bestofnollywood: On February 25, 2023, Nigeria held Presidential elections in which the ruling party won.
However, forensic analysis of the result of the election showed that there were over voting in more than 10,000 polling units. This represents almost 8% of all PUs.
Evidence has been presented by both the Peoples Democratic Part, and the Labour Party at the Presidential Election Petition Court that the ruling party candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was declared President-elect based largely on the votes he amassed in some of these 8% of polling units where over voting occurred.
The over voting was only possible due to manual accreditation and transmission of voters and votes, rather than the legally required electronic accreditation via Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines.
Now this is very convenient, and too coincidental. And it is also unlawful.
By virtue of Section 47 (3) of Nigeria's Electoral Act, those results ought to have been cancelled, and the elections rescheduled for a later date when the issues with the machines would have been resolved. That section says:
"Where a smart card reader or any other technological device deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader or technological device is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled."
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who sits at the head of the judiciary, and who has set up the PEPC, made comments, on video, praising the ruling party on November 25, 2022. As a result of those comments, millions of Nigerians lack confidence in his ability to spearhead a judiciary that dispenses impartial justice.
What I humbly ask of you reading this is for you to consider using your good offices, no matter how small you think it is, to add your voice to that of millions of Nigerians, and tell the Nigerian judiciary that the world is watching the PEPC and hopes it will abide by the provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria's Electoral Act of 2022.
TruthsFM: An Abuja High Court on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking the nullification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates lists for the governorship primaries scheduled to hold on Friday.
Governorship aspirants: Abayomi Awoniyi, Abdullahi Haruna, SAN, Ruben Atabo, SAN, Mohammed Usman, Musa Wada, Kingsley Lona, Gideon Ojata, Dr M. Bolufemi filed the suit.
They are alleging that the delegates list unduly favours a co-aspirant, Senator Dino Melaye.
Defendants in the suit are the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abdul Ningi, the chairman of the ad hoc delegate Congress committee and Warman Ogorija, the secretary.
Delivering a ruling, Justice Peter Kekemeke, held that the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
“The subject matter from the suit is the list of the delegates to be used for the PDP Kogi primary on April 14.
“It is important to note whether the court has the jurisdiction to handle the matter.
“The court cannot hear a matter which is exclusively within the jurisdiction of another state,” he held.
Mr Kekemeke held that the FCT is treated as a state in the federation and each state is responsible for the matters arising in the state.
“It is different from the Federal High Court, this court can only assume jurisdiction in the matters within the FCT.
“This court by the virtue of 299(a) is like a state high court.
“As much as I would like to grant the order, by the law, I am constrained and restrained to grant the order.
The claimants through their counsel, P.O Okolo, SAN, through motion on notice, had prayed the court to grant them the order.
They prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first and second respondents either by themselves or their agents, proxies, representatives or whosoever acting through them on their behalf from accepting, dealing and using the list of delegates contained in Exhibit E1-E16.
They also sought for an order of mandatory injunction directing the first and second respondents to receive, treat, deal or use the list of elected delegates contained in exhibit E1-E21 for the purpose of conducting the first respondent Kogi governorship primaries on Friday.
The claimants, specifically sought an order of mandatory injunction directing or compelling the first respondent to remove or delete from its record or not to recognise or treat, deal or use the purported list of delegates pending the determination of the originating summons.
9jahotblog: Pdp has strong case in Ebonyi State. The justices of the panel will agree and accept Pdp petition and will do the needful on their judgement. 95% of judgement favouring Pdp here. Infact Pdp technicality case is very solid here.
I agree with you in view of the Judgment of the Federal High Court declaring Nwifuru as a PDP member during the electioneering period. Aside the existence of that judgment, PDP does not have the locus standi to argue on whether or not Nwifuru was validly nominated by APC, for reason of being a member of the PDP at the time of his election.
rolams: The only issue I see here is the failure to sue/include Atiku but the irregularities issue raised in the petition may still give Obi the chance.
It is not an issue at all. In an election petition suits, petitioners are not allowed to sue a party that was not declared a winner by INEC. In Hope Uzodimma 's case, did he sue the candidates that came 2nd and 3rd? The answer is No. He only sued the person that was declared the winner by INEC. When he proved his case, did the court not declare him as a winner? The court did.
Election petitions are not normal cases as he think, even Lawyers that are not in the field cannot handle it. That APC included it in their petition, does not make it right. It may have been included to serve as a time waster in court.
The commenter is obviously not abreast with the practice and procedures for election petitions.
FreeStuffsNG: Please do not misinform the public. It was a fatal flaw on the part of his legal team because Mr Obi is third in position by the constitutionally declared result. Atiku is the one that stands between him and reaping any purported defect he sees in APC.
fergie001: Well, having read the submissions of the APC in response to the LP's petition:
This is just the defendant's reply to the petition, we have not even gotten to the pre-hearing stage, let alone proper trial.
The LP now has 7 days to apply for pre-hearing or 5 days to respond to the defendant's new facts which I believe there is. However, it is expected that the Tribunal will respond to the Objections first, during the ruling proper.
A Presidential election petition of this magnitude will naturally not dwell on technicalities.
1. That Obi was not a registered member of the LP before May 24 last year.
This is at best puerile. Does the APC have the locus standi to challenge? NO.
a. Once there is no locus standi, there is no jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is the lifeblood and existence of any case. Once there is no jurisdiction, no matter how finely delivered a case is ruled upon, it becomes null and void, ab initio.
Only a member of the LP can challenge the membership of Peter Obi. The Court can best describe the APC as meddlesome interlopers and busybodies.
b. This matter is a pre-election matter. Membership, nomination and sponsorship of any Candidate in a political party is a pre-election issue that should be filed not more than 14 days after the cause of action at the FHC.
Same suit was brought up by a political party, the APM and the Appeal Court ruled in February 2023, that they do not have the locus. The PEPT or SC will not even delve into the merits but shut it out for lack of locus standi.
2. Non-joinder of Atiku Abubakar & PDP This again should likely not upturn anything. This is an election petitions tribunal and it is declaratory in nature.
It is an independent and individualistic appeal, at best, this is academic considering that the PDP & her Candidate are also in Court. It is urging the Court to subject to intellectual argument and satisfy intellectual prowess which cannot answer the questions in the live issues to be determined in the suit.
3. Arrangement of tables, etc.
Is this enough to throw out the petitions before we even get to the stage of hearing in the petitions? In my humble opinion, NO.
I believe all 3 Objections will be dismissed so that we can really listen to the REAL ISSUES.
What the defendant has done is not unexpected, raise up issues to dismiss the suit.
As for not joining Atiku as a party to Obi's Petition, one is not allowed to sue or join a party who was not declared a winner by INEC. An attempt to do that always attracts heavy cost from the tribunal.
FreeStuffsNG: How is not suing Atiku and PDP pre election matter? How is the absence of Mr Obi's name on the register as at the deadline pre-election matter? Even if there is a waiver , it must be submitted even before the primaries and acknowledged by INEC and accompany his petition but Mr Obi resigned from PDP on May 27, joined LP on May 28 and primary held on May 30 while he was not yet a member of LP.
It is the legality of his membership and participation which he is using to file a petition so if he has no locus standi the courts have no basis wasting its time!
The APC willfullly waited till now after the election so that Mr Obi can cancel Alhaji Atiku of PDP and Obi did the job for APC. Now it is time to legally dispense with Obi for doing a thankless job of destroying PDP.
On the issue of not suing or joining Atiku as a Respondent by LP, one is not allowed to sue or join a party who was not declared a winner by INEC, in an election Petition matters. Suing such a person, attracts heavy cost from the tribunal.
Election petitions are technical matters and not our regular court cases, hence, only few Lawyers are experts in the field.
Raf4: Unfortunately for you Obi supporters, your candidate doesn't even qualify for any election rerun. He didn't score the highest votes, he isn't the first runner up, he didn't have 25% in at least 24 states of the federation.
You people will still come here to cry - this is a r@pe on democracy, this is a miscarriage of justice, CJN is on Tinubu's payroll, biafra or death etc
Do you understand English at all...? Can't you differentiate between a rerun and a run off election?
The poster said a rerun election, which means having all the contesters on ballot again. That means, a contest between APC and PDP, and that can only be possible, where the court orders for a run off election, but, unfortunately, non of the petitioners is praying the court for a run off, but, for a rerun instead. Therefore, the court cannot on its own, order for a run off, where it is not part of the relief sought before it.
Are you sure your sister is a neat woman, and not those kind that keeps things dirty?
Are you sure she can cook delicious meals?
How does she treat other people around her?
I hope she isn't a talkative, because, responsible men don't feel comfortable being with such women, especially the reserved ones.
What has been her contribution to the success and growth of his family, and what efforts is she making towards that?
Most times, is not all about being submissive by saying Yes Sir.., No, submissiveness must be backed by action.
I Hope she hasn't cheated on her husband or her husband is not suspecting that she is cheating, because, most men don't eat their wives food when ones they start suspecting that she is a cheat. The reason is that it silently kills the man, should he continue eating from her. This is mostly common, in the Eastern part of the country.
At the end, you may find out that the maid has no hand in your sister's ordeal, as she is just doing her job without reservations.
I believe there's no smoke without fire. Find out the root cause of her husband's change in attitude and assist her in making her marriage work.
Pierocash: Tinubu's legal team has never participated and defended any case of this nature in their lives. They are amateurs.
Obi's team led by Ikpeazu SAN it too strong for those amateurs. Dem go collect
I'm not a Tinubu/APC's fan though, but, they have some of the best Lawyers in their team. Check the likes of Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, etc. These men are first class experts/authorities in election petition.
Larryhoover: With this petition, the case has ended even before it started.
On what ground would you say INEC should disqualify a candidate and not eligible to contest.
That INEC should disregard the vote of the 1st and 2nd respondent, and hence declare the 1st petitioner as the winner. Then what should Atiku that came 2nd with over 6.8m votes do?
I think some SANs need to think deeply before filing a petition because these are pre-election matters that is the responsibility of the party not the opposition.
Well, it would be interesting to see the outcome of the Tribunal but honestly I expected something solid from the Obi's legal team and not this joke.
How can you say that seeking for disqualification of a candidate in an Election petition is solely pre-election matters and responsibility of the party only?
Have you taken time to study the electoral Act and the grounds for petitions?
Make your research first, before dropping your comments.
LagosEmir: So I woke up around 10am, bathe, some few bites of snacks and went to the polling units to caste my vote.
People have already voted and left and so far it's been peaceful. The Igbos and yorubas are seen together hanging out in all the bars in the area drinking and making merriment . It's been cool I must say .
See photos below
This is voter aparty in action. Nothing more, nothing less.
Owontime: If anything happens to Tinubu's mandate, the amount of bloodshed that will be vented on IPOB people has never been seen in the history of mankind. We are waiting.
Stop talking rubbish. Those who wished for war, never lived to tell the story.
Propergandist: by G. E. Ewah Esq., (Not a Propagandist)
"By their fruits ye shall know them".
Our lord Jesus Christ emphasized this in his teachings and this statement has cumulated into a reality and its relevance remains timeless.
Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the Executive Governor of Rivers State once had a fracas with Governor Godwin Obaseki when he ranted and raved that Obaseki is ungrateful and a serial betrayal.
At that time, a lot of Edolites especially those in the opposing APC and some disgruntled PDP party faithful who saw the Edo governor as a tight fisted dictator, where less petaled about the Edo governor's perspective of the issue. They were sentimentally and sensationally suede towards the popular side of the dance wagon.
Governor Godwin Obaseki regardless of the burning issues then of accusations and counter accusations by aggrieved loyalists, party members and fieced opposition of the APC spear headed by Adams Oshiomole remained dogged, focused and continued to forge ahead with his 'M.E.G.A.' agenda by delivering on the goods of providing both basic social amenities and an enabling environment for the greatness of Edo.
Apparently, the said Governor Wike who was then the starboy of the moment, has today shown the stuff he is made off and proved himself and were he belongs. He had no moral justification to antagonize Edo's chief executive officer and refer to him then as a serial betrayal.
Oshiomole and his APC who were both trusted with state powers and resources, ran Edo state and the nation into crisis and brutal indebtedness. They also have no moral justification to antagonize Obaseki and demand for a second chance.
Therefore, with the turnout of national political events lately, we now know who the true betrayals are, don't you?
Hence, Edo state once again is in the threshold of a nationwide political tsunami at our doorstep. who out of the both titans should we clinch to or allow to be swept away to eternity? Perhaps, who we decide will survive, shall be one that will not sacrifice the destinies of the Edos for self-aggrandizement.
Vote wisely and strategically,
Vote PDP.
Unfortunately, the two gladiators you mentioned, will not survive the Labour Party's tsunami that's coming on the 18th March, 2023.
DivinePrayer: Though he is challenging the outcome of the presidential election in court. He made a post election broadcast that calmed the political tensions.
He is still taking the risk of campaigning for LP aspirants. That is an excellent spirit of selfless service. Patience and humility.
He is giving hope to those that never believed in a working and prosperous Nigeria. There is hope for a better Nigeria.
I carry GRV matter come. Make haters and tribalists comot mouth for his matta. Me, I don tire for de way dem dey drag am. Na him say make him mama be Igbo and papa Yoruba?
Abeg make una leave GRV alone.
How una dey crucify the guy, na only him mama be Igbo? Una dey drag Davido? Him mama be edo and paternal grandmother be Igbo and him too marry Igbo una don disown him?
How about Clarence Peters wey him mama be Igbo, papa Yoruba nko?
Abeg help remind me other Mixed-ethnic celebrities. Please this primordial disgraceful tribalism needs to stop. Forward ever backward never👍👍👍👍👍
ifihearam: The euphoria of Obi and his supporters will die down soon.
I am a full PDP supporter but we know Obi can never be president.
Tinubu will be sworn in and his first 4 years is guaranteed,
He will surpass expectations because people dont expect anything from him. Obi is lucky to lose because his supporters think he has a magic wand to make Nigeria workable like Dubai and America in 24 hours.
If you are in Delta vote PDP and in Lagos vote APC, in SE vote Frank Nweke Jnr for governor.
Sheriff of PDP, will lose to Omo Agege in Delta State.
cornelin: Labour Party fought a good fight and history was made. The emergence of the Obidient movement saw a number of seats acquired under the platform of the Labour party.
See more of the candidates in the video below. Which of the newly elected candidate surprised you as much?
Politics › Re: There Was Over-voting In 10,000 Polling Units Says Reno Omokri by IGBOGENE27(m): 12:49pm On Apr 15, 2023
