Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule attends son's wedding in the US.

Zakari Sule, the son of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, has married his heartthrob, Alysa, in US.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the couple tied the knot in a low key ceremony on Saturday at McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Texas, United States.

The groom is the eldest son of the second wife of governor, Ijim Sule.

The governor was accompanied to the wedding ceremony by some aides and close associates.

Among those in attendance are Tanimu Sarki, the commissioner for Lands and Surve; Yusuf Maianguwa, senior special assistant to the governor on liaison office, Abuja; and one Aliyu Tijani.

Sharing pictures of the wedding on his Facebook page, the chief press secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Addra, wrote: “Congratulations to Alysa & Zakari Sule on their wedding ceremony at the McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Highway 71, Cedar Creek, TX 78612.

“H.E Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, in company of some government officials and friends, attended the ceremony”.

KADUNA STATE HAS EVACUATED ALL ITS SCHOLARSHIP BENEFICIARIES IN SUDAN AND HAS ALSO COMMENCED THE EVACUATION OF ALL KADUNA STATE STUDENTS.

PRESS RELEASE

KADUNA STATE HAS EVACUATED ALL ITS SCHOLARSHIP BENEFICIARIES IN SUDAN AND HAS ALSO COMMENCED THE EVACUATION OF ALL KADUNA STATE STUDENTS

This is to inform the General Public that, the Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has directed the complete evacuation of all Kaduna State residents studying in Sudan. Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board's Team, led by its Executive Secretary, Hassan Rilwan, has painstakingly, been working round the clock to ensure the safe return of the students as directed. The Board, has moved to emergency mode, meaning that, staff have been on ground daily at the office to respond to the students needs, parents enquiries, Embassy liaison and general coordination of the evacuation mission. The first bus carrying the 50 verified students of Kaduna State as at April 29, 2023 are currently close to the Sudanese-Egyptian Border to join other students awaiting clearance into Egypt.

Another bus is scheduled to leave today, April 30, 2023 once the students verification is complete. The State Government has given an express approval to airlift the students, once they gain entrance into Egypt. A team from Kaduna State are to receive the students on the Egyptian side, to facilitate their airlifting to Nigeria either through the Federal Government or the State Government's flight arrangement, depending on which is ready first.

Parents should note that, no exclusive arrangement can be made for Kaduna students, because the Government of Egypt has not given clearance to allow the busses into Egypt. The Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries are working to sort out the issues. The Board, has sent an advance manifest to the Embassies of Nigeria in Sudan and Egypt with formal request for consular services at the Boarder.

Against this backdrop, We therefore, call on parents of affected students to continue to exercise patience at this trying time, as we continue to monitor and ensure the safe return of our students back to Kaduna State.

SIGNED HASSAN RILWAN
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Labour Party (LP) says the national executive council meeting planned by Lamidi Apapa-led faction is “illegal, fake and unauthourised”.

The leadership of the party has been experiencing in-fighting since Apapa, who the party said has been suspended, declared himself the acting national chairman following the sack of Julius Abure by a court.

Others said to be suspended were Samuel Akingbade, national legal adviser; Gbenga Daramola, national financial secretary; Anselem Eragbe, national youth leader; and Abayomi Arabambi, national publicity secretary.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obiora Ifoh, LP’s acting spokesperson, said Apapa’s faction is currently planning a NEC meeting after the party successfully held one in Asaba, Delta state capital.

He said the proposed meeting scheduled for May 3 is illegal.

“It has come to the notice of the leadership of the Labour Party of a proposed illegal, fake and unauthourised National Executive Council meeting organised by the suspended deputy national chairman, Lamidi Apapa and his renegade cohorts, expected to hold May 3 in Bauchi state,” Ifoh said.

“This is coming barely two weeks after the party held its very successful NEC meeting in Asaba, Delta state, that was attended by virtually all NEC members including 36 state chairmen and secretaries, all members of the National Working Committee, most of the elected members of the national assembly, leader and presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, party trustees including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) amongst others.

“In a memo signed by the former deputy national chairman, Apapa, they extended the invitation to some of our elected leaders including our presidential candidate, people they neither supported during their campaigns nor recognised as leaders of the party. These are people they are surreptitiously working to terminate their cases in the various tribunals. We concluded that the temerity to even invite these leaders was purely for publicity ops and stunts which they knew were dead on arrival.

“It is only mischievous minds that will want to obey the FCT high court order without also respecting the Edo state high court order which bars any party agents including these renegades from tampering with the status quo even when they know that both courts are of equal and coordinate jurisdiction.

“Article 13:2A of our party constitution is clear on the composition of the Labour Party NEC, and it did not state that expelled and suspended officers of the party shall regroup and convene a NEC of the party. The question is; who are they hoping to attend the NEC, if not their usual customers; touts, market women, street hawkers.and people who are not members of the party.

“We are using this medium to alert Nigerians that the proposed NEC meeting scheduled to hold on the 3rd of May in Bauchi is illegal. They have no powers to call for NEC, they have been suspended by NEC. This illegal gathering has been reported to the Police, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and they have no intention to monitor the shenanigan. INEC in any case does not even know of any other Labour Party as no court in Nigeria has given any judgement on the case.”

The party also called on the management of the hotel where the meeting is planning to hold, asking that they should refuse offering their venue for the meeting.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has taken steps to appeal the restoration of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the company’s non-executive Chairman.

This was contained a statement on Wednesday by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President stated that he has taken due notice of judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which reinstated Ararume, adding that his administration respects the Rule of Law, and nothing will be done outside the law, to resolve the matter.

The president sued for calm from all sides involved in the matter.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday reinstated Ararume as NNPCL non-Executive Chairman.

The Court voided his sack and set aside the removal done on January 17, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari on the ground that the action of the President was unlawful and illegal.

Delivering Judgement in a suit instituted by Ararume, Justice Ekwo awarded the sum of N5Bn against Buhari and NNPCL to be paid to Ararume as damages for his wrongful sack.

President Muhammadu Buhari says the court judgment which ordered the reinstatement of Ifeanyi Ararume as a non-executive chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited will be appealed.

Buhari had appointed Araume as board chairman of the corporation in September 2021, but he was later sacked and replaced with Margaret Chuba Okadigbo in January the following year.

Ararume had sued the president, arguing that his sack was “wrongful,” and amounted to “disruption and interruption” of the term of his office.

In a judgement delivered on Tuesday, Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, ordered that the former senator be reinstated as a non-executive chairman of the NNPC, with all rights and privileges due to him.

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF RETURN*

Following the conclusion of supplementary elections nationwide and the declaration of winners, the Commission will present certificates of return to the Adamawa State Governor and Deputy Governor-elect at 3pm today.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship candidate in Adamawa, Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) has denied allegations that she gave a sum of N2 billion as a bribe to some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare her as Governor-elect.

Recall that the electoral umpire had on Sunday suspended collation for the Saturday supplementary governorship election in the state, after the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa Ari announced Aisha Dahiru as the winner of the election.

According to her, an officer of the Department of State Services made the “very bizarre, unfounded wild allegations” against her.

Binani is a statement on Tuesday said “I NEVER DID, I would never do such.

This said statement was allegedly made when the officer was being tortured at gunpoint by the agents of the Adamawa State Governor and the Government House police team alongside their political thugs.

“I wish to reiterate that I am a democrat, I have always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert democratic process. I am not a do-or-die politician. In the past I have won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in a free and fair manner.

“What happened in Adamawa was an unsuccessful attempt to subvert the will of the people. The REC was illegally told to stand down by two INEC national commissioners from Abuja who were supposed to be in Adamawa in a supervisory capacity. Even more curious is the nocturnal visit of some INEC national officers to Adamawa State Government house and bizarre declaration the same day after the visit that they have taken over the collation through the backdoor, with the Collation and Returning Officers selected by the Governor of Adamawa.

“The roles of these INEC officers from Abuja and the real mission of the two to the Government House should be of interest to all democrats.

“I urge all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.

“Meanwhile to all my supporters both within and outside Adamawa, I wish to use this opportunity to thank you for your unflinching support, in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda,” she concluded.

Nigeria’s foremost investigative newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES, has written the United Kingdom government requesting the details of the arrest and detention of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by its immigration officials at Heathrow airport in London last week.

In the letter dated 13 April to the UK Home Office, the newspaper sought to understand the circumstances surrounding Mr Obi’s ordeals in the European country during Easter.

On Wednesday, the Head, Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade, in a statement announced that the LP candidate was last week detained in London by UK immigration officials over alleged impersonation.

Mr Onifade, however, said Mr Obi has since returned to Nigeria.

“The LP presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential poll arrived at the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary Airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration officials who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside,” he said in the statement.

He added that Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, was harassed by the London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays.

The statement did not, however, highlight the necessary details of Mr Obi’s arrest and his subsequent discharge before returning to the country.

Similarly, the UK government has yet to provide any information surrounding Mr Obi’s ordeal in London.

THE INQUIRY
Based on these concerns and its desire to accurately report the incident amidst unsubstantiated claims on social media on the issues, PREMIUM TIMES placed a telephone call on Thursday to UK Home Office for further details on Mr Obi’s ordeal.

However, this newspaper was requested to write a letter formally requesting the details.

In the letter, signed by the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, it specifically sought clarification on Mr Obi’s offences, when and how he was released, the conditions upon which he was released, the current status of the case against him and other related issues.

“Our newspaper is interested in understanding the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Mr Obi, including:

-details of when he was arrested,

– his offences,

– when and how he was released,

– the conditions upon which he was released,

– the current status of the case against him and

– whether he was arraigned and in which court,” the letter read.

LP mute
Meanwhile, a similar request among which include the inquiry into the crimes committed by the “impersonator” that led to Mr Obi’s detention as well as his current access status to the UK, which were forwarded to Mr Onifade were left unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

Also, a check on the LP’s website by this paper also revealed that the party might have deleted the statement issued by Mr Onifade about Mr Obi’s London ordeal which it published earlier.

NO APOLOGY FROM UK AUTHORITIES
Meanwhile, LP has denied reports that the UK government had apologised to Mr Obi over his “arrest”, “detention” and “harassment” at the London airport as claimed by his party in the statement.

“We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so-called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our Principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April.

“We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard,” Mr Onifade said in a statement on Thursday.

The LP spokesperson said while the party continues to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, it had every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter to a conclusion.

“Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused, on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th,” the statement said.

The LP presidential candidate has yet to speak on his ordeal in London.

Mr Obi was one of the 18 candidates in Nigeria’s recent presidential election in which he came third.

The electoral commission declared the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, winner of the poll with over eight million votes against Mr Obi’s over six million votes.

The LP candidate is currently challenging the result in court.

An eight-storey building situated inside the luxurious Banana Island in Lagos State has collapsed.

The building, sources said, is Joe Faraday’s site with ongoing construction works inside it.

A source said while it is unsure what triggered the collapse, concreting was ongoing on the sixth floor before the collapse.

A terse statement by NEMA said workers are trapped in the building and its officials are mobilising the response team to rescue the trapped victims.

Seven-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos

A seven-storey building under construction has collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The incident happened on Wednesday around past 3 pm.

There is something suspicious about @peterobi’s UK “Immigration Story,” because I don’t see how a modern biometric passport with his fingerprints and biometric identity could lead to his being seen as an “impersonator” or a clone, more curious is why he’s sending third parties to tell half of the story. Something fishy is going on! #Revolutionnow

THE National Population Commission (NPC) has postponed a training programme organised for enumerators and supervisors involved in the 2023 population census.

The training, which the NPC slated for April 13, has been postponed indefinitely.

The Commission’s chairman, Dr Ipalibo Harry, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday, April 12.

He assured that the development would not affect the conduct of the population and housing census scheduled to hold from May 3 to 7.

Harry said the NPC has concluded the training of its data managers and is prepared for the census.

First census since 2006

Nigeria is set to hold its first national population census in 17 years.

The census will be conducted in May and, according to the NPC, will meet global best standards.

Nigeria’s estimated population is more than 200 million, and the United Nations expects that to double by 2050. That would make Nigeria the world’s third most populous country, overtaking the United States.

The census had been earlier scheduled for March 29 but was postponed due to the postponement of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

According to the NPC, the census will be conducted digitally. This, according to the Commission, is in line with the United Nations (UN) recommendations.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.8 billion for the Commission to procure software to be used for the conduct of the census.

Inspector Adejoh Siaka; Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari from Rivers State. These are the men who slapped a man on the road in Rivers. They reported at the Force Headquarters today. Trial will soon commence. We will update you as soon as possible. Thanks.

"I'm under pressure to leave Nigeria"- Peter Obi.

Please do us all a big favour and GO!
Sooner the better and NEVER come back!

06/04/2023

Press Statement

We are alarmed by the decision of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja via exparte to suspend from office the National Chairman, the National Secretary, National Treasurer and the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu and Opara respectively on unfounded/unproven and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious. The court order according to Justice Hamza Muazu is to subsist “pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injuction”.

The ruling was sequel to a motion exparte filed along the substantive suit by eight so-called aggrieved members of the party including the Chairman of the party in Abure’s ward.

We view the decapitation of the leadership of the party with great suspicion which cannot be far from the intent to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.

In light of this, we urge the courts to exercise utmost caution in entertaining frivolous suits and spurious prayers from mercenary party members as they are capable of compromising the integrity of the courts.

We similarly join the league of those who canvass against the casual use of exparte in light of the grieviouness of the injuries they quite often inflict.

We also note that this extant court order does not only violate the principle of presumption of innocence, a cardinal pillar of our judicial system, it is an affront to justice itself. We find it curious that while ex-convicts continue to occupy ample space in the public service or space without let or hindrance, those yet to be found guilty are already being harangued or hounded are being debarred from holding office.

Finally, the continued relevance of our courts cannot be divorced from the quality of their decisions or rulings. Accordingly, our courts are advised to refrain from taking decisions which portray them as having descended into the arena, or worse still, make them picketable.

On our part, the grounds for suspending the quartet, either in the courtroom or outside it, are not there even as mischievous forces orchestrate evil. The quartet therefore remain executives of the party. In light of the foregoing, we invite the honourable court to review its decision forthwith.

On the next adjourned date we are going to be in court in our numbers to listen to the Judge.

Comrade Joseph Ajaero
President

ABUJA, FCT APRIL 5, 2023

PRESS STATEMENT

ATTACK ON APC MEMBERS IN PORT HARCOURT IS BARBARIC, DESERVES URGENT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemns, in the strongest terms, the attack on some of its leaders and members in Port Harcourt on Monday, April 3, 2023, by thugs and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This barbaric and unprovoked attack occurred during a visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission's office by Mr. Tonye Cole, APC Governorship Candidate, Dr. Innocent Barikor, Deputy Governorship Candidate, Mr. Emeka Beke, State Chairman of the Party and 3 other party officials to obtain the Certified True Copies (CTC) of vital documents in the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections. Without warning, thugs and supporters of the PDP descended on our Party officials, inflicting severe and life threatening injuries on them, and damaging personal and party properties.

This premeditated attack by PDP thugs and operatives on our officials and members in Port Harcourt is yet another in what has now become an orgy of violence carried out with mind-boggling audacity, and with absolutely no serious investigation by the police or repercussions for the instigators and perpetrators of this serial violence.

Ostensibly, this latest attack was aimed at frustrating the effort of our Governorship Candidate to obtain vital documents to exercise his constitutional right to challenge the declared result of the Governorship election in the state. For the PDP that claims to have won the election to resort to this level of violence to block a legitimate legal challenge tells a different story of a party sitting precariously on needles and pins in the face of prospects of a legal challenge by our Governorship Candidate.

While we commend the swift response of security agencies, especially the Police and the Nigerian Army in restoring peace and order in the wake of this brutal attack, again, we call on the Inspector General of Police to order an urgent and thorough investigation into this and previous incidents of violent attacks on leaders and members of our Party in Rivers State, and to bring the sponsors and perpetrators to justice.

SIGNED: Barr. Felix Morka National Publicity Secretary

I am clear about these issues even though I stringently continue to state that @PeterObi and his @NgLabour are not different from his @OfficialAPCNg and @OfficialPDPNig uncles, however, shameless Lai Mohammed and @NGRPresident claims that protected speech and lawful protests against fraudulent election amounts to “Treason” is a hoax and fallacy carried too far.

They’re harassing @Peterobi and his Vice Presidential candidate, DATTI Ahmed with these tactics because they know they are wimps with zero ability to fight a revolutionary struggle and because they’ve all been partners in crime since 1999. #Revolutionnow

STATEMENT

Labour Party Condemns Invasion and Occupation of Party Secretariat in Owerri by Agents of Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma.

The national leadership of the Labour Party is shocked over the Invasion and Occupation of its Secretariat in Owerri, today, Monday April 3, 2023 by the agents of Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, including thugs and unauthorized police men drafted from the government house.

Such illegal occupation was akin to similar invasion on thesame Secretariat on Wednesday March 15, 2023.

Unlike the March invasion, where no reason was given by the state government on why it took such unlawful action against our political party, this time, they said that the action was due to a Court Order. But as at the moment, no such Order to our knowledge was given. No Order has been presented to us by the court or their agents. The Police men presently occupying our Secretariat have not even shown us the Order. At the moment, all our officials and staff have been barred from accessing the Secretariat.
We have contacted the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the on going development in the state, and it has been confirmed that the Force is not aware of any security breach whatsoever in the state to warrant the occupation of our Secretariat.

The Police have also informed us that it has not detailed any of their officers and men to the Labour Party Secretariat in Imo state; and that the officers may have been drafted from the State House in the state.

The Labour Party however is not unmindful of the efforts of the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma to hijack the leadership of the Party in Imo state.

These actions have confirmed the information available to us of plots by the governor to plant some surrogates wearing the garments of aspirants in the party. This game plan, as archaic as it seems, has been detected and punctured, the consequences being the aggression unleashed on the party by the state government.

The leadership of the Labour is determined to bring the needed changes the people of Imo state have yearned since inception of this present dispensation. The state has been deprived of good and quality leadership. The resources of the state have being balkanized and liquidated by the administrations in the past. This is in spite of the fact that the state is not lacking in personalities with decent background and pedigree in services to the state.

Labour Party is therefore assuring the state that it will field as its governorship candidate, a person with proven integrity in both personal and public life; and with OBidient blood running in his/her veins. No amount of intimidation by Governor Hope Uzodimma and his army of thugs will deter the party from fielding and winning the governorship election.

We therefore call on all the members of the Labour Party and OBidient family in Imo State to be peaceful even in the face of the present provocation as the party will do everything within the books to retrieve our Secretariat from the state security officers and sponsored thugs that are presently occupying our Secretariat.

Sign

Mallam Umar Farouk
National Secretary
Labour Party (LP)

April 3, 2023

With effect from Saturday, Ist April, bus fare on all regulated buses BRT, Standard and FLM - shall revert to 100 per cent rate.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, had on Wednesday, 8th February 2023 approved a 50% slash in bus fares following the cash crunch brought about by the recent currency swap.

Following the Supreme Court and Federal Government's pronouncements on the use of old notes alongside the new notes and return of stability to the system, the 50% rebate is hereby discontinued.

Consequently, bus fares return to pre-50% slash rate effective Saturday, Ist April 2023.

Thank you for your understanding.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday appealed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to prevail on the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its planned protest slated for Wednesday.

Daily Trust had reported that the leadership of NLC had last Friday mobilised its affiliate unions and the State Councils to shut down offices of the apex bank nationwide over current cash scarcity in the country.

But at a closed-door meeting which held at the headquarters of Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, Emefiele was quoted as saying the protest would hinder the progress of the apex bank if not averted.

The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero led other Labour leaders while Emefiele led the apex bank officials to the meeting that was later presided over by the Minister.

An official of the ministry, who attended the meeting told Daily Trust anonymously that Emefiele promised to ensure that all commercial banks were given enough cash from the CBN’s vault.

“You would notice that the CBN had since last Friday directed commercial banks to open during weekends so as to ease the issue of cash crunch. The governor (Emefiele) was here to talk to the Minister in order to prevail on the labour leaders.

“He (Emefiele) said the protest will disrupt a lot of things in the bank, hence his reasons to heed the minister’s call who is a Chief conciliator”, the official told Daily Trust.

None of the trio spoke to journalists after the closed-door meeting.

A statement is yet to be issued either by the apex bank or the ministry regarding the meeting as at when filing this report last night.

But the NLC President in a formal invitation to our correspondent said he would brief the press on Tuesday regarding the outcome of the meeting.

All those sons of bitches tweeting the hashtags #TinubuTheDrugDealer
#TinubuForPrison, your days are numbered. One day, you will face the wrath of law and God for tweeting malicious falsehood about Nigeria's President-Elect.

‘Go to Court’ is a metaphor that symbolizes impunity. It represents the reprehensible notion of ‘nothing dey happen’ or ‘na we dey there’.

It means stealing the King’s trumpet and blowing it in the market square and the King can do but nothing.

2/ The Nigerian judiciary has a duty to itself. It should use the presidential election petition to demonstrate that you can ‘Come to Court’ and find justice.

ZAMFARA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS

1. Zurmi LGA
APC - 21,027
PDP - 24,328✓

2. Anka LGA
APC - 10156
PDP - 17,116✓

3. Bukuyum LGA
APC - 10321
PDP - 24,341✓

4. Bungudu LGA
APC 24,865
PDP 47,464✓

5. Gummi LGA
APC 20,263
PDP 27,929✓

6. Bakura LGA
APC 41,063✓
PDP 19,455

7. Talata Mafara LGA
APC 41,280✓
PDP 22,236

8. Tsafe LGA
APC 25,805
PDP 42,188✓

9. Shinkafi LGA
APC 13,408
PDP 13,435✓

10. Maru LGA
APC 10646
PDP 22036✓

11. Gusau LGA
APC 32,172
PDP 64,710✓

12. Kaura LGA
APC: 26,472
PDP: 31,236✓

13. Birnin Magaji LGA
APC 9,643✓
PDP 8,991

14. Maradun LGA
APC 24,855✓
PDP 12,261

PDP’s Dauda Lawal Unseats Zamfara Gov Matawalle In Stunning Upset

In what may be described as the biggest upset of the general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Dauda Lawal has unseated Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lawal the governor-elect with a total of 377,726 votes, after he defeated Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 311,976.

He was announced as the winner in Gusau, the state capital in the early hours of Tuesday.

Results For Kaduna Governorship Elections

When I tune to Television stations where I see election reporting captioned “Nigeria Decides” “Borno Decides” “Lagos Decides”, I laugh. It should actually be captioned as “ INEC and Police decide”

Let 2023 be the last time of Igbo interference in Lagos politics. Let there be no repeat in 2027. Lagos is like Anambra, Imo, any Nigerian state. It is not No Man’s Land, not Federal Capital Territory. It is Yoruba land. Mind your business.

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to electronically transmit the Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly’s election results in accordance with its regulations and guidelines.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, also ordered the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, immediately after the completion of all the polling units voting and results’ procedures in Akwa Ibom.

The judge further directed the commission to conspicuously paste the publication of its result posters EC60(E) at polling units after completing the EC8A result sheets in the state.

He equally ordered INEC to enforce the observance and compliance of Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 in the distribution of electoral materials during the conduct of the polls in the state by engaging the services of independent, competent, and reliable logistic companies who are non-partisans or known supporters of any political for the distribution of electoral materials and personnel.

Mr Egwuatu held that since the electoral umpire averred in its filed affidavit that it was aware of its responsibilities under the law and had not failed to carry them out, granting the prayers sought by the applicants would not do any harm to the commission but instead, energise its performance.

He gave the judgment following a suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Uduakobong Udoh, including 13 state’s House of Assembly candidates for the March 18 elections.

The applicants, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/334/2023 dated and filed on March 15 by their lawyer, Moses Usoh-Abia, had sued INEC as sole defendant.

The applicants, who sought seven reliefs, prayed the court for an order of mandamus compelling INEC and all its agents to comply with and enforce the provision of Clause 37 of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections in Akwa Ibom.

They also prayed the court to mandate the presiding officers of all polling units to conspicuously paste the publication of result posters EC460(E) at the polling units after completing the EC8A result sheets.

They sought an order of mandamus compelling the commission to mandate the presiding officers of all polling units in the state to electronically transmit or transfer the result of the polling units, direct to the collation system and use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after the completion of all the polling units voting and results procedures.

They said this was in compliance with the provision of Clause 38 of the guidelines for the conduct of the polls.

The applicants equally prayed for an order directing INEC to enforce the observance and compliance of Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 in the distribution of electoral materials during the conduct of the polls by engaging the services of independent, competent, and reliable logistic companies who are non-partisans or known supporters of any political for the distribution of electoral materials and personnel, among other reliefs.

NAN reports that Justice Egwuatu had, on Wednesday, granted leave to the applicants to proceed with a judicial review, filed requisite motion and put INEC on notice, following an ex-parte motion moved by Usoh-Abia.

Upon resumed hearing on the matter on Friday, Usoh-Abia informed that he had complied with the earlier court order and that their motion was served on INEC same Wednesday.

The lawyer said despite the service of their process, the commission was not represented in court.

The judge, however, said that he noticed INEC:s counter affidavit and a preliminary objection to their originating summons in the court file.

He said the application was filed on Thursday.

Responding, Usoh-Abia said though they were yet to be served by the commission, he was ready to proceed with the matter due to the urgency of the case.

He said the motion, dated March 15, had 26-paragrph affidavit with nine exhibits.

The lawyer urged the court to direct the electoral umpire to comply with its regulations and guidelines of Clauses 37 and 38 on the conduct of the elections.

He said the order was necessary because the commission, in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly polls, failed to transmit results of the elections in the state and across the country.

He argued that INEC created the regulations and guidelines pursuant to Section 148 and 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to guide the conduct of elections and collating of election result among others.

Usoh-Abia said INEC’s refusal to comply with the law had resulted in serious prejudice; and had foisted uncertainty and frustration on his clients at their various polling units and wards.

The lawyer said if the order was not granted, the same scenario would repeat itself in the Saturday’s poll.

But INEC, in its preliminary objection, said the suit was incompetent and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

The commission argued that the applicants had not established a justifiable action against it.

It also said that the applicants acted in contravention of the practice direction by commencing the suit via originating summons.

Delivering judgment, Justice Egwuatu said he was satisfied that the applicants had complied with the practice direction rules in the filing of their application.

He also said that he was satisfied that a cause of action had been established against INEC in the paragraphs of the applicants’ process.

The judge, therefore, ordered INEC to direct all its presiding officers to comply with Clauses 37 and 38 of its regulations and guidelines for the conduct of tomorrow’s election in Akwa Ibom.

He held that the commission had the legal duty to act in accordance with the law.

The judge, however, refused to grant other reliefs.

Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Patrick Vieira has left his post as First Team Manager.

Three members of Patrick’s coaching staff - Osian Roberts, Kristian Wilson and Saïd Aïgoun - have also left the club.

Chairman Steve Parish said: “It is with enormous regret that this difficult decision has been made. Ultimately, results in recent months have placed us in a precarious league position and we felt a change is necessary to give us the best chance of retaining Premier League status.

"That said, Patrick’s impact since joining us in the summer of 2021 has been significant, and he is held in the highest regard by myself, and all of his colleagues. He led the team to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final and respectable 12th placed finish last season playing some exciting football, which was a challenging and crucial campaign for the club given the changes we made to the squad prior to his arrival.

"Patrick has given his all to the club, and we all thank him and his team for their service.

“We also wish Patrick, Osian, Kristian and Saïd the very best for their futures.”

The process to appoint a new manager is underway, and we will provide an update in due course. Dean Kiely will remain as goalkeeping coach.

March 16, 2023

Press Statement

Police Invitation: Fear of Ihedioha, Irona, Ikenga Ugochinyere Will Consume Your Regime - Imo PDP Berates Hope Uzodinma

- Says, Police in Imo Has Become Instrument for Political Vendetta

- Demands Immediate Sack of Imo Commissioner of Police

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has said in clear terms that the resort to use of police to harass, arrest and incarcerate PDP leaders in Imo State by Senator Hope Uzodinma shows a man who can no longer handle the phobia of his imminent loss of state power.

Our Party notes that this fear which comes from Uzodinma's unpopularity, cowardice and shame to participate in any fair electoral contest is common with all despots, and it invariably consumes their regimes. The renewed onslaughts against former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona and Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is therefore the end of the road for the ill-fated reign of Hope Uzodinma in Imo State.

The former Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, had his residence invaded last week by armed security operatives on the orders of Uzodinma. Since then, he has been in detention, persecuted for doing no wrong.

This week, a letter from the Imo State Police Command came to our Party, requesting the State Chairman, Engr. Charles Ugwuh, to bring former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, already-detained former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, and Member-elect for Ideato Federal Constituency, Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, for questioning over completely insane, puerile and nonexistent cases of kidnapping, murder and arson.

This is a calculated attempt by Senator Uzodinma to arrest and keep these prominent leaders of our Party out of circulation during the House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 18th, to enable the terrified Uzodinma rig the polls and reestablish a weak and malleable APC-dominated House of Assembly in Imo which can only sing his praises. Imo people must now rise and defend democracy in the State!

Further, the plot by Uzodinma to arrest and detain former Governor Ihedioha, Rt. Hon. Irona, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere and nine (9) other leaders of Imo PDP is also targeted at destabilizing the PDP governorship primary election in the State which barely one month away. The jittery Uzodinma is aware that his sack at the polls by PDP is a decided issue. Falling back on police brutality can only worsen his fate.

Our Party, however, regrets that the police in Imo State has abdicated its duty of protecting lives and property, and has instead allowed itself to be so debased and abused by Senator Uzodinma, and deployed as tool for political vendetta. This is extremely dangerous.

What Imo PDP really considers mind-boggling is that this same police which has failed to investigate three consecutive armed attacks on Ikenga Ugochinyere, in which human lives were lost and assets valued in billions destroyed, has now turned around to invite Ikenga over frivolous allegations brought by Imo's rampaging dictator. This is exactly what policing should never be!

Our Party calls on the Inspector General of Police to quickly step into this matter to create a more responsible and responsive Police Command in Imo State by overhauling the highly politicized police structure in the State and removing the current Commissioner of Police. This will rekindle faith in the fairness and credibility of the Police and its capacity to secure Imo people.

Signed:

Collins Opurozor
State Publicity Secretary
Imo PDP.

Governor Abiodun had vowed to deal with "every market, trader, petrol station, banker" refusing old naira notes

But shockingly, in another video, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, an attendant at a filling station belonging to Governor Dapo Abiodun has been captured rejecting the old N500 and N1000 notes, despite a warning by the governor against the act.

Mr Abiodun threatened to lock up stores, banks, and supermarkets among other businesses which have refused to accept the banknotes as legal tender.

The governor further asked residents to report to him directly any case of rejection of the old notes, saying he would shut down any business involved.

In February while campaigning in Abeokuta North Local Council at the popular Kampala market in Itoku, the governor told traders that he would shut down any bank that refused the old notes.

Again, while speaking to his followers in a video sighted by a PREMIUM TIMES reporter on social media, the governor re-emphasised his stance.

In the video, Mr Abiodun said: “I am hereby sounding a note of warning to every market trader, petrol station, bank that are reducing old naira notes; if you’re reported to me, I will deal with you with the fullest extent of the law.

“The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court of the land. The Supreme Court has ruled that the old naira notes remain legal tender. The deadline has been moved to 31 December

“I will lock up your shop if they tell me you don’t accept old notes. Anytime you take an old note to banks and they refuse to accept it, call me. I will lock up the doors of such banks, including supermarkets.

“You transport unions and transporters, don’t reject the old money. If you take it to the bank and it was rejected, I will collect it from you and take it to the bank myself,” Mr Abiodun stated emphatically.

However, despite the governor’s threat, banks and businesses in the state have been rejecting the old naira notes.

But in a new video, the attendant at the governor’s own filling station told a motorist that the station was not accepting old naira notes.

The motorist, who spoke in Yoruba, retorted, “Why will you not take old notes? The governor has ordered that businesses should accept old notes, or is this not the governor’s fuel station? No problems, thank you.”

Efforts to speak with the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Shomorin, were fruitless as he neither picked up calls put across to his phone nor responded to text messages.

My dear Lagosians, I have noted the difficulties that you have been having over the naira redesign crisis. I feel your pains.

Kindly note that commercial banks have been directed to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes as deposits and pay them out for withdrawals.

Putting the needs of our residents above all, we successfully got a Supreme Court verdict which extends the validity of the existing Naira notes till Dec 31st, 2023.

The CBN at a Bankers Committee meeting yesterday directed Banks to resume acceptance in compliance.

I urge all businesses in Lagos to accept the old notes as it is legal tender.

Anyone rejecting these notes will be heavily sanctioned as we kick off monitoring.

If a bank refuses to accept deposits of old notes, please lodge a complaint with LASCOPA on 08124993895.

The Lagos State Government will report the bank to the CBN and immediately shut down the offending branch.

I assure you that this too shall pass as the authorities are working to ensure that the teething problems of the redesigning of our currency are resolved.