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Kogi Election: Appeal Court reserves judgment in SDP, Ajaka’s appeal against Ododo

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The Court of Appeal sitting on Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), in the November 11, 2023 Kogi State governorship election, Murtala Ajaka, challenging the judgement of the State Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed Ahmed Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the elected governor of the state.

A three-member of Justices of the appellate court reserved judgment on Thursday to a date that would be communicated to parties after the adoption of all their briefs they filed in the matter.

While adopting the processes filed on behalf of the appellants, Pius Akubo, SAN, urged the court to set aside the judgement of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and declare Ajaka as the governor of Kogi State.

According to Akubo, the judgement of the Tribunal which affirmed Ododo’s election was a serious miscarriage of justice.

He said the expunge of the evidence of the first petitioners’ witness (PW1) by the Tribunal was a miscarriage of justice.

According to him, the appellants have demonstrated that election in three local government areas of Kogi state was contaminated by over voting.

He argued that Ajaka would have won if the election was properly conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act.

“Having regards to Section 134(1)(3) of the Electoral Act, the 2nd respondent was not qualified to contest in the election, having submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” he stated.

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Akubo urged the court to hold that the the issue of qualification of the 2nd respondent is not a pre-election matter and pleaded with the court to set aside the decision of the Tribunal and declare Ajaka winner of the November 11, 2023 Kogi state governorship election.

In his own submission, Kanu Agabi, SAN, while adopting the briefs filed on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), prayed the court to dismiss the appeal filed by Ajaka and his party for lacking in merit.

He said there were inconsistencies in the case of the appellants and further argued that the Appeal Court had decided that if the grounds of a petition are inconsistent with one another, and are not consistent with the reliefs, it should be struck out.

Agabi also argued that the evidence of the petitioners were grossly insufficient and submitted that, once the evidence called is grossly insufficient, there is no evidence.

He said the petitioners only called 25 witnesses out of the scores listed and further argued that, out of the 25 witnesses called by the petitioners, there was no single polling unit agent among them.

Agabi also argued that the PW1 did not file any witness deposition before hand as required by law and as such cannot give evidence in an election petition.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, in his own submission on Ododo’s behalf, said no single evidence of PW1 was admitted as evidence by the Tribunal on the ground that he failed to front load his witness statement before hand.

Daudu said the Tribunal was right to have expunged the evidence of PW1, having declared it inadmissible and added that the appellants failed to prove the allegation of over voting in their petition.

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He also urged the court to dismiss the allegations of forgery against his client, saying it bordered on pre-election matter, which the apex court had decided in Gbagi’s case against INEC.

Daudu, who said the appellants failed to prove allegation of over-voting, also argued that Section 137 of the Electoral Act cited by the petitioners on allegations of over-voting did not apply in the petition.

He urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgement of the Tribunal which upheld the election of Ododo.

Corroborating Daudu’s argument, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who appeared for APC, prayed the Appeal Court to dismiss the petition for being incompetent.

Ajaka and his party, in the appeal, hinged on 31 grounds, insist that they are the winners of the November 11, 2023 governorship election and should be declared the rightful winner.

The appellants who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu, are praying the court for an order setting aside the judgement of the Tribunal, an order restoring the testimony of their first witness (PW1) as well as all the documents they tendered that were expunged from the records of the Tribunal.

The appellants also want that Appeal Court to hold that Ododo was not even qualified to have contested the election into the office of Governor of Kogi State and that all votes ascribed and or allocated to him and the APC are wasted votes.

It would be recalled that the tribunal had, on May 27, affirmed the victory of Ododo of the APC in the November 11, 2023 Kogi governorship poll.

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The three-member panel of justices, held that the petition was bereft of substance and accordingly dismissed it.

The tribunal held that SDP and Ajaka failed to prove the allegations of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 in the petition.

The panel, in a unanimous, decision held that all the witness evidence filed before it were incompetent and full of inconsistencies.

It also agreed with the submissions of the respondents that the allegations of forgery raised in the petition were pre-election matter, which ought to have been raised 14 days after the documents were submitted to INEC.

Kogi had, on November 11, 2023, held its off-cycle election in which Ododo of the APC was declared winner by INEC.

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Enugu Labour Party Chairman Agbo suspended over attack on Peter Obi, other offences

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A major crisis is rocking the Enugu State chapter of Labour Party, LP, as the State Working Committee of the party and local government chairmen on Tuesday announced the suspension the state chairman, Barr. Casmir Agbo.

They passed a vote of no confidence on his leadership saying he had engaged in acts that were against the interest of the party in the state.

The leaders of the party in a communique made available to newsmen at the end of their meeting in Enugu among other things, accused their chairman of insubordination, attack of the party’s national leader, Peter Obi, alleged collection of bribe and replacement of elected party leaders without due process.

The communique which was signed by 14 out of the 17 LG chairmen, zonal chairmen and other elected executives of the party also announced the appointment of Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu to pilot the affairs of the party pending when the party will hold its congress.

“The Enugu State Labour Party has taken a significant step in holding its leadership accountable by passing a vote of no confidence in the State Labour Party Chairman, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo.
This unanimous decision taken by the State Working Committee and Local Government Party Chairmen reflects the party’s commitment to upholding its values and principles.

“The vote of no confidence was taken due to litanies of anti party activities perpetuated and perpetrated by Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo and his cohorts.The following under listed reasons are the reasons for this vote of no confidence and/suspension:

1. serious concerns regarding Barr. Casmir’s handling of recent activities or failure to uphold the pary’s mission and values.
2. The organization’s members have lost confidence in Casmir’s ability to effectively guide the party forward.

3. insurbodination, acerbic, vitriolic attacks and abuse of the personality of our national leader, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi.

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4. Non recognition and sidelining of the party’s elected members and other stakeholders.
5. It’s established that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo runs the party like his private enterprise by taking unilateral decisions.

6. It’s on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo demanded and took bribes from our party candidates during the recently concluded local government elections.

7. It’s also on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo remove and replace party excos both at ward, local government and state levels without recourse to the party’s constitution and with scanty regard to the opinions of the party stakeholders.”

The party leaders said the decision was taken “with a heavy heart, but we believe it is necessary to ensure the pary’s’ continued success and integrity.
We will now begin the process of selecting a new Chairman who shares our vision and values in acting capacity.

“The party remains committed to its mission and values and is confident that this decision will ultimately strengthen, regig and recalibrate the party. We appreciate the support of our members and stakeholders during this transition period.

“It’s on the strength of the foregoing developments that we recommend that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo be suspended forthwith.

“Drawing strength from the above recommendation by the strength State and Local Government Excos, the motion for his suspension was moved by Hon. Chinweuba Ngwu of Enugu South and dutifully seconded by Mazi Augustine Umezuluike(Mason) of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

“Consequent upon this, Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu was appointed in acting capacity to replace Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo pending when the party congress would be conducted. The motion for the nomination of the acting Chairman was moved by Hon Chinweuba Ngwu and seconded Mazi Augustine Umezuluike.”

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Barr. Agbo could not be reached for his reaction to the suspension.

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Arrest threat: I’m being forced to go on exile, El-Rufai cries out

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that some political forces are attempting to force him into self-imposed exile through intimidation and threats of arrest.

El-Rufai said this in reaction to claims by a Twitter user that there were plans to arrest El-Rufai upon his return to Nigeria on “concocted allegations.”

El-Rufai, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused unnamed political figures of attempting to use the judicial system against him.

He said such threats were part of a larger plan to force him into self-imposed exile but noted that he has no intention of leaving the country.

“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation, and went to every length to compromise the judicial process, and this is continuing at the Court of Appeal,” El-Rufai disclosed on X on Tuesday.

“They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.“

However, El-Rufai noted that he had put his “previous academic” and “language-learning plans” on hold to spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.

He noted that “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.

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“The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

El-Rufai also noted that he has been “arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs, El-Rufai added.

He, however, disclosed that he plans to return to Nigeria for the upcoming launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20, 2025.

“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it when Allah destines it, and it is ultimate the date of every human,” El-Rufai said.

“For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of Pres IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February.”

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Public outcry as MTN raises weekly 15GB Data price from N2,000 to N6,000

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MTN Nigeria has raised the price of its weekly 15GB data plan to N6,000 from N2,000 to the outcry of many Nigerians.
This increment is part of a recently approved 50 percent hike in the price of telecom services.

Many MTN Nigeria subscribers have taken to X to express their frustrations. “Nigeria is a very difficult place to live in, honestly. MTN waking up one day to increase their weekly 15 GB data from 2k to 6k without prior warning is textbook insanity. That’s 24k in a month, almost the minimum wage of the country on data, bruh, this is hell,” tweeted @TheSilvapr.

“MTN increasing the cost of its 15 GB data subscription from 2k to 6k is a significant price hike, and it reflects the true economic and business realities rather than just a random decision. Complaining Won’t Change Anything because Telecom operators have to operate within a profit-driven system,” wrote @official_GZU.

Aside from the 15GB tariff plan increase, the telco has also raised the cost of other plans. The revised price increase now includes a 1.8GB monthly plan for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.

Its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, up from N4,500. Its 90-day 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan increased from N75,000 to N120,000. Its two/three-month data plan of 100GN for N20,000 is now 90GB for N25,000; 160GB for N30,000 is now 150GB for N40,000.

For now, Airtel and Globacom are yet to review their prices. However, all telcos are expected to follow MTN’s lead after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 percent increase in the cost of calls, data, and SMS on January 20 for the first time in a decade.

The hike is meant to support “the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage.”

However, telcos could not immediately increase prices as they were waiting for regulatory approval from the NCC. “We don’t have the price increase in our hands because, even though it has been announced and based on Section 108, every single product that you want to increase its price has to go to the NCC, be iterated, and approved,” one expert explained.

At an industry gathering on January 25, Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), noted that phased increment would begin soon.

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“We are now following what is called the regulatory requirement, regulatory steps of filing, reviewing, and obtaining approvals. As soon as those approvals come through, different players will introduce new rates as the time comes. I’ll say over next week, we start seeing some improvement in the prices,” he stated. (

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