The Umuahia Stakeholder Meeting and the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee are lawful and legitimate Says NTC

Being a Text of Press Conference by the Leadership of the Labour Party National Transitional Committee (NTC) on September 11. 2024 

We are members of the leadership of the National Transition Committee of the Labour Party. The NTC of the Labour Party is a group fully paid-up members of the Labour Party and the Obedient Movement who have contributed immensely to the development of the Labour Party throughout the years. Many of us in the National Transition Committee are gubernatorial candidates of the party and some of us contested for different legislative offices in the national and state under the party. The NTC emerged after many all-inclusive stakeholder meetings after the end of the tenure of the Abure-led Exco and the crises which his corrupt and illegal administration imposed on the party. 

The NTC engaged and mobilized all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the party recovers itself from Abure illegality and corruption. That process bore fruits as INEC, as the regulator of political parties in Nigeria, informed Barrister Abure that his tenure had expired and have made diligent efforts not to recognize him as a Chairman of Labour Party at every meeting of the heads of political parties. In fact, INEC had on occasion asked him to vacate the chair meant for Chairman of Labour Party. These interventions by the NTC has culminated in the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party in Umuahia. 

We want to state unequivocally that the National Transitional Committee (NTC) facilitated by the Nigerian Labour Congress as the Trustee of the Labour Party fully accepts and commends the decision of the NEC of Labour Party its meeting on September 4, 2024. We fully support the setting up of a 29-man Caretaker Committee to prepare and conduct democratic congresses to elected party leadership at the Ward, LGA, State and National levels in line with Labour Party constitution and the Electoral Act, 2023. The NEC organized by the Governor of Abia State is the most welcome intervention needed to save the Labour Party at this time from the illegalities and corruptions of the Abure hostile capture. We believe that this intervention is in line with the expression of the democratic will of the millions of Nigerians who ae members of the Labour Party and its supporters, and who does not want the party to die at the hands of political contractors who have been procured to destroy the party.

As expected, Abure and his cohorts have gone to town to spread falsehood about the committee and the state of affairs in the Labour Party. As the group that actually midwifed the current positive result in the  Labour Party. We owe Nigerians the duty to present the facts as they are to prevent Abure from running away from his corruption and illegalities which INEC had recognized and confuse the people on the present efforts by the Governor of Abia State and NEC to get the party back to the path of legality and integrity as Nigeria’s favourite opposition party.

   

1. On Legitimacy Of The Umuahia Meeting:

We want to make it clear that The STAKEHOLDERS MEETING held in Umuahia had every form of legitimacy and transparency. It was called according to the constitution of the Labour Party which bestows on the NEC the powers to file any vacancy that exists before another convention. In fact the meeting has “an overdose of legitimacy and transparency” – the sort of which can only come from the “best leaders who live and breathe integrity and rule of law”.

Anyone who is familiar with the events that has occurred in the party will know that Abure and co had no legal capacity to remain and identify themselves as executives of Labour Party. The tenure was ended long ago and they continued to illegally hold on to power with a clear mandate from his sponsors to destroy Labour Party before the 2027 general elections. But we have ended that illegality and rascality. We have commenced a journey to retrieve and reposition the party through the Umuahia. 

We should not forget that our party was thrown into an ‘all-time low’ by the greed and desperation of one man and his few co-travellers, who want to be undemocratic leaders in a democracy – elected leaders without election and due process. Abure and his cohort violated court judgements and Regulatory Agreements signed by both the party and INEC. Unfortunately, they led our party to a dead-end where for three (3) months the Labour Party existed without INEC recognized leadership from June 9th 2024 till the September 4th 2024 Umuahia meeting.

The meeting at Umuahia is constitutionally valid based on the provisions of the Labour Party constitution. You all know that the valid Labour Party Constitution is a public document hosted on INEC Website. Article 14 Section 2B(xvi) gives NEC power: “To fill vacancies in the NWC as they may occur from time to time in between conventions”. The expiration of the tenure of Abure’s NWC on June 09, 2024 meant that they ceased to be members of NEC from that date. But there are other “statutory members of NEC” whose tenure were still valid namely – the Governor and Deputy Governor of Abia State; the President and General Secretary of NLC; the President and Secretary General of TUC; the Chairperson NLC Women Commission (see Articles 14 section 2A from (iii – xviii) and the BOT Chairman and Secretary (see Article 9 section 1C)

Our leaders were required by Constitution to call a meeting of the nine (9) remaining members of NEC to appoint replacements for the vacancies in NWC, but they chose to call the nine NEC members in addition to all elected leaders, candidates in the last general election, and all major stakeholders including even the expired NWC members. In fact, the owners of the party, from the founders to all its leaders from sub-national to national leaders akin to shareholders and Board of Directors in Company’s AGM. That is why I described the Umuahia meeting as “overdose of legitimacy and transparency”, as it met and exceeded constitutional requirements.

2. On The Formation of Caretaker Committee: 

It is laughable that Abure will raise objection to NEC/Stakeholders’  appointment of Interim Leadership for LP when himself is a double beneficiary of similar appointments in 2021 and 2023. In 2019, Abure was elected Deputy National Secretary of LP. The National Secretary resigned and Abure became Acting National Secretary. Unfortunately, the National Chairman Alhaji A. A. Salam died in 2021 and the then Deputy National Chairman North Mrs Maria Lebeke became Acting National Chairman. There was also a Deputy National Chairman South – Alhaji Lamidi Apapa. How Abure jumped from Ag. Secretary to National Chairman without election and without valid NEC appointment remains a study in ‘Gestapo criminality’.

So for the records, Abure was never elected National Secretary or National Chairman neither was he legitimately appointed Chairman as there was no constitutional pathway to migrate from Deputy Secretary to Chairman. This will be story for another day. However, his self-imposed emergence in 2021 was to complete the tenure of the late Alhaji Salam which expired in June 2023. Notwithstanding the Consent Judgement and INEC brokered Agreement, Abure deceived the new Party Leaders into appointing his NWC for another one year, which finally expired June 9, 2024.  

So, Abure’s NWC from inception to expiry; renewal and another expiry were “Caretaker Appointments” – first tenure illegitimate, second tenure deceitfully obtained. Whereas, the appointment of Distinguished Senator Nenadi Usman’s Caretaker NWC fulfils every aspect of constitutional due process and satisfies the utmost transparency. It is Abure who betrayed all due process and hijacked a political party without election.

3. On Gov. Otti’s Role In Labour Party Affairs:

Abure and his gang attacked the role that Governo Otti played in resolving the crisis that Abure imposed on the party. Anyone who has been following the happenings in Labour Party will not accuse Gov. Otti of not showing sufficient (if any at all) interest in LP affairs or of being against Abure. In fact, many will rather accuse the Governor of being too Pro-Abure. You will recall that while Abure was building his “castle-on-sand” by conducting his illegal Nnewi Convention in violation of Consent Judgement and INEC brokered Agreement; and without any Ward, LGA and State Congresses, the Governor was not aware of the illegalities due to his non-interference and distance from party affairs until INEC banned Abure and his NWC posing existential danger to LP and all her elected officials – the Governor inclusive. Even at that, it took INEC invitation and directives for the Governor to accept to fulfil his statutory duty as the ‘highest elected office holder’ in LP and surviving member of NEC with constitutionally binding duty. So, the Governor has shown great restraint and respect for due process in his intervention. It is Abure who has mistaken commitment to rule of law for condonement of his corrupt and reckless conducts.

4. On Concerns Over INEC Recognition:

The most embarrassing event for Labour Party in 2024 was the day Abure was thrown out of the quarterly meeting of Chairmen of all Political Parties with INEC Chairman in INEC Headquarters Abuja in June 2024. He had attended uninvited. He was also not invited to the August meeting and he dared not attend again. By his own admission in his famous speech delivered at the illegal NEC Meeting of September 9th, 2024 titled “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”, Abure declared that the Access Code for uploading Polling Unit Agents for Edo and Ondo States were handed directly to the LP Governorship Candidates for those States. These are usually exclusively handed to National Chairmen of Parties but now given to our candidates because we don’t have INEC recognized Chairman. These and many similar situations led INEC to seek Otti’s intervention to resolve the lacuna in Labour Party leadership.

5. On The Composition Of The Caretaker Committee:

Members of the new Caretaker Committee are representatives of the various core stakeholder groups in Labour Party – from founding Labour Unions to elected officials and Governorship Candidates in the last election among others. The Chairman and Secretary are former Senators and Minister whose experience and character lend a breath of fresh air to a party with badly damaged reputation rooted in destructive reputations of its officers. Imperfections (if any) would be corrected in the most decent manner as expected in normal human compositions.

The new Chairman had been a card-carrying member of Labour Party since 2022 before the general elections of February 2023; and she had been contesting and winning state and national elections for decades before joining Labour Party.

6. On The Nullification Of The Umuahia Meeting’s Outcome By Abure:

This is when nullity calls validity null and void. It can only be the ranting of a drowning man. May be, he was enjoying the void created by his indiscretion as a paid Agent sponsored by opposition party to terminate LP.

Otherwise, he must know that solution to this self-imposed harm should rank the party’s interest over and above his personal interest; which by the way is not harmed in any way. For avoidance of doubt, Abure and his NWC are free to contest for any offices of their choice in the Congresses and Convention being organized by the Caretaker Committee.

7. On Abure’s Loss Of Leadership Control:

It is mischievous that Abure refers to Umuahia meeting as the gathering that removed him from office when the truth is that INEC had removed and derecognized him since June 9, 2024. What Umuahia meeting did was to ‘commence treatment’ on the terminal illness imposed on LP by Abure and co. His utterances and actions since the meeting is a revelation of the dangers we lived with without knowing it.

8. On Abure’s Fear Of Diminished Influence:

Those must be imaginary diminished influence because he has a choice – to toe the path of honour and quit while the ovation is still loud or walk down the valley of dishonour by holding onto an expired non-existent office and sacrifice whatever influence and dignity he acquire from the Office LP National Chairman.

Let me remind him that no politician in Nigeria, and I dare say Africa, drags popularity or influence with our Party’s National Leader H.E Mr. Peter Obi; and Abure may do well to note that PO was never as popular or influential as he is today while he was in office as Governor. He grew in popularity/influence by his dignified conduct out of office – quitting while the ovation was loudest, refusing to collect his exit pension largesse, charity works, dedication to public good among others lifted him. A valuable lesson for Abure and co is that influence is earned, not given or taken. And it is better to be a part of an elephant than the whole of an ant. More so, democratic Chairmen are elected not self-imposed; the chance to emerge elected Chairman of LP is not diminished but now more credible.

 

9. On Damage To Party Unity And Image:

The emergence of Nenadi Usman led leadership for LP has not created any parallel leadership for labour party. It is a child of necessity born to fill a vacuum wilfully created by expiry of Abure;s NWC without valid elections to replace them.

This new leadership is strictly for purpose of organising congresses and convention to elect new leaders for the party – an assignment Abure had opportunity to do but chose not to, until their tenure expired.

It must be stated that Labour Party is bigger than any individual or group and its interest supersedes those of any individual or group. Abure’s dream of factional leadership of LP is only imaginary, as he is standing with only those he had appointed ‘unopposed’ at national and sub-national levels. Unknown to him, even those are lobbying for accommodation in the new leadership/followership. He will soon look back and realize that he is standing alone.

Millions of Nigerians joined or became sympathetic to LP because of Peter Obi Profile and the good work Gov. Otti is doing at Abia State. None did because of Abure and his gang. If anything, a lot of Peter Obi admirers had left LP because of the negative influence of Abure. He will do well to bow out with honour and enjoy his constitutional entitlement of elevation to Board of Trustee (BOT) reserved for all former National Chairmen without dishonour and criminality. This privilege guaranteed by Article 9 of LP Constitution will be extinguished by forceful exit and probe.

We assure all members and supporters of the Labour Party that the party has been recovered from the illegitimacy and illegality under the hand of Abure. Now, that a caretaker committee of the party members appointed legally by the NEC of our party to prepare and organize a democratic convention based on democratic congresses to elect party officials, we are now in the good position to mobilize and prepare Nigerians to replace the failing APC government and install a people-oriented and truly progressive government that will secure Nigerians and end the ravaging spectre of poverty. It is obvious that Abure and his followers are working to truncate the progress of the labour party. They will fail because all actions taken at the Umuahia meeting convened by the Governor of Abia State and other remaining members of the BOT are in line with the constitution of the Labour Party, the Electoral Act and the directive of the electoral umpire, the INEC.

We advise Abure and his cohort to be wise and come back to the fold and show gratitude for the party that tolerated their illegally regime and have not decided to cure the party of such illegitimacy caused by their illegal hijack of power.

A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE AS A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.

2027: Senator Nnenadi Usman led caretaker committee, a good step for LP Rebirth in Nigeria — Oyo State Stakeholders

Nnenadi

The concerned Labour Party stakeholders in Oyo state has said Senator Nnenadi led caretaker committee is a right step in right direction for the party, going forward to 2027.

The stakeholders also called for caretaker committees for the party across the states of the federation.

The recent NEC/Expanded Stakeholders meeting conveyed by Governor Alex Otti of Abia state which also has in attendance Mr. Peter Obi, national assembly members, NLC, TUC Representatives and NTC leadership and other stakeholders successfully appointed a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the Labour Party in Nigeria and to organize a national convention in the near future.

The concerned stakeholders in Oyo state called it a welcome development.

According to a statement signed by Comrade Dele Abiola on behalf of the concerned stakeholders said the installation of a rescue caretaker committee for the Labour Party is long overdue.

"It is still not too late prepare the party and even make it more viable and strong ahead of 2027 general elections"

"Nigerians need alternative political platforms to APC and PDP and Labour party has filled this vacuum. It's our collective responsibility to propell the party upto the expectations of the masses"


"We extolled the decisive roles play by His Excellencies, Mr Peter Obi, Alex Otti and other stakeholders in rescuing the party from self-centered individuals holding the party into ransom" the statement said.


The newly formed LP National Caretaker Committee is chaired by Senator Nnenadi Usman while Senator Darlington Nwokeocha is serving as Secretary.


The extended stakeholders of the Labour Party (LP) in Abia state constituted a 29-member national caretaker committee to be headed by a former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, to run the affairs of the party for three months leading to its national conventions

Other members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), including former governors and members of both State and National Assemblies.


It should be noted that in Oyo state, LP stakeholders had in a meeting in Oyo town passed a vote of no confidence on the now Dissolved state exco calling on the transition committee to oversee an installation of a caretaker exco for the party in the state.

#PHOTOSPEAKS: Labour Party Stakeholders, Obidatti Meeting In Oyo Town

It should be noted that the meeting was called on the instance of the transition committee of the party.

Ondo Gov Poll: I have experience in societal building than Aiyedayiwa, Agboola says AAC Gubanatorial candidate Adekunle Ajayi

The Governorship candidate of African Action Congress AAC in Ondo state Adekunle Ajayi Wizeman has said he has experience in societal building and love of the people at heart than the incumbent and sitting Governor Lucky Aiyedayiwa and else while deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

In his words: " When you talk of the real experience of societal building, I have same more than both Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Agboola Ajayi. No be mouth! "

"I barely know Lucky in the socio-political space until he was nominated as Deputy Governor. Heard he was an NDDC appointee, but no one can say he made any mark. And since he has been Governor, nothing tangible has changed. He keeps being and accomplice and in the shadows of Akeredolu's anti-people mal-governance."

"As for Agboola Ajayi, I am too familiar with him as one of those reactionaries exposed to decivilize Ondo cherished politics, by Late Uncle Segun Agagu. Agagu had a knack for ruthless politics, and it was under him that many violent conservative agents were infused into the politics, not minding the few signages of thuggery under Late Ade Adefarati. And even when Agboola Ajayi had been LG Chair; House of Representatives Member; and Deputy Governor, his hometown Kiribo is an imagery of the so-called experience he claims to have. When we were so concerned and led struggles to get Electricity back to Ondo South, Agboola was busy using police and military to arrest, and attack us. Till date, all thanks to Agboola Ajayi, Rotimi Akeredolu, and Lucky Aiyedatiwa, there is no electricity in major parts of Ondo South. The experience of personal pocket and impunity, other than of societal growth and development. "

"Our own experience is the dedication to true changing of society, and the indepth understanding of the political economy of collective growth and development. Without being in government, we have impacted society farther than these marauders! "

"We are set Ondo State, it's time..!!

#IrapadaOndo

#RevolutionNow

LP SEEKS REVIVAL THROUGH STAKEHOLDERS’ COLLABORATION, TO CONDUCT AN ALL-INCLUSIVE CONGRESS

"COMMUNIQUE' AT THE END OF A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING OF THE LABOUR PARTY LP HELD ON MONDAY, 8TH APRIL 2024 AT THE AGNL EVENTS CENTRE, GUDU DISTRICT, ABUJA FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, FCT.

PREAMBLE 

Owing to the current vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party LP, the NLC Political Commission consequent on its status in the Constitution of the Labour Party LP as a registered trustee of the Labour Party LP, a status that was further buttressed by a Federal High Court Consent Judgement delivered on March 20, 2018 by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, convened this stakeholders meeting to address the leadership void in the Labour Party LP and to discuss the repositioning of Labour Party LP to deliver it's mandate as the political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING 

1- The STAKEHOLDERS MEETING noted the vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party LP following the expiration of the supposed tenure of the immediate past National Working Committee, NWC of the Labour Party LP elected on 10th June 2019 in Akwanga Nasarawa State National Convention.

2- The STAKEHOLDERS MEETING following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved to accept the recommendation made in the address by the NLC Political Commission Chairman resolved that in order to reposition the Labour Party LP from a mere platform for contesting elections to a viable political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people, the following steps must be taken immediately:

i- Constitution of a Transition Committee under the leadership of the NLC Political Commission and working with all Stakeholders with a mandate to set up structures at National, States, Local Government Areas and Ward level for the conduct of an All-Inclusive- and expansive national convention of the Labour Party LP.

ii- The STAKEHOLDERS MEETING passed A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE on the purported Labour Party LP National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State on 27th March 2024 and regarded it as INCONSEQUENTIAL the leadership that claimed to have emerged the illegal Nnewi Convention.

iii- That the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and all the relevant security organizations in Nigeria are hereby notified and should be officially written immediately to recognize the TRANSITION COMMITTEE AS THE INTERIM LEADERSHIP of the Labour Party LP pending the conduct of an All - Inclusive and Expansive National Convention of the Labour Party LP.

iv- That the Transition Committee once constituted should FULLY TAKE OVER THE SECRETARIAT of the Labour Party LP all over Nigeria.

v- That the Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party LP. 

The Transition Committee shall also ensure that ALL THE CASES OF FRAUD, IMPERSONATION AND FORGERY OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS PENDING AGAINST A FEW DISCREDITED FORMER OFFICERS of the Labour Party LP are forensically audited and CULPRITS ARE DILIGENTLY PROSECUTED as demanded by the leader of the Labour Party LP - Mr. Peter Obi.

It is unfortunate that the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of the Labour Party LP.

vi- That the Transition Committee shall within three (3) months of its constitution ensure the conduct of an All - Inclusive And Expansive National Convention of the Labour Party LP starting from WARD CONGRESSES to LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONGRESSES, to STATE CONGRESSES & Culminating in an All-inclusive and Expansive National Convention in Abuja.

vii- Pursuant to the forgoing, the Transition Committee is mandated by the Stakeholders meeting to begin the process of REVALIDATION OF CURRENT MEMBERS of the Labour Party LP and the REGISTRATION of NEW MEMBERS through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of membership dues for the purposes of the conduct of an All inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party LP.

It is expected that this National Mobilization drive will yield in the first instance a total membership strength of Ten (10) million Labour Party LP card carrying members drawn from across all workplaces,marketplaces, professional groups, ethnic and religious organizations that Nigerian workers and people belongs to.

viii- The STAKEHOLDERS MEETING recognized, affirmed and commended the support of critical stakeholders in the Labour Party LP for their continued support and faith in the Labour Party LP.

We promise that your steadfast solidarity will surely count !

ix- Finally, we reiterate that the Labour Party LP is a party for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious, regional, social and economic orientation or status.

Signed:

1: Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku 

For: Chairman 

NLC Political Commission 

2: Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, Mni

Former President 

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC 

3: Comrade S.O.Z Ejiofor 

Chairman 

Board of Trustees, BoT 

Labour Party LP 

4: Engr. Gambo Daniel Balarabe

National Coordinator, CSF

5: Dr. Moses Paul (Mo)

Coordinator,

Obedient Movement 

6: Chief Yohana Yilpwan Margif

Labour Party LP Plateau State Governorship Candidate 2023

7: Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye

Coordinator, LPPMC

8: Hon. Jonathan Awake

Kaduna State Labour Party LP Governorship Candidate 2023

9: Barr. Ihekwoaba Paul

For: Disabled Persons, PWD in Labour Party LP"

Labour Party LP 

Forward Ever !

Backward Never !

NEWS RELEASE: ADELEKE HAS NOT TAKEN ANY LOAN– OSUN GOVT

••• APC SUFFERING FROM FINANCIAL, ACCOUNTING ILLITERACY

OSOGBO

The Osun State Government has denied a fake report that it obtained a Ten Billion Naira loan facility in 2023, asserting that Governor Ademola Adeleke did not take any loan and is not planning to take any  such loan now or in the near future.

Describing the report as a demonstration of either ignorance or mischief , the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi said all current indebtedness of the state were contracted by previous governments of the All Progressive Congress.

According to the Commissioner, since inception in November 2022, the current government has been servicing inherited debt and ensuring project implementation where the loan is tied to any project like the Ilesa Water Project.

Hon Alimi posited that as a responsible government with a focus on legacy attainments, Governor Adeleke adopted a no-loan policy which he has maintained since assuming office.

We recognize the deficiency of the person behind the latest hoax to misrepresent the Adeleke administration, but the mistake he and his backer made is failing to intelligently scrutinize the erroneous claim before going public.

What the opposition mischievously  calculated as loans are World Bank and other multilateral institutions projects like NCares, Ramp and Ilesa Water Project. Is the opposition asking Osun state to opt out of many beneficial multilateral projects which are inherited from previous governments?

We affirm that the State government will  continue to support the people of the State in alleviating poverty through the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NCARES) with reimbursement from the World Bank through the Federal Government. This forms part of what the mischievous attackers are parading as loans taken by the State government.

We invite the public, particularly the Osun people to recall that the Rauf Aregbesola administration secured a facility from the Islamic Development Bank for the execution of the Ilesa Water Work project at the twilight of that government. 

The facility which totalled $65 million, was structured in such a way that it is provided upon need for any aspect of the project.

Between 2018 and 2022, the Gboyega Oyetola administration received several  billions of Naira from that fund. What the Osun APC minion misread for a fresh loan under Governor Adeleke, was the continuation of the flow of the fund for the Ilesa Water project and other multilateral projects like the NCARES, Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAMP), State Action Business Enabling Reforms(SABER) among others.

The public will recall that the current administration on inheriting the Ilesa Water project for which the loan was taken undertook a major cleaning up , stopping major corruption and setting the project on a sustainable path of completion and value for money.

As much as we recognize the failed bid of the opposition in Osun amidst its frantic search for fault finding no matter how ridiculous, we however expected a bit of informed postulation as against the illiterate understanding of state finance the Osun APC has so far demonstrated.

We assure the public of this administration's financial discipline. As such, this government will not repeat the horror of the reckless borrowing that crippled the state and inflicted untold pains on the people in the past. 

The current government  has not taken any fresh loan and has no plan to do so, but the administration is making  use of the available resources, assets and liability, to the benefit of the state and its people.

Therefore, the public should discountenance the false alarm of the remnant of the deeply factionalized Osun APC. The PDP government is not financially illiterate and it is busy with clearing the financial mess of the previous APC government. 

Signed:

Oluomo Kolapo Alimi,

Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment

Police Arrests LP National Chairman Julius Abure in Edo State

 

Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure has been arrested in Beni City, Edo State capital on Wednesday.

According to the reports, the reasons for his arrest was not made public but can not be divorced from the LP Crisis.

Recently, some members of the national working committee loyer to Ahaji Basiru Lamidi Apapa Faction were stoned and massively beaten in Edo State.

More details later....

Labour Party Crisis: Apapa Faction Stoned, flogged and Beaten to Stupors in Beni City (videos)

In the videos, Abure expelled National Youth Leader Mr. Anslem and one other receiving the maximum beating, Flogging and stoning in Beni City, Edo State capital.

They were beatten to stupors on an account of atrocities committed against a party that bestowed her trust on them. 

A profile picture of Lamidi Apapa

Labour Party entered a crisis mode immediately after the general elections where the party was awarded third position after All Progressive Congress APC and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Nothing was near free, fair and credible in Nigeria's 2023 general elections.

Meanwhile, attempts to reach Mr. Anslem Eragbe proved abortive as his phone number was perpetually

 not reachable.

 

RENOWNED U.S. BASED INTERNATIONAL LAWYER BRINGS JUSTICE TSAMMANI'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION JUDGMENT TO ASHES

Excerpts of "Mechanical Vs. Dynamic Justice" by Emmanuel Ogebe, Esq., US Nigeria Law Group, 2023 Nigeria Special Election Observer, September 8, 2023.

_*"The court’s failure to inquire into the gravity of allegations that a man who seeks to be president of Nigeria not only has a Guinean passport but lied about it on oath is a failure to protect national security and integrity.*_

_*"Sitting US President Bill Clinton lost his law license over the Monica Lewinsky Scandal not because he slept with the intern in the White House BUT BECAUSE HE LIED TO THE INVESTIGATORS ON OATH ABOUT IT. The sanction was to send the signal that a president should not set a bad example by lying to the government.*_

_*"This is the problem with mechanical justice versus dynamic justice. At no point did the (Justice Tsammani's PEPT) court show a concern for the safety of Nigeria from corrupt predators, fraudsters or charlatans which was the clear intent of the constitution and ancillary laws."*_

*------------------------------------------*

*NB:* Pls, take special note of all highlights.

The court (Presidential Election Petition Tribunal) should have allowed the testimony of the witnesses given in court and the cross-examination even if it disallowed their late-filed witness statements for the sake of equity and in the interest of Justice.

In my defamation lawsuit against the Buhari administration over the Chibok girls I sponsored to school in US, the Attorney General did not file FGN’s pleadings or statement of defense till I came from US, testified and was cross-examined by them.

After I closed my case as Plaintiff, they then rushed to the court seeking leave to file their defense. We opposed it because having discovered the entirety of my case, they were only now going to file their Defense *one and a half years after the case began when it should have been filed within a month!*

*Yet Abuja High Court Judge Abba Mohammed, now a member of the presidential election court, granted the FGN leave to file the pleadings late even after noting that they lied about not being aware of the case when in fact they had been participating for over a year.* This was extremely prejudicial to my case.

*However he said he did so “in the interest of justice.” Why couldn’t the (Labour Party and PDP) petitioners’ benefit from such magnanimity or mercy in the interest of Justice too?* Rather, Justice Mohammed said the petitioner failed by not serving spreadsheets of election irregularities with the petition on Respondents.

Yet *(in my 2017 suit)* if he had similarly denied FGN’s late filing of its statement of defense after I had presented my evidence, I would have won and my case would not still be dragging in the high court six years later! 

I also submit that the subpoenaed witnesses should not be affected by the time-limiting requirement to file evidence with the petition.

Per a social media post, “In ABBA YUSUF v APC, an unreported case of the Court of Appeal, Kano in Appeal NO CA/KN/EP/Gov/KAN/05/2023 of 24 August 2023, it was decided thus: *"Flowing from the catalogued statutory position of a subpoenaed witness, as a witness of a court, it will be incongruous and preposterous to hold that his statement on oath must willy-nilly accompany a petition. As a matter of fact, it will evince natural and human impossibility for such a court witness to file his deposition alongside a petition. The reason is simple. A subpoenaed witness appears in court on the invitation of a court on the application of a party. A subpoenaed witness cannot suo motu present himself before a court." The beneficiary of the judgment was APC!”*

The court should have aimed to mitigate the situation. In my defamation case, Justice Abba Mohammed awarded costs against the FGN and allowed them to file late. Myself and the other parties have paid penalties to the court for late filing as is standard practice. There are less drastic sanctions than expungement of the evidence for late filing more so in a sensitive like this of national and international significance.

This unfortunately is one drawback to the reservation of objections till the end of the case because if these had been ventilated earlier, petitioners would have had an opportunity to rectify the infractions eg by a motion for enlargement of time and to deem as timely filed.

*Selective Judicial Notice*

It is important to note that *the conclusion of the case is not that the allegations against Tinubu were not true. In summary - Tinubu had a Guinean passport and a fake university certificate but they were not tendered on time and had a drug forfeiture, oh but though it was tendered on time, it wasn’t a conviction.*

While it is unfortunate and inexplicable why the foreign citizenship and forged certificate were not filed timely, the court itself should have noted the gravity of the weighty allegations in light of national interest.

*Curiously, the court said they took judicial notice of the fact that Peter Obi had Anambra state indigeneship, even though it wasn’t an issue before them, but the court didn’t take judicial notice of the fact that Tinubu has a Guinean citizenship even though the issue was before them!*

A responsible court concerned for the integrity and security of the nation would not shut its eyes to sensitive evidence or explosive allegations of this nature.

*If they felt that the Guinean passport issue was smuggled in after the settlement of pleadings, they could have authorized extra time for the petitioners to respond to it.* Note that the trial ended earlier than scheduled as the respondents didn’t utilize all the time allotted to them. In fact, with the numerous SANs and lawyers in their retinue, taking them by surprise was not a serious capacity concern. After all, over a dozen SANs combined presented only one defense witness.  The respondents’ lawyers outnumbered the petitioners three to one. There were three sets of respondents’ lawyers to only one set of petitioners’ lawyers!

Indeed, the manner in which Olanipeku SAN, counsel to Tinubu, deconstructed LP’s Amazon Witness PW7 during cross examination one day after her bombshell testimony is the stuff of legends.

Therefore *the court’s failure to inquire into the gravity of allegations that a man who seeks to be president of Nigeria not only has a Guinean passport but lied about it on oath is a failure to protect national security and integrity.*

*Sitting US President Bill Clinton lost his law license over the Monica Lewinsky Scandal not because he slept with the intern in the White House but because he lied to the investigators on oath about it. The sanction was to send the signal that a president should not set a bad example by lying to the government.*

This is the problem with mechanical justice versus dynamic justice. *At no point did the court show a concern for the safety of Nigeria from corrupt predators, fraudsters or charlatans which was the clear intent of the constitution and ancillary laws.*

*There was scant effort to explore the mischief rule of what the drafters were trying to cure. All one saw was a mechanical and slavish adherence to the letter and not the spirit of the law thereby resulting in a catastrophic conclusion that criminality trumps (triumphs over) constitutionality.*

It is worrisome that criminal-minded elements are more creative than adjudicators and so exploit this to their advantage.

*On March 10th, 2017, the Supreme Court sacked a Benue state Rep member, for submitting a FORGED CERTIFICATE  to INEC.*

*Delivering the lead judgment, Sidi Bage, JSC held, “This court...must take the lead, righting the wrong in our society... Allowing criminality and certificate forgery to continue to percolate into the streams, waters, and oceans of our national polity will only mean that our waters are and will remain dangerously contaminated. The purification efforts must start now and be sustained as we seek, as a nation, to now change from our old culture of reckless impunity. The Nigerian Constitution is supreme. It desires that no one who has ever presented a forged certificate to INEC should contest election into the Nigerian National Assembly. This is clear and sacrosanct."*

To my mind, the court should have allowed the testimony of the witnesses given in court and the cross examination even if it disallowed their late-filed witness statements for the sake of equity and in the interest of Justice.

VIDEO: Why Peter Obi Heading to Supreme Court ?

 

HE Peter Obi

Apapa in charge of LP As Supreme Court Upheld Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph (Ikenga) As the Imo State Gubernatorial Candidate for the 11th November, 2023 Gubernatorial Election

Details of the Certified True Copy, CTC of the Supreme Court Judgement shall be made public within 48 hours.

Highly of the Labour Party LP Struggles.

This victory follows from the 16th April, 2023 primaries conducted by Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa led National Working Committee, NWC for the off-season Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States respectively.

1: That the gubernatorial primary for Imo state was conducted by the following Electoral Committee members of the Apapa led National Working Committee, NWC:

(a): Comrade Eragbe Anslem, the National Youth Leader, as the Returning Officer,

(b): Alhaji Alkali Ibrahim Mohammed, the National Vice Chairman North East, as the Chairman,

(c): Barr Monday Mawah, the Acting Deputy National Secretary, as the Secretary,

(d): Comrade Oko Eze Splendour, the Acting National Vice Chairman, as member of the Electoral Committee for the Imo governorship primaries of 16th April, 2023.

2: That the Supreme Court in it's Judgement of Monday 11th September, 2023 has finally put to rest the issues of the authentic candidates for the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States 11th November, 2023 off-season gubernatorial election and the matter of who is the authentic National Chairmanship of the Labour Party LP; with Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa As the Acting National Chairman of Labour Party LP in Nigeria.

3: That Nigerians would recall that Barr Julius Abure was Restrained by the FCT High Court Order of 5th April, 2023 as Acting National Chairman along with three (3) other National Working Committee NWC members of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria including:

(b): Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Acting National Secretary,

(c): Ojukwu Clement, National Organizing Secretary, and

(c): Mrs Oluchi Okpara, National Treasurer 

From parading themselves as National Chairman and Executives of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria and that matter is still subsisting in the court of Appeal in Abuja, FCT Nigeria.

4: That this matter of the Restraining Order on Barr Julius Abure and others bother on the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Investigation with Forensic Audit Report that indicted Barr Julius Abure and others for:

(a): Perjury

(b): Forgery

(c): Impersonation

(d): Criminal Conspiracy with financial malfeasance to the sum of over four hundred million naira (N400,000,000.00) 

5: That this matter is in furtherance of the illegal and unlawful substitution of the name of Comrade Oko Eze Splendour, the Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party LP in Ebonyi State in the INEC PORTAL using Forged FCT High Court Affidavits, Fake TSA payment receipts, forged withdrawal letters using forged and manipulated signatures and so many other infractions committed by Barr Julius Abure and others.

6: That the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC shall be required to comply with this Supreme Court Judgement without much Ado and without any further delays, to avert the scenario of the Ebonyi case in 2024 where INEC indulged in illegality and deliberately refused to upload the name of Comrade Oko Eze in the INEC PORTAL for the 2023 Gubernatorial Election.

That this vexatious action by INEC was to the extent that INEC defied the Supreme Court Judgement that affirmed Comrade Oko Eze Splendour as the Gubernatorial Candidate of the Labour Party LP for the Ebonyi State Gubernatorial Election 2023 by deliberately refusing to upload his name in the INEC portal.

7: That by this Supreme Court Judgement affirming Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph (Ikenga) as the Authentic Labour Party LP candidate in Imo state, INEC shall be required to give the PORTAL CODES to Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa to upload the names of the Gubernatorial Candidates for Bayelsa, Imo And Kogi States respectively

8: That this Supreme Court Judgement shall give immediate force for the immediate removal from the INEC website the names of:

(a): Barr Julius Abure, 

(b): Umar Farouk Ibrahim, 

(c): Ojukwu Clement and 

(d): Mrs Oluchi Opara and to upload the names of:

(a): Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa, as Acting National Chairman 

(b): Alhaji Saleh Lawan as Acting National Secretary and 

(c): other members of the Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa led National Working Committee, NWC 

Stay Tuned For The Full Details

For

Labour Party LP National Working Committee, NWC 

Comrade Arabambi Abayomi

Acting National Publicity Secretary

By Eragbe Anslem

“INEC is bound by law to upload the names of those that we conducted Primary For" – Apapa says as he inaugurates new LP Excos in Lagos State

Says party will not condone any act of illegality

The Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party ALHAJI LAMIDI APAPA has said the independent National Electoral Commissioner INEC is duty bound under the law to accept and upload those the party has conducted Primaries for in different states which includes Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi among others.

He also affirmed that the party will no longer condom illegality.

Apapa made the statement in Lagos State on Saturday while inaugurating the new Excos of the party in the state.

“You are on the right side. If the other camp fails to join you, the train will soon move. 

Tell them to come and join us because we need more people,” he said.

The Lamidi Apapa-led factional national working committee (NWC) of the Labour Party, on Saturday, officially inaugurated the party’s 24-man caretaker state working committee (SWC) for Lagos.

The crisis rocking the Labour Party has worsened in Lagos State with the emergence of a factional chairman, Olumide Adesoyin, recently.

Apapa-led faction disowned the Dayo Ekong-led executive committee, which led the party into the 2023 general elections, constituted by Julius Abure-led NWC.

Inaugurating Adesoyin-led LP state working committee in Lagos, Mr Apapa, acting national chairman, in company of other NWC members, said that the LP remained a creation of the law and no one was above the law.

According to him, there is no going back in his faction’s readiness to steer the affairs of the party.

“Labour Party will not tolerate any act of indiscipline. Labour Party will not accept any act of illegality.

“Labour Party believes that nobody is above the law and this is why the level we are today is because of our belief in the court process.

“You are on the right side. If the other camp fails to join you, the train will soon move. Tell them to come and join us because we need more people,” he said.

According to him, the party’s grievances with former national chairman, Mr Abure, started when he allegedly presented himself as being above the law.

According to him, the courts have restrained Mr Abure from parading himself as national chairman.

“Nobody is above the law. Labour Party is a creation of law and if the party is created by law, anyone who violates the law is not a member of the party.

“There is nothing for us to fear. There is no going back, Abure has been restrained by courts. We are not joking,” he said.

The acting chairman said that rather than continuing in blackmailing, the Abure-led group should dissipate energy in legality.

Mr Apapa explained that he was not begging to become the national chairman of LP, but destiny, nature and right had made him the acting national chairman morally and legally.

Mr Apapa said that his faction had been winning all court cases at the Federal High Court and Appeal Court, “they still want to continue but whether they like it or not the truth shall prevail.”

On the forthcoming off-cycle elections, Mr Apapa assured the party faithful that INEC would soon accept the list of the LP candidates produced through the primaries conducted by the Apapa led Labour Party on 16th April, 2023.

“INEC is bound to accept our list because the commission is a creation of law and cannot be above the law. 

Whether INEC likes it or not, it must recognise our list of candidates.

“INEC is bound by law to upload the names of those that we conducted primary for. It is an issue of law,” Mr Apapa said.

He, however, said that the party was not opposed to reconciliation.

In his inaugural address, Mr Adesoyin said that his team had been given the power and authority to steer the affairs of the party in the state.

Earlier in his welcome party, Abass Aroyeun, the national vice chairman (South West) said that Mr Apapa had given the party a new lease of life and ability to breathe.

Mr Aroyeun urged the party faithful nationwide to remain pillar of support to Apapa-led NWC for the party to succeed.

The inaugurated SWC members include Messrs Omotayo Anjorin (deputy chairman), Olanrewaju Ibrahim (deputy chairman), Kayode Yusuf (deputy chairman), Felix Odusanya (deputy chairman), Peter Olusegun (deputy chairman), Nnaemeka Anajemba (secretary) and Richard Oliseyenum (assistant secretary).

Others include Azubike Peters (treasurer), Akinrele Abioye (financial secretary), Kunle Okunola (organising secretary), Ademola Hassan (auditor), Abass Ibrahim (legal adviser), Dupe Awe (woman leader), Elliot Ebije (youth leader), Samad Okufuwa (publicity secretary), among others.

The event was also attended by LGA and ward chairmen of Labour Party and other stakeholders loyal to Mr Apapa, including Moshood Salvador.

Some acting NWC members in attendance were Abayomi Arabambi (national publicity secretary), Saleh Lawan (secretary), Favour Reuben (national organizing secretary), and Mohammed Alkali (national vice chairman North East), among other leaders.

Culles from Gazette

IAM NOT DESPERATE TO BE PRESIDENT, I WANT NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY TO SURVIVE FOR BETTER — PETER OBI

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party Mr PETER OBI who the world believe won the Last Presidential election, which INEC decided to go against the Electoral laws of chosen a President by constitutional rules,filled with a must attained height and winnings, when they said on National Telly "Go to Court" as they packaged below expectations from the Votes casted and Mutilation of BVAS, which Peter Obi obeyed and went to Court even with Television Sets that will be used to show evidences of manipulation , currently INEC seems to be scared about him staying in COURT just as they wished originally without considering that Peter Obi is a Son of Judiciary process.

While meeting with Press Doyens in Lagos yesterday, He provided answers to some Hostile feelings and lay many Fears to rest.

 When asked how he will feel if the Courts rules against him on the ongoing Election trial..

He said "i am not the one in Court as Mr Peter Obi for Peter Obi's interest, I am simply representing vast majority of Nigerians including the Families of the Judges and members of all Parties who want a better redeemed Nation, those who want to see a working NIGERIA that will come with people who actually want to see progressive Nigeria ,who believe that Nigeria has what it takes to be Better than many Nations if well handled ,those who believe that Nigerians deserve undiluted joy from the Government they elected".

Any judge should have that in mind ,to me it's not a do or die affair.

"The task is that of a driver who must work hard to take Passengers out of Hostile areas,take them through tough and rough roads to destination in one good piece no matter the odds, such driver should know that it's a big responsibility,so whatever the driver is doing He must remember that He has so many lives and interest to protect".

"Nigeria is in Court, the Future of Our Children including that of Grand Children of both Judges, Politicians, Securities are all in Court, I am just representing them ,We are in Court not to Drag for anything, we are in Court for the Court to look at what the masses demanded by casting Votes and casting it for who they believe will give them back hope and oiled Future, it's not about Peter but about the nation and our tomorrow".

He was asked why he still move about the Nation freely despite the fears of insecurities of the Nation and Fear of Harm coming to him ?

He said his "job is to restore sanity in the Nation, build back Hope for the common masses ,that if the common masses doesn't see him amongst them ,it will send a bad message , he went further to explain , if he recovers his Mandate that it won't take him away from the Masses,that he is working for them and he is accountable to them and will never create a barrier between him and the masses".

He recollected, During campaign He visited Many extreme hostile places where no politicians have ever Visited including some parts of Borno state, BENUE State, and places even Governor's of such states refused to go because of insecurities,He said We travel even against security intelligent Advise,I Will tell my Security that if they can't go ,let me go and if I die among my people out there ,then it's not a bad price for me to pay .

"I know there are insecurity in many places, but as long as there are Nigerian living out there,no one can be left behind ".

Asked about the SUBSIDY REMOVAL and the effect on the nation..

He smiled " I said that SUBSIDY is a Scam that I will remove, the first thing would've being to identify the Scam, remove the scam , restore a seamless PETROLEUM production and distribution, and not to cause the Nation lots of undeserved pains which can be avoided".

"We know that Subsidy is a Scam ,what should be removed is the Scam and causes of Subsidies".

Mr Peter Obi as we noticed still have stamina that dwarfed that of all his mates ,as he travels far and wide weekly on speaking engagement, social events and reaching out to the society,a situation that can't be seen with any Politician who lost Mandate and should be battling through thick and thin to win or recover such Mandate or get compensated by any person in power, to many Politicians it's not about the masses, it's Business extension.

Mr Peter Obi simply move around the Nation feeling freer than those in power with all National provided Security details for the people in power.

Peter simply can be said to be Boil between the Legs that gives you sleepless night on how to deal with it or allow it to be , whichever way ,it Means moral and physical torture.

The man is not one who believe when an elder takes what belong to a child and raise his hand up ,the child will wait,when the hand grew weary he bring it down for the child to take back what belong to him ,in peters case ,you take his belonging,he will be pissing on your legs and trousers, it's either you give him back his belongings and take back your sanity or He continues enjoying maximizing your pains.

Mazi Odera

Lowo Obisesan congratulates Buhari, Sharafadeen Alli and Akintunde; describes the trio as the pride of Oyo progressive

The Former commissioner for Environment and a legal luminary, Lowo Obisesan congratulates Sen. Fatai Buhari, Dr Yunus Akintunde and Oloye Sharafadeen Alli on their recent appointments as chairmen of powerful senate committees.

He made the congratulatory message available to the newsmen in Ibadan in the early hours of Wednesday 9th August, 2023.

The renowned  Progressive Chieftain, Chief Lowo Obisesan wrote, "On behalf of All the Progressive leaders, Elders, Stakeholders and members of the Party in Oyo state, I congratulate progressive Senators representing Oyo South, Central and North respectively on their appointments as chairmen of notable senate committees. The appointment of Oloye Sarafadeen Ali, Yunus Akintunde and Dr Fatai Buhari as chairmen INEC, Environment and Aviation respectively is a reflection of their competencies and capacities."

Barrister Lowo Obisesan used the opportunity to felicitate the great people of Oyo state for having such political legends as senators representing them in the 10th assembly. He is of the strong conviction that their positions would bring development to the people of Oyo state. 

Barrister Lowo Obisesan concluded by soliciting the supports of the party faithful and Oyo state people for our distinguished senators and the government of Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu.

Tinubu, APC looking for a rerun without Peter Obi : Raw courtroom closing addresses

*Peter Obi/LP vs Tinubu/Shetima/APC/INEC* 

The judges are now seated.

It’s time for the business of the day.

The Clerk has now called the case.

Peter Obi

Peter Obi is now up with smiles all over: Respectfully my lord, I am Mr. Peter Obi for the petitioners

APC: With utmost humility my lord, I am Saturday Monsignia for the 2nd Respondent.

Lead Counsel:

Labour Party and Peter Obi - SAN Livy Uzoukwu

INEC - SAN AB Mahmoud

Tinubu and Shettima - SAN Olanipekun 

APC - SAN L.O Fagbemi

INEC’s lead counsel SAN AB Mahmoud is now up and he’s suggesting the petitioners start first.

SAN Livy: They filed before we did, so they have to go first.

Justice Tsammani: AB Mahmoud please let’s start. 

SAN AB Mahmoud: Yes my lord, my colleague will take it up from here.

Another INEC lawyer stands up to continue.

INEC: My lord, the 1st respondent written address was filed 14th July 2023 and we also filed the reply of point of law on 28 July 2023 

Before I go on I want to make a slight correction my lord. On the 3rd line of the reply of point of law there’s “have” and it should be “do not have”

And after that I wish to adopt this my lord.

There’s now currently an adjustment on the 3rd line and the judges are looking through.

Tinubu and Shettima’s lawyers are now up.

SAN Olanipekun: My lord, my colleague will lead this proceeding for the 2nd respondent.

2nd respondent: We filed a response on 23rd July 2023. Upon receipt of the reply of the petitioners then it became pertinent to file our reply of point of law which we did on the 27 July 2023 and we seek that my lordships strike out these petitioners request.

Thank you my lord.

SAN Fagbemi is now up for APC

Fagbemi: We filed a reply on 23rd July 2023 and then we filed of point of law on receipt of the petitioners address and the point of law was filed on 27th of July and served on 28th of July.

We now seek to adopt this and reply on these due processes and we urge my able lords to reject and discountenance those petitioners documents. Very much obliged my lords.

SAN Livy is now up on his feet.

SAN Livy: My lord, my learned colleague SAN Kalu will lead this case today.

SAN Kalu is now up on his feet

SAN Kalu: My lord the reply was filed against the 1st respondents on the 14th July and with humility I adopt these reply.

Justice Tsammani: Mention all your replies and adopt. You’re mixing the whole thing.

Let’s finish with the respondents objection and come to yours.

SAN Kalu: I am responding to the 1st respondent my lord

Justice Tsammani: Respond to all at once 

SAN Kalu: My lord it’s division of Labour, my learned colleague here is to handle the 2nd and 3rd respondent.

Justice Tsammani: No, we can’t allow that, you have to do all at once.

Justice Ugo: I think your economics teacher was too thorough with division of Labour

SAN Kalu: 😅😅😅 My lord, we just want to do it how it would be easier but no problem.

Justice Tsammani: It’s even a coincidence, you’re from Abia State and my Economics Teacher in Maiduguri was also from Abia 

SAN Kalu: Then my lord, you should be paying me tithes

SAN Livy: My lord, Anichebe SAN would continue with the objections.

SAN Anichebe: My lord, the first objection was filed on 23rd of July 2023.

Which is the objection filed against documents submitted by 1st respondents.

My lord, the objection filed by the petitioner against the 2nd and 3rd respondents was filed on 20th of July 2023.

My lord, we respectfully adopt the arguments canvassed in 2 processes in opposition of the documents rendered by all the respondents and we seek that you sustain our objections here to.

Justice Tsammani: Please note that we would use 10 minutes each for adoptions and then 20 minutes each for oral submission of your final address.

SAN AB Mahmoud: Thank you my lord. My lord on 14th July 2023 we filed our final address and then we filed the reply on 20th of July 2023 and these are the processes filed by the 1st respondent and we seek your humble permission to take our prayers and dismiss this petition as it lacks merit and should be dismissed by the court.

I will seek your indulgence to clarify.

On page 15 of our written address we listed issues and the first issue listed B has to do with the petioners complaints of noncompliance and other regulations and guidelines by the 1st respondent.

The technology introduced by the 1st respondent was misunderstood and misconstrued by the petitioners and the purpose was not well understood.

What was introduced cited by the petitioners is on the BVAs which was solely used for authentication of voters and upload of results from the PU to the IREV portal.

“Hmmmm… INEC is capping”

The evidence before the court shows clearly that the 1st respondent went to great lenght to ensure that the technology functioned as designed.

The only point of disagreement are 2:

1. The petitioners have constructed in their mind that the electronic method be used to collate result and No evidence was presented to support this by the petitioners and the 1st respondent through its witness has certified that there is nothing like electronic collation but manual collation which was carried out impeccably.

There has been no electronic collation in any election in this country because it does not exist.

2. The petitioners claim this glitch was humanly done to give room for manipulation of election result and no evidence was given by them to prove it.

We have brought evidence to show that this glitch is not unusual to technology especially new technologies.

‘Ahhhh INEC

STOP THE CAPPING 😅’

INEC: My lord, the allegation of the so called 88,000 blurred results should be discarded because they do not in any way suggest that the original copies of the result sheets are also blurred. They have still not provided any form EC8A original copies from their agents to prove the 88,000 blurred results.

My lord, the petitioners brought up the 88,000 blurred issue just for dramatisation without evidence.

“The whole courtroom shouts ahhh”

The glitch which was for 4 hours 15 minutes did not affect the presidential election and there is no eveidence of any manipulation of the result and I seek my lord to discountenance all statement of noncompliance from the petitioners.

“NEPA”

😅

Justice Ugo: This is a glitch too

AB Mahmoud: Yes, even the courtroom has glitches 

🙄

INEC: Now on the 25% of FCT is in relation to the interpretation of the constitution section 134 that candidates must score 25% on two-thirds of the state and the FCT, my lords, do not listen to approach that are not constitutional. FCT in accordance of 299 is to be taken as a State and nothing more, nothing less and not elevated to a status it does not hold or ascribe superiority as that has never been the intention of the constitution.

Justice Tsammani: Your time is up

AB Mahmoud: My time for my submission is up

“Everyone is laughing😅” 

Justice Tsammani: Don’t worry you still have more time on earth.

AB Mahmoud: I plead that this petition be dismissed. Thank you.

Ahhhhhh INEC

“Stop the capping😅”

Tinubu and Shettima’s lawyer SAN Olanipekun is now up and starts with a banger:

O: My lord, let us take it that the petitioners have no case in this court, yes because they don’t have a case here.

“The whole courtroom is looking like who be this one🥲”

O: Look at exhibit X1, pages 22 and 23 of the decision at the Supreme Court states that this exhibit X1 settles the matter and it’s the case of APC Vs Labour Party and others and it’s very fresh from the oven.

Let me go to hype being made on FINE and let me draw your attention to section 137 1D of the constitution and we have made submissions and it says “he is under a statement of debt”

It’s simple grammer, he didn’t say was

It says he is under

It’s present tense, present continuous”

“LMAO”

SAN Queen Premier 😅🤣😅

English 

My lord, the law says 10 years after any offence is gone, so even though there is anything, the law has cleared it.

This is the constitution and in secondary school we were thought past tense and past participle and present tense.

Lmao SAN Grammarian

SAN Oxford Dictionary

Best in English

My lord on 25% on FCT

Let me say this oh bended knees (but he is still standing oh)

My lord on bended knees (Baba you’re still standing oh🤣😭🤣)

My lord FCT is like every other state. It is a state.

My lord, again the 1st petitioner has no locus standi because the constitution has taken him out of participating in any election rerun even if there’s going to be because the candidate must be the candidate who has the highest of vote and 1 among of the remaining candidates which is PDP which has the majority of votes in the states cast in the elections 

He is not, so he cannot even be in any rerun

Lastly, to show that he is not a member of Labour Party exhibit shows he cannot run because he’s not a member, he cannot push the 2nd person and claim 2nd.

Justice Tsamamni: But if you’re entering a bus in Lagos 

“The whole courtroom is laughing”

“Lmao APC is begging for a RERUN, but they don’t want Peter Obi to contest”

Why are they afraid 😅.

APC lawyer is now up

Fagbemi takes the stage to give us his own Queen premier English.

Fagbemi: My lord as simple as it is, I join my learned colleagues, SAN AB Mahmoud and my leader SAN Wole Olanipekun to say that this case should be quickly dismissed as it’s a waste of time.

This petition is ambitious (na wa oh, English)

This is the petitioners fourth coming on the case of electronic collation.

The first one was in Federal High Court here in Abuja and they abandoned it and ran to Lagos and that case lasted 8 days and they went to court of appeal and it was disastrous for them because they lost. We have presented this in exhibit X1.

Now they are here again about electronic collation.

It is a gross abuse of court time.

“This one is on colos”

🥲

Fagbemi: If anyone wants to attack any result, there has to be a PU by PU allocation and proof because there was a glitch in PU A but none in B but the petitioners said there was no glitch in their own places they won and they should at least have their proof but have none and it is abysmally lacking in this case.

Now on the issue of Rerun it should be a 2 man race and that is between the winner of the election and the runner up and that has nothing to do with the petitioner.

“APC are actively looking for a rerun, they now know there is nowhere to run to😅🤣😅”

I thought you people said you won.

They don’t want Peter Obi and Labour Party on the ballot, that is their game now😅.

Fagbemi: My lord so on disqualification, everyone can run in an election rerun as long as you’ve ran in the election.

“Wait oh, it’s like someone has fainted oh 😭😭😭”

Awww one APC baby lawyer is having breathing problems, I hope she gets okay”

The court is waiting for them to take her out and give her the attention she needs. Hope she gets better.

Fagbemi: My lord, on the issue of forfeiture, the court already gave the 2nd respondent a clean bill of health on that.

Then on 25% of FCT, the constitution states 25 States of the federation even if the candidate scores 0 in FCT 25% in 25 States stands and there is no dispute that the 2nd respondent scored 25% in 29 States and to put FCT higher would amount to constitutional absurdity.

“One INEC lawyer just stood up and crossed over to pass a note to Fagbemi”

I don’t know if that is allowed.

Fagbemi: My lord on the glitches (Fagbemi started sounding like he was crying and his voice became funny)

“Everyone starts laughing while he was talking and it was difficult to hear him.

One baby lawyer ram and gave him water”

Justice Ugo: It’s a voice glitch

“Everyone starts laughing”.

Fagbemi: Yes my lord, since time is up, let me say that INEC scored a high mark in this election at least 50% is a pass mark and INEC scored 90% which is more than enough of the petitioners are only complaining about glitch.

So my lord, I seek that this petition be thrown out.

SAN Livy is now up with the microphone: testing testing 123

😅🤣😅

SAN Livy: My lord, it is my submission that the respondents have laboured in vain to diminish this petition.

“Hmmmm”

SAN Livy: As the case of Oyetola Vs INEC where the Supreme Court said IREV is part of electoral process, my lords, I will seek your indulgence to refer you to paragraph 22 of the witness disposition of RW1 which all the respondents have preferred to ignore and I will like to further drag them out of their uncomfortable zone.

The witness, their own witness said the authentic portal on which results can be accessed for review or determination of the election is the IREV Portal.

Now they are saying that IREV is no more important.

And an election where 88,000 blurred results were uploaded on this IREV is a flawed election.

Oyaaaaa🔥🔥🔥

Livy: My lord, INEC gave results to the petitioners to present in this court and 88,123 of those results were blurred and they were certified by the same INEC and some were even blank copies of A4 papers, certified and among them you have pictures certified by them, INEC and they want to say they conducted an election properly so called.

My lord, let me repeat myself.

Justice Tsammani: We have heard you

Livy: My lord, let me say this, it is my submission that a CERTIFIED TRUE COPY of a document MUST BE AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL.

Must be, there is no choice, you cannot give us blurred CTC

 INEC can only have in its custody blurred blank result and not the original and so they have no basis as to what they used to declare that result, they only went to declare someone a winner and they don’t even have the original copies of results they certify because it could never have been any other thing apart from blurred sheets and pictures.

Fire on SAN

Livy: My lord, the 2nd respondent forfeited $460,000 on NARCOTICS, they don’t want to hear that, NARCOTICS

🤣🤣🤣

Livy ohhhh! Livy: My lord they have been quoting section 137 1D they are trying to form a case for us and avoiding the main case, even when you focus on money laundering which was part of the crimes of the 2nd respondent, the NARCOTICS should not be ignored and the constitution is clear on such crimes.

Now on rerun my lord, let us be clear, the only candidate who comes clear for a rerun is the 1st petitioner according to section 131 3D and my lord, in the case of Awolowo and Shagari, of course the provision now was not available then in that case.

And let me quickly refer to what the lawyer of the 2nd respondent said that the petition has been abandoned and I can’t believe this came from a brother I know, petition that you spent time filing replies and you don’t even have replies to file is what you’re saying abandoned.

A petition where you don’t even have any witness.

🔥🔥🔥

Livyyyy! Livy: My lord, I don’t want to spend time talking about FCT because the constitution is very clear on it, none of them even defined the meaning of AND.

I didn’t hear that from any of them whether disjunctive or otherwise and that would lead to manifest absurdity and they know so that is why they ignored that and did not urge my lord to interprete the AND as being disjunctive.

“The clerk rings the bell”

Livy: My lord, I’m replying 3 people, my time is not up

🤣😅🤣

Livy: My lord, the petitioners have proved their case and to the issue of noncompliance from INEC they have no defence. They said because of toner, that’s why results CTC are blurred 

4 months after was when they explained a 4 hours glitch, 4 months after.

Up unto 29th of May, they were still giving us blurred documents of election result, 4 months after elections, how can you reconcile the 2. It’s not possible.

Justice Tsammani: Your time is to

Livy: My lord, one more sentence

the petitioners have proved that there was no glitch whatsoever in this election.

May it please my lordship.

Justice Tsamamani: Okay, we will announce the date for judgement to you all.

OMG 

🥹

“Learned silks, this is it, it’s done”.

It’s going to be a testimony.

Earlier in PDP closing address:

This PDP’s lawyer SAN Uche deserves cold Guinness Stout 

His wife must have rubbed his head well today 😭🤣😭

SAN Uche: My learned colleague on the other side said the criminal offence is timely and INEC the time has passed then the offence has passed. He said it here that the constitution forgives.

Well my lord, I am here to say that TIME DOES NOT RUN AGAINST CRIME

“The whole courtroom shouts Yeeessss”🤣😭🤣

Justice Tsammani: Uche, we should not mislead the public this thing is coming from the mouth of a Senior Advocate.

Some people already have their headline and that’s not right.

It’s a constitutional issue, it’s written in the constitution, so it’s not any time does not run against crime, it’s just the constitution. Let’s not mislead the public. The constitution states how long any crime can stand.

“Everyone is looking at Justice Tsammani like; is like agbado is under your wig”😭🤣😭

SAN Uche: Well my lord, at least he admitted that the 2nd respondent committed a crime. He said there’s forgiveness in the constitution and even when there is forgiveness let’s not forget that there’s also a punishment for sin.

“The whole courtroom is about to start clapping and giving a round of applause”

🤣🤣🤣

SAN Uche: Yes, there is Punishment for sin

Justice Tsammani: Uche you’re a Christian are you not a Christian, Christians forgive and even Jesus said go and sin no more.

SAN Uche: That was Jesus Christ oh, me I’m not Jesus 

🤣🤣🤣

“The whole courtroom is laughing”

SAN Uche: Then on Precedence my lord, my learned colleague said there is no precedence of annulling presidential election in Nigeria. 

SAN Olanipekun now stands up angrily: I take objection to that. Don’t misquote me, I am on my feet right now Uche so sit down.

SAN Uche: But I am still talking and you’re using out of my time.

SAN Olanipekun: I am on my feet. I object to that, I allowed you talk and kept my cool since even when you’re mentioning things that is not in your written address, I kept my cool, I didn’t talk, please don’t make me talk.

I object to that statement you’re making now. Don’t do that.

SAN Uche: Well, I heard you clearly and we all did, you said Precedence does not exist in annulment of presidential election.

My lord if I may go on, that Precedence that they said has never happened can be created today and be done in this case TODAY

“The whole courtroom is shouting Yes”🤣😭🤣

Justice Tsammani interrupts with smiles on his face: But Judgement is not today na

“The whole courtroom is almost on the floor with laughter 😂🤣😂”

SAN Uche: My lord as I end this case, let that precedence be today, HEAVEN WILL NOT FALL

“The whole courtroom wants to clap”

😅😅😅

Wowww amazing

PDP you guys have tried today, I’m proud😅.

Justice Tsammani: So we will inform you guys on the date of judgment, it was great listening to you all. Thank you for coming.

🥹

Awww their case has now ended.

Up next, abour Party and Peter Obi’s case by 2pm.