The Federal High Court today, 30th September 2022, nullified the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and his Deputy Governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi on the ground that Governor Mai Mala Buni who submitted their names to INEC violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
On 7th April 2022, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN had commenced a suit with No: FHC/ABJ/CS/468/2022 Between PDP v Governor Mai Mala Buni & 4 Ors. at the Federal High Court challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and his deputy as the duly nominated candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In challenging the competence of the suit, Mr Kunle Adegoke, SAN who represented Governor Isiaka Oyetola contended, amongst other grounds that the Plaintiff did not have the locus to commence the action and that the suit was statute-barred.
In arguing to the contrary, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN leading O.M Atoyebi, SAN and Ademola Abimbola submitted that the Plaintiff rightly commenced the suit under Section 285(14) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
In its judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court agreed with the submissions of the Plaintiff’s counsel and declared as null and void, the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi by the APC. The court also held that Governor Mai Mala Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe State and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC.
The court held that the steps or decisions taken by Governor Mai Mala Buni, including forwarding the names of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi to INEC, amounted to a nullity in law.
The Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, opened up on the whereabouts of the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, saying the former Lagos State governor was in London, United Kingdom.
The clarification was coming after Nigerians, particularly on social media, questioned the whereabouts of the APC flagbearer following the official kick-off of the 2023 electioneering.
The rumours of Tinubu’s alleged ill health, which many ascribe to his sudden disappearance from the public scene, became rife on Thursday after the former governor was absent at the official signing of the peace pact by political parties and presidential candidates.
But debunking a picture making rounds on social media that Tinubu was sick, Onanuga in a Facebook post on Friday evening said contrary to rumours, Tinubu was in London and doing fine.
According to him, let me assure Nigerians who genuinely want to know Tinubu’s whereabouts, he is in London, in his house.
He said Tinubu left the country for a “short break” in preparation for the rigorous electioneering.
The post read, “Here is a fake photo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded to me just now, another handiwork of purveyors of deep fake. Whoever is behind this malicious falsehood will face the judgment of God at the right time. The man in the photo does not look like Asiwaju, except for his baldness. The man is fatter. Tinubu is slimmer.
“Look at the frame of his glasses. it is certainly not Tinubu’s trademark frame. Let me assure Nigerians who genuinely want to know Tinubu’s whereabouts. He is in London, in his house.
“Tinubu left Nigeria on Saturday night for a short break and in readiness for what will certainly be a gruelling campaign. I saw him, and spoke with him two hours before he left. He was hale and hearty. He was not ill. He didn’t go to treat any ailment.
“We spoke today at about 2pm. And he told me how his one-week retreat has not made any difference. He was still working like in Nigeria. Today, he still burnt his candle till 4.30 a.m.. Nigerians should stop spreading rumours about Tinubu, who by the grace of God and fellow Nigerians, will be elected our leader next February. We should learn from the divine fate of the man who wished Tinubu dead.”
Ibrahim Musa Gusau has emerged the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Gusau, a member of CAF Organising Committee and Chairman, Football Associations chairmen, garnered 39 votes to succeed Amaju Pinnick.
In the first round of voting during the election held in Benin, Edo state, Gusau garnered 21 votes, defeating outgoing NFF First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi and Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko, who got 12 and 6 votes respectively.
He also defeated Peterside Idah and Abba Yola who got one vote each.
But, while Akinwunmi, Dikko and Yola, withdrew from the race, Peterside Idah, proceeded to the second round with Ibrahim Gusau, who needed 22 votes to be declared winner.
At the end of the second round voting, Guasau got 39 votes while Peterside Idah got only one vote.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court given in favour of a factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu.
In a judgement on Friday, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court held that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja (now retired) was wrong to have declined jurisdiction to entertain a suit by Jimi Adebisi Lawal.
Lawal is, by his suit, challenging the PDP’s utilisation of a delegates’ list, in the conduct of the governorship primary election on May 25, 2022 as against the list of delegates, who were democratically elected for that purpose at the ward congresses.
Delivering the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Biobele Georgewill held that the issue in the case is pre-election related, over which the Federal High Court has jurisdiction.
Justice Georgewill proceeded to make an order remitting the case to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the hearing of the case on the merit.
The judge held that since the trial court failed decide the suit on its merit and the period of 180 days, for determination of pre-election cases, is still running, suit should remitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for prompt assignment to another judge for trial.
Other members of the panel, Justices M. Mustapha and Danlami Senchi agreed with the lead judgment
Three members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have returned a “mysterious” N93.6 million paid into their accounts by the leadership of the party.
The three party officers are the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe.
Arapaja got N36 million of the said money transferred into his bank account while Orbih and Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each.
The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has said on Thursday that he will not appeal the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Damaturu, in Yobe State with regard to next year’s Yobe North Senatorial district election.
In a statement he personally. signed on Wednesday, Lawan said that he had accepted the judgment of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the election.
Justice Fadima Aminu at a Damaturu Federal High Court on Wednesday had sacked the President of the Senate, ordering the All Progressives Congress, APC to forward the name of Bashir Sheriff Machina to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the authentic winner of the primary, which was held on the 28/05/2022.
Lawan’s statement titled, “Yobe North: I accept the court judgement, he said, ” “Court Judgement on Yobe North Senatorial District Candidacy”, read, “Yesterday, Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgement on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections.
“The said judgement disqualifies my candidature and therefore my participation in the elections.
“After due consultations with my political associates, supporters and well-wishers, I have decided not to appeal against the judgement. I accept the judgement.
“At this juncture, I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe State. I also thank His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood.
“To my constituents, I thank you all for your unflinching support, loyalty and unreserved committment to the course of building our people and Yobe North Senatorial District and indeed Yobe State.
“I want to assure you that I will continue to serve you in my personal and any other capacity at all times.
“We journeyed together for a long time, and this journey will remain a life long journey. It has been a wonderful relationship and it can only get stronger. I am indebted to you all. Alhamdulillah.”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Abdullahi Adamu has accused the party’s presidential candidate Bola Tinubu of appointing members of the Presidential Campaign Council without the approval of APC National Working Committee.
Tinubu had on Friday unveiled a 422-man committee comprising political heavyweights and other notable members of the party to pilot the various sub-committees of the campaign council.
However, days after releasing the list, Tinubu’s campaign council postponed its inauguration to accommodate other interests and stakeholders within the party.
RELEASE OF THE TINUBU-SHETTIMA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL LISTING
On behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I present my compliments to Your Excellency, and have the honour to convey to you, in truth and respect, the Committee’s opinion and position, regarding the above-mentioned subject matter, with a view to having a clear understanding about the respective roles and responsibilities of the principal organs of the Party charged with the duties of conducting the campaigns in the forth-coming general elections.
This correspondence has become necessary in view of developments that took place over the last few days around the purported appointments into the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) that was announced precipitately by officials of the Council, without making a recourse to the NWC for approval. All along, the NWC had been disposed towards the campaign in a cooperative spirit that is driven by the overall interest of the Party and the singular desire of victory for our candidates, in the persons of your esteemed self and your running mate.
It is against this background that the NWC received with astonishment and regret, the press release by the PCC on 23rd September, 2022, in which a purported list of appointees was announced, which effectively served as the approved roster of participants in the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council. The purported list not only came as a complete surprise to the NWC and the Party’s leadership, but also contravened the principles and purposes of the arrangements that you and I had led towards the adoption of the Organogram of the PCC, and its principal officials.
Perhaps it has become necessary owing to the passage of time, that I should draw Your Excellency’s attention to the agreements that we reached in principle around the final adoption of the PCC list, based on the understanding that it was a work in progress, until such a time that the Joint NWC/PCC Committee that was established to formalise the structure and populate the list, submits its report.
Your Excellency will no doubt recall our meetings in my office and also at the NWC Conference Room at the Party’s National Secretariat, on Wednesday, 7th September, 2022, during which we discussed the details of the Organogram of the PCC and its composition, as a collaborative project between the two entities.
Our recollection of those meetings clearly leaves us in no doubt that a breach of agreement has occurred, and that a return to the principles of cooperation and respect for each other is required.
In Your Excellency’s own words, which I take liberty to quote here, which I also hold dearly, you stated that “there is a burden on everyone’s shoulders towards delivering the elections to the Party and the candidate”. This has been the view of the NWC and myself all along since Your Excellency’s emergence as our Great Party’s Flagbearer. The NWC is striving under trying circumstances to keep faith with this vision, and to take our Party and candidates to victory, not only in the Presidential elections, but in all others across the elective strata of offices.
May I therefore, point out to Your Excellency, that winning elections is a cooperative as well as collaborative effort, that is done in transparency and disinterested manner by all parties concerned, by respecting established boundaries and acknowledging the contributions of everyone. The NWC believes that any sign of disarray in the Party’s ranks will undermine the spirit and ethos of the campaign and give undue alarm to faithful members and followers of the Party across the country.
At the same, such a development would undoubtedly come as “Manna from Heaven” for the opposition parties, whose only desire when all else fails, is to see the introduction of rancour, division and disinclination in the leadership of our Great Party. I am sure Your Excellency will agree with me that this is an eventuality that we must do all in power to prevent from happening. You will also agree that we owe it a duty as leaders to provide guidance by example to the rest of the Party including the PCC, to abide by agreements and adhere strictly to the work ethos that has been adopted by all of us. It is only by doing so that we will establish the premise for victory and gain the trust and confidence of our dear countrymen and women.
Without further admonishment or complaints, I wish hereby to call upon Your Excellency to restrain the PCC from undertaking solo projects of this nature, and agree to work with all stakeholders towards taking our Party to victory. I shall not find it necessary to reiterate the importance of the Party in the overall scheme of things in these campaigns, and the singular position of the NWC in driving the process towards our securing of victory in the polls.
It suffices for me to convey the general and overwhelming sentiment of the NWC with regards to the ill-timed and unfortunate release of the PCC list, which confounded rather than pleased the members and whose withdrawal will assure the NWC of Your Excellency’s respect and disposition towards the Party, as well as the magnanimous spirit of cooperation towards achieving victory together with the NWC.
Please accept, Your Excellency, my own personal regard and consideration, as well as the assurances of the of the NWCs’ warm and sincere felicitations.
There is heavy security in Osogbo capital of Osun State ahead of the Supreme court judgment in the suit of Prince Dotun Babayemi challenging the candidacy of Governor-elect Senator Ademola Adeleke as the 2022 guber flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Prior to Osun 2022 governorship election, different primaries produced Babayemi and Adeleke but the National Working Committee of PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) recognised the former as the authentic candidate of the party.
Babayemi challenged the recognition of Adeleke as the candidate of the party before the Federal High Court and Appeal Court but lost.
He approached the Supreme Court after Adeleke emerged Governor-elect to be declared the authentic candidate of the party because right delegates voted for him.
Supreme court has fixed Thursday for judgement on the suit challenging Adeleke’s candidacy of PDP.
There was heavy security at popular Ola-Iya junction Osogbo as Police, Nigeria Army, Hunters, Amotekun and other security agencies stationed thier patrol vans at the flyover.
Security operatives, numbering over 100, displayed show of strength at the early hours of Thursday before they finally manned Ola-Iya, Old-Garage and Oke-Fia junctions.
A top security source told The Nation: “We manned the flashpoints across the state because of the Supreme court judgement on Adeleke and Babayemi holding in Abuja today. We are on ground to prevent break down of laws and order.”
Google has announced six new features and developments on a search to help people gather and explore information in new ways.
Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, the Head, Communication, West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
Kola-Ogunlade said that the new features leveraging machine learning would help people gather information in new ways.
He highlighted the six new features as multi-search, multi-search near me, translation in the blink of an eye, Google for iOS updates, even faster ways to find what you are looking for and new ways to explore information.
Kola-Ogunlade disclosed that people use lenses to answer over eight billion questions monthly.
He noted that Google introduced multi-search, a major milestone, to help people search for information earlier this year.
‘’With multi-search, you can take a picture or use a screenshot and then add text to it — similar to the way you might naturally point at something and ask a question about it.
‘’Multisearch is available in English globally, and will now be rolling out in 70 languages in the next few months.
‘’Multisearch near me allows you to take a screenshot or a photo of an item, and then find it nearby.
‘’So, if you have a hankering for your favourite local dish, all you need to do is screenshot it, and Google will connect you with nearby restaurants serving it,” he said.
According to him, in translation, in the blink of an eye, one of the most powerful aspects of visual understanding, is its ability to break down language barriers.
“Google has gone beyond translating text to translating pictures – with Google translating text in images over one billion times monthly in more than 100 languages,” Kola-Ogunlade said.
He said with major advancements in machine learning, Google is now able to blend translated text into complex images.
“Google has also optimised their machine learning models to do all this in just 100 milliseconds — shorter than the blink of an eye,” Kola-Ogunlade added.
He said that this uses generative adversarial networks (GAN models) which power the technology behind the Magic Eraser on Pixel.
“Google is working to make it possible to ask questions with fewer words- or even none at all and still help you find what you are looking for.
“For those who do not know exactly what they are looking for until they see it, Google will help you to specify your question.
“Google is reinventing the way it displays search results to better reflect the ways people explore topics to see the most relevant content,” Kola-Ogunlade said.
The dollar hit N735 in the parallel market on Wednesday as political campaign activities began in the country.
According to Bureau De Change operators in Lagos and Abuja, dollar price had increased from N718 – N720 to N728-N735 in the last one week.
A BDC operator at Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, Bala Usman, said, “It is N728. I can’t go less than that.”
Another operator, Abubakar Jamiu, at Zone 4, Abuja, told the PUNCH, “Dollar don cost, we are selling at N730, no more no less.”
But the dollar rate hit N735 by the close of Wednesday.
An operator in Lagos Island, Mallam Zakari, said that dollar rate had surged to N735 as at 4:54pm.
“Dollar is N735 and I will buy it for N731. Yesterday, we sold N728.”
However, at the Importers and Exporters Window, rate still hovered around N430/$.
The dollar-naira exchange rate was N431.19 as of Tuesday.
Analysyts said the naira had weakened in the parallel market due to increased speculations, falling external reserves, and low foreign exchange inflows.
Speaking on major factors responsible for the rate hikes in dollar to naira, the Vice President Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Idahosa, said that the immediate cause of dollar rate increment was the new Monetary Policy Rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The immediate cause of the dollar price hike is the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate from 13 per cent to 15.5 per cent announced by the Central Bank.
“Lending rates by banks and other financial institutions will rise following the MPR hike. This will lead to further rise in cost of operations by all businesses, aggravating the rising inflation. This has triggered further demand for dollars to avoid more decline in the value of any funds held in naira.”
According to Idahosa, the commencement of elections also meant that a lot of funds had started pouring into campaign-related activities.
“Beneficiaries of these spending will be converting naira funds received to dollars as fast as possible.”
An economist at the University of Uyo, Prof Akpan Ekpo, said the demand for dollar was higher than the supply, especially with the many restrictions by the CBN.
“There are two things: One is, demand for dollars is more than supply. So people are going to the black market. And the process for getting dollars from CBN is cumbersome.”
“Then there’s not much inflow. We don’t export enough non-oil goods and services, and we depend more on oil and the price has declined in the last few weeks.”
Ekpo added that the preparations for the 2023 campaign also caused a ripple effect.
“Of course, campaign will soon start, and politicians are hoarding dollars for the campaign. They are buying dollars for the campaign.”
Nigeria’s forex reserves stood at $38.5bn on Wednesday, which was a drop by $1.8bn from $40.5bn recorded in January 2022.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the President, Association of Bureaux de Change Operators of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, had explained that the situation was caused by several factors, including elections, loss of confidence, and demand/ supply.
“It is a market where demand and supply determine the price. Do not forget that election years are associated with foreign exchange volatility, coupled with supply squeeze. External reserves, inflation, cost of inputs, and the Russia-Ukraine war are also key issues,” he said, arguing that there was indeed a loss of confidence..
