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Appeal Court upholds Ododo’s election as Kogi Governor
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the election of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of Kogi State.
In a judgment yesterday, a panel of the court dismissed the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Muritala Ajaka, on the grounds that it is unmeritorious.
The Court, which resolved all the four issues, identified for determination, against the appellants, held that the appellant failed to prove allegations of over voting, certificate forgery, among others.
The unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Onyekachi Otisi held that the tribunal, which sat in Abuja, was right to have expunged the evidence of the first witness called by the petitioners (PW1) on the grounds that the evidence was hearsay.
It added that witnesses in election cases, whether subpoenaed or ordinary witnesses, are supposed to front load their witness statement on oath.
“The order of the tribunal expunging the evidence of the PW1 cannot be faulted. The law grants the lower court power to expunge inadmissible evidence brought before it,” the court said.
It also held that the appellants’ claim that the document that Ododo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were forged, is a pre-election issue, which is handled by the Federal High Court.
“This appeal failed and is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit. There is no order as to cost, parties are to bear their respective cost,” Justice Onyekachi Otisi held.
The court also dismissed appeals by the Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Olayinka Braimoh, and of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and its candidate, Dr. Abdullahi Bayawo, for being without merit.
But Ajaka said he will appeal at the Supreme Court.
According to him, the journey to reclaiming his stolen mandate is not limited to the decision of the appellate Court.
“We must remain relentless in our pursuit of justice. We cannot afford to be deterred by setbacks or disheartened by temporary defeats.
“Our cause is just, and our determination will not waver. We must stand united and continue to support our legal team as they navigate these complex legal waters on our behalf. I assure you, our followers, that victory is within our grasp.
We firmly believe that the truth will prevail, and justice will be served.
“We have full faith in the Nigerian judicial system, and we are confident that the apex court will rectify the injustices that have been inflicted upon us once again,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.
Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The beneficiaries, whom he described as poor and vulnerable Nigerians, were largely unable to participate in public discussions about government policies because they lacked access to phones, television and social media.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he said.
Yilwatda also criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his position on the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.
“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind.
“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”
The APC chairman also argued that a return to fuel subsidy would affect the government’s student loan scheme and other projects.
“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he said.
Yilwatda further accused Atiku of seeking to reverse the gains of the Tinubu administration in pursuit of the presidency, saying the APC and Nigerians would not accept such a move.
The APC chairman said the NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.
According to him, the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He said the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has opened up on the joys and challenges of being married to the traditional ruler, saying she takes pride in seeing people celebrate his achievements.
Ivie spoke in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin, where she discussed life as the wife of the monarch and the demands that come with his position.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about the marriage is watching people appreciate her husband’s personality and achievements.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she said.
“And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more. I dey extremely proud of am as a human being, and to see that they also appreciate am dey give me much joy.”
However, Ivie admitted that the Olu’s responsibilities can sometimes make it difficult for her to have enough time with him.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said.
“Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
She said they were learning to adjust to the demands of his position.
“And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she added.
The interviewer also asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his position on polygamy, having previously said he was not open to it.
Ivie dismissed the possibility, insisting that she was confident her husband would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said.
“Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 74,000-capacity stadium, became a house of worship on Saturday as Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference, drawing believers from across Britain and beyond.
Hosted by Streams of Joy International, the conference brought together believers from across the United Kingdom and around the world for prayer, worship and fellowship.
Worshippers at the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference held at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. Photo: X / @AgborMoses34
Admission to the event was free, though attendees were encouraged to register in advance as places were limited.
Despite that, demand reportedly outstripped availability, with some social media users claiming the event was fully booked and turning to TikTok in the days leading up to the conference in search of spare tickets.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
The gathering featured several well-known gospel ministers alongside Eze, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
(Credit: Saturday PUNCH)
10m beneficiaries of cash transfers don’t have phones, not on social media – APC Chairman
‘I’m like three women’ — Ivie Atuwatse rules out polygamy for Olu of Warri
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