Politics

Edo: APC, PDP begin legal battle at tribunal today

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

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The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party say they are ready for legal battle as the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal commences hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 poll.

Independent National Electoral Commission declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the poll, while the PDP candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, was declared the first runner-up.

The PDP and Ighodalo, however, rejected the result of the poll, which they alleged was manipulated and therefore filed a petition before the tribunal.

Ahead of the tribunal’s pre-hearing today (Monday), the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, called for a fair examination of the evidence before the tribunal.

“That is what we expected the tribunal to do. Our lawyers will be there to show clearly that the election was stolen by the All Progressives Congress. For us as a party, we believe that the judiciary will look at the evidence that we have overwhelmingly to show that the election was stolen and we expect our lawyers to do justice to that.

“We expect the judiciary to look at the case dispassionately based on the evidence before them and take a decision that will have traces of justice,” he said.

On the other hand, the APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, expressed confidence in his party’s legal team and readiness to challenge the PDP’s petition.

He said: “We are prepared for the tribunal as we are respondent in the petition being filed. We have some of best hand in our legal team. We have also looked at the petition they filed and without prejudice to the case they filed, we want to say that we are ready to meet them in court.”

He added: “We are also ready to expose any PDP’s act that can be prejudicial to the case. We know that the calibre of those who have been appointed into the tribunal are people who are impenetrable and have proven integrity.”

Uwadiae-Igbinigie further stated: “We know the case they have filed against us and we have also filed our responses. Edo people will now know that the PDP has lost electoral value in the state while the APC government is ready to embark on programmes that will better the lot of Edo people.”

INEC had declared APC’s Okpebholo the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who received 22,763 votes.

Dissatisfied with INEC’s declaration, the PDP and six other political parties have approached the tribunal to contest the result.

The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is set to hear seven separate petitions, with the PDP seeking to nullify the result and have Ighodalo declared the winner.

Other petitioners include the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, and Allied Peoples Movement, each challenging the election results and naming INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC as respondents.

Related Topics:APC chairman Court Election PDP

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Politics

APC shifts presidential primary to May 23, 2026, releases revised 2027 election timetable

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress has pushed its presidential primary from May 15-16 to May 23, 2026, with governorship primaries now set for May 21, under a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko announced the changes Thursday after the party’s 186th National Working Committee meeting in Abuja. He said the adjustments align with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s updated schedule for the 2027 polls.

■ Key dates in the new timetable:

*Sales of forms:* Saturday, April 25 to Saturday, May 2, 2026.

■ Deadline for submission: Monday, May 4, 2026.

*Screening of aspirants:* Wednesday, May 6 to Friday, May 8, 2026 for House of Assembly, Reps, Senate, and Governorship. Presidential screening holds Saturday, May 9, 2026.

*Publication of screening results:* Monday, May 11, 2026.

Screening appeals: Tuesday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

■ Primary elections:

– *House of Representatives:* Friday, May 15, 2026

– *Senate:* Monday, May 18, 2026

– *State House of Assembly:* Wednesday, May 20, 2026

– *Governorship:* Thursday, May 21, 2026

– *Presidential:* Saturday, May 23, 2026

*Post-primary appeals:* Reps – May 18; Senate – May 20; State Assembly – date not stated; Governorship – May 23; Presidential – May 25, 2026.

Meseko said notice of the changes went to state chapters on Monday, April 20.

■Zamfara congresses

The NWC also approved a schedule for ward, LGA, and state congresses in Zamfara beginning Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Ward congresses hold Thursday, April 30. LGA and state congresses follow, with appeals slated for May 1 and May 3, 2026.

■ Mode of primaries

Meseko said the party adopted direct primary and consensus as provided in the Electoral Act 2026. “Aspirants are free to decide their preference,” he said. “Where consensus works, it stands. Where an aspirant does not agree to consensus, it automatically reverts to direct primaries.”

He dismissed claims that nomination forms would be restricted. “Forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the APC are available for all, not exclusively reserved for any individual,” he said.

■ INEC dates

INEC has fixed Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, and Governorship/State Assembly polls for Saturday, February 6, 2027. Party primaries and disputes must run between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns start August 19, 2026 for federal elections and September 9, 2026 for state elections.

Politics

Lagos 2027: Obasa Hosts Hamzat,Promises Support For Governorship Bid

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2026

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The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Thursday, played host to Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat at his official residence in GRA, Ikeja, promising to galvanise his expansive political structure to ensure Hamzat’s victory at the forthcoming governorship election.

Dr Hamzat is the presumptive APC candidate for the Lagos governorship seat, and the engagement was part of his ongoing strategic consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and leaders.

Speaker Obasa extolled Hamzat’s pedigree, commitment to infrastructure development, and loyalty to the party, adding that for the continued development of Lagos State, every discerning electorate must rally round him.

“I just returned from Abuja, and the conversation remains the same – Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is the next Governor of Lagos State. You have demonstrated unquestionable loyalty to our great party and even greater competence in serving Lagos. We love you, we support you, and we will do everything to ensure that we win the election,” Speaker Obasa declared.

Responding, Dr Hamzat expressed gratitude for the warm reception while highlighting Obasa’s legislative experience and political network, which he said are invaluable.

He reiterated his focus on collaborative governance, saying, “Lagos is a collective project. My consultations are not about personal ambition but about ensuring continuity, innovation, and inclusive development for our people,” Hamzat said.

Politics

ADC may face disqualification from 2027 Election Ballot

Published

16 hours ago

April 23, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the lingering leadership disputes rocking both the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, raising fresh uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The apex court took arguments from all parties involved in the appeals and cross-appeals.

After proceedings, it announced that judgment would be delivered at a later date.

However, no timeline was given.amd this has created tension, especially for parties battling internal divisions.

For the PDP, the crisis has already led to major changes. Earlier rulings had nullified the Ibadan convention that produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman. The court also upheld the suspension of some top officials.

As it stands, the faction backed by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, remains in charge. This group is the one currently recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
While the PDP appears to have found some stability, the situation is more troubling for the ADC. The party is deeply divided into three factions. These groups are led by David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and Ogga Temitope. None of these factions has been officially recognised by INEC.

This lack of recognition puts the ADC in a difficult position. INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for all registered political parties to submit their membership registers. Only parties that meet this requirement will be cleared to field candidates in the 2027 elections.

With the Supreme Court yet to fix a date for judgment, time is running out. If the ruling does not come before the deadline, the ADC risks missing out entirely. This would mean the party may not appear on the ballot in 2027.