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Tag: Senatorial seat

  • PDP loses Senatorial seat to APC over refusal to obey Court orders­

    PDP loses Senatorial seat to APC over refusal to obey Court orders­

    The Court of Appeal on Tuesday nullified the participation of the PDP and its Senatorial candidate in the Feb.25 National Assembly Election, Napoleon Bali for the Plateau South Senatorial District of Plateau State on grounds of refusal to carry out the order of the Court.

    The Appellate Court in a judgment delivered by Justice Elfaida Williams-Dawodu held as unlawful and wasted votes cast for PDP in the election and declared the former Gov. of Simon  Lalong as the Senator for the Plateau South Senatorial District.

    Lalong who stood for the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had come second in the Feb. Senatorial election.

    Justice Williams-Dawodu held that the PDP and its candidate have no legal ground to participate in the election having failed to obey the judgment of a Plateau High Court.

    The court added that the party should conduct lawful elections for the purpose of having officers for Wards, Local Governments and State Council.

    The Plateau High Court had in 2022 ordered PDP to conduct elections for selection of officers for Wards, Local Governments and the State Chapter of the party which was not complied with.

    The Court of Appeal said that disobedience and disregard to clear lawful order of Court was fatal because PDP hurriedly put an illegal Caretaker Committee in place in confrontation to the Court judgment.

    Specifically, the Appellate Court held that PDP did not sponsor any candidate for the Plateau South Senatorial District because it was not qualified to stand for any election as at Feb. 25, 2023.

    “As at Feb. 25, PDP was on a faulty background at nomination of candidate for any election. It has no legal foundation upon which it’s candidate nomination can stand.

    “A positive order of Court must be complied with unless such order is voided and set aside by a higher Court.

    “In the instant case, the lawful existing and subsisting Court order was that PDP should conduct elections in line with provisions of the law to have officers at Wards, Local Governments and State Council but the party for reasons best known to it, opted to go against the order.

    “I cannot but agree  totally with the judgment of the Plateau National Assembly Election Tribunal which in Sept. 11, 2023 nullified the participation of PDP in the Feb. 25 National Assembly Election”.

    The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the declaration of Simon Lalong as the lawful Senator for Plateau South Senatorial District having scored second highest votes at the election.

    Other Justices of the Court of Appeal who agreed with the judgment are Mohammed Mustapha and Okon Abang.

    Simon Lalong, the immediate past Gov. of Plateau is currently the Minister of Labour in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

  • Reginal Daniel’s hubby, Ned Nwoko wins senatorial seat

    Reginal Daniel’s hubby, Ned Nwoko wins senatorial seat

    The husband of a popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniel, Mr Chinedu Nwoko (also known as Ned Nwoko), was, on Monday, declared the winner of Delta North Senatorial District seat in Delta.

    Nwoko polled a total of 92,514 votes to defeat the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr Kennedy Kanma, who polled 86,121 votes and the incumbent and candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, who scored 36,816 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Dr Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, announced the results at the INEC collation centre in Oshimili South Local Government Area in Asaba.

    However, the Minority Leader of House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elumelu, representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency on the platform of PDP, lost his election to Mr Ngozi Okolie of Labour Party.

    Elumelu, who is representing Oshimili North/Oshimili South/Aniocha North/South, ran for the fourth term in the House of Representatives.

    Okolie, who contested for the seat on the platform of (PDP) in 2015, emerged victorious with a total of  53,879 votes to defeat Elumelu who polled 33,456 votes and Dr Tony Nwaka of APC who scored 11,712 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Kenneth Ibe, who announced the result at the collation centre in Oshimili South Local Government Area, Asaba, said that Okolie was declared winner, having satisfied the requirements.

    The Director-General, Ned Nwoko Campaign Council, Mr Pascal Adigwe, in an interview, hailed the electioneering process and lauded INEC for the hitch-free and peaceful election.

    While admitting that the election was keenly contested, he, however, thanked God for Nwoko’s emergence as winner.

  • Gov Ugwuanyi loses Enugu North Senatorial District seat to LP candidate

    Gov Ugwuanyi loses Enugu North Senatorial District seat to LP candidate

    The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Chief Okechukwu Ezea of Labour Party (LP), winner of Saturday’s general election for the Enugu North Senatorial District.

    The Returning officer, Prof Chukuemeka Ubaka, announced the results early Monday morning at Nsukka INEC office.

    Ubaka said Ezea scored a total of 104,492 votes to defeat his closest rival, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who scored 46,948.

    He said that the APC candidate, Mr. Simon Eze came third with 6,816 votes.

    “Based on the power given to me as the returning officer, I hereby declare Ezea as the winner,” Ubaka said.

  • PDP Crisis: Wike reveals details of meeting with Tinubu in London

    PDP Crisis: Wike reveals details of meeting with Tinubu in London

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed the details of the meeting he had with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London.

    Recall that Tinubu and Wike met in London few weeks ago over issues concerning defection and 2023 general elections in the country.

    The Rivers-born politician claimed that  Tinubu, offered him a senatorial ticket when they met in London, United Kingdom.

    He added that Tinubu wanted him to work for him and the APC but he declined the offer.

    Wike made this revelation  during a media chat  held in Port Harcourt on Friday morning.

    Prior to the media chat, Wike had already hinted that he would stay put in PDP and fight till the very end, adding that he who fights and runs away is a weak individual.

    Wike continued by saying that he wouldn’t act like some persons who ran away from the party during crisis.

    According to Wike, he contested the presidential primaries because he wanted to be the candidate, so he didn’t buy a senatorial form.

    “I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate.

    “I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form, and that’s why when Tinubu offered me senate slot, I didn’t go for it.”

  • Fresh Primary: Eleje emerges APGA candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial seat

    Fresh Primary: Eleje emerges APGA candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial seat

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Ebonyi chapter has conducted a fresh primary election for the replacement of Mrs Blessing Egbed, who withdrew from the race for Ebonyi South senatorial seat in 2023 polls.

    Egbed is now replaced by Mr Ifeanyi Eleje, who is currently the President, Government Secondary School, Afikpo, Old Boys Association Worldwide.

    Newsmen reports that Egbed, who was elected candidate for the position earlier on May, voluntarily withdrew from the race in the party.

    “My withdrawal from the race was to enable the party to balance the power equation to accommodate other parts of the state to ensure victory at the polls,” Egbed said.

    Mr Benard Odoh, APGA Gubernatorial candidate in the state, while addressing newsmen described the new primary election as a welcome development in the efforts to move the party forward in Ebonyi.

    “The conduct has gone smoothly, no cumbersome process because we were not in contention but for replacement. Somebody has withdrawn and somebody is being replaced.

    “We have two other persons who have also withdrawn and two people, who will replace them but we will respect their privacy at the edge and allow the party to do the needful.

    “The key most important is that we have successively received the letters of those who have withdrawn and the party will be communicated accordingly.

    The State Chairman of the party, Mr Ricky Okorouka, said the primary election was a directive from the superior authorities from the party and INEC.

    Okorouka hailed the conduct and urged party faithful to uphold the principles and ideology of APGA to win all positions in 2023..

    Eleje, also commended the leadership of the party and expressed happiness for choosing him for the replacement for the zone.

  • After two controversies, APC concludes primary election into Senatorial seat vacated by Chairman, Adamu

    After two controversies, APC concludes primary election into Senatorial seat vacated by Chairman, Adamu

    An architect, Shehu Tukur, won the All Progressive Congress (APC) Nasarawa West Senatorial District rescheduled primary election held in Keffi on Saturday.

    Tukur polled 179 votes to defeat a lawyer, Labaran Magaji who polled 114 votes.

    A total of 294 delegates were expected at the exercise, but one delegate was absent.

    Declaring the result, Chairman of the electoral committee, retired Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, thanked security operatives, the aspirants, the media and the delegates for a successful exercise.

    He prayed that the APC’s candidate wins at the general elections in 2023.

    Speaking with newsmen after his election, Tukur appreciated delegates who voted him and pledged to defend their interests if voted in at the general election in 2023.

    He admitted that the process was hectic and thanked God for the successful outcome.

    “APC is a family and I call on my co-contestant to join me in ensuring that APC wins, not only in Nasarawa West senatorial district, but in entire Nasarawa State and in Nigeria at large.

    “It is a great pleasure that we carried this battle up to this level and it has been concluded peacefully. I pray for a peaceful Nasarawa State and a peaceful Nigeria,’’ he said.

    Also speaking with newsmen, Magaji who lost the election congratulated Tukur for emerging as the winner and congratulated himself for making it to the end.

    “For me alone to fight this battle to this level shows that there is hope ahead of us. Everybody knows the institutions, characters and personalities I withstood till date but I stand tall to arrive at this level.

    “I congratulate myself; congratulate my teeming supporters. APC is the party to beat at the general elections,’’ he said.

    The primary election did not conclude without controversy which led to delay for several days.

    The controversy was that the original delegates list for the election was allegedly tampered with thereby compelling a frontrunner in the contest, Hon. Ahmed Wadada, to withdraw in protest.

    In spite of Wadada’s withdrawal, APC went ahead to first conduct the election on Sunday, May 29, but angry youths broke security barriers and violently disrupted the process leading to its postponement to June 4.

    The senatorial seat was vacated by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu after his emergence as the National Chairman of the APC.

  • Iyiola Oyedepo declares interest in Kwara South senatorial seat

    Iyiola Oyedepo declares interest in Kwara South senatorial seat

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, has declared interest to contest for the Kwara South senatorial seat in 2023.

    Oyedepo, a lawyer, made his intention known on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

    “I want to pick the Senate seat of the Kwara South senatorial district. I want to displace people who are there now, especially, the one from the south, Sen. Lola Ashiru.

    “I want him to start to pack his load. By the grace of God, I shall win. I am prepared for the contest, fully prepared,” Oyedepo said.

    The party chieftain said he was interested in the senate seat to do things better than those that have gone there.

    “I have antecedent that I can rely on. I am more qualified than any of them that have been there before,” he said.

    Oyedepo, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, declared that he has the qualification and experience to serve as a senator.

    “I operated in the executive as a commissioner in the state in 1992; I have been a party stalwart and party chairman in two political parties.

    “I was the chairman of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), and I made a lot of impact, tremendous impact in that party. Later, I became the chairman of PDP.

    “What I use the PDP to achieve is what made people be in the Senate and House of Representatives now.

    “If there is anybody that is qualified more than any of them, I am the person.

    “Apart from that, I have been in the legislature. I was a member of Kwara House of Assembly from 1999 to 2003; my records are there which I will bring out when the contest begins,” he added.

    “I am sure that if you tell them that I am going to the senate, they know that I will do it better than all of them that have gone there from the south.

    “Is it knowledge, or how to do things in the senate that they can do better than me?

    “I am a lawyer, apart from being in the legislature, from being in the party structure, or being in the executive, I understand the judiciary as a lawyer, I have traversed all other areas.

    “Who amongst them that had gone before me or are there now that can boast of such credentials? So, I am going to the senate by the grace of God,” he added.

    Oyedepo said that he was one of the few that fought day and night to defeat the Saraki dynasty in Kwara.

    “I did not ask for any position, other than to go on working day and night to ensure victory for our party, for the success of the party.

    “Today, majority of those in power, either at the senate or at the state level reaped from our efforts. We worked and they reap from our efforts.

    “Many of them didn’t do any work other than saying they are part of the party and they won, some of them even said they became senators within 30 days,” he said.

    Oyedepo declared that some of them in the party have been working for 18 years to ensure success for the party and freedom for the Kwara people.

    He added that before he became the chairman of PDP, he has been attacking the establishment in form of written articles, books, and petitioning the EFCC and ICPC.

    “When I became the chairman of PDP, I am the first person to institute radio political broadcast in this state,” he said.

    Oyedepo added that radio political broadcast was his initiative which he used to sensitise and mobilise the people of the state to vote out PDP in 2019.

    “The radio political broadcast worked and that is why many of them are in the senate now, in the House of Representatives, they are in the executive in Kwara, they are in the legislature in Kwara,” he said.

    Oyedepo added that he would roll out his plan as soon as INEC give the go-ahead for the political campaigns.

  • [BREAKING] Stephen Odey loses senatorial seat to Jarigbe Agom again

    [BREAKING] Stephen Odey loses senatorial seat to Jarigbe Agom again

    Senator Stephen Odey has lost another bid to reclaim his seat as the lawmaker representing Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

    He suffered his second loss on Saturday when the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed his application, asking the court to review its earlier judgement which declared Jarigbe Agom as the right candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 2020 by-election in the senatorial district.

    In its ruling, a panel of five justices unanimously dismissed Senator Odey’s application, saying it was an abuse of court processes.

    The court also said the appeal was brought in bad faith and ordered him to pay N1 million as a consequential cost to the first, second, and third respondents to the suit.

    The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, led four other justices to rule on the appeal.

    More to follow…