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Edo Guber: INEC Tenders Additional BVAS Machines, *As Ighodalo closes case against Okpebholo after 19 witnesses
Edo Guber: INEC Tenders Additional BVAS Machines, *As Ighodalo closes case against Okpebholo after 19 witnesses
By Kayode Lawal.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s governorship candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo has closed their case against the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
The petitioners closed their case on Monday, shortly after calling 19 witnesses who testified of alleged irregularities, especially during the collation of votes at both the ward and local government levels.
The move to close their case was sequel to the tendering of five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), machines, that were used for the election.
The electronic devices, were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Anthony Itodo.
It will be recalled that following a subpoena order of the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, INEC had last week tendered 148 BVAS machines used in 133 polling units in the September 21 governorship election.
The petitioners had anchored their claim against the outcome of the election on alleged wrongful computation of results during collation at the ward and local government levels.
After taking five witnesses last Friday, the tribunal has adjourned to Monday to enable the petitioners continue their case challenging the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC’s) candidate, Monday Okpebholo as governor.
However, at the resumed hearing at the tribunal currently sitting in Abuja, the petitioners expressed satisfaction that they have established their case against the respondents, going by the testimonies of their witnesses and the plethora of documentary evidence brought before the three-member panel of justices.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, thereafter informed the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi that they would be closing their case against the respondents.
Although, INEC, Okpebholo and the APC opposed the admissibility of the five BVAS machines, the tribunal however accepted them pending its ruling on their relevance to the case.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has fixed Wednesday for INEC to open its defence.
The electoral umpire had declared Okpebholo of the APC winner of the September 21, governorship election after scoring a total of 291, 667 votes.
PDP’s Ighodalo came second after scoring a total of 247, 655 votes.
Aggrieved by the outcome of the election, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as governor.
The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
They equally argued in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, that governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.
Meanwhile, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Anthony Aziegbemin, expressed confidence that the petitioners through their lawyers have done justice to the case.
“We think the case is pretty straight forward, we think it is documentary based, we think it is specific, we think the judiciary will give it some judicial cognisance of what we tendered before them.
“We believe that they have all they need from us and all what we should produce, I think we have given it to them. And we expect them to look at them and see how it goes. But suffices to say that it is not a petition as we used to have it in the country where you call a lot of witnesses.
“We didn’t need to call a lot of witnesses, we called the witnesses that we needed, to prove our case and make our case more solid”, Aziegbemin.
The chairman described as strange INEC’s objection to the admissibility of its own documents, adding that it “gives us and Nigerians something to think about, why will INEC oppose the documents it certified to the petitioners to be tendered in the open court.
“I think the tribunal will look into that and see why they are objecting, though they said they will give reasons at the address stage but it is strange. It doesn’t add up”, Aziegbemin said.
Edo Guber: INEC Tenders Additional BVAS Machines, *As Ighodalo closes case against Okpebholo after 19 witnesses
APC E-Registration: Ambassador Jidda Leads Committee to Bama, Konduga to Strengthen Party Base
By: Michael Mike
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) E-Registration and Reconciliation Committee in Borno State, Ambassador Baba Ahmad Jidda has led a high-powered delegation on a working visit to Bama and Konduga Local Government Areas as part of efforts to deepen grassroots participation in the party’s ongoing electronic registration exercise.
The tour, aimed at monitoring progress and galvanising party members, brought the committee into direct engagement with local government officials, lawmakers, traditional institutions, and party executives across the two councils.
Members of the committee on the visit included Hon. Tijjani Umara Kumalia, Mohammed Makinta, Hon. Busami Ardoram, Hon. Babakura Shettima, Hon. Mohd Maina Tar, Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan, Alh. Zanna Mahdi, Alh. Yusuf Adamu, Barrister Ba’ande Imam, and the committee’s Secretary, Dr. Babakura Mamman Gadai.
In Bama, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Shehu of Bama, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Shehu Umar Ibn Kyari, where Ambassador Jidda expressed appreciation for the traditional ruler’s support and the warm reception accorded the team. He described Bama as a community with which he shares deep personal and political ties.
Addressing party leaders and stakeholders at the Bama Government Lodge, Ambassador Jidda recalled the overwhelming support he received from the people of Bama during the 1999 governorship election, describing it as a testament to the area’s enduring commitment to progressive politics.
He reaffirmed that Borno remains a stronghold of the APC, noting that the party’s decisive victories in the 2023 general elections reflected unity, discipline, and effective leadership within the party. According to him, the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, has been instrumental in sustaining the party’s dominance and credibility in the state.
Ambassador Jidda emphasised that the ongoing e-registration exercise is a strategic political process that goes beyond record-keeping, explaining that it determines legitimate membership, internal participation, and eligibility for leadership and elective positions within the party.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders in Bama, Hon. Aji Kolo Ali Gujja, the Matawali of Bama, urged party members to take full advantage of the exercise and ensure total participation. The Chairman of Bama Local Government Area, Hon. Babagana Bagados, also assured the committee of the council’s full support to guarantee a smooth and inclusive registration process.
In Konduga Local Government Area, the committee was received by the council chairman, Dr. Abba Saje Mohd Nur, the area’s representative in the Borno State House of Assembly, and the Executive Secretary of the Borno ICT Development Agency, Hon. Engr. Kabir Wanori, alongside other party stakeholders.
The delegation inspected the APC e-registration centre in the area and expressed satisfaction with the level of coordination and turnout recorded. Local party leaders pledged continued mobilisation to ensure that all eligible members are captured before the close of the exercise.
Ambassador Jidda described the extension of the e-registration exercise as a critical opportunity for APC members in Borno State to reaffirm their loyalty, unity, and numerical strength. He called on ward, local government, and zonal leaders, as well as youth and women groups, to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the February 8 deadline.
He assured party members of a transparent, inclusive, and credible process, urging all APC supporters to participate fully and contribute to strengthening the party’s structure from the grassroots level.
APC E-Registration: Ambassador Jidda Leads Committee to Bama, Konduga to Strengthen Party Base
200 vigilantes deployed from Nasarawa to bolster security in Ibbi, Niger state
By: Zagazola Makama
About 200 vigilante men from Nasarawa State have arrived in Ibbi, Niger State, to support local security agencies in maintaining law and order, the Niger State Police reported.
The vigilante were deployed at about 4:18 p.m. on Feb. 8 that the vigilantes were deployed in compliance with directives from the Executive Governor of Niger State.
The arrival of the additional security personnel aims to strengthen joint operations with local vigilantes and police to manage security challenges in Ibbi and its environs.
Monitoring of the situation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated.
200 vigilantes deployed from Nasarawa to bolster security in Ibbi, Niger state
Two killed, one injured in IED explosion in Chikuba in Niger
By: Zagazola Makama
Two persons were killed and another injured following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) along Kudodo–Kampani Community Road.
Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Feb. 7 at about 7:30 p.m., when three men – Haruna, 40; Ishayaku, 36; and Sunday Joshua, 35, all of Chikuba village – riding a motorcycle ran into the device, triggering the explosion.
Haruna and Ishayaku died on the spot, while Sunday Joshua sustained injuries and was rushed to Shekwoiyha Divine Primary Health Care Center, Erena, for treatment.
The scene was visited by police, and the case has been referred to the Bomb Disposal Unit for further investigation and necessary action.
Two killed, one injured in IED explosion in Chikuba in Niger
APC E-Registration: Ambassador Jidda Leads Committee to Bama, Konduga to Strengthen Party Base
Kogi police neutralize armed robber in Lokoja community
200 vigilantes deployed from Nasarawa to bolster security in Ibbi, Niger state
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