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Kogi Election Petition: Concerns raised over Supreme Court review

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Gov Usman Ododo (APC) and SDP governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka
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• SDP alleges judicial interference, demands fresh Supreme Court panel

As the Supreme Court is set to begin its review and hearing on the Kogi State gubernatorial election, concerns are mounting over premature celebrations by supporters of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, raising questions about the integrity of the judicial process.

Ambassador Nurudeen Musa Sadique, National President of the Northern Initiative for Defence of Democracy and Justice, NIDDJ, has expressed reservations regarding the alleged All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrating in Kogi State.

These actions, according to a statement made available to journalists, undermine the court’s independence and impartiality, which it noted are vital for the fair functioning of democracy.
“The Supreme Court’s integrity is paramount, and its judgments must uphold the principles of justice without bias or external influence. Any compromise in this high-profile case could lead to a loss of public trust in the judicial system, setting a dangerous precedent for future elections in Nigeria.”

The national president further noted that to ensure a just and unbiased verdict, the court must scrutinize the electoral law, particularly the supremacy of the BVAS system. Legal experts overseeing this case must prioritize merit, evidence, and legal principles over technicalities that can derail justice.

A fair resolution in this case will bring relief and hope to the people of Kogi, reinforcing the democratic process and the power of their votes.

The court must demonstrate its commitment to transparency, fairness, and the rule of law. By serving justice in this case, Nigeria’s democracy will be strengthened, ensuring that future elections are free, fair, and credible.

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) which sought for the a review of the judgments delivered by the lower tribunal and the appeal court on the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi, had on Thursday last week,  alleged judicial interference in the case filed by the party and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka before the apex court.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had upheld the tribunal judgement that declared Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress as the valid winner of the Kogi governorship poll.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal of the SDP and its governorship candidate, Ajaka.

Shortly after the ruling, Ajaka rejected the appeal court’s verdict, vowing to reclaim what he described as his stolen mandate at the Supreme Court.

However, the Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Campaign Council of the SDP in a press statement released on Thursday, urged the National Judicial Council to ensure a thorough and transparent process in selecting judges for the case.

It condemned the Kogi State Government’s untimely celebration of the case, describing it as a blatant attempt to influence the judiciary and subvert the course of justice.

The campaign council expressed outrage over senior appointees and supporters of the APC taking to social media to celebrate a purported victory, despite the Supreme Court yet to commence its sitting on the matter.

“This is not the first time we have seen this kind of brazen disregard for the judicial process,” said Isaiah Ijele Davies, Spokesperson for the MURI/Sam Campaign Council.

He said, “We recall how the tribunal judgment and the Court of Appeal proceedings were leaked to the public and reported by mainstream media before the court even resumed sitting on the day of judgment. This is unacceptable and we will not stand for it.

“We call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate these allegations and bring those responsible to justice.”

“We cannot trust the current panel to deliver a fair and impartial judgment,” Davies said. “We demand a fresh panel that will uphold the integrity of the judiciary and protect the rights of the good people of Kogi State.

“We have confidence in the Supreme Court to uphold justice and maintain public confidence in the judiciary’s ability to deliver impartial and well-reasoned judgments. But we will not hesitate to speak out against any attempts to subvert the course of justice,” the statement added.

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2027: Atiku’s Son Pledges 10 Buses for Tinubu’s Re-election Campaign

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Abba Atiku Abubakar speaks during a visit to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, where he pledged 10 buses for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. Photo: Hon Yusi Buba/Facebook
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Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has pledged 10 buses to support mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abba made the pledge during a visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, according to a statement issued by Yusi Buba, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation to the party’s Deputy National Chairman.

He was received by the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori.

Buba said Abba commended the party’s leadership and Tinubu’s administration, expressing support for the President’s continued stay in office.

“In a demonstration of his commitment to the political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections, Hon. Abba Atiku Abubakar announced the donation of ten buses to support activities aimed at mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027,” the statement said.

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The APC aide said Dalori welcomed Abba and acknowledged his pledge, describing it as support for the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the elections.

The development followed Abba’s announcement of a nationwide mobilisation campaign for Tinubu’s re-election and the unveiling of the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, a political support group established to advance the President’s second-term ambition.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Abba said the organisation would commence activities in the Federal Capital Territory before expanding to other parts of the country.

He also announced plans for a two-million-man mobilisation march across the six geopolitical zones, with the exercise scheduled to begin in Abuja.

Abba defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in January, declaring his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

His father, Atiku Abubakar, is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election.

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NCDC Identifies Two Suspected Ebola Cases In North-East

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Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the North-East region of the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in a post via its official X handle on Saturday, adding that both individuals had been isolated.
It also said contact identification and listing are ongoing, and laboratory testing is underway.

According to the agency, confirmation is subject to laboratory results.
Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region. Both individuals have been isolated, contact identification and listing is ongoing, and laboratory testing is being conducted,” the NCDC said.

“Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

“The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities. Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.”

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The latest update by the NCDC came days after it said it identified another contact, an e-hailing driver, linked to the confirmed case of the recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, increasing the number of primary contacts to 54.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, told Channels Television on October 26 that efforts were ongoing to identify the secondary contacts.

“So we are not out of the woods yet until we are sure that we have all the contacts, and they have been followed up. So we are still not out of the woods; because the index case is out doesn’t mean that we don’t have that,” he said.

The Federal Government had announced Nigeria’s first confirmed case of the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja on October 20, 2026, identifying the patient as a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, who returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, but the Ugandan authorities denied reports of an Ebola outbreak in the East African country.

The index patient was later flown to Switzerland along with her husband.

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Troops kill 71 terrorists in Borno, Yobe offensive

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Soldiers kill 964 terrorists in February- DHQ
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Nigerian troops have neutralised no fewer than 71 terrorists in coordinated ground and air operations across Borno and Yobe, while recovering weapons and ammunition and disrupting terrorist logistics networks.

The operations include a five-hour counter-offensive at Buni Yadi, Yobe, which reportedly accounted for 48 ISWAP fighters, as well as separate air and maritime strikes that neutralised 23 terrorists.

An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said the Buni Yadi operation followed an attack on troops at the North-East Theatre Training School in Gujba Local Government Area.

The report said the troops repelled the assault and neutralised 48 terrorists during the ensuing counter-offensives, recovering 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns and one 60mm mortar.

It added that other recovered items include 105 AK-47 magazines, two video cameras and thousands of rounds of ammunition of different calibres.

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The report said one soldier was killed during the engagements, while two others sustained minor injuries.

According to the report, the maritime component, supported by an armed unmanned aerial vehicle, had in another operation on Oct. 28, struck terrorist targets across Lake Chad.

“Preliminary battle damage assessment indicates that eight terrorists were neutralised, while 10 others sustained injuries.

“Similarly, an air operation near Ngirmishi settlement, north of Kerenoa, reportedly neutralised about 15 terrorists.

“The operation followed the sighting of suspected terrorists around a structure believed to be a logistics base, which was subsequently struck in a precision attack.”

The report said that in Borno, army troops of 5 Brigade arrested seven suspected terrorist collaborators, informants and logistics suppliers at Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area, on Oct. 28.

Items recovered, according to the report include mobile phones, food supplies, drinks, blankets, cooking oil and other household materials, alongside N483,550.

It added that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, working with Hybrid Forces, also ambushed suspected terrorists attempting to cross the Mafa-Ajiri road at Kassasewa, Mafa Local Government Area, on Oct. 27.

The report revealed that the suspected terrorists fled, abandoning five rocket-propelled grenade bombs and 175 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The report added that in another development, troops of 202 Battalion apprehended a suspected terrorist informant and logistics supplier attempting to infiltrate Bama town.

“The troops also intercepted a suspected member of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) who reportedly escaped from a terrorist enclave in Bama and was on his way to surrender.

“Meanwhile, troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade, working with the Multinational Joint Task Force and Civilian Joint Task Force, discovered an improvised explosive device along the Baga-Cross road in Kukawa Local Government Area on Oct. 29,” it said.

In Plateau, the report said troops of Operation Enduring Peace foiled a kidnapping attempt at the ECWA Staff Quarters in Jos North Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday.

It said that the troops responded to a distress call and forced the suspected kidnappers to abandon their operation and flee.

According to the report, troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper at Akwaba, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa, during a joint operation with the Department of State Services.

“The suspect and N200,000 recovered during the operation were handed over to the DSS for further investigation.

“In Ondo, troops of 322 Artillery Regiment, working with the Nigeria Police, raided a suspected criminal and ritualists’ hideout at Kajola Camp.

“Three suspects were arrested, while counterfeit United States dollars and other foreign currencies were recovered.

“The suspects and recovered items were handed over to the police in Ore for further action,” it also said. (NAN)

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