Judgment in the Kogi State governorship elections appeal filed by Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has been reserved by the a five man panel of the Supreme Court
Ajaka had challenged the declaration made by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the outcome of the 2023 governorship elections in their respective states.
However, in a ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court said it reserved judgments in the appealed cases.
The SDP candidate had appealed the judgment of a three-member tribunal that affirmed the election of Ahmed Usman Ododo of APC as governor of Kogi.

However, after the Appeal Court judgment in June, Ajaka alleged that the judgment was influenced by some irregularities and manipulations.

While delivering judgment, the appeal court upheld the tribunal judgment which dismissed his petition for lacking in merit.

Ajaka, in a statement made available to newsmen after the judgment said he would appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal.

He also said the journey to reclaiming his mandate is not limited to the decision of the appellate court.

He said, he cannot afford to be deterred by setbacks or disheartened by temporary defeats. “Our cause is justice and our determination will not waver. We must stand united and continue to support our legal team as they navigate these complex legal waters on our behalf.

“I want to assure you, our political followers, that victory is within our grasp. We firmly believe that the truth will prevail, and justice will be served. We have full faith in the Nigerian judicial system, and we are confident that the apex court will rectify the injustices that have been inflicted upon us once again.”

****mourns Ex-Rangers legends

The Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, Peter Obi, has berated Nigeria’s sports leadership for the disastrous performance of Nigeria in the just-ended 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nigeria finished with no single medal after squandering billions of naira where nine African countries won medals.
Writing on his X handle on Sunday Obi said, despite the huge financial investment made into the project, the contingent is returning without a single medal.
He expressed his displeasure with what he referred to as the rascality and recklessness continued to characterise leadership in the nation, which often portrays the country as a joke, even on the international stage.
“How can one explain that a country like Jamaica spent less than 5% of what we spent on our contingents for the Paris Olympics 2024 and won as many as 6 medals, and with our huge financial investments, we could not win even a singular medal? At least nine African countries won gold but the giant with over 200m people came home without even a bronze.
“We invested about N12 billion into this Olympics, which is almost twice the amount budgeted for the entire Ministry of Science and Technology for this year’s budget. This is over N136 million (about $85,000) spent on each of the 88 Nigerian contingents to the Olympics, and no singular medal was won while Jamaica, a nation which spent far less than we did, a total of about $2300 on each contingent, won 6 medals; 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze at the Olympics. We must now question how we made this huge investment, without getting any returns.
“Sad stories like these are only obtainable because we have refused to embrace competence and capacity over favouritism in Nigeria.
Speaking on Favour Ofili a Nigerian professional sprinter who trained for years for the 2024 Olympics, only for her name to be recklessly and wrongly removed from the list of athletes for the 100m race at the Olympics by Nigerian sporting authorities.
“What explanation can anyone give about Annette Echikunwoke, a former Nigerian hammer thrower, who was frustrated by the same rascality of some Nigerian leaders, making her switch her allegiance to the United States, where she eventually won a medal in the ongoing Olympics?
“These same professional athletes were denied the opportunity to represent our nation in Tokyo 2020 for a similar reason of administrative recklessness.
“I have it on good authority that some injured athletes, not physically fit to represent the country and not competing in the ongoing Olympics, were there in Paris receiving estacodes from our national resources.
“Some of the sports officials and others who have no reason to be at the Olympics were there too, living large and feeding fat on the estacodes while our nation was crashing out on every sporting event.
“One of our athletes, Ese Ukpeseraye, had to borrow a bicycle to compete at her sporting event. How can one truly explain that?
“What a country! What a shame! When do we stop these rascalities that always rob our nation of golden opportunities to make a positive change?
“I call on the government to investigate these gross misconducts and make sure that those responsible do not have the opportunity to do so again.
“We must build a nation of discipline and commitment to duty, where competence and capacity reign. That is the New Nigeria we preach, and it is POssible.
Also, on Sunday, Obi eulogized two great Nigeria footballers, Ex-Rangers football Club legends Stanley Okoronkwo and Harrison Mecha, where he joined other sports lovers in service of songs in Enugu last Thursday.
Both Okoronkwo and Mecha were retired footballers who enjoyed fulfilling football careers while playing for the Rangers Football Club and for the national team in their days.
“I have consistently advised that such heroes who have made positive impacts in our nation and contributed to our development by utilizing their talents and skills be celebrated and appreciated.
“Celebrating such heroic personalities will awaken in our younger generation, the passion to contribute to societal development.
“Both Okoronkwo and Mecha were football heroes who distinguished themselves in the field of play and contributed to the growth of our sports sector.
“May God Almighty, who is pleased to call them home, grant them eternal rest, and grant their families, the Ex-Rangers Int’l Footballers and all of us the fortitude to bear their irreplaceable loss.
May God continue to protect and bless their families.”

**Demands unconditional release of protesters arrested, detained since 1st August

A Coalition of seven Civil Society Organizations has expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu who is a former opposition leader and the arrow head in protests during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration who is now silent over the use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters by state forces

The Coalition also demanded the immediate release of all Protesters arrested by security agencies during the August 1st to 10th #EndBadGovernance and hardship Protest unconditionally.

The coalition is comprised of, End Bad Governance in Nigeria Group, African Renaissance Movement (ARM), Save Nigeria Group, USA, Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Electoral Reform (CODER), Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN) and Northern Advocates for Good Governance (NAGGO).
Addressing a press Conference in Abuja, Convener and spokesperson of the Coalition, High Chief, Peter Ameh said the hardship Protest will continue until the president meets the demands of Nigerians.
“Nigerians will not give up until their demands are met.”
He asked rhetorically if such maximum force was used against Tinubu in his days of activism whether he would have survived to become president?
“It is particularly disappointing to see this government, led by President Tinubu – who once stood as an opposition leader and supported protests – now using state forces to suppress the rights of citizens. “Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, along with Articles 19 and 20 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantee our rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Yet, when Nigerians exercise these rights under this government led by President Tinubu,
they face brutality and even death.
“We have witnessed tragic events, such as the killing of Abbas Kabiru by the Nigerian Police in Kaduna and the death of 16-year-old Ismail Mohammed at the hands of the Nigerian Army.
“These are only a few examples of the violence that peaceful protesters have endured, with Amnesty International stating over 22 peaceful protesters brutally killed by the security agencies.
“The 1999 Constitution, as amended, clearly protects our inalienable rights, including the nght to protest. According to the constitution, no one should be held without being charged to court for more than 48 hours.
“Yet, individuals like Alhaji Khalid Aminu remain in detention without charges, languishing in SSS custody in Kaduna. This is unacceptable! Nigeria may be a lawless place, but our fundamental human rights will not be taken away from us. We demand that all those detained in connection with the ongoing protest be released with immediate effect else President Tinubu should be ready to arrest us all.
“The demands of Nigerians who have gathered peacefully since August 1, 2024, must be heard. We seek relief from the economic hardships inflicted upon us by the irrational policies of the President Tinubu led government. “The use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters is intolerable and must end immediately.
He also declared that the harassment and intimidation of journalists who are bonafide members of the fourth estate of the realm from covering the protest is a breach of the constitution and other relevant international laws. This should stop immediately.
“Our protests are not a stage for criminal activities. To those who see our peaceful protest as a means to put their criminal activities into practise, you are not a part of our cause.
“We call on President Tinubu to immediately halt the use of brute force by security agencies against peaceful protesters. There is no place for the use of live ammunition on peaceful protesters.
“Nigerians have the right to protest, and our demands are essential for the nation’s progress and stability. We urge the federal government to take immediate action to address these issues.
“We are aware of the government’s tactics of bribing key stakeholders to quash protests, but this time, it will not succeed.
“If our demands are
not met, we will continue to peacefully express our sufferings and frustrations until they are addressed.”
“These protests are happening across the length and breadth of our beloved country because we are witnessing a period of unprecedented hardship and turmoil.”
Going down memory lane Since President Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, when he announced the removal of the fuel subsidy without any structured plan to mitigate negative impacts on the people, the lives of ordinary Nigerians have been turned upside down.
“It is the common citizens, who are bearing the brunt of this decision, as we struggle under unpalatable socioeconomic conditions.
“Our nation is in crisis. The Nigerian people have been plunged into deeper poverty and hardship. Subsistence living has vanished, leaving many families in distress.
“Parents struggle to put food on the table, and some are forced to make stew with cucumbers because basic vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and onions are too expensive.
“Farmers live in fear of bandits and kidnappers, preventing them from cultivating their lands, which contributes to the food scarcity we face.
“The economic turmoil has led to unpaid school fees, and as of 2024, UNICEF has declared Nigeria as having the world’s highest number of out-of-school children. This is an urgent situation that demands immediate attention.
“Crime rates are soaring as people become increasingly desperate. Communities are attacked, and villages are ransacked. Innocent lives are lost, and ancestral lands are seized.
“This is not the Nigeria we aspire to build. Our people are not greedy; we ask only for a decent standard of living, which can be provided by any competent leader.”
He urged Nigerians to stand united in the pursuit of a better Nigeria – a Nigeria where the government serves the people and ensures that every citizen can live with dignity and hope.