Tag: Edo

 

Flowerbudnews

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has faulted the position of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria on the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment.

The CSO, under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, said foreign bodies should desist from interfering with local politics in the country..
The CSO’s Country Director, Mr John Mayaki, stated this while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that the mission had no role to play in Nigeria’s judiciary or even in the country’s local politics.

He called for the protection of the country’s institutions.

Mayaki, who said the group was shocked by the statement made by the US, said, “there should be a limit to everything.”

He pointed out that the tribunal adjudicated to its best ability on what was presented before it.
According to him, the tribunal was right in arriving at its decision that the petitioners did not call competent witnesses to substantiate their allegations and even dumped exhibits before the court.

“We should try to protect our own institutions because if we destroy them at some point, we would come back and be needing them.

“I trust that being a sovereign nation, we are not a vassal state to the US and Edo State is not a colony of Washington or the US,” he said.
He said the country and the judiciary would always do what is right.

He advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to be “carried away with what the international community says about our local politics because they are not the judiciary.”

Mayaki acknowledged that though it was within the rights of Ighodalo and PDP to go on appeal against the tribunal’s judgment, he appealed that the petitioners should rather join hands with the governor to move the state forward.

He, however, commended the journalists for their unbiased reportage of the tribunal’s proceedings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP had welcomed the comment by the US Mission in Nigeria on the election.
The party described it as “a confirmation of the imperfections of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.”
NAN recalls that the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, had made a statement on the mission’s X handle, few days after the tribunal affirmed the election of Sen. Okpebholo as governor of Edo.
The envoy said: “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is following the Edo election appeal process closely, particularly given civil society’s concerns about critical issues related to the election, such as ‘serious lapses in the collation process’ that were observed.”

 

Flowerbudnews

Mr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 19 September governorship election in Edo, has said he will challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Court of Appeal.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Edo election tribunal, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, reaffirmed Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s victory and dismissed the petitions from the PDP and Ighodalo.

Ighodalo, in a statement in Abuja, said his decision to challenge the judgment aimed to protect Edo people’s collective rights and ensure they freely determine their future.

 

“Today, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered its judgment on our petition challenging the outcome of the Sept. 21, 2024 election in our dear state.

 

“While we may not all agree with the verdict, we remain steadfast in our belief that the rule of law must continue as democracy’s foundational bedrock.

 

“Our pursuit of justice affirms our firm belief that Edo people’s right to freely choose their leaders through credible, free, and fair elections must always prevail.

 

“As a committed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and urge all Edo people to remain peaceful, calm, and law-abiding,” he stated.

 

Ighodalo said this was not the end of their journey but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

 

He commended the people for their massive support, sincere love, and belief in their shared vision for a prosperous Edo, which had fuelled their journey.

 

“For us, this has never been about personal ambition but about our conviction to create a clear ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ for Edo while upholding democracy’s core values.

 

“I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision, which we consider a serious miscarriage of justice.

“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about democracy’s essence, our collective right to determine our future, and our legacy for generations unborn.

 

“We remain resolute. We remain committed. We shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice,” Ighodalo said.

 

Flowerbudnews

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, reserved judgment in the petitioned filed by Dr Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the victory of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2024 election.

The three-man panel, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, informed the parties after adoption of the process, that a date for the judgement would be communicated to the parties involved.

Ighodalo and PDP is praying the tribunal to void Okpebholo’s victory, citing irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.

Ken Mozia, SAN, who represented the petitioners, contended that the PDP had successfully demonstrated electoral malpractices in 765 polling units out of 4,519 across the state.

He emphasised that election petitions should be determined by the impact of irregularities, not just the percentage of affected polling units.

Mozia highlighted discrepancies at various collation levels, where figures on Form EC8A (polling unit results) were allegedly reduced at the ward and local government collation stages (EC8B).

He also argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had certified all documents tendered by the petitioners, yet failed to present any counter-evidence.

“The issue is not about producing an alternative result, but about questioning the validity of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal uploads,” Mozia stated, urging the tribunal to nullify the election.

INEC’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, maintained that the PDP’s petition lacked merit, arguing that the petitioners had failed to tender actual election results to back their claims.

He insisted that the petition could not stand since the PDP did not provide an alternative result proving their victory.

The lawyer argued that the election could not be invalidated and still have the PDP declared winners.

According to him The BVAS machines presented by the petitioners had already been dismissed as unreliable by the Supreme Court in a previous case.

APC’s lawyer, Emmanuel Okala, SAN, aligned with INEC’s position, dismissing the petition as speculative and unproven.

He argued that out of over 4,000 polling units in Edo State, the petitioners only called five polling unit agents as witnesses, which he deemed insignificant.

Similarly, Gov. Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, described the petition as an “academic exercise,” asserting that the documents tendered by the PDP—including Forms EC25B and EC40A—were “dumped in court” without proper demonstration of their relevance.

Reacting, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, a chieftain of the PDP, has expressed satisfaction with the proceedings, stating that the petitioners are confident in their case.

Speaking after the tribunal’s final hearing, Ifaluyi-Isibor noted that the testimonies of witnesses aligned with the PDP’s claims, particularly concerning allegations of over-voting and incorrect collation of results in several polling units.

He reiterated that INEC had failed to adhere to its own guidelines, a key contention in the petition.

“The petitioners are pleased with the proceedings of the court so far. Our counsel effectively demonstrated that testimonies given by witnesses were in consonance with our prayers,” he said.

He emphasised that the number of witnesses presented does not determine the strength of an election petition, citing Supreme Court precedents that place greater weight on the substance of evidence rather than the volume of testimonies.

“We are contesting results in 756 polling units out of over 4,000 in the state. Our arguments before the tribunal were clear, and we believe that we have sufficiently substantiated our claims,” he added.

He said with judgment now awaited, the PDP remains hopeful that the tribunal’s ruling would be in their favour.

Ifaluyi-Isibor expressing optimism that the tribunal secretary would soon announce the date for the much-anticipated verdict.

Also reacting, Former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, commenting on the proceedings, stated, “It is the duty of the petitioner to prove their allegations beyond doubt.

“I am satisfied with how the hearing went, but only the tribunal can determine the outcome.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP governorship candidate, was present in court to witness the final adoption of written addresses, but declined reaction.

 

The Edo government has signed an agreement with an indigenous energy company, E5 Energy Services Limited, to build a 100 megawatts hydropower station in the state.

The Managing Director of E5 Energy Services Ltd, David Ashaolu, in a statement made available on Wednesday in Abuja, said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was announced on Tuesday.

Ashaolu said the MoU would have the company develop two state-of-the-art 50-megawatt power stations each in Ikpoba and Akoko-Edo areas of the state, utilising the Ikpoba and Ojirami water dams.

He said the groundbreaking agreement marked a significant milestone in the state’s quest for uninterrupted power supply and economic development.

He said the PPP project, which grants the company the initial exclusivity for 36 months, would not only ensure stable electricity for residents but also create employment opportunities for the local population by boosting businesses.

Ashaolu praised Gov. Monday Okpebholo for fostering a business-friendly environment that attracts global investors, emphasising that the partnership would go beyond power provision.

“In addition to delivering sustainable, renewable and reliable electricity, we will establish an industrial park to further boost economic activities in Edo State,” he said.

In her speech, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Industry in Edo, Mrs Omoruyi, lauded E5 Energy’s initiative and assured the company of the government’s unwavering support throughout the project.

“The Edo State Government will provide a seamless working environment to ensure the success of this venture,” she said.

In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Mr Kizito Okpebholo, described the investment as a major economic boost for the state, while stressing the governor’s enthusiasm for the project.

“This development reflects the governor’s commitment to positioning Edo as the centre for sustainable energy and industrial growth,” he said.

He assured the company of the governor’s staunch support for the projects and advised them not to shy away from tabling any request they might have before him.

 

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced the formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki, particularly over its failure to inaugurate 14 elected lawmakers into the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.

The new governor revealed the move during his inaugural speech on Tuesday, shortly after taking office. Okpebholo emphasized that the delay in seating the lawmakers-elect had hindered the functioning of the assembly, which he vowed to address promptly to ensure the smooth operation of the state legislature.

In addition to this, Governor Okpebholo also directed the State Chief Judge to initiate an investigation into the former administration’s failure to inaugurate duly cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year.

He called for swift action, underscoring the importance of upholding judicial integrity and ensuring the prompt filling of judicial vacancies.

“The people of Edo State deserve transparent governance, and we will ensure that all necessary actions are taken to correct any wrongdoings,” Okpebholo said during the speech, signaling his administration’s commitment to accountability and reform.

The announcement has already sparked considerable interest and speculation, with political observers keenly awaiting the outcome of the probes.

Okpebholo’s government has pledged to prioritize good governance and judicial reforms as part of its broader efforts to improve the state’s political and legal systems.

More details to come..

 

An Abuja High Court on Friday, quashed a criminal summon issued on Sept. 12 by an a magistrates’ court against Sen. Monday Okpebholo over alleged certificate forgery.

Justice Charles Agbaza, in a judgment , also voided the entire proceedings before Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar of a Wuse Magistrate Court in Abuja on grounds that the summon was issued in excess of his jurisdiction and error of law.

Justice Agbaza agreed with Okpebholo that the entire proceedings and the criminal summons were illegal, unconstitutional and in violation of his fundamental human right to fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okpebholo, who is the governor-elect in the Sept 21 Edo governorship election, had, through his counsel, Andrew Emwanta, dragged Mr Honesty Aginbatse amd Mukhtar before the court as 1st and 2nd respondents.
The development followed the criminal summons by Magistrate Mukhtar on Sept. 12, directing Okpebholo to.apoear in court on Sept. 20, the eve of the governorship poll in Edo, over an alleged false statement on his date of birth brought against him by Aginbatse, an Indigene of the state.
The Okpebholo, the APC candidate in the election, was ordered to appear before the court at 12 noon.
He was accused of claiming conflicting dates of birth in his nomination forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the election.
Against the backdrop, Emwanta filed an originating summons before the FCT High Court marked: CV/4589/2024, seeking an order of certiorari to bring into the court for the purpose of being quashed, the entire proceedings and criminal summons issued on Sept. 12 by Mukhtar at the instance of Aginbatse.
The lawyer, in motion dated and filed on Oct. 21, argued that the action was instituted to prevent Okpebholo from presenting himself as a candidate in the Sept. 21 poll and to disqualify him on false grounds.
He also sought a declaration that the entire proceedings and criminal summons was illegal, unconstitutional and in violation of his client’s fundamental human right to fair hearing guaranteed by the law.
He equally sought an order of prohibition, prohibiting the magistrate from further proceeding with the case number: CR/W22/816/2024 instigated by Aginbatse.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, Emwanta averred that Okpebholo “on March 31,2022, deposed to an affidavit to correct the mistake in his date of birth (written as Aug. 29, 1972 on his June 2008 WASSCE Certificate.
He also averred that Okpebholo on his permanent voters card had Aug. 1, 1977, as his date of birth instead of Aug. 29, 1970, which is his correct date of birth), before the Commissioner for Oaths in the Registry of this Honourable Court.”
He said Okpebholo also deposed to an Affidavit of Regularisation of Personal Particulars at the Supreme Court of Nigeria Registry on July 26, stating the facts and correcting the aforementioned mistake in his date of birth in both his WASSCE Certificate and Personal Voters Card (PVC) issued by INEC.
The lawyer said his client further made a declaration via a Deed of Regularisation of Personal Particulars and sworn to before the Commissioner for Oaths at the Supreme Court’s Registry on July 26, among other steps taken by the governor-elect.
Emwanta argued that the magistrate lacked jurisdiction to entertain such matter being a pre-election matter, under Section 29 of which the law confers jurisdiction on the Federal High Court.
But Aginbatse, in a 16-paragraph counter affidavit filed by his lawyer Raymond Azinye, urged the court to dismiss the application.
On his part, Mukhtar, who was the 2nd respondent, neither filed any process nor represented in court.
Delivering his judgment , Justice Agbaza agreed with Emwanta that the magistrate ought to have considered the exhibits presented by Okpebholo before issuing such order.

He cited previous Supreme Court decision in Osita Nwosu and Imo State Environmental Protection Agency to back his ruling.
The judge, who also agreed with the lawyer on other grounds, barred the magistrate from further proceedings on the case.
He was, however, of the view that the magistrate had a discretion to fix a hearing date of a matter before him.