
Politics
Nigeria on the road to perdition
By Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN.
On Friday, the 23rd day of August 2024, the Supreme Court of Nigeria legitimized what appears from facts available on records, an otherwise illegitimate electoral process that produced Ahmed Usman Ododo as governor of Kogi State. The facts of the fraudulent election that produced the Kogi State Governor were completely overlooked by the court because the witness that produced the BVAS machines demonstrated in open court, which records are there in the records of proceedings before the three tiers of court, did not frontload witness statements on oath and filed along with the petition.But this witness came from INEC upon orders of court which orders the trial Tribunal later in judgment set aside suo motu.
Note that INEC pursuant to orders of the Tribunal of 14th February 2024 made under paragraphs 41(1),(5), and (6) of the first schedule to the Electoral Act 2022, produced the BVAS machines that were used in the disputed five Local Governments of Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta and Lokoja LGAs. Note also that INEC authorised the witness that demonstrated the BVAS machines tendered and demonstrated with the codes to access the contents of the BVAS machines.
Let me congratulate the Nigerian judiciary for having the courage to overlook the facts of the electoral frauds and manipulations as seen on the records under legal technicalities to give judicial legitimacy to an otherwise fraudulent electoral processes that produced the Governor for the people of Kogi State. The essence of democracy is legitimacy derived from the sovereignty of people and not one man show as we see in the Nigerian brand of democracy that always get stamps of legitimacy from the institutions that have duties and responsibilities to checkmate illegitimate electoral processes.
Yesterday, the premises of the Supreme Court witnessed one of the processes used in the production of the governor that was affirmed as winner of the election of November 11, 2023, in Kogi State. Right under the nose and the hallowed premises of the Supreme Court yesterday was a clear case of the facts of barbaric conduct that produced the government that was legitimized by the Supreme Court.
The governorship candidate of SDP who pursued his grievances with courage of convinction through legitimate channels to the Supreme Court was mercilessly attacked by political hoodlums and hooligans.Nigerian security agencies were in the court premises.The attacks were done in their presence and under their watch.To date, no arrest had been made or a statement issued by the appropriate agency of government to show that the Nigerian government did not approve of that attack.

Nigerians are watching the unholy conspiracy against the sovereignty of Nigerians and democracy in Nigeria. The seeds of anti-democracy being sown will germinate. Those encouraging democratic barbarism will not be spared the wrath of justice from the one that delivers undiluted justice to all.
The deprived people are watching the way the compromised systems are forcing on the people those the people have rejected in the exercise of their civic responsibilities. As the late Dele Giwa put it, no evil done by man to man will go unpunished. If not now, certainly in the future.
For those who exercised their legal rights to approach the court to be attacked in the courts premises is a signal that our institution of justice is being disrespected and ridiculed. The attacks on SDP candidate should not be treated with levity. It must not be dismissed as the normal thing.
Nigerian Federal Government must not sit and watch the desecration of the Supreme Court by political thugs and criminals attacking those who approached our courts for remedies. That is the civilized thing to do.The justification of that attack by Kingsley Fawnon, the spokesperson for Kogi State government, speaks volumes.It shows how reckless some functionaries in the Kogi government have become.It also shows the thinking of the leadership of the Kogi State headed now by Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo must come out to show that he is not in support of the barbaric attacks. Until then, it is safe to conclude that Kingsley Fawnon spoke on his behalf and at his instance.Whichever is the case the way we are going in Nigeria and given the seemingly conspiracies by the institutions of governance to legitimize an otherwise illegitimate processes, Nigerian democracy is heading to calamity.
Nigeria is on the road of perdition. The only way Nigerian democracy can be saved is for the Nigerian judiciary to stop ignoring facts of fraudulent electoral processes and not to give garment of legitimacy to otherwise illegitimate electoral processes that produced winners under flawed electoral processes.

Politics
Obi, Kwankwaso supporters hold Abuja Unity Summit
Supporters of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, are set to hold a unity summit in Abuja today.
The summit, themed, “One Voice, One Vision: In Unity We Win,” is being organised by the OK Movement.
The group is pushing support for a possible Obi-Kwankwaso joint political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A flyer posted on 𝕏 by the OK Movement on Friday showed that eight speakers would address the conference.
Those listed include a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima; activist Aisha Yesufu; and Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.
Others are Moses Paul, a former chairmanship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Adebayo Adefolaseye, the South-West coordinator of the OK Movement.

As of the time of filing this report, about 428 Nigerians had registered to attend the summit.
The development comes amid growing speculation that Obi and Kwankwaso may leave the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
On Friday night, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Mohammed, said the two ADC chieftains were expected to finalise the move next week.
Mohammed said the decision followed a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders.
He added that discussions with the NDC had reached “about 90 per cent,” with only minor issues left to be resolved.
According to him, Kwankwaso and Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, may move to the NDC on Monday or Tuesday.
“I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC,” Mohammed said.
The lingering ADC leadership crisis is said to be central to the planned move.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court set aside the controversial status quo ante bellum order in the ADC leadership dispute and returned the matter to the Federal High Court for determination.
The decision effectively reset the contest without resolving the substantive leadership dispute.
In April, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the OK Movement to mobilise support for a joint ticket in the 2027 elections

Politics
INEC restores David Mark, Aregbesola’s names as ADC National Chairman, Secrtetary
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The decision of the electoral body to publish the name of Mark and Aregbesola-led NWC on its portal followed the judgement of the Supreme court which restored the Mark-led NWC.
Recall that in April, the commission, citing the order of the Court of Appeal, deleted the names of Mark-led NWC on its website.
The electoral body said it would not receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and would not monitor any meeting, Congress or Convention convened on behalf ADC by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The commission stressed that its decision was to ensure it does not act in any way capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.


Politics
Supreme Court Judgment: BoT now in charge of PDP – Wabara
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) has formally assumed control of the party’s national leadership following the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated its recent convention, with BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara declaring the move a constitutional necessity.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Wabara said the BoT stepped in “with the utmost sense of duty and responsibility” to prevent a leadership vacuum after the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He noted that the intervention was backed by the provisions of the party’s constitution.
“This constitutional intervention of the BoT is so as not to allow any leadership vacuum at the national level of our party,” he said.
Wabara explained that the apex court invalidated the PDP’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).
He added that the court also upheld the suspension of key officials, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade.
According to him, the implication of the judgment is far-reaching. “All actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu… including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman… are illegal, null and ab initio void,” he stated.

He said the nullification of both the Turaki-led and Abdulrahman Mohammed-led structures effectively leaves the BoT as the highest functioning organ of the party.
“The statutory onus of leadership… now rests on the shoulders of the Board of Trustees,” Wabara added, citing the PDP constitution.
The BoT chairman announced that the body has “immediately assumed responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP” as a remedial step to stabilize the party and promote reconciliation.
He further disclosed that an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be convened to appoint an interim National Working Committee to run the party’s affairs and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wabara also directed all PDP staff to resume work at the party’s national secretariat under the BoT’s leadership pending the appointment of the interim leadership.
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He commended party stakeholders, including governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, as well as other organs of the party, for their resilience during the crisis.
Calling for unity, Wabara urged members to set aside personal interests and work together. “The PDP has suffered enough… The time has come for us to make sacrifices, sheathe our swords and embrace genuine reconciliation,” he said, warning that the crisis has ultimately affected Nigerians who look to the party for leadership.

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