Politics
Ebonyi Tribunal Dismisses APGA’s Petition, Seeking To Sack Gov Nwifuru
…As SSA To Tinubu Commends Judiciary
The Ebonyi State Election Petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, Wednesday delivered its judgement on Petition No. EPT/EB/GOV/01/2023 [BENARD ODO & APGA Vs INEC, FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU & APC) in favour of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
The Tribunal held that the petition bordered on a pre-election matter over which it lacked jurisdiction to determine.
It proceeded nevertheless to determine the petition on merit and dismissed same for lacking in merit.
The Tribunal also held that it is not within the contemplation of the Constitution that the failure of the 2nd Respondent to vacate his seat as Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly after defecting from the PDP to the APC should operate as a bar to his contesting election on the APC platform for the governorship of Ebonyi State.
According to the tribunal, the petitioners failed to prove that the 2nd Respondent was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the Governorship Election, hence there is substantial material evidence before the Tribunal, which shows that the 2nd Respondent duly resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The summary of the Court ruling indicated that “The petitioners failed to approach the proper court to entertain the issue of membership of a political party.
“Notwithstanding, the Tribunal has no power to entertain an issue which took place before the election. However, apart from an aspirant who participated in the primaries of the 3rd Respondent, no other person has the right to challenge the membership of the 2nd Respondent.
“No court has the power to dabble or poke into the internal domestic affairs of a political party. (No PDP membership Register of Enyanwuigwe ward was tendered before the Tribunal to substantiate that the 2nd Respondent is a member of PDP).
“The claim of the petitioners that the 2nd Respondent’s APC Form is forgery holds no water as same was not supported by any evidence from the petitioners.
“Where a party forwarded name of a candidate to INEC it means that such a candidate is a fully-fledged member of such a political party. Exhibit R5 which is the votes and proceedings of Ebonyi State House of Assembly clearly disclosed the date the 2nd Respondent defected PDP to APC.
“It is not for the Tribunal to invoke section 109 of the 1999 constitution as amended against the 2nd Respondent, But that of the members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
“It will be unjust for the Tribunal to hold that the 2nd Respondent was not qualified to contest the Governorship election of Ebonyi State by the mere fact that he failed to vacate his seat in line with the order in Judgement delivered by Justice Ekwo.
“In the final analysis, qualification on the ground of membership of APC which is a pre-election matter is the only ground. The petitioners therefore woefully failed to prove all the grounds of their petition and the same is accordingly struck out. No order as to cost.”
Also, the judgment in Petition No. EPT/EB/GOV/01/2023 [IFEANYI CHUKWUMA ODII & PDP Vs INEC, FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU & APC) was still ongoing as at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Development, South East region, Mrs. Chioma Nweze, Wednesday described the victory of Governor Francis Nwifuru at the Ebonyi State election petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja as a victory for democracy.
She tasked the Governor’s opponents, Prof. Benard Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to drop all litigations and join hands with Governor Nwifuru for the purpose of enhancing good governance in the state.
According to her; “I commend the resounding victory of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The judgement of the tribunal has again put a judicial seal on the populist mandate freely given to him by the Ebonyi people in the March 18 governorship election.
“The victory validates the decision of the majority of Ebonyians as expressed in their overwhelming votes six months ago. Indeed, the confidence of Ebonyi people in the capacity of the Governor to lead the state towards its manifest destiny of greatness is not misplaced.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Nweze, however, urged the contenders to support Nwifuru’s administration for the purpose of the development of the state.
“It is therefore no surprise that the frivolous petitions challenging the victory of the Governor at the polls were torn to shreds by the impartial sword of justice. I most passionately urge all contenders to his victory to swallow the humble pie and team up with him to enable the state enjoy many more years of progressive
By Augustine Akhilomen
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has described the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi as a “miracle centre presidential candidate.”
Bwala was reacting to Obi’s recent interview where he gave condition before agreeing to debate with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
In an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Obi had said he would debate with Umahi when he qualifies as a presidential candidate of a political party.
He made the remark against the backdrop of the minister’s declaration that he was ready to debate with Obi over road infrastructure.
However, Bwala in a post on X, questioned how Obi emerged as presidential because he never went through the process of primary election.
Bwala wrote: “Peter Obi is telling Chude on his podcast that if H.E Dave Umah wants to debate him, he should first qualify as a presidential candidate first.
“Funny; the Peter Obi @PeterObi how did he qualify to be a presidential candidate? Did he (Peter Obi) participate in any presidential primaries?
“In fact has he ever participated in any presidential primaries? Imagine a miracle centre presidential candidate questioning a successful governor and performing minister on qualifications.”
The Peoples Democratic Party faction led by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced the successful upload of the names of its presidential candidate, running mate and National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Mohammed said the submission demonstrated the party’s commitment to participating fully in the 2027 general election.
“I am pleased to inform all PDP members and Nigerians that our great Party, under my leadership, has successfully uploaded the names of our Presidential Candidate, his Running Mate, and our National Assembly candidates onto the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.
“This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the promise we made that, under my leadership, the PDP will fully participate in the 2027 General Elections. Today, we have taken another decisive step towards fulfilling that promise,” he added.
A screenshot from the INEC PCR Portal accompanying the announcement shows the PDP dashboard with 410 new candidate forms registered, of which 367 have been submitted, and 42 remain pending.
The PDP chairman said the party was awaiting the completion of the upload of its governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.
He congratulated members of the party on the completion of the latest phase of the nomination process.
“As we await the conclusion of the upload of our Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates, I, on behalf of the National Working Committee of our Party, extend my heartfelt congratulations to all PDP members across Nigeria and around the world,” he said.
“Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more united Party and a better future for our nation.”
The development comes hours after INEC extended the deadline set for political parties to submit the names of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through the commission’s online nomination portal.
It also follows the announcement by the ruling All Progressives Congress that it had completed the upload of its 471 candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, 109 Senate candidates and 360 House of Representatives candidates, to the INEC portal.
The All Progressives Congress has announced the successful upload of its 471 candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal, confirming President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.
The submissions comprise the presidential and vice-presidential ticket, 109 Senate candidates and 360 House of Representatives candidates, completing its nominations for the offices covered by the portal.
The announcement was made by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in a statement on Sunday, a day after the close of INEC’s portal for the submission of presidential and National Assembly candidates.
Yilwatda congratulated the party’s candidates, leaders and members on the completion of the exercise.
“I congratulate our candidates, leaders, and members of APC on the successful 100% upload of our Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP),” he said.
He added, “With this milestone achieved, our focus now shifts to mobilisation and preparations for a successful campaign and decisive victory at the polls.”
The upload confirms Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of speculation over whether the APC would retain its current presidential ticket.
The development comes after INEC fixed 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, as the deadline for political parties to submit the nomination forms of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online portal.
According to the commission’s timetable, political parties received access codes to the portal on June 26, while the submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E commenced on June 27 in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
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