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Bayelsa Poll: APC Chieftain Prays High Court To Stop Sylva From Contesting

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A member of the All Progressives Congress, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete the name of Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum, from the list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa.

Kolomo made the appeal to Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja in a suit filed by his lawyer, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, SAN.

In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 dated and filed June 13, Kolomo had sued Mr Sylva, APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.


He sought two questions for determination.

Including ”whether having regard to the indisputable facts that Sylva was elected to the office of Governor of Bayelsa on two previous occasions; April 14, 2007, and May 24, 2008, he was qualified to contest the Nov. 11 election in view of Section 82 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Whether having regard to the indisputable fact that Sylva occupied the office of Governor of Bayelsa May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008, to Jan. 27, 2012, he is qualified to contest and be elected to the office of Governor of Bayelsa for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Kolomo, therefore, sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sylva was not qualified to contest the election to the office of the governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or on any other political party’s platform in the election scheduled for sometime in November or any other time for that matter.

He also sought an order directing INEC to remove Sylva’s name from the list of the contestants for the office of the Governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or any other political party’s platform in the Nov. 11 poll or any other time for that matter as he was not qualified to contest the said poll.

In the affidavit attached, Kolomo deposed that besides being an APC member, he was also a registered voter in the state.

He averred that the ex-minister was first elected to the office of governor, Bayelsa on April 14, 2007, and assumed the said office on May 29, 2007, and was in the said office until April 15, 2008, when his election on April 14, 2007, was set aside by the Court of Appeal and he was consequently removed from office.

He said Sylva was reelected on May 24, 2008, and assumed office as governor on May 27, 2008, until January 27, 2012.

He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Sylva’s name.

The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the 1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of the same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.

Kolomo also averred that the question raised by the instant suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the state so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.

When the matter came up for mention, Amuda-Kannike informed the court that APC and INEC had been served while the bailiff was unable to serve Sylva.

“We, therefore, filed a motion for substituted service,” the lawyer said.

He said the motion, dated June 19 and filed on the same date, was brought pursuant to Order 6, Rule 5 of the court.

Justice Okorowo, who granted the application, adjourned the matter until June 26 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sylva served as Bayelsa governor under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former minister had, in 2006, joined the PDP governorship primaries challenging ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who at that time, was vying for the same position.

However, after Sylva emerged the PDP candidate, he won the election in 2007 and succeeded Jonathan, who had also become the Vice President to late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

But Sylva’s opponent in the 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of the defunct Action Congress (AC), challenged his victory.

While the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Sylva’s election, Amgbare took the matter to the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt in Rivers which overturned the tribunal’s decision and nullified Sylva’s election on April 15, 2008.

The five justices of the Court of Appeal were unanimous in their decision and ordered that Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo be sworn in to replace Sylva as acting governor, with a new election to be held within 90 days as stated in the Electoral Act.

When a new election was held on May 24, 2008, Sylva was again overwhelmingly elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes and was sworn in.

But on Jan. 27, 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court, with an acting governor appointed to oversee the state until the election of February 2012, won by Seriake Dickson.

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Politics

No politician with conscience will join APC –Tambuwal

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Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has expressed disappointment over the recent wave of defections by members of the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

According to Tambuwal, no politician with a conscience would join the APC, given the current economic situation in the country.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the North-West Zonal meeting of the PDP in Kaduna on Saturday, Tambuwal attributed the defections to “stomach infrastructure” rather than the interest of the people.

He said, “People leave parties for different reasons, but what I have been observing in recent times are defections not based on the interest of the people but on stomach infrastructure.”

Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South Senatorial District in the Senate, questioned the rationale behind the defections, stating that no politician with a conscience would align with the APC, considering its policies and the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

“I believe no one with a conscience will join the APC. With the current policies being driven by the APC government, the economic doldrums it has plunged Nigerians into, the hardship across the country, and the dismal performance of Tinubu’s administration, there is nothing attractive beyond stomach infrastructure.

“Defections based on stomach infrastructure are not worrisome. But all of us who believe in this country and in serving the people must unite and work towards ensuring that by 2027, we vote out this administration that lacks focus, compassion, and direction,” he added.

The senator urged PDP members and other Nigerians to come together and work towards defeating the APC in 2027.

Meanwhile, the North-West PDP has vowed to unseat the APC in the next election.

According to a communiqué read by the North-West Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bello Gwarzo, the party resolved to swiftly address all conflicts at the national level.

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Obasa Drags Mojisola Meranda, Lagos State Assembly To Court

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Impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court, seeking his immediate reinstatement as Speaker.

According to court filings obtained by Peoples Gazette, Obasa claims he was unlawfully removed from office on January 13, 2025.

The suit, filed on February 14, 2025, lists the current Speaker, Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, and the Lagos State House of Assembly as defendants.

The legal action follows several failed political meetings between Lagos and Abuja aimed at resolving the leadership crisis. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive that Obasa be reinstated, the stalemate has persisted, with lawmakers reportedly fearing possible retaliation from the impeached Speaker if returned to office.


In his suit, Obasa challenged the constitutionality of the plenary session that resulted in his impeachment, arguing that it was held unlawfully during the Assembly’s recess without proper authorization.

The filing states: “The action challenged the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House.”

Mr. Obasa contends that the session violated Section 36, 90(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and breached the Lagos State House of Assembly Rules and Standing Orders, specifically Order V Rule 18(2) and Order II Rule 9(i-viii).


Recall that the leadership crisis has deepened despite President Tinubu’s firm stance. Tinubu, frustrated by the delay in reinstating Obasa, recently declined a meeting with members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos APC, accusing them of defying his directive.

However, opposition within the party remains strong. Muraina Akanbi Taiwo, a GAC member, rejected the push for Obasa’s reinstatement, stating: “Moves to reinstate Mr. Obasa would be rejected. Mr. Tinubu is not God in the state

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Too early for 2027 elections talks, Rep cautions Ganduje, El-Rufai

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A member of the House of Representatives, Aminu Jaji, on Thursday, cautioned that it is premature for the former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje and other prominent Nigerians to be trading words over the 2027 elections.

The Zamfara lawmaker made the appeal at the unveiling of the ‘One Nigeria’ project held in Abuja by the National Association of Former Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria.

The plot to stop the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 heightened in the past few weeks with pressure coming from Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; the Arewa Consultative Forum and some northern chieftains.

Their anger was further fuelled by Tuesday’s warning from Ganduje that northern politicians nursing presidential ambition in 2027 should bury the idea.


According to the APC national chair, it would be unfair to deny the President the chance of being re-elected after a fellow northerner was allowed to finish his own tenure of eight years.

El-Rufai, on the other hand, claimed that the relationship between the President and the north has deteriorated, warning that he might be given the Goodluck Jonathan’s treatment ahead of the 2027 elections.

While urging opposing politicians not to heat the polity, Jaji expressed disappointment that the campaign is coming at a time when the current administration of President Tinubu has barely spent two years in office.

He said, “I think he (El-Rufai) is more concerned about 2027 because of the way and manner the current administration is going about its robust policies. Perhaps he was also carried away by the way the opposition is looking at 2027. But I think 2027 is not here yet, even though it is close.

“But we as Nigerians must learn to put the country first before any other interest. For instance, Americans practise policy election. But we in Nigeria conduct unity elections all the time. This is why I believe 2027 may not be different

“Our national interest has increasingly been undermined by divisive politics, with unity, which should be our guiding principle, often overshadowed by sentiments. This division poses a serious threat to the security, peace, and stability of our nation.”

Earlier in his speech, NALGON National Chairman, Shaba Ibrahim acknowledged the strides of the President in addressing critical issues such as insecurity and economic crisis.

“His reforms to improve economic stability and security are commendable. We are confident that these efforts will help transition Nigeria from recession to prosperity. As grassroots politicians, we commend his commitment to local government autonomy, which demonstrates his political will to strengthen democracy and create a more inclusive governance system.

“We also commend the support of our Board of Trustees led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for their invaluable contribution to the One Nigeria Project. We recognise the efforts of the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, and security agencies for their role in maintaining peace and protecting lives across Nigeria.”

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