Politics
Orji Urges Tribunal To Quash PPA’s Petition
Gov Theodore Orji of Abia has urged the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to dismiss the matter filed by Chief Chris Akomas and the Progressive People Party (PPA) Counsel to the governor Wole Olanikepun (SAN), who made this known while objecting to the hearing of the application for leave of court to issue Pre-hearing notice to the petitioner, said that it was brought out of time. Olanikepun submitted that the proper time to take out the pre-hearing notice was on June 24 when the respondent filed and served their reply to the process and not on July 8. He said that the application was incompetent and that the court lacked the jurisdiction to extend time by virtue of Paragraph 18(1) of the first schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. The senior advocate said that the provision of the law was trite, adding that Paragraph 18(4) stipulated that the proper thing for the tribunal was to dismiss the application and declare the petition as “an abandoned petition”. Counsel to INEC Adegboega Awomolo (SAN), and Mr Chibuike Nwokeukwu, who appeared for PDP aligned themselves with the submission of Olanikepun. Responding to the application, Mr U. Nwoko, applied for a short adjournment at least for 24 hours to enable him to look at the issue of law and case law cited by the respondents and reply accordingly. The application was not objected to by the respondents’ counsel and the tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Mobolaji Ojo, held that the application was not frivolous and adjourned the case to July 15 for continuation. Also the tribunal has fixed July 27 as the hearing date of the preliminary objection brought by Orji in the petition filed by Chief Emenike Owanta of Democratic Front for Peoples Federation (DFPF). Hon. Ojo ordered the respondents, who gave notice of their intention to bring the objection to file it on July 19 and that the petitioners should reply to it on July 22. The tribunal had earlier heard and granted the application of the petitioner for leave to apply for pre-hearing notices. Our correspondent reports that the governor is challenging the competence and jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain Owanta’s petition. Owanta had dragged the governor, PDP and INEC to the tribunal over unlawful exclusion of the party to contest the April 26 governorship election in the state.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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