Metro
Alex Otti wins, as Supreme Court affirms his election as Gov of Abia State
The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party as the duly elected governor of Abia state.
The apex court in its ruling dismissed the issue of invalid nomination, saying that the sponsorship of a candidate is purely a party affair.
Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation who is the counsel for the APC and its candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, had asked the Supreme Court to declare that Otti was not duly sponsored by the LP.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Otti winner of the Abia State governorship election with 175,467 votes.
Okey Ahiwe of the PDP and Enyinnaya Nwafor of the YPP trailed Otti with 88,529 and 28,972 votes respectively.
However, the PDP and APC challenged his election victory both at the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court but lost out.
The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State dismissed the appeals finding that the APC and the PDP did not produce enough evidence to prove that Otti was not a member by LP or that the votes he scored were forged.
The appeal court also held that membership and sponsorship by a political party remain a pre-election matter and the internal affairs of a political party.
Malami asked the five-man panel of the apex court chaired by Justice Inyang Okoro to allow his appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower courts, contending that Otti and other respondents were not constitutionally sponsored by their party because at the time of the election, they were members of another political party.
Onyechi Ikpeazu, counsel for Otti told the apex court that there is nothing novel about the appeal by the APC because the Supreme Court had made several pronouncements saying sponsorship and membership by a political party remained an the internal affairs of a political party.
The PDP’s legal team alleged before the court that the results in Obingwa LGA of Abia state were short-changed against his client and in favour of Otti.
Ikpeazu urged the apex court to align with the decisions of lower courts in the allegations of non-compliance.
Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji of the Supreme Court held that record showed that Otti duly joined the LP before the March 18 governorship election.
“This appeal shouldn’t have been taken up to this level,” Justice Aji said, adding that the lower courts were right to state that Otti’s LP membership remains the internal affairs of his party.
The judge said the purported Electoral results forms from Obingwa LGA tendered by the PDP remained inadmissible because it was not frontloaded alongside the petition.
The apex court further held that the witnesses fielded by the petitioners were incompetent.
“The appeal is hereby dismissed and the judgment of the Appeal Court is hereby affirmed,” the judge held.
Metro
Obidient Movement tackles APC for threatening Peter Obi, demands accountability
The Obidient Movement has strongly condemned the recent remarks by Mr. Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, describing his comments as reckless and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking on Arise TV on January 5, 2025, Mr. Morka asserted that “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and he has what’s coming to him, and whatever he gets, he should manage it.” This statement, the movement insists, constitutes a veiled threat to Mr. Obi’s life and safety, as well as an assault on the fundamental principles of democracy.
The coordinator of the Obidient Movement Dr. Yunusa Tanko in a statement on Monday raised critical questions about the legitimacy of such remarks asking rhetorically what line Mr. Obi crossed, and who set these boundaries? What specific actions or statements justify such ominous threats? What exactly is ‘coming to him,’ as implied by the APC spokesman?
Such language, the group contended, reflects authoritarian tendencies and undermines the rule of law, which guarantees freedom of speech and protection from harm.
Explaining further, the statement indicated that Mr. Peter Obi’s commitment to issue-based politics, constructive criticism, and solutions-driven proposals has been a hallmark of his leadership.
“His New Year address, which evaluated Nigeria’s current challenges while offering actionable solutions, was devoid of hate or incitement.
“The APC’s attack on Mr. Obi shows a disturbing trend of silencing opposition voices rather than engaging in meaningful debate,” the statement noted.
The Obidient Movement issued a stern warning to the ruling APC and its agents, declaring that they will be held directly responsible should any harm come to Mr. Obi, his family, or supporters.
“This administration must know that democracy cannot thrive under threats and intimidation,” the statement emphasized.
The Obidient Movement therefore semanded an immediate retraction and apology from Mr. Felix Morka and the APC leadership.
The Movement demanded an investigation by security agencies into the intent and implications of Mr. Morka’s remarks.
It also demanded a commitment by the government to protect democratic values and promote constructive engagement over divisive rhetoric.
The monement vowed that it can not be intimidated, stressing that Nigerians must resist the slide into dictatorship by demanding accountability and justice.
“We urge Nigerians to stand united and protect the gains of democracy. We also call on the international community to take note of this emerging pattern of repression and help safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions.”
Finally, the Obidient Movement called on the APC to discipline its spokespersons and adopt a more mature approach to political discourse, focusing on solutions rather than threats.
Metro
Incessant Military Strikes on Defenceless Nigerians Unacceptable
An activist and public affairs commentator, Malam Salihu Othman Isah, has condemned what he described as the incessant air strikes and other forms of military attacks on defenceless civilians in some parts of the country.
Isah, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said in an interview that it is unprofessional for the Nigerian military to continue unleashing its weapons on people they are trained and paid to protect.
He also criticized the approach being deployed by the authorities—both the government and the Nigerian Armed Forces—to stop the killings, which have become a recurring situation in the country.
He disclosed that it is common knowledge that hapless and harmless Nigerians, going about their normal duties to seek their livelihoods, are sent to their early graves through avoidable military attacks.
According to him, some of these attacks and killings—both by the ground army and the Air Force—cannot be justified, as they are extrajudicial in nature.
“The army of any nation is established primarily to defend the territorial integrity of its people and not to eliminate them.
“The army is supposed to complement other arms of the security apparatus of a nation. It is meant to protect its citizens and not mow them down,” he reiterated.
It will be recalled that a few days ago, a fighter jet said to be carrying out an attack on Lakurawa bandits in Sokoto killed over ten innocent civilians during the operation.
An Air Force fighter jet, on a mission to dislodge the bandits, was reported to have terminated the lives of innocent villagers going about their legitimate businesses.
But in their usual manner, the Federal Government as well as the army authorities have set up commissions of inquiry primarily to ascertain the remote cause of the incident.
Isah expressed disappointment over the trend, saying, “We often travel this same lane anytime there is an occurrence.
“Why would the Chief of Army Staff constitute an inquiry to investigate the remote cause of the attack on defenceless Nigerians instead of acting decisively to tackle the failure of its men and officers?
“Instead, energies should also be directed at solution-seeking, beginning with holding errant officers responsible for such killings accountable.”
He lamented that investigations and inquiries have become too monotonous and counterproductive, surmising that real action is required.
The civil rights activist advocated that the armed forces must follow laid-down rules of engagement, which is a global practice required for any army operation to be successful, especially when carried out in civilian-populated areas.
Isah pointed out that, “Beyond the rules of engagement, every individual army officer must have service rules to guide their operations. And while these are available but flouted, there must be consequences.
“It is not enough to set up inquiries whose reports are kept secret and with no reprimand of violators.”
He further stressed that the trend has always been to condemn military actions against civilians, adding that such condemnations have come in torrents.
Nigerians in both high and low places have been unanimous in their criticisms after the recent attack.
“It’s sad that after this, we usually move on, awaiting the next incident and speculating where and how it will occur. Don’t expect any severe action against any of the officers responsible for this action. And next time, another attack will occur, the real targets will be missed, innocent souls will be terminated, and the vicious circle will continue with no end in sight. For how long will this be?” he noted.
The political scientist also stated that a nation with no disciplined army and no regard for its citizens is bound to fail. This is simply unacceptable.
“Henceforth, those found wanting should be called out, and punishment must be meted out to serve as a deterrent in the future.”
Metro
Bayelsa Groom Flees Engagement Ceremony Over Endless Cash Demands in Imo
***Elders’ N850,000 Refund Request Sparks Drama
What was meant to be a joyous union turned into high drama in Imo State when a Bayelsa man, Biobelemoye David, fled his engagement ceremony after being subjected to a series of outrageous financial demands by his bride’s family.
The ceremony, which began on a celebratory note, took a dramatic turn as David faced mounting charges, including a N1.5 million bill for food, tents, chairs, and a public address system, in addition to a N100,000 bride price that both families had initially agreed upon.
However, tensions escalated when David was asked to pay an extra N50,000 fine for impregnating his fiancée before the ceremony. The fines didn’t stop there—he was slapped with another N10,000 penalty for mistakenly taking a wrong route to the bride’s homestead and a N15,000 charge to appease elders who had grown impatient with his late arrival.
The breaking point came when David was subjected to a bizarre test. Twelve veiled women were paraded before him, and he was asked to identify his fiancée. When he guessed incorrectly, he was fined N15,000 yet again.
But the final straw was the elders’ demand for an N850,000 refund—allegedly covering the bride’s school fees and upkeep since childhood. Unable to contain his frustration, David excused himself under the guise of using the toilet.
Eyewitnesses later confirmed that David switched off his phone and was spotted boarding a bus back to Bayelsa, leaving the ceremony in chaos and disbelief.
The incident has since sparked widespread debate on social media, with many condemning the excessive demands and calling for an end to exploitative marriage practices.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach David for comments have been unsuccessful as his whereabouts remain unknown.
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