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Nigerians React As Concerns Arise Over Incongruous Verdicts In Nigerian Electoral Cases

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3 years ago

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Nigerians React As Concerns Arise Over Incongruous Verdicts In Nigerian Electoral Cases....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A significant challenge to the credibility of democracy in Nigeria is the erosion of trust among voters. When the democratic process is marred by flaws and the electorate loses faith in the mechanisms through which elected officials emerge, it undermines democracy and leads to a loss of confidence in the electoral system. Electoral violence has unfortunately become a recurring issue in Nigerian democracy, with election disputes frequently escalating into legal battles.

The Role of the Judiciary

The judiciary is often viewed as the protector of justice, but there are concerns that some individuals within the judiciary have compromised their integrity for financial gains. A recent controversial decision by the Supreme Court to validate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s duly elected president has triggered widespread discord. The Supreme Court rejected petitions by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, stating that questioning the legitimacy of the president or vice president’s candidacy was a pre-election matter falling outside the jurisdiction of election courts.

While some election courts have resisted external pressures and maintained their impartiality, it is well-known that certain judges have been subjected to undue influence to sway their verdicts in favor of well-connected individuals. Recent reports, such as those from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have revealed attempts to subvert the democratic process.

Inconsistent Verdicts in Plateau

Despite the clarity of the Electoral Act 2022 that pre-election matters are outside the purview of election tribunals, some tribunal members and Court of Appeal justices have failed to acknowledge this settled fact. Several verdicts in cases handled by the Plateau State Election Court of Appeal Panel have strayed from legal precedent.

The basis for these judgments has been tied to complaints by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates regarding the rationality of the emergence of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates. For example, the Appeal Court justices nullified the election of Hon. Isaac Kwalu in the Shendam/Quaapan/Mikang Federal Constituency, ordering a rerun and a new Certificate of Return for the APC candidate, John Dafa’an. They also annulled the victory of Hon. Musa Agah of the PDP in the Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, directing a rerun based on non-compliance with a Plateau High Court order for a repeat congress in 2022.

The national leadership of the PDP has raised questions about these unusual verdicts that lack legal precedent. The party has criticized the use of pre-election matters to invalidate the electoral victories of PDP candidates in Plateau, emphasizing the inconsistent outcomes for election appeals with similar facts, laws, and circumstances. This bias in favor of the APC has raised concerns about the integrity of these judgments.

Safeguarding Elections from the Courts

In response, the PDP has submitted a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) regarding what it sees as unlawful verdicts by the Appeal Court on Plateau’s electoral cases. The party has also called for the removal of the current panel and the appointment of new justices to review these verdicts and other pending cases. The new panel, upon appointment, should be instructed to avoid involvement in pre-election matters, as per relevant laws.

To restore public confidence in the judiciary, it is imperative that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongba-Mensem, dissolves the Plateau State Election Appeal Panel and appoints a new team. As established by the Supreme Court and in compliance with Nigerian electoral laws, the newly appointed panel should refrain from using pre-election matters as grounds to annul elections. Allowing election courts to intervene in pre-election matters would constitute a blatant violation of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022 and a deliberate attempt to undermine the nation’s political system.

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Federal High Court Declares Christmas Break, Names Judges To Handle Cases – Full List.

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12 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.

According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.

Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.

She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.

The statement read:

“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.

“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.

“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.

“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.

“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”

Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges

The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:

Abuja Judicial Division

  1. Justice I. E. Ekwo

  2. Justice O. A. Egwuatu

Lagos Judicial Division

  1. Justice Akintayo Aluko

  2. Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam

Port Harcourt Judicial Division

  1. Justice P. M. Ayua

  2. Justice A. T. Mohammed

Enugu Judicial Division

  1. Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo

  2. Justice M. T. Segun-Bello

The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.

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Eric Chelle Makes Surprise Exit From Nigeria U-23 Camp Ahead Of Tanzania Clash.

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12 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has departed Nigeria’s U-23 team camp to concentrate on the senior national team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Tanzania.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Chelle, who also supervises the Olympic Eagles, will be unavailable for Nigeria’s two-legged U-23 AFCON qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) because both teams have matches scheduled during the same international window.

The Olympic Eagles are scheduled to travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on Friday, November 13. The encounter will take place on the same day the Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

The return leg is slated for Tuesday, November 17, in Ikenne, coinciding with Nigeria’s second meeting with Tanzania.

In Chelle’s absence, assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles, working alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe.

Ortega reportedly conducted most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday and led the technical crew during their friendly victory over Grassrunners on Friday, ahead of the squad’s departure for the first leg.

Meanwhile, Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifying matches against Tanzania. Among the notable inclusions are Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga.

Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke have also earned places in the squad. Atata will compete for the goalkeeping position alongside Samuel James of SJK FC and Clinton Andy.

Other notable selections include defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi, as well as midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye.

The attacking options also feature Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar.

The seven home-based players in the squad are expected to depart Nigeria on Tuesday for the Olympic Eagles’ first-leg encounter against DR Congo at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.

Full Nigeria U-23 Squad

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).

Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).

Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).

Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).

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“Behave Yourself!” – Seyi Tinubu Fires Back At Isaac Fayose Over Port Harcourt ‘City Boy’ Walk.

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12 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has criticised political commentator Isaac Fayose over his remarks about the City Boy movement’s walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fayose had taken to social media to question the gathering, describing it as a waste of time and expressing doubts about the number of people who attended the event.

Responding in the comment section of the post, Seyi urged the businessman to conduct himself properly instead of criticising the group’s activities.

He defended the Port Harcourt walk, describing it as a successful and peaceful gathering organised by young Nigerians in support of President Tinubu and his administration.

Seyi wrote: “My content creator Egbon e behave ara yin o. You and I both know that those gallant men and women were there for the city boy walk in PH, which was a success by the way. Vote APC.”

In a related development, Fayose has alleged that he is being targeted with false accusations because of his support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the allegation in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.

He was reacting to a post by an unnamed blogger linking him to a rape allegation, which he denied, describing it as a fabrication intended to damage his reputation because of his refusal to withdraw support for Obi.

Fayose further alleged that individuals who turn down offers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are often subjected to smear campaigns.

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