BREAKING; Supreme Court reserves Judgment on three States Guber elections disputes

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2024

BREAKING; Supreme Court reserves Judgment on three States Guber elections disputes

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on over 10 appeals linked to disputes arising from the November 11, 2023, governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.

A five-member panel, chaired by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, heard the appeals on Monday and informed the parties that they would be notified when the judgments are ready.

Among the first appeals heard were those filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, as well as the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Olayinka Baimoh. Both appeals challenge the victories of Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, seeking to overturn the Court of Appeal and election tribunal rulings that upheld Ododo’s win.

During the session, Pius Akubo (SAN), representing the appellants, informed the court that his clients had requested the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to convene a full panel to deliberate on certain critical issues within their case. Akubo argued that these issues required the court to potentially depart from its previous decisions.

Despite this request, the lawyers for the respondents, including Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Joseph Daudu (SAN) for Ododo, opposed the move.

They urged the current panel to proceed with the appeal, deeming the request for a full panel unnecessary.

Justice Garba, leading the panel, noted that the matter raised by the appellants pertained to only a portion of the appeal and called on Akubo to proceed with his arguments. After adopting their briefs, the appellants asked the court to nullify the lower court’s ruling and declare Ajaka the winner of the Kogi governorship election. The respondents, on the other hand, requested that the appeal be dismissed.

Similarly, the court also considered the appeal brought by the AA and its candidate, who likewise sought to challenge Ododo’s victory. The respondents’ lawyers urged the court to dismiss the appeal due to its lack of merit.

In Bayelsa State, six appeals and cross-appeals were brought forward in relation to the governorship election, involving challenges from the APC and its candidate, Timipre Sylva, as well as the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and its candidate, Micah Akeems. The court agreed to hear one of the appeals first, with the understanding that the judgment would apply to the remaining four.

Both Sylva and Akeems are urging the Supreme Court to overturn the re-election of Governor Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In Imo State, the court also heard appeals from the PDP and its candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, as well as the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Athan Achonu, regarding the governorship election results. The judgments on these cases have also been reserved.

Additionally, the Supreme Court dismissed appeals by the Accord Party and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as unmeritorious, imposing a cost of N1 million on each appellant.

News

President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing

Published

2 hours ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.

On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.

It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.

In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.

The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.

Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.

He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)

News

APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)

News

282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

Published

7 hours ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.

The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.

He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.

“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.

“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”

“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.

Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.

“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.