Connect with us

Politics

INEC are preventing my star witness, Adamawa REC, from testifying at tribunal, says Binani

Published

1 year ago

on

Aisha Binani, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is stalling her case before the election tribunal in the state.

At the court session on Monday, Chiesonu Okpoko, Binani’s counsel, told the tribunal that Hudu Yunusa-Ari, suspended Adamawa state resident electoral commissioner (REC), who is supposed to be the star witness in the case is being harassed and prevented from appearing before the panel.

Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy when he declared Binani as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.

INEC declared the announcement null and void and summoned the REC to its headquarters in Abuja.

Subsequently, the commission wrote to the police to prosecute Yunusa-Ari over the electoral infraction.

Yunusa-Ari was later suspended and INEC announced that a six-count charge has been filed against him before a high court in Yola, the capital of Adamawa.

July 12 was initially fixed for the commencement of the trial.

However, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, Binani through her lead counsel, Michael Aondoaka, moved the ex-parte motion to stop Yunusa-Ari’s prosecution.

The counsel to the APC candidate argued that until the election petition tribunal decides Binani’s fate in accordance with section 149 of the electoral act, 2022, the prosecution of Yunusa-Ari cannot be said to be valid.

Donatus Okorowo, the presiding judge, ordered the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

The judge also ordered the respondents — INEC, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the inspector-general of police (IGP) — to show cause why the reliefs sought by Binani should not be granted.

But on July 18, the court refused to extend the interim order and fixed Monday for the hearing of the originating summons served on the defendants.

Upon resumed hearing, Okpoko, who held the brief of Aondoaka, said the suspended REC is critical to his client’s case at the tribunal.

He said prosecuting Yunusa-Ari would pose a likelihood of bias in the tribunal’s decision.

The lawyer prayed the court to restrain the respondents from prosecuting Yunusa-Ari pending the determination of Binani’s petition at the tribunal.

He further submitted that the applicant was not arguing against the prosecution of the suspended INEC official, but that the commission and others should wait until the tribunal gave its judgment within the 180 days prescribed by law.

Responding, Adebisi Adeniyi, who held brief for Rotimi Jacobs, prosecution counsel, disagreed with Okpoko’s submission.

Adeniyi argued that the charge preferred against the suspended REC was bailable which would allow him to give his testimony before the tribunal after he has been granted bail.

The lawyer said that Binani had not presented any evidence before the court to show that Yunusa-Ari was listed as a witness in her petition.

He also argued that the applicant had also failed to show evidence that the suspended REC had either been invited, arrested or charged.

Adeniyi added that there is no way the prosecution of the suspended REC will affect the plaintiff’s petition.

He also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit, adding that the suspended REC ought to be the one to file the suit before the state high court.

The suit has been adjourned to October 13 for judgment.

Related Topics:

Politics

Edo PDP opposes suspension of LG bosses by state assembly, says ‘It’s unconstitutional’

Published

5 days ago

on

December 18, 2024 9:13 am

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo says the suspension of all the chairpersons and their deputies in the 18 LGAs of the state is “unconstitutional”.

The chairpersons and their deputies were suspended on Tuesday by the Edo state house of assembly for two months over alleged misappropriation of funds.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their LGs to the state government.

In a statement, Anthony Aziegbemi, chair of the PDP in Edo, said the “illegal” suspension is a disregard to a supreme court decision that affirms the autonomy and independence of local governments.

“How can the governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the constitution and are not subordinates of the governor, the state assembly, or any other arm of government?,” he said.

“We are also aware that the chairmen and their vices were not even given the opportunity to be heard in their detence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped up charges, in total disregard to the constitution.

“We want to restate that the constitution remains supreme, and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

“The speaker of the Edo state house of assembly and the entire assembly have clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action and we urge them to immediately reverse its decision, in respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.”

Aziegbemi said the suspended officials should report to their councils on Wednesday and carry on with their normal duties.

Also speaking on the issue, Anthony Ehilebo, a PDP chieftain, said Okpebholo has no legal backing to request the financial records of the LGAs.

“In fact, the governor and the assembly members are in contempt of the supreme court,” Ehilebo said when he appeared on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

“The purported suspension of the local government chairmen by the state assembly is as absurd as the president asking the national assembly to suspend state governors because they refused to submit statements of accounts to him.

“This is a witch hunt. The LGA chairmen are all PDP members.”

The lawyer said the suspension “is unknown to law and will be ignored”.

Continue Reading

Politics

Ex-sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi resigns from PDP

Published

1 week ago

on

December 16, 2024 11:52 am

By

Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports and youth development, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He disclosed his intention to resign in a letter dated December 16 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ubadawaki, Kwara state.

Abdullahi confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

The ex-minister also said he is yet to decide which political platform to pitch tent with.

“The decision of what to do and where to go will be taken in the future that’s left to God,” he said.

In the resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of reflection and introspection.

“I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the letter reads.

“I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time.

“Mr. Chairman, please permit me to express, through you, my gratitude to the leadership of the party for the opportunities that I have had to serve the state and the country on its platform, and for the great moments we have shared.”

Abdullahi was the PDP candidate for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023. He lost the race to Salihu Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Continue Reading

Politics

PDP debunks inviting Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency

Published

1 week ago

on

December 16, 2024 8:14 am

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has not extended an invitation to former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidency on its platform in the 2027 election.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, deputy spokesperson of the country’s main opposition party, said no ticket has been issued to the former president.

Abdullahi said the party has many eligible people who can contest for the presidency on its platform, adding that a recent interview he granted was interpreted to mean that Jonathan he asked to run on the PDP platform.

“The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true,” he said.

“What happened is this, I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues.

“But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency.

“I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left.

“So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.”

The deputy spokesperson said the ticket would be given to someone who has shown interest in running for the presidency.

Jonathan, then in the PDP, lost the presidential election to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Continue Reading

Most Read...