₦airaland Forum

A 50-year-old man, Olukayode Joseph, has reportedly sedated his 14-year-old daughter with drugs and defiled her in Ogun State.

Joseph was arrested on Thursday by operatives of the Ogun So-Safe Corps, who accused him of turning the teenage girl into a “sex machine”.

The So-Safe Corps spokesman, Moruf Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Yusuf said the agency got a distress call that Joshua, a resident of Akinbo Phase 2, Opposite Ola Fatia House, Olambe in Ifo Local Government Area of the State, had allegedly had carnal knowledge of his biological daughter.

Yusuf disclosed that the State Commander, Soji Ganzallo, instructed the Divisional Officer of the Corps in Oke-Aro/Olambe, SC Akeem Olaiya, to arrest the suspect with immediate effect.

He added that the Agbado Area Command also mobilised more men to the scene to protect the alleged rapist against jungle justice.

“During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime, and pleaded for mercy after realising that there is nowhere to hide his secret deals with his innocent daughter,” Yusuf said.

It was further gathered that the victim had accused her father of serially sleeping with her after sedating her with drugs.

She said, “I only used to notice white discharges from my private part.”

However, the suspect had denied sedating his daughter before sleeping with her, saying it was his first time of having sex with her.

Yusuf said the suspect and the victim had been transferred to the Ajuwon Police Division for further investigations.

Barely a month after the Ooni of Ife Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, married his fourth wife, Olori Mariam Anako from Ebira land in Kogi State, the monarch is set to take two more wives in October.

Ahead of his 48th birthday celebration, Oba Adeyeye will marry two more wives, Tobi Phillips, and Princess Ashley Adegoke.

Tobi Phillips was a former Beauty Queen and a graduate of Marine Science from Lagos State University, while Princess Queen Ashley is a chartered accountant and founder of an NGO, Ashley Adegoke Foundation.

Before his coronation in 2016, Oba Adeyeye was previously married to Adebukola Bombata in 2008, but the marriage failed after his coronation.

After being crowned, Ooni married Edo-born Zainab-Otiti Obanor in 2016, the union lasted for 17 months before their separation and married Naomi Silekunola in 2018.

Ooni’s new marriage is coming ten months after Queen Naomi Silekunola took to social media to announce her separation from the monarch in December 2021. The failed union, which lasted for three years, produced a son Tadenikawo.

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday received over 145,000 members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress and other political parties who defected to the ruling PDP in Bauchi state.

At a rally to welcome the decampees to the PDP held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, Atiku stated that, no political party in Nigeria than PDP, hence the need for Nigerians to warmly accept the party in 2023 general elections.

He congratulated Governor Bala Mohammed and the PDP in Bauchi for the milestone in creating avenues for members of other parties to join the party and called for team work in the area of massive mobilization of votes to all PDP candidates.

“It is my honor to officially welcome all our decampees to PDP in Bauchi state, no any other party in Nigeria than PDP, because it is strong and older. Bauchi has witnessed unprecedented achievements under His Excellency, Governor Bala led PDP Government.

The former vice president acknowledged the gains of Governor Bala Mohammed in critical sectors of the state’s economy and urged people of the state to appreciate the gesture by giving maximum support and cooperation for better service delivery.

In a key note address, the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu expressed optimism that, his party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will emerged victorious in the outcome of the next year’s elections and would unify the country by tackling the numerous challenges affecting its progress and development.

On his part, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, said Atiku Abubakar signified the hope of the country and assured that, Bauchi and other northern states will vote for him in the forthcoming presidential election.

“Bauchi people loves Atiku Abubakar and they believe in him because they know what you can do and we are ready to mobilize support and votes for you. We are behind you and we will work for you, I know most of the decampees are coming to PDP not only because of what we are doing, but because of you, our PDP presidential candidate.”

A Deputy Registrar at Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Olufunmi Dada, yesterday told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos that the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate for Surulere Constituency II for the state House of Assembly, in next year’s general election, Mrs. Mosunmola Sangodara, forged her Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate.

Dada, while testifying in a suit filed by one Olasunkanmi Kazeem Shittu, to challenge Sangodara’s candidature, said the APC candidate did not graduate from the school as an HND holder. Led in evidence by Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) with Adebowale Kamoru, the witness tendered the school convocation graduating list for the period between 1992- 1997 session where the name of the defendant was not featured.

Dada also alleged that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption letter was forged and non-existent in the NYSC list within that period. During cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Adebisi Oridare, on why the convocation list of 1995/1996 was missing, the witness stated that two sessions were merged, which were the 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 sessions.

Third defendant’s lawyer, S.O. Ibrahim, stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is after the justice of the case adding that the convocation lists of the 1995/1996 session ought to have come under a separate heading. Justice Oweibo later admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibit P6 to P10 respectively.

The judge also directed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to file a witness statement on oath as earlier ordered in the subpoena served on it. Further hearing in the matter continues today. Shittu, the plaintiff in the suit, is praying the court to disqualify Sangodara and declare him as the APC candidate for next year’s election.

The plaintiff, in his statement of claim, is seeking among others, “A declaration that the information contained in the Affidavit in Support of Personal Particulars (Form EC9) deposed to by the 2nd Defendant and submitted to the 1st defendant in support of the 2nd defendant’s nomination to contest the membership of the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent Surulere Constituency 2 in the forthcoming 2023 House of Assembly Election is false.

Gov. David Umahi visited the Ebonyi airport site in Onueke by 7:30 am today. He ordered that the gate be closed against workers arriving the site after him. He ordered his military men to flog each of them 7, 12 and 18 strokes of cane. All the workers and civil servants rolled on the muddy floor and were flogged like common criminals. The elders amongst them cried aloud to no mercy.

Is it wrong having a worker coming to a construction site by 8 and 8:30 a.m from Abakaliki to Ezza South/North LGA where the site is located?

If a governor could treat his elders including a Permanent Secretary that way, what about his wife in the house? What about those working for him in the house? This is the explanation of the video I shared earlier.

NCN.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted the Nigerian government’s proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorists’ organisation.

Obi, who spoke while featuring on Channels TV, said that IPOB was neither a terrorist organisation nor was its members terrorists.

The Anambra State-born businessman and former governor of the state maintained that IPOB members did not constitute a threat to the country.

Obi said, “The only thing I disagree with is naming IPOB terrorists; they are not terrorists. Those who took the decision may have information that I don’t have. I stay in Onitsha, and I can tell you that they are people I pass on the road every day.

“I meet and live with them; in fact, I usually see people gathering, and I have never had the sense of threat or molestation from them, even when they gather.”

Recall that in January 2017 shortly after the South-East Governors Forum led by Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, was pressured by the President Muhammadu Buhari to ban the activities of IPOB, the Federal High Court in Abuja proscribed IPOB as a terrorists’ organisation.

IPOB appeal challenging the ruling the ex parte judgment bu Justice Abdu Kafarati, proscribing the separatist organisation is still pending before an Appeal Court in Abuja.

Justice Kafarati had on September 20, 2017, made the order proscribing IPOB and designating it as a terrorist group upon an ex parte application by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The judge had while justifying the issuance of the proscription order in chambers following an ex parte application was in accordance with the provision of the Terrorism Prevention Act.

He said, “I hold that the ex parte application by the Attorney General of the Federation was properly brought.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra can sue and be sued in Nigeria. I so hold.”

He also held that hearing the AGF’s motion ex parte, did not violate the group’s right to fair hearing, rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

According to the judge, the procedure adopted by the court in hearing and issuing the ex parte order was as provided for in section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

He held that the AGF met all the requirements for the filing of the motion, including exhibiting the presidential order proscribing the organisaton.

“The memo of the President was attached to the application as Exhibit 11A,” he ruled.
But, IPOB had denied the terrorist tag by the Nigerian government.

However, Obi in the interview backed the claims that members of the group are not terrorists. Several Igbo leaders didn't share the terrorist tag on IPOB by the federal government.

Meanwhile, security agencies have killed several Igbo youths and hundreds disappeared without trace since 2017 under the pretext that IPOB was an unlawful organisation.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has advised the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria not to be selfish but to support the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections.

Adebutu spoke on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during a campaign to garner support ahead of the 2023 polls.

According to him, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and interim Head of State Ernest Shonekan from the South-West geopolitical zone have been Nigerian leaders at separate times whilst nobody from the North-East has been the first citizen.

Adebutu, who code-mixed the Yoruba with the English language, said, “What I want to talk about today is the coexistence of the Yoruba people with others in Nigeria.

“Earlier, I told some people to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the next president for the peace of Nigeria but some people turned deaf ears; they insisted that it is the turn of the Yoruba people but the Yoruba people have been in power for a number of times.

“Our father Olusegun Obasanjo was in power. Our father (Ernest) Shonekan was also there. Let’s not be selfish. Is it only Yoruba that exists? The truth must be said.”

Adebutu also claimed some persons have lost their integrity because of a pot of porridge.

“We cannot take Yorubaland out of the mainstream of Nigeria. Yorubaland must remain in the mainstream of Nigeria,” he noted whilst reacting to secession calls by some groups.

Atiku from Adamawa State in the Northeast, was Nigeria’s vice-president between 1999 and 2007 when Obasanjo was President.

The 75-year-old is jostling for Aso Rock’s top job in 2023 alongside Bola Tinubu of the APC (from Lagos State in the South-West) as well as Peter Obi of the Labour Party (from Anambra State in the South-East), amongst other contenders.

Also in attendance at the rally on Monday include Adebutu’s running mate, Adekunle Akinlade; former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau; and his Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu; amongst others.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to grant accelerated hearing to the case before it on the collection and distribution of Value Added Taxes VAT generated from the state by the Federal Government. 

The Governor made the appeal at the match pass and parade in commemoration of the 62nd independence of Nigeria at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

He explained that such urgency and eventual ruling of the case in favour of the State will further add more financial resources that will accelerate the economic growth of Rivers State.

He said: “We have also not given up in our determination to right the injustice associated with the collection and distribution of Value-Added Taxes generated from the State by the Federal Government just as we again call on the Supreme Court to please, treat this matter with the urgency that it requires.”

He pointed out since 1999 that the country returned to democracy, it has continued to witness deliberate constitutional distortions, institutional weaknesses and widespread corruption that have prevented Nigerians from enjoying a robust democratic practice.

He listed the absence of a free and fair elections, the rule of law and social justice as part of experiences that have refused to take root in Nigeria.

Wike said: “This is not to say that Nigeria has not made any progress as a nation. Certainly, we have achieved some visible developmental strides and economic progress as Africa’s largest economy.

“The fact that we have remained together despite the recurrent conflicts and crisis of confidence is also worth celebrating as an achievement.

“But, after 62 years, Nigeria deserves more than what it has achieved and Nigerians likewise deserve much more than what their leaders have delivered to them with the country’s enormous natural and human resources.”

The Governor bemoaned the inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government, over the last seven years, to keep the economic and social conditions within Nigeria from deteriorating.

He added: “Life is sacrosanct, but the present federal government has failed in the most basic duty to the nation to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

“Under their watch, infrastructure across all sectors, including roads, education and healthcare has collapsed. Tertiary education has remained comatose for over seven months and with no employment opportunities, the federal government continues to toy with the future of the youths.”

Wike decried the situation where healthcare delivery is a nightmare across the country with ordinary citizens unable to access necessary medical services, basic diagnostics and medications at affordable rates in public hospitals.

He noted the spiralling crime and physical violence that are almost out of control across the country with the schools, churches and mosques no longer serving as safe places anymore. 

“And with compulsive corruption, insecurity, low export earnings, protracted forex crisis and an economy so close to bankruptcy the untold suffering and hopeless future among Nigerians will continue if something is not done to improve the quality of political leadership in our country,” he stressed.

The Governor, however, stated that things can be better if there is the right political leadership in place that has the courage, decisive and purposeful in driving the country on a new path saying; “let’s not forget that before the present deplorable state of affairs, we experienced significant economic growth, relative prosperity, a stable educational system and a relatively better quality of life for our people, under the Peoples Democratic Party. 

“This showed that Nigeria’s current economic, social and security situation can rapidly be resolved with new leadership that is courageous, decisive, purposeful and able to take the country in a new direction that would curb corruption, stop unsustainable debts, and drive economic growth to create jobs and prosperity for all citizens.”

Governor Wike insisted that there is a need to have a new government that cares about the unity of the country and the well-being of its citizens.

Such government, he said, should be one that is religiously committed to changing the present circumstances of the people and making life more meaningful for everyone.”

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, immediate past minister of state for education, has filed a suit before an Abuja federal high court seeking to void the election of Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/942/2022, filed alongside the Incorporated Trustees of Rights for All International, a non-governmental organisation, is also praying the court to disqualify Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over breach of the Electoral Act.

Other defendants in the matter are the APC, PDP, the attorney-general of the federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The plaintiffs, in the suit filed through their lawyer, Okere Nnamdi, alleged that the primary that produced Tinubu as the APC’s 2023 presidential candidate was tainted by corruption and widespread vote buying, insisting that the majority of the delegates were bought over with dollars.

In his proof of evidence attached to the suit, Nwajiuba, who polled only one vote at the primary which held on June 8, attached a video clip showing where Rotimi Amaechi, former transportation minister, complained that delegates at the APC primary sold their votes.

The plaintiffs also queried Tinubu’s source of income and his educational qualifications.

They urged the court to declare that the third defendant (Tinubu), “who had previously sworn an affidavit in the INEC nomination form declaring that he lost his primary and secondary school documents and benefitted therefrom, cannot in a later affidavit deny and abandon same facts deposed in the previous affidavit and thus falsely contradicting his academic qualifications”.

Copies of the affidavits Tinubu signed while running for governor of Lagos state on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), were supplied by the plaintiffs.

“That the entire circumstances surrounding the two depositions of the 3rd defendant point to the fact that they are false and misleading and cannot be relied upon,” they said.

“That the possession of a higher degree does not substitute the minimum requirement of law, where the minimum academic requirement is manifestly absent by an avowed fact.

“That the possession of a higher education qualification such as a first degree or masters degree is predicated on the minimum educational qualification as provided in the Constitution.”

Among other things, the plaintiffs prayed the court to determine “whether the APC is exempted from compliance with section 90(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, having presented the 3rd defendant (Tinubu) as its presidential candidate to the 6th defendant (INEC), and the 6th defendant accepted and published same, being the name of a person whose source of N100m contribution fee for the nomination form and expression of interest form was not verified”.

The plaintiffs also want the court to determine “whether the constitutional provision prescribing the academic qualification of candidates and prescribing minimum qualification of school certificate or its equivalent has been complied with by the 3rd defendant who, on oath, has admitted that he does not possess such minimum qualification prescribed in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria”.

For Atiku, the plaintiffs alleged he engaged in vote buying.

They want the court to determine “whether the conduct of the 3rd and 4th defendants (Tinubu and Atiku) and their agents, who by way of corrupt inducement of delegates with US Dollars, which being a foreign currency and non-legal tender in Nigeria under the CBN Act, and the possession which requires declaration under the EFCC Act, used the Dollars for inducement of votes in favour of the 3rd and 4th defendants, have rendered the votes of such delegates cast in favour of the 3rd and 4th defendants at the 1st and 2nd defendant’s special conventions illegal, void and invalid and of no effect whatsoever; and thus inhibiting the 3rd and 4th defendants from benefiting from the proceeds of their own gross illegalities”.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, on Friday, ordered service of all the relevant court processes as well as hearing notices on all the defendants in the matter.

He also fixed October 6 for hearing of the suit.

As part of efforts to resolve the lingering crisis in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Presidential Candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, has again met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

A source privy to the meeting told Daily Trust that some top aides of the duo attended the meeting.

The visit took place at the Asokoro Rivers Governors lodge in Abuja on Thursday afternoon.

The source said many of those that followed Atiku to the meeting where not happy with the manner Wike confronted Atiku on some of the issues causing the crisis in the party.

The source, who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to speak, said Atiku, who opened the discussion, urged Wike to return to the fold and let them work together to resolve the issues.

He said the presidential candidate appealed to Wike that Nigerians need the PDP to win the 2023 election and gave reasons why Wike should put an end to the crisis.

The source said: “But we were shocked the way Wike reacted. The Governor reminded Atiku about their London meeting and the agreement reached. The promise by Atiku that he was going to speak with the National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu to resign.

“The promise that he (Atiku) will get back to them after a week and how he has not called them since that time.”

The Chieftain also said, according to Wike, the BoT members agreed that Ayu should go, but some people were urging him on not to resign.

However, after listening to Atiku, Wike promised to get back to his people, discuss with them on the outcome of the meeting before taking any decision.

Meanwhile, a source in the Wike camp said it is difficult to reach an agreement on view of the serial betrayal and broken promises suffered by their camp.

“There is breach of trust already. The candidate is not known to keep what he says and mean what he says and it is difficult for us to believe whatever is agreed with them, ” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has expelled Dotun Babayemi after the Supreme Court judgment that ruled in favour of Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate in the gubernatorial primary election.

Babayemi had sought the court’s intervention in appealing against the PDP gubernatorial primary election which produced Adeleke.

This is as the party also praised the judiciary for living up to its expectation as the house of justice.

In a press statement signed by Adekunle Akindele, the Osun PDP caretaker chairman on Thursday in Osogbo, the party disclosed that Babayemi had since ceased to be a member of the PDP.

The party also warned against any accommodation of the expelled politician in PDP matters.

The statement added that “As we are rejoicing, we must note very strongly that a mole among us who was an active agent of the APC had since lost his membership of PDP. No organ or affiliates of the party should accommodate him or his agenda again within this party.

“Any member of the party who continues to romance the expelled member risks being charged with anti-party activities and may face appropriate sanctions. We must get rid of fifth columnists by descending heavily on them. We must uproot them and cut down their branches”, the party Chairman stated.

A Federal High Court sitting in Benin has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and publish the names of candidates produced by the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party as standard-bearers of the party in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

This is the second ruling coming from the Federal High Court.

The first came in May when a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided by Justice Inyang Ekpo, gave an order to INEC to recognise the candidates of Chief Dan Orbih’s faction of the party in Edo.

However, in a judgement delivered on Tuesday by Justice S.M Shuaibu, the court granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs include the party’s candidate for Edo South Senatorial District, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen; Sunny Aguebor for Oredo Federal Constituency, and the flag bearer for Akoko Edo Federal Constituency, Kabiru Adjoto, among others.

Amongst the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs is an Order of Court mandating the fourth defendant, INEC, to publish the names of the plaintiffs as the validly elected candidates of the Edo PDP for the 2023 general election.

The Judge noted that based on past decisions by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the state chapter of a political party is not empowered by law to conduct party primaries and that only the National Working Committee of a political party has the power to conduct party primaries.

He said, “There is nothing before the Honourable Court to show that the primaries in which the fourth to 39th defendants participated were conducted by the National Working Committee of the PDP. Rather, their primaries were conducted by the Edo State chapter of the PDP.”

The Judge held, “In my view, the power of INEC under Section 84 of the Electoral Act is limited to monitoring of party primary elections and does not extend to preparing or declaring the results of that election. This remains the law.”

“In the light of the foregoing, the fourth defendant, INEC, cannot rely on results prepared by the first defendant, Edo PDP,” he noted.

A former Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Uyinmwen Ativie, paid millions of Naira to be listed as the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Uhunmwode/Orhionmwon federal constituency in Edo State, some members of the party have alleged.

SaharaReporters gathered that one Murphy Imasuen emerged the winner of the primary election of the federal constituency supervised by Independent National Electoral Commission officials.

Rather than submit the name of the elected candidate, the name of Ativie who recently joined the party from the ruling All Progressives Congress was submitted to INEC by Labour Party leadership led by its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.

The action is against the provisions of Section 33 of the 2022 Electoral Act which states that a political party cannot remove or substitute a candidate that emerged from a valid primary.

Whereas Section 31 of the Electoral Act only allows for substitution when a candidate dies or when he or she withdraws from the race and informs INEC in writing.

The section reads: “A candidate may withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered personally by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the commission not later than 90 days to the election.”

Documents seen by SaharaReporters also showed that Ativie contested the APC primary election for the federal constituency but lost to Chief Billy Osawaru.

Her name listed by INEC is also against the new electoral law which states that it is not possible to contest in the primaries of a party, lose and try again in another party.
“Elizabeth Ativie recently resigned from the APC on the 6th day of September 2022 after losing the primary election to one Dr Billy but to the surprise of all, her name was listed by INEC as Labour Party candidate for our federal constituency.

“We had a meeting after that but to our surprise, Ativie told us there is nothing we can do. She told us that it was the National Chairman who invited her to his hotel in Abuja and offered to her the blank ticket of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde House of Representatives, while state chairman Ugbaloi collaborated with the decision by issuing her a June 6 backdated Labour Party membership card. She also said she paid millions of Naira to get the ticket and showed us receipts of some transactions.

“All the party tier leaders and stakeholders of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde constituency are firmly on Murphy Imasuen's side, and are vehemently and irreconcilably determined to damn every consequence and undertake litigations all the way from the lowest to the highest court of Nigeria before, during and after the oncoming 2023 general elections,” a LP member told SaharaReporters.

However, in a leaked audio obtained by SaharaReporters, Labour Party National Chairman was heard pleading with the winner of the primary election conducted by INEC, Murphy Imasuen, to forfeit the ticket to Ativie.
Abure promised Imasuen juicy offers and asked that he would be refunded with any amount he had spent on his aspiration.

His supporters were also promised different positions on the party.

Imasuen however turned down all the offers and vowed to sue the party.

Another source told SaharaReporters that the original winner of Labour Party had been under different threats from supporters of Abure and Ativie.

Meanwhile, members of the party in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas have insisted on Imasuen as its candidate for the federal constituency and not the former lawmaker, who joined the party penultimate week after abandoning her earlier party, APC.

The Labour Party in a statement jointly signed by Orhiakhi Osaigbovo, Chairman Orhionmwon; Austin Oronsaye, Chairman Uhunmwode; Ken Omusi, state youths leader and two others, denied Ativie, who claimed she is the party’s candidate for the constituency for the 2023 general elections.

“The party wishes to state that the duly elected candidate for Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency is Hon Murphy Imasuen who emerged during the substitution primaries held in Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area on the 13th June 2023,” the statement read.

“We wish to state that it has come to our notice that the duly elected candidate representing Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency; Hon Murphy Imasuen was recently removed from the INEC list in Abuja and replaced by the name of Hon Elizabeth Ativie. In the interest of the party and public, we hereby state unequivocally the following:

“That Hon Murphy Imasuen was duly elected and given the ticket to run for the Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency during the substitution Primaries held in Abudu on the 13th of July 2023.

“That Hon Elizabeth Ativie at the time of the substitution primaries was unarguably absent because she was still a card-carrying member of the APC at the time.

“That Ativie who recently resigned from the APC on the 6th day of September, which is less than two weeks ago urged her teaming supporters to remain calm while assuring that in a few weeks, she would let the whole world know her next political move.

“We hereby make bold to say that we do not recognise Ativie yet as a member of the Labour Party Edo State chapter, talk more of being the House of Representative candidate for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency.

“This to us is laughable and mere propaganda; we will not allow or tolerate any attempt by Elizabeth Ativie to repeat her fraudulent act in Labour Party as seen in the press statement signed by the APC state publicity secretary, Mr Peter Igbinigie.”

They also appealed to security agencies to call Ativie to order in order to avert any breach of peace.

Barely a day after the visit to Asiwaju Bola AhmedTinubu, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has disowned the “Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria” which met with the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday in Abuja.

“The PFN was not a part of the meeting with the presidential candidate that was highly politicised. We are however aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter. I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with that,” the Deputy National Secretary of the PFN, Bishop David Bakare, has said.

Speaking in an interview, Bakare said the such a group does not exist within the PFN.

”The forum is not known to the PFN. There is nothing in PFN that is regionally based like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops,” he said.

“The PFN is an arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the position of the fellowship on same faith presidential ticket of the APC has not changed. The meeting between Tinubu and the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria has nothing to do with the PFN.”

“I am speaking to you officially and authoritatively that the ranks of the Christian community and of course, the PFN which I represent is not broken at all.

The Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria is not known to the PFN. The forum does not have any affiliation or relationship with the PFN that is registered with the government of this nation”, he said.

”The position of the PFN on same faith ticket still stands as it was in the beginning and we have not, for any reason, shifted our position on that matter…The PFN was not a part of the meeting with the presidential candidate that was highly politicised.

We are however aware of the ripples in the public domain about this matter. I am speaking officially to clarify that the PFN has nothing to do with that organisation.”

“We didn’t take such a decision, we have not met that political party and whatever we will do would be in the public domain. That group is on their own and has nothing to do with the real incorporated PFN.

I looked at the photos and the names. I could recognise about two people who are our members, but they speak for themselves.”

“All Pentecostal leaders in Nigeria, from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith, Mountain of Fire House on the Rock, among others speak with one voice .”

“Finally, I wish to let you know that there is nothing in PFN that is regional based like Southern or Northern Pentecostal Bishops.

As a matter of fact, the PFN does not have any settings for Bishops. What we have is PFN, we do not separate Bishops of Pentecostal from other clergies of Pentecostal. “
“PFN is just one body under which all Bishops, Pastors and members are lined up behind Bishop Francis Wale, the President.

We stand by our decision, we have not and will not bend to the dictate of any political group.”

“It doesn’t matter what politicians will want to do, the truth and the joy is that the PFN is not divided on its position. Individuals can form an association but when it comes to the body call PFN, there is no change in our position and we have not authorised anybody to hold a meeting…”

The Appeal Court in Abuja has rejected Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s request to relocate the sitting of the tribunal to Abuja.

The Chief Registrar Court of Appeal, Bangari Umar, in a letter titled: RE: PETITION NO, EPT/OS/GOV/01/2022, ADEGBOYEGA ISIAKA OYETOLA & ANOR V. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 ORS, on Friday rejected the proposal of Oyetola, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate in the July 16 governorship election.

According to the note, Oyetola on August 23, wrote to the President of the Court, Justice M.B Dongban Mensem, on the subject matter.

The Court of Appeal noted that after due consultation on, and consideration of Oyetola’s request, the President of the Court was unable to accede to the proposal as the security agencies in the state have assured the Court of their cooperation and support in enhancing the security of the Tribunal and its sittings.

The letter read: “Kindly refer to your letter to the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal, dated 23rd August 2022 on the above subject matter.

“I am directed by the Honourable President, Hon. Justice M.B Dongban Mensem to inform you that after due consultation on, and consideration of your request to move the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal currently sitting in Osogbo to Abuja, the Hon. President is unable to accede to your request as the security agencies in the State have assured the Court of their co-operation and support in enhancing the security of the Tribunal and its sittings.”