Politics

Tribunal Sacks Bayelsa Governor Diri

Published

3 years ago

August 17, 2020

The Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal on Monday nullified the election of Governor Douye Diri.

The Tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order a fresh election within 90 days.

The verdict follows the petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) challenging the victory of Governor Diri in the November 19 governorship election.

The ANDP claimed that the party was unlawfully excluded from the election.

In a split judgement of two-one, the three-man panel ruled that INEC does not have the power to disqualify any candidate for an election.

INEC in its argument had said that the party’s Deputy Governorship candidate was 34-year-old as at the time of nomination and therefore did not qualify to contest the election.

ANDP told Justice Yunusa Musa, who delivered the lead judgment that its initial Deputy Governorship Candidate, David Esinkuma was duly substituted by the Party within the allowed time frame, following the notification from INEC that he’s under-age.

Justice Musa in his response said that INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate and insists that the petition of the ANDP stands.

He also added that only a court has the power to disqualify any candidate for any election and that the petition was filed within 21 days, which is the stipulated time for petitions to be filed.

Justice Musa described the action of INEC to exclude the ANDP from the Bayelsa Governorship Election as illegal.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Muhammad Sirajo, however, dismissed the petition on technical grounds.

Politics

Ayu Steps Down as PDP Chairman

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has stepped aside as the chairman of the party.

Ayu was replaced by the Deputy National Chairman, (North) Umar Iliya Damagum.

Damagum will assume office as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, pending the determination of the case in court.

When asked about the party members’ reactions to the suspension and how the party planned to move forward, Damagum said, “As a party, we are prone to reconciliation. We will review it, we will have an NWC (National Working Committee) meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) and in that meeting we will discuss it, and there will be possible review of whatever is happening.”

It will be recalled that a Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Wilfred Igba Kpochi on Monday order Ayu to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the Party pending the determination of issues before the court regarding his leadership.

Politics

Imo LP Gubernatorial Aspirant, Anumudu Dies in ‘Mysterious’ Circumstances

Published

4 days ago

March 25, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

A frontline Labour Party(LP) governorship aspirant in Imo State,Chief Humphrey Anumudu has been reported dead im ‘mysterious’ circumstances.

Sources close to the family disclosed that Anumudu, a native of Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state died last night at his residence in Lagos State.

The deceased, a younger brother to the pioneer CEO of Globe Motors,Willy Anumudu was said to have passed on last night(Friday) in what the family source described as a “mystery”.

Anumudu recently procured the Labour Party’s governorship interest form at Abuja, and is said to be among the favorites to win the party’s primary slated for early next month.

Described as an astute politician, legal luminary and a good ambassador of the State, the late Anumudu has contested for the Governorship election in the past on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA).

Politics

Alex Otti of Labour Party Wins Abia Governorship

Published

7 days ago

March 22, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

After a whole lot of drama that attended conduct of the gubernatorial election in Abia State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally declared Alex Otti of the Labour Party the Governor-elect.

Otti garnered 175,467 votes to defeat his closest rival, Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 88,529 votes.

More details later…