Politics
Bauchi APC Loses Six Election Petitions, Rejects Judgment
The Bauchi State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), On Monday, lost six petitions at the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.
While delivering judgements on the petitions brought before them by the defeated candidates of the APC in the last general elections, the two Tribunals dismissed the petitions for lacking in merit.
The two Tribunals that were headed by Chairmen, Justices Folabi Ajayi and A I Ebong respectively, passed judgements in their separate Courts sited within the Bauchi State High Court Complex.
At the NASS Elections Petition Tribunal which sat at High Court Two, where the judgements were passed by Chairman of the Three man panel, Justice A.I Ebong, journalists covering the election tribunals were denied access to the tribunal.
The staff and security personnel claimed at the entrance of the court room, that they have been directed not to allow Journalists inside the court room.
The five petitions dismissed by the NASS Tribunal are those of Bauchi Central Senatorial seat between the defeated APC candidate, Uba Ahmed Nana (pettioner) and the winner, Sen Abdul Ahmed Ningi of the PDP joined by, INEC, PDP as Respondents.
Another one is the .Ningi/ Warji Federal Constituency, between Abdulahi Sa’ ad Abdulkadir, Petitioners of APC against Adamu Hashimu Ranga, INEC, PDP as Respondents as well as the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, between Bashir Bello, Petitioner of APC and Versus Mansur Manu Soro, INEC, PDP Respondents
The rest are: Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency between Sabo Bappayo Ahmed, petitioner of APC against Bappa Aliyu Misau of the PDP INEC, Respondents and Katagum Federal Constituency, Gali Mohammed, pettioner APC against Auwal Gwallabe, PDP, INEC as Respondents.
The only State Assembly petition was for Dass state Constituency, between the Bala Ali, the petitioner of APC and Ahmed Abdullahi ,INEC, PDP as Respondents.
The Tribunals in their separate judgments on the petitions, declared that the petitioners and their witnesses failed to prove their allegations beyond all reasonable doubts.
The Tribunals averred that some of the witnesses’ statements presented were based on assumptions which is not admissible, citing section,137 paragraph 6 of the 2022 Electoral Act.
Counsels to the Petitioners, when approached on weather they were satisfied with the judgments of the Tribunals, they said they will meet with their clients for the next step of actions.
The Petitioners were awarded various sums of money ranging from N200,000 to N500 000 being fines imposed on the petitioners respectively.
However, the APC as a party has rejected the judgements delivered by the two tribunals against all its candidates who filled petitions against the declaration of INEC.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC, Ali Adamu Jalla, described the judgements as laughable wondering how the party would lose all 6 petitions for the same reasons from two different Tribunals.
He declared without hesitation that the APC would appeal the judgements, expressing hope and confidence that the APC candidates would get judgment at the higher court.
Ali Adamu Jalla said that the Tribunals abandoned all the reasons for the petitions and introduced new things that they could not understand, appealing to the party’s supporters to remain calm and peaceful.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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