh said Nnamchi’s sack was on non qualification to contest election based on alleged failure to resign his employment with a federal university contrary to section 66(f) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Although, non compliance with section 66(f) of the CFRN is enough disqualifying factor, but Nnamchi as i was reliably informed duly resigned from his employment and attached evidence of same to his qualifying documents, therefore the restoration of his mandate is guaranteed.

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Prof. Nnamchi who defeated Prince Cornelius Nnaji with over 13000 votes to emerge the winner in the keenly contested election, is outstanding in performance indices within three months in office.

“However, I’m surprised that those celebrating Prof Nnamchi’ sack by the Tribunal for not resigning his employment, are the same people saying that submission of forged certificate to INEC by Peter Mbah in violation of section 182(j) is not a disqualifying factor.”

“No wonder the PDP media hirelings and acolytes deliberately refused to state the reason of non qualification as indicated in the tribunal judgement.”

Could it be selective or prejudiced amnesia?”

Let Justice Prevail.

The spokesperson for Chijioke Edeoga Governorship Campaign Organization, Engr. George Ugwu has described the Tribunal Judgement in the Enugu East /Isi Uzo Federal Constituency as a travesty of justice which will not stand rigorous challenge at the Appeal Court.

Chief Ugwu while interacting with journalists on Friday described the judgment as temporal and reversible.

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He thanked Labor Party supporters for their continued prayers and urged them to remain focused as their efforts will not be in vain.

Ugwu wandered how the PDP and their candidate, Mr. Cornelius Nnaji who lost to the LP candidate, Prof. Paul Nnamchi with over thirteen thousand votes, could unashamedly plot to steal and thwart the people’s mandate.

He described Prof. Paul Nnamchi as an answered prayer to the people of Enugu East/Isiuzo federal constituency who have begun to taste his effectiveness and impactful representation at the National Assembly.

Reassuring his teeming supporters that their votes will not be in vain, Chief Ugwu urged LP faithfuls to remain calm as the party and the candidate are determined to exhaust all legal means possible to retrieve the people’s mandate.

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has announced the state government’s plan to rename the Anambra International Conference Center after his predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The governor made the announcement on Thursday during the maiden edition of the Anambra investment summit, which is ongoing  at the 10,000 capacity International Conference Centre conceived and built by former Governor Willie Obiano during his tenure.

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While delivering his speech, the Governor said; “Today, it’s Anambra International Conference Centre. By the next time you come here, it will be Willie Obiano International Conference Centre, if he agrees.”

Soludo lauded his predecessor’s vision for the state among other notable accomplishments and declared that the conference centre will be renamed after his predecessor once his consent is obtained.

Mr. Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party has vowed to appeal the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Obi, whose petition was dismissed by the court, warned that if care is not taken, sound electoral jurisprudence will disappear in the country.

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He stressed that litigants that are dissatisfied with the outcome of an election may resort to self help, if they continue to find it very difficult to establish their case owing to obstacles from government institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Speaking through his team of lawyers led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, Obi said: “If we are not careful, our electoral jurisprudence will eventually disappear. I am saying this with every amount of sincerity because when the litigant, when those that contested election continue to find it very difficult to establish their case due to obstacles on the way, starting by INEC, certainly they may resort to some other means of trying to get justice, which may not be lawful.”

“Also, I commend the Court of Appeal for introducing live streaming. You may recall that we applied to the court to have live streaming of all the proceedings, the court, in its wisdom did not grant the application.

“But now, in the end, they saw wisdom in it and the need to guarantee transparency, hence, live streaming of the judgment.

“Certainly, it would have been better if it was live streaming of the entire proceedings so that the public will have the chance of watching and be able to relate properly with the judgment.”

“So, I will hope and pray that this time, it will be continuous, starting from the beginning of a case. That is the only way that you can guarantee transparency because when something is open, Nigerians will see things for themselves and they will make up their minds, one way or the other,” he added.

Former Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his satisfaction with the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), which affirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate (APC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election.

The five-man panel in their judgment, set aside the petitions of the presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Atiku and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

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Buhari, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday, Buhari said the Tribunal has “written history”.

He claimed that the ruling was a win for the people and democracy.

According to Buhari, the jury withstood intimidation and prejudice to deliver justice according to law.

“If anybody has won today it is the democracy and the people,” the statement read, adding that “with the verdict of the Supreme Court, the election period is over and it is time to put the heat and dust behind us.

“From here, the new APC administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should get the support of everyone in order to deliver the promises it made to the people.”

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Thursday affirmed the declaration of Hon. Dennis Agbo, member representing Igbo-eze North/Udenu federal constituency.

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 House of Reps contest, Obiageli Ajih is challenging INEC declaration of Hon. Dennis Agbo of the Labour Party.

Agbo was returned elected after he polled a total of 28,870 votes to defeat his closest rival, Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic party who garnerd 14,221 votes.

Ajih, who was not satisfied with the outcome of the process had prayed the tribunal to nullify the election and order a rerun on the ground that the name of her party (APC) did not appear in the form EC8a being the declaration sheet.

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Delivering her judgment on the petition on Thursday, the three man honourable Justices dismissed the APC’s suit for being incompetent, vague, lacking in merit and mere academic exercise.

Daily Gazette had reported that Obiageli Ajih came distant third in the February 25 House of Representatives election with a total of 961 votes, while Elochukwu Hyginus of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, came forth after he secured 382 votes.

Legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot ‘birth’ credible elections in the country unless the body is unbundled.

While reacting to the tribunal judgment that upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu, Adegboruwa said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that INEC must be unbundled and dismantled urgently.

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His words: “Today’s verdict should be a reason for sober reflection by all, especially for the parties in court, their lawyers and all lovers of democracy. The petitions could have been decided purely on points of law and within few days of the election.

“There can be no real victory in the resolution of the legal issues by the court when the fabric of our democratic engagements seem to have been hijacked and compromised. Part of the lesson in this process is for us to go back and review the electoral process and the litigations following it. INEC as it is presently constituted cannot birth any credible election in Nigeria.

“In all, may be there was too much expectation that the status quo will be upturned, whereas many of the principles of law canvased had long been settled by the apex court.

“While encouraging all parties to continue in towing the paths already defined by law for the ventilation of grievances, we owe Nigeria an urgent duty to dismantle INEC, urgently.”

He also stated that the verdict by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) ‘was not totally unexpected, noting that the tension was ‘completely unnecessary.’

He said, “The verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court was not totally unexpected, given the stark realities facing us as a nation and the state of the law.

“The principles of presumption of regularity of elections and that of substantial conformity make it extremely difficult to prosecute elections successfully.

“In this particular case, the burden placed upon the petitioners in order to upturn the election was practically insurmountable. To make matters worse, INEC practically fought the petitioners to a standstill, as if it was an interested party in the whole process.

“I honestly don’t think anyone expected a different verdict from what was delivered in Abuja today, particularly the lawyers. The tension was completely unnecessary.”

The Vice-President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has said that the judgment delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court is a testimony to the fate Nigerians have in President Bola Tinubu and his administration.

On whether the judgement will retire the PDP’s presidential candidate politically, Vice President Shettima noted” We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morroco, I will retire him to Fombina, I will buy him goats, broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers, but on a joking side.

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Shettima made the assertion while speaking to newsmen shortly after the 5-member panel of justices of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani delivered judgment affirming Tinubu’s election as president.

“My principal, President Bola Tinubu is eternally indebted to the Nigerian people and to the leadership of the party who have been here since 9 a.m.

“Our energetic chairman and national secretary of the party, members of the national assembly, ministers they have all been here.

“One cannot adequately convey our debt of gratitude to the Nigerian people, my principal will issue a formal statement but we felt compelled to talk to you having spent nearly 14 to 15 hours in this chambers.

“There is dignity of every person that we need to honour and cherish. We want to thank you; the journey is just beginning and we want to call on Nigerians, let us unite,” he said.

The vice-president declared that: ““What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us, let us unite as a people and face our common challenges.

“As I have always said, the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria the greatest black nation on earth will make or mar that trajectory.’’

Shettima said that even though it was a long day, it was a good day.

“Today is a great day for Nigeria. The Nigerian judiciary has proved itself to be the guardian of justice and fairness against the sirens of deception.

“It is a battle between the will of the people and the forces of misinformation and disinformation, but democracy has finally triumphed like the bird phoenix, It rises from the ashes resolute and unhindered and in this age of information discernment is our greatest armor and unity is our strongest hold.

“Remember, in this battle for the survival of the nation, in this grand symphony of democracy, your voice, your vote is the note that cannot be silenced but even in this moment of triumph, we are not going to tamper, we will work for the unity of this nation.

“Democracy as you all know is not a destination but a journey and it takes our resolve, our intent, our commitment to be the custodians of the will of the people,’’ he said.

On whether he would fulfil his campaign promise and “retire political tourists to Dubai, the vice-president said that campaigns were over and it was now time for governance.

“Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman that I hold in very high esteem and anybody who knows the social-cultural interaction between the Fulanis and the Kanuris in the North will know that I have the liberty to haul all insults at him and he will bear.

“We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morroco, I will retire him to Fombina, I will buy him goats, broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers, but on a joking side.

“On a more serious note, he is an elder statesman, the nation needs him, experience is not something that you can buy in the market place. We will tap into his wealth of experience and exposure to catapult the nation to a higher level,” he stated.

NAN reports that Shettima along with Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Hope Uzodinma of Imo, amongst other governors and top government functionaries, were in court to witness the judgment.

They sat from the beginning until about 10 p.m when the court delivered the final judgment in the three petitions challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.