Politics
Security debate: Reps turn back representatives of service chiefs during plenary

The house of representatives, on Thursday, turned back representatives of security chiefs from the green chamber.
The chiefs — Christopher Musa (chief of defence staff), Taoreed Lagbaja (chief of army staff), Emmanuel Ogalla (chief of naval staff), Hassan Abubakar (chief of air staff), and Kayode Egbetokun (inspector-general of police) — were invited by the lower legislative chamber to brief the lawmakers on the security situation in the country.
However, the security chiefs sent their proxies who were rejected by the lawmakers.
Moving a motion that the debate be suspended over the non-appearance of the chiefs, Ben Kalu, deputy speaker, said such a high-level engagement did not require representation.
“The house extended an invitation to the heads of the security agencies, not for the purposes of investigation but for dialogue and explanation of the things around that space,” he said.
“It behooves the agencies to send their number one officers because the parliament is the number one organ of government.
“The gentlemen they have sent (representatives) have a great profile and pedigree. They have served the nation in various capacities and are competent to discuss with us.
“But in this case, based on the provisions of sections 88 and 89 (of the constitution), it has not been satisfied before the house that their top officers — number one officers — should not appear before the parliament.
“It has been the tradition of the house that when we invite chief executives — be it private or public sector — they must come in person. I want to pray that we don’t break this sacred tradition of our house less we will be taken for granted.”
When the speaker of the house, Tajudeen Abbas, put the issue to a voice vote, the ‘ayes’ were loud, but when he called for ‘nays’, a profound silence engulfed the chamber.
Abbas then told the service chiefs that the house “does not encourage and accept representation, particularly at this high level engagement”.
“Please, convey our message to your service chiefs,” he said.
The speaker rescheduled the meeting to next Tuesday.
The invitation was part of the policy brief series for key ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.
Tagged ‘Sectoral Debates,’ the series is the speaker’s initiative to improve constitutional oversight of the executive arm of government in line with the legislative agenda for the 10th assembly.
Politics
No sane person will go to tribunal over election results, says Melaye

Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Kogi governorship election, says no sane person will go to the tribunal over the results of an election.
Melaye spoke on Wednesday during a briefing with the media in Abuja.
The politician alleged that the judiciary has been compromised.
“Judiciary is no longer the last hope of the ordinary people,” he said.
“Why should any responsible person go to the tribunal? I have lost complete confidence in the judiciary.”
On November 12, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Usman Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kogi governorship election.
Ododo polled 446, 237 votes to defeat Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who came second with 259,052 votes.
Melaye of the PDP scored 46,362 votes.
During the poll, the PDP candidate had said there were problems in Ogori Magongo LGA and five LGAs in Kogi central.
“That was a huge disappointment because I thought INEC would use this opportunity to redeem its image,” he had said.
Politics
Appeal court dismisses NNPP’s petition, affirms Kefas Agbu as Taraba governor

The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Kefas Agbu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the duly elected governor of Taraba state.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Muhammad Yahaya and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for being defective.
Peter Affen, who delivered the lead judgment, faulted the appellants for transmitting an incomplete record of appeal which cannot be heard.
Agbu had polled 257,926 votes to defeat Yahaya who got 202,277 votes in the election.
Yahaya and his party challenged the result and asked the tribunal to nullify Agbu’s victory on the grounds that the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
They also alleged that Agbu did not get the majority of lawful votes cast.
However, the tribunal led by G.A Sunmonu held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations.
The NNPP and its candidate went further to appeal the tribunal’s judgment.
However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
Politics
Appeal Court affirms Fubara as Rivers state governor, dismisses Tonye-Cole petition

An Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State has affirmed the election of Siminalayi Fubara as the governor of Rivers State.
The court dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the courtroom on Tuesday, the APC candidate requested that the court order INEC to declare him the winner of the March governorship election in Rivers.
Cole’s case contesting Fubara’s election as governor was initially dismissed by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in October.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s judgment, the APC candidate approached the appellate court.
However, the court on Tuesday upheld the Tribunal ruling, which affirmed Fubara’s victory in October.
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