Headlines
Court fixes September 14 to hear Wike’s suit against Atiku
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed September 14 for hearing in a suit challenging the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.
The suit, which has the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and one Newgent Ekamon as plaintiffs is seeking the disqualification of Atiku as standard bearer of the PDP on the grounds of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the May 28 and 29 presidential primary that produced Atiku as PDP’s candidate.
Although Wike has since distanced himself from the court action, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022, the plaintiffs placed eight issues for determination before the court,including whether the purported transfer of Tambuwal’s votes to Atiku by the PDP was illegal and void.
Defendants in the suit are PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal as 1st to 4th respectively.
But the defendants, in their response, have asked the court to dismiss the suit for being frivolous, baseless, unwarranted and unknown to law.
PDP, Atiku and Tanbuwal predicated their objections on four cardinal grounds, amongst which were that the instant suit as filed was unknown to law and not cognizable under a pre-election matter.
In the suit filed on their behalf by Mr Ayo Ajibade, SAN, the three respondents averred that the first plaintiff, Ekamon, having not participated in the primary election conducted by the PDP lacked the requisite locus standi to institute this suit.
Atiku PDP and Tambuwal further stated that the suit as brought by the applicants did not fall within the purview of Section 84 of the Electoral Act, as such did not qualify as a pre-election dispute.
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The fourth ground was that the instant suit was not initiated by due process of the law and therefore sought order of the court striking out or dismissing the suit in its entirety for want of jurisdiction.
In the Originating Summons, the plaintiffs were asking the court to determine if Tambuwal lost his claim to votes the moment he stepped down for Atiku.
They asked the court to determine whether Tambuwal, “having stepped down during the primaries, ought to lose his votes.”
Wike and Ekamon argued that should these issues be determined in their favour, the court should grant their reliefs, including a declaration that the purported transfer of Tambuwal’s votes to Atiku be declared null and void.
They further sought a declaration that the PDP acted negligently and in bad faith by assigning the Sokoto governor’s votes to Atiku at the primary.
Headlines
FRSC warns truck drivers against speeding, reckless driving
Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Area Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Division, Lagos State, has warned truck drivers against speeding and reckless driving.
He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeju-Lekki on Tuesday.
The FRSC official, who blamed speeding on the ghastly vehicle accident that occurred at Aiyetoro market in Epe
which claimed several lives and left some injured, said that with careful driving, such accident could be avoided.
He added that “the accident was as a result of speeding, reckless driving and loading of truck beyond its capacity.
“All these are factors responsible for accident when drivers are not conscious of the driving rules.
“Vehicle can develop technical fault at any time, therefore, speed limit and caution need to be applied while driving.”
He said FRSC had been sensitising drivers on the need to install speed limit device and be road conscious while driving, in line with the mandate to instill decent use of road.
Ibitomi also advised passers-by and the public to be safety conscious while walking on roadsides to avoid falling victim of accidents.
He attributed major road crashes on roads to speed limit violation, urging drivers to respect the sanctity of human life by obeying traffic rules.
He added that the FRSC had evolved measures to ensure accident-free yuletide and new year festivities in 2024
Headlines
Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters
Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.
At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”
“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”
Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.
“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.
In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.
As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.
“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.
Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”
While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.
“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.
The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.
Headlines
Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties
President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.
The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.
Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.
Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”
Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.
Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”
The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.
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