Connect with us

latest

Tension In Abuja As House Defies Supreme Court, Reintroduces Lottery Bill.

Published

on

A constitutional dispute is unfolding between the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria and the National Assembly following the reintroduction of a Bill on lottery regulation — a move that legal experts describe as a direct challenge to the authority of the Supreme Court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Nivo News, tension heightened after the Federation petitioned Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, through its legal representatives in the landmark case Attorney General of Lagos State & Ors v. Attorney General of the Federation, the National Assembly & Ors (SC.1/2008). The petition accused the legislature of engaging in “judicial assault” and “constitutional perversion” by reintroducing legislation already deemed unconstitutional by the nation’s apex court.

In November 2024, a full panel of seven Supreme Court justices delivered a unanimous ruling affirming that lottery and gaming fall outside the National Assembly’s legislative powers. The court nullified the National Lottery Act, restricting its validity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and held that such matters lie exclusively within the jurisdiction of state governments.

The Supreme Court explained that since lottery and gaming are not listed under the Exclusive or Concurrent Legislative Lists of the 1999 Constitution, they fall under the residual powers of the states. The judgment effectively resolved the long-standing power tussle between federal and state authorities over control of the gaming and lottery industry.

Despite the ruling, the House of Representatives has introduced a new “Central Gaming Bill” (HB.2062), published in the National Assembly Journal on February 3, 2025. The proposed legislation aims to repeal the nullified National Lottery Act of 2005 and its 2017 amendment, while establishing a Federal Gaming Commission to license, regulate, and collect revenues from gaming operators across the country.

The bill broadly defines “gaming” to include all forms of online gaming in Nigeria and in the FCT. However, state regulators argue that this move directly contravenes the Supreme Court’s ruling. They insist that none of the constitutional provisions upon which the judgment was based has been amended to justify the new legislative effort.

“The very foundation of the Bill and its entire tenor are, with respect, false and constitutionally untenable,” the petition stated. “It purports to create offences under a law that is grounded in illegality and steeped in judicial affront.”

The letter further warned that proceeding with the bill would amount to undermining the judiciary’s authority and eroding the principles of federalism. It cautioned that any attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision through legislation would set a dangerous precedent capable of weakening the rule of law.

Legal analysts note that the 2024 Supreme Court verdict decentralised gaming regulation, empowering states to oversee and license operators within their territories. States such as Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Enugu, and Ogun already have functioning lottery and gaming boards, while others are developing similar frameworks to boost internal revenue generation.

However, the proposed federal bill threatens to override these state laws by reinstating a centralised control system, effectively reversing the autonomy states gained through the court’s landmark judgment.

Advertisement

latest

ADC PRIMARIES IN CHAOS! Solomon Dalung Aggressively Cancels Voting In Four Local Governments!.

Published

on

Solomon Dalung, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) electoral committee and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has annulled the party’s governorship primary elections in four local government areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking to journalists at the party’s secretariat in Lafia on Monday, Dalung revealed that the elections in Nasarawa, Doma, Toto, and Karu were cancelled due to widespread violence, irregularities, and malpractice. He broke down the specific disruptions in each area:

  • Doma: No voting took place, yet results were fabricated and submitted without carbon copies provided to agents.

  • Toto: Electoral officers were unlawfully detained in Keffi for ten hours before presenting compromised results.

  • Nasarawa: Materials were distributed at a vigilante post, and the blocked officer was later handed arbitrary results.

  • Karu: Outbreaks of violence led to an assault on the party chairman; the electoral officer fled, and an unauthorized individual later turned in the results.

Dalung emphasized that under the ADC’s direct primary guidelines, valid results strictly require physical verification and a matching result sheet. He also warned that unauthorized possession of election materials violates Section 10 of the Electoral Act, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison or a ₦10 million fine.

While results from the remaining nine LGAs have been successfully collated, Dalung stated that a comprehensive report on the fraudulent activities will be forwarded to the ADC national secretariat for a final decision.

Option 2: Concise & Direct (Ideal for a quick read or social media summary)

Nasarawa Primaries: ADC Cancels Elections in Four LGAs Citing Fraud and Violence

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) electoral committee chairman, Solomon Dalung, has cancelled the party’s governorship primaries in four Nasarawa State local government areas: Doma, Toto, Nasarawa, and Karu.

Addressing the press in Lafia, Dalung cited severe electoral malpractice, including fabricated results in Doma, the 10-hour abduction of electoral officers in Toto, compromised material distribution in Nasarawa, and violence that forced officials to abandon the vote in Karu.

Dalung reiterated that ADC guidelines invalidate any direct primary that lacks physical voter counting. He also noted that those holding unauthorized election materials face stiff legal penalties under the Electoral Act. The committee has collated results for the other nine local governments and is escalating a full report of the irregularities to the party’s national leadership.

Option 3: Formal & Bulleted (Great for a corporate or legal brief)

Executive Summary: Cancellation of ADC Nasarawa Governorship Primaries

Overview Solomon Dalung, Chairman of the ADC Electoral Committee, has officially invalidated the governorship primary elections across four local government areas (LGAs) in Nasarawa State due to severe procedural breaches and security compromises.

Specific Violations by LGA:

  • Doma LGA: Total absence of voting; submission of fabricated results; failure to issue carbon copies to party agents.

  • Toto LGA: Electoral personnel were illegally detained in Keffi for several hours, rendering the subsequent results illegitimate.

  • Nasarawa LGA: Disruption of material distribution at a vigilante outpost; unauthorized generation of results.

  • Karu LGA: Pre-election violence resulting in an assault on the party chairman; abandonment of duty by the electoral officer; submission of results by an unauthorized third party.

Regulatory and Legal Framework:

  • ADC Guidelines: Direct primaries require verifiable physical counting of members alongside corresponding documentation. Failure to meet these criteria nullifies the results.

  • Electoral Act (Section 10): Specifies that the unauthorized possession of electoral materials is a criminal offense punishable by a ₦10 million fine or up to five years imprisonment.

Next Steps: Results from the remaining nine unaffected LGAs have been successfully processed. A formal report documenting these electoral infractions is being compiled for submission to the ADC National Secretariat.

Continue Reading

latest

ALERT FOR ASPIRANTS: APC Boss Yilwatda Issues Fierce Warning As He Reveals The Real Winners Of State Primaries!.

Published

on

ABUJA, FCT — The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has strongly defended the integrity of the party’s internal democracy, dismissing widespread rumors that the leadership handpicked or imposed candidates during the recently concluded primary elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking on Monday during a live interview on Arise News, Yilwatda addressed deep-seated anxieties that the party’s heavy reliance on consensus arrangements might trigger an uncontrollable internal crisis ahead of the general elections.

The APC Chairman broke down the metrics of the shadow polls, revealing that out of the 29 states where governorship tickets were fiercely contested by incumbent governors and fresh aspirants, an overwhelming majority went down to the wire via direct voting.

“Across the 36 states, we had 29 governorship contests featuring both returning governors and fresh aspirants. Out of these, only three governorship candidates emerged through the consensus mechanism,” Yilwatda clarified. “Every single one of the remaining states went through rigorous direct primaries. There were absolutely no impositions because wherever we intervened, we ensured the rule of law took its full course.”

The Consensus Security Check: No Signature, No Deal

Explaining the stringent measures introduced by the national leadership to prevent powerful political godfathers from highjacking tickets, Yilwatda revealed that the party instituted a mandatory legal document for all consensus agreements.

Under this new policy, a consensus arrangement is rendered legally dead if even a single contender refuses to endorse it.

“Where a genuine consensus cannot be reached organically, the fallback option is always direct primaries,” the Chairman noted. “We specifically created a consensus sign-off form. This legal document requires every single aspirant contesting in that state to physically sign and agree before any consensus candidate is formally ratified by the party. Without unanimous signatures, it doesn’t stand.”

Why Some State Elections Were Delayed

Yilwatda also shed light on why the national working committee deliberately put the brakes on primaries in specific states, explaining that the delays were strategic moves to preserve the party’s internal cohesion and address complaints of foul play.

Rather than forcing the exercise through amid high tensions, the APC leadership preferred to hit the pause button to investigate petition claims.

“We had instances where aspirants appealed to the national headquarters over alleged anomalies. That is why we delayed some elections by two to three days. We deliberately shifted those dates to address concerns of foul play and ensure a level playing field before any votes were cast,” he explained.

To wrap up the peaceful resolution of internal friction, the Chairman assured party faithful that robust appeal panels remain active across the country, giving every aggrieved aspirant the legitimate platform to legally challenge any part of the electoral process.

Continue Reading

latest

“Hands Off The Throne!” — Appeal Court Orders Adeleke To Halt Action Immediately In Crucial Osun Royal Battle!.

Published

on

AKURE, ONDO STATE — The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has issued a restraining order against the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, blocking any further government intervention in the highly contested Akirun of Ikirun chieftaincy dispute.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The appellate court, in a ruling delivered on Monday, directed all feuding parties to strictly maintain the status quo concerning the royal stool currently occupied by Oba Olalekan Akadiri, pending the final determination of the substantive appeal.

The judicial intervention follows a controversial decision by the Osun State Government to declare the monarch’s seat vacant. The government had previously ordered stakeholders to pause further actions while awaiting the outcome of the appeal court—a stance formalised in a White Paper issued after a review committee evaluated Governor Adeleke’s November 2022 executive orders.

Alleged Violations Triggers Judicial Rebound

Presiding Judge, Justice S.O. Nwaka Gbagi, issued the explicit freeze order after listening to arguments indicating that certain actors were attempting to bypass the legal process.

Counsel to Oba Akadiri, Chief N.O. Oke (SAN), alerted the court that the Chairman of the Ikirun Kingmakers, Chief Kareem Adetoyese, had allegedly undermined the ongoing legal process by writing to the Gboleru Ruling House to present fresh nominees for the throne. The monarch’s legal team argued that this clandestine move was a blatant violation of both state government directives and pending judicial protocols.

All Parties Bind to Peace Pact

In a unified response to the developments, legal representatives for all key interests, including the Gboleru Ruling House, the Kingmakers, and the Osun State Ministry of Justice, agreed that fresh traditional processes must be suspended to protect public peace.

Chief Sola Ebiseni, counsel representing the accused kingmakers, denied direct knowledge of his client’s letters but consented to the application for a complete halt in proceedings to ensure tranquility in the Ikirun community.

“It Is Unfortunate” — Appeal Court Slams Defiant Parties

Delivering the final verdict, Justice Gbagi expressed deep disappointment that local authorities tried to initiate a fresh selection process despite explicit guidelines captured in the government’s official White Paper.

“It has been brought to the knowledge of this court that despite the government White Paper advising all parties to halt the processing of nomination of the Akirun of Ikirun, learned Silk Counsel to the 15th Respondent has informed the court that the fourth respondent has been calling for nominations for the stool,” the court noted.

“It is unfortunate that the fourth respondent can go outside the government’s directive in a matter that is pending before this court. It is hereby ordered that parties maintain the status quo and avoid a breakdown of law and order.”

With this binding judicial freeze, Governor Adeleke and the Ikirun kingmakers are legally barred from making appointments, calling for nominations, or attempting to depose Oba Olalekan Akadiri until the appellate court resolves the ultimate ownership of the ancient throne.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 NIVONEWS