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Group Lauds A’Court Verdict On Election Results’ Transmission

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A support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Campaign Organisation (BCO), has expressed its acceptance of the recent judgment by the Lagos State Division of the Court of Appeal.
The court’s verdict overturns the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit election results for Governorship and State Assembly elections from polling units to the INEC Results Viewing portal (IReV).
INEC had declared the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, winner of the governorship election held in the state on Saturday, March 18.
Sanwo-Olu of the APC cleared 19 out of the 20 local government areas of the state in the election.
Sanwo-Olu, who polled 762,134 votes, defeated his closest rival, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, who polled 312,329 votes, and was followed by Olajide Adeniran of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 62,449 votes.
In a statement on Monday, National Patron of BCO, Abdulwahab Quardi; National Coordinator, Mohammed Makinta, and National Women Leader, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, commended the Court of Appeal for its decision.
They also agreed with the court’s stance that the earlier judgement by the Federal High Court in Lagos amounted to an abuse of the court process.
According to the group, Federal High Court judge, Emeka Nwite, had already ruled in January 2023, before the February 25, 2023 Presidential election, that INEC had the freedom to choose the method of transmitting election results from polling units to collation centres in accordance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
“The leadership of Bola Campaign Organisation applauds the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos State, against the earlier judgement by the Federal High Court in Lagos, where INEC was compelled to immediately transmit results of both Governorship and State Assembly elections on the IReV Portal.
“By virtue of the judgement of the Abuja court on January 23, 2023, INEC was at liberty to prescribe the manner in which election results could or ought to be transmitted by virtue of sections 50 (2) and 60 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2022,” they said.
While commending the justices of the Court of Appeal for the verdict, they added that the verdict has safeguarded the integrity of the system.
“As a group, we commend the justices of the Court of Appeal who demonstrated courage, forthrightness, and dispassion in delivering this historic judgement to put our electoral process in check,” it added.

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Ex-Women Affairs Minister, Tallen Felicitates Tinubu’s Wife @ 63

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Former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, has felicitated First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu on the occasion of her 63rd birthday.
Tallen, who congratulated the President’s wife in a statement on Friday in Abuja, eulogised the First Lady, who she described as “a rare gem and rare gift to the nation.”
She prayed for more years of God’s exceeding grace on Mrs Tinubu, describing her as extremely humane, an epitome of humility and an indispensable strong pillar of support to her husband.
Tallen said, “Your Excellency, on this milestone and auspicious occasion of your 63rd birthday, I join millions of your well-wishers across the globe, especially the womenfolk, to celebrate with you, while thanking God for His exceeding grace upon you, while wishing you the best that life can offer in the many decades ahead.
“As a wife, mother, fervent preacher of the gospel, as well as an iconic political leader, who exemplifies the struggle for women in politics, you will remain a veritable source of inspiration and pride for women for generations yet unborn.
“Indeed, we could not have asked God for a better First Lady at this time, considering your rare track record of achievements, as your life has been a gift, not just to Nigerian women after your breaking of many barriers for women and setting a perfect example for young girls over the years.”
The former Deputy Governor of Plateau and one-time Minister of State, Science and Technology, said that the people of Plateau would remain eternally grateful to Mrs Tinubu, particularly for her recent visit to the state and donation of a whooping sum of N500 million to families of crisis victims in the state.
She said that through her Renewed Hope Initiative, as Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Tinubu has demonstrated her empathy, humanity and philanthropic gesture by pursuing the well-being of others with unquantifiable compassion and zeal to help the less privileged, the challenged and those in need.
Tallen, therefore, prayed for long life, good health, increased grace and wisdom for the First Lady and her entire family.

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Tani Olorun Not Against Out-Of-Court Settlement, Says Lawyer

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The legal team of embattled Isese advocate in Ilorin, Kwara State, Abdulazeez Adegbola, alias Tani Olorun, has said they are open to an out-of-court settlement of the case of criminal defamation brought against him by the police.
Tani Olorun’s lead counsel, Ademola Bank, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide source.
Tani Olorun is standing trial on five counts of alleged criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, criminal defamation of character, and intentional insult before a Kwara Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.
In a separate case, he is also standing trial before the Kwara Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, alongside the Oluwo Nla of Tede, Chief Ademola Olawoore.
The offence, according to the prosecution, was contrary to sections 97, 210, 392, and 114 of the Penal Code Law of Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with our source in Ilorin on Saturday, Tani Olorun’s lead counsel, Bank, said, “If an agreement for an out-of-court settlement comes up, why are we not to agree? The court allows it, the law allows it, and wisdom allows it. The law does not frown on it, the court does not frown on it, and wisdom does not frown on it. Parties can agree to an out-of-court settlement at any time. If it comes, so be it, if the situation allows it.”
He was, however, silent on whether the agreement for an out-of-court settlement would come from the defendant, saying, “It is the situation that dictates it. If it comes from the parties, we will not stand against it. The lawyer will not stand against it. No lawyer will oppose any bid for settlement by parties; it is for peace to reign.”

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I’m Not Afraid Of Appeal – Gawuna

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Kano State, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, has said he is unafraid of the appeal challenging his victory at the tribunal.
The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, last Wednesday, declared the APC candidate winner of the election and sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The three-man panel ordered a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna and the withdrawal of a certificate of return presented to Yusuf.
The court noted that ballot papers of 165,663 votes were not stamped or signed and, therefore, were invalid and deducted the 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total.
Speaking with BBC Hausa in an interview while commenting on the tribunal judgment, Gawuna said, “I am grateful to Allah for our victory in the Kano State election, which was affirmed by the court today (Wednesday). I thank Him for His will, which chose us to lead. I also thank our lawyers and the general public for their prayers and support.”
He noted that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was initially declared the winner of the election but believed that Allah had already decided the outcome, saying they had the right to challenge the results in court, and they did so.
Gawuna said that anyone who believes that nothing happens without Allah’s will will never worry or take governance as a do-or-die affair, stressing that whatever happens to them, they believe it is the will of Allah.
According to him, “We are not intimidated or afraid, because we know that whatever happens is for the best. Allah never makes mistakes.”

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