TheNewsGuru

Tag: February 25th

  • Appeal court grants Obi, Atiku permission to inspect election materials

    Appeal court grants Obi, Atiku permission to inspect election materials

    The request by the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to inspect the election materials used during last Saturday’s presidential poll has been granted by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja granted the request of both presidential candidates on Friday, March 3rd.

    Recall that Atiku and Obi approached  Court  of Appeal to seek permission for the inspection of election materials used during last Saturday’s poll.

    Also,  Atiku and Obi refused to concede defeat in the February 25 presidential election, vowing to recover their mandate in court.

    The two candidates rebuffed the gesture of conciliation made by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who in his acceptance speech after he was declared the winner of the poll on Wednesday, asked them to support him in the task of building the nation.

    Atiku and Obi spoke at separate news conferences in Abuja on Thursday.

    But the court on Friday granted both candidates’ request to have access to all the sensitive materials INEC deployed for the presidential election won by All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

    The Justice Joseph Ikyegh-led panel of the appellate court, which will also sit as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, granted the request after it heard two separate ex-parte applications brought by Atiku, Obi and their political parties.

    The electoral umpire, Tinubu and APC were cited as Respondents in the matter.

    Both applications were predicated on Section146 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Paragraph 47 (1, 2 &3) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act of 2022, as well as under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court as referenced by Section 6 (6) A & B of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    Obi, in his application that was moved by his team of lawyers led by Mr Alex Ejesieme, SAN, sought six principal reliefs.

    Atiku’s lawyer, Adedamola Faloku, sought seven prayers from the tribunal.

    Specifically, the applicants urged the court to compel INEC to allow them to obtain documents in its custody that were used for the presidential election.

    They maintained that the requested documents would aid their petition against the outcome of the presidential contest that was declared in favour of Tinubu.

  • Five major issues that will shape election on Saturday – CDD

    Five major issues that will shape election on Saturday – CDD

    Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a renowned pro-democracy group, has revealed four key issues that will determine  the voting pattern in the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The group explained that Saturday’s polls will be very tight and closely contested by Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and has remain very difficult to predict who would win.

    Tinubu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku is for the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi is carrying the flag of the Labour Party, LP, while Kwankwaso is the flagbearer of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP.

    According to the pre-election brief signed by the EAC Chairman, Professor Adele Jinadu and CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, identity, insecurity, institutions, information disorder and inter and intra party squabbles are five key issues that will determine the voting pattern of the election.

    The CDD pointed out that all six geopolitical zones of the country are faced with insecurity issues, which has led to the deployment of the Nigerian military across the federation.

    “Northern states are engulfed in long-standing violence with extremist jihadist groups, criminal bandit gangs, and other non-state armed groups who are engaged in deadly attacks against local communities.

    “In the south, civil unrest continues against the backdrop of ongoing violence between farmers and herders and secessionist agitators.

    “The situation is further complicated by fuel and currency scarcity which is increasing economic hardships on the more than 130 million Nigerians classified as multi-dimensionally poor,” the group said.

    The elections would come on Saturday and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared its readiness to conduct the polls.

  • Nigerian celebrities who joined politics ahead of 2023 general elections

    Nigerian celebrities who joined politics ahead of 2023 general elections

    2023 general elections in Nigeria are almost here, baring last minute change, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for the 25th of February while the Gubernatorial and state Assembly Elections are slated for March 11, 2023.

    TheNewsGuru Lagos correspondent, Abimbola Fabunmi brings you list of celebrities who have delved into politics ahead of the forthcoming 2023 elections in the country.

    Funke Akindele

    Funke bursts into the movie scene in the early 2000s with the television series Ineed to know where she played the role of a secondary school  student. She interpreted her role very well and it’s been no looking back for her since then.

    Her movie Jenifa and Omo Ghetto practical shot her into limelight as it made her become a force to reckon with  in the movie industry home and abroad.

    Funke has won many awards  for the roles she plays in movies. Her TV series Jenifa’s diary still rule the airwaves till this very moment.

    She joined politics few years ago and has been chosen as the deputy governorship aspirant  in the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State.

    She is running alongside her Principal Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran popularly known as  Jandor. They are both in contention presenting a joint ticket for the 2023 guber elections in the state.

    Kenneth Okonkwo

    Another actor who has carved a niche for himself in the movie industry is Kenneth Okonkwo. He is  an actor, legal practitioner who shot into limelight with the Movie Living in Bondage shot and delivered many years ago.

    The actor was born and bred in Enugu state and has been one of the spokepersons for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

    Okonkwo has brought his brilliance and wealth of experience to bear as Peter Obi’s spokesperson. His delivery and knowledge of the rule of Law is topnotch.

    Okonkwo’s disposition on the job is of good quality.

    He could be getting a bigger political appointment should Peter Obi emerge as the country’s next president.

     

    Banky W

    His real names is Olubankole Wellington and he’s  a Lagosian by root.

    He’s married to another wonderful and beautiful actress known as Adesuwa Etomi and they have been living happily together.

    The singer cum actor shot into limelight in the acting world with his surprise acting skills in the movie the Wedding party where he played the role of a groom with his partner Adesuwa.

     

    Banky W has also delved into politics and has been given the ticket to run for the House of Representatives in Eti-Osa Area of Lagos state under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

    He also had a shot in politics in 2019 when he contested for the House of Reps in same locality but under a different party  Modern Democratic Party (MDP) for Eti-Osa Federal House Of Representatives but lost.

    Tonto Dike

    Beautiful nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has also given politics a shot.

    She is the deputy governorship candidate of African Democratic Party in Rivers State  and will be running alongside her principal Tonte Ibraye.

    Upon being called  to serve her fatherland , Dikeh announced the nomination via her social media handles  where she shared their plans if elected into office in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections  in Rivers State.

    Femi Branch

    Nigerian actor, Femi Branch known for his baritone voice in movies has also taken a big shot in politics.

    The Ogun state born actor has been named the running mate to Ogun State gubernatorial candidate, Tofunmi Ogunronbi of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), ahead of the forthcoming  general election in the country.

    Branch’s political party may not be very popular but his foray into politics will open up the ladder for him to climb in his political journey.

    The NRM guber candidate on Ogun state Dr Tofunmi Ogunrombi said he picked the Ogun-born actor because he believes he would add more value to his candidacy.

    The NRM guber candidate said he picked the Ogun-born actor because he believes he would add more value to his candidacy.

    Desmond Elliot

    Another handsome actor who has delved into politics is Desmond Elliot.The Lagos born thespian has been elected into the Lagos state House of Assembly twice and he’s now running for another term in office.

    Desmond represent Surulere constituency in the Lagos state House of Assembly and will be hoping to deliver on his promises come 2023.

    His foray into politics has limited his appearance on Television screens an cinemas, Desmond really proved his mettle as an actor during his active days.

    Hilda Dokunbo

    Another Beautiful  screen diva and actress, Hilda Dokunbo has also joined politics and will be contesting  the Federal House of Representatives in Asalga/Akulga Federal constituency of Rivers in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    She is running under the umbrella of Labour party in the state.

    She has promised to serve dilligently if elected and belives her party Labour will also do well generally in the general elections in the country come February 2023.