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Just In: Governor Eno Calls On Appellate Court To Reject Bassey Akpan’s Case
Just In: Governor Eno Calls On Appellate Court To Reject Bassey Akpan’s Case....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has requested the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to reject the appeal filed by Senator Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The governor urged the court to affirm the lower court’s ruling, which declared him the winner of the March 18, 2023, governorship election.
In appeal number CA//C/EP/GOV/AKW/24/2023, YPP and Senator Akpan challenge the Governorship Petitions Tribunal’s decision in Uyo, which upheld Eno’s election as the valid Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement released by his Senior Special Adviser on Research and Documentation, Dr. Essien Ndueso, Governor Eno, represented by lead counsel Paul Usoro, SAN, disputed the appellants’ argument that the Supreme Court’s judgment in the certificate forgery case of Mr. Akan Okon was different from Senator Akpan’s certificate forgery case brought before the election tribunal.
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He argued, “When the court issued its judgment, it explicitly ruled that the documents were not forged but belonged to the second respondent. This implies that the judgment applies to PDP, INEC, the court, or any establishment for that matter.”
Furthermore, he contended that “it was legally imperative to put an end to the litigation, and thus the appellants had no reason to continue pressing the court on a matter that had already been conclusively resolved at the highest court in the land.”
The appellants, jointly represented by Tunde Falola, expressed their dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s ruling and judgment, which upheld the respondents’ preliminary objections and dismissed the petition, prompting their appeal.
The appellants argued that they presented 18 witnesses before the tribunal and had adequately demonstrated that the second respondent was not qualified to contest the election as he had presented a forged certificate to INEC. They also argued that he was not elected by a majority of lawful votes.
Counsel for INEC, Kolapo Kolade, SAN, stated that the petitioners had failed to produce the true owner of the certificate, which they claimed did not belong to Umo Eno, and had not provided any documents to support their claims of forgery.
Additionally, counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, argued that even the first appellant, Bassey Albert, had presented three documents to the lower court with varying name arrangements yet claimed ownership of all three.
Furthermore, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Emem Coffie, approached the Appeal Court, seeking to overturn the judgment of the lower tribunal in his favor. He argued that he should be declared the governor as other candidates in the election were not qualified to contest.
All matters have been adjourned to a later date for judgment.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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