The Labour Party has expressed worry over what it described as a preemptive pronouncement by retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, about the upcoming judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, scheduled for Wednesday. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, expressed the party’s concerns in a statement, in Abuja, on Tuesday. He explained that the party found it necessary to draw public attention to unfolding developments in the country ahead of Wednesday’s ruling of the PEPC. Ifoh said, “The unguarded statement from the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. “And the boasting of some persons, serving Ministers and notable legislators about the outcome has left our party in shock. “When those who should know the importance of the sanctity of the judiciary descend to the arena of abusing it with their preemptive utterances just to show loyalty and support to their interests, we as a party see this as unfortunate and dangerous to our democratic journey as a nation. “We note also the needless lavish showering of praises on the legal counsels of both APC and Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the retired Justice when the gathering was not theirs. “We find this extremely undignified of a renowned jurist who rose to the peak of her career in the country’s Apex court and who as the Chairperson of the body of benchers, should be at the forefront of defending the virtuousness of the courts. “Also curious to every discerning mind watching the unfolding events in Nigeria since the February 25th Presidential election is the fact that the PEPC that refused live television coverage of the hearings of the petition, and is now anxious to have the conclusion beamed live. “What is it that has happened between the hearing period and the delivery of the judgment that the live coverage which they claimed was a policy issue changed suddenly at the delivery point?” The party Spokesperson further said, “We are aware of the efforts of the agents of the States to orchestrate problems and blame them on the political opposition. “We wish to emphasize that it is the right of the people in a democracy to demonstrate and the obligation of state security agents to protect the demonstrators and those not demonstrating. “We implore Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful, abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical and final conclusion. “Our concern as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s project especially the democratic evolution is that what is being destroyed with all these clever by half playing on people’s intelligence is Nigeria as a nation not necessarily an individual. “Anybody who loves this country should appreciate the importance of due process and the rule of law because, without it, this country is going nowhere.”

  Ahead of the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the resumption of collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for four weeks. The electoral umpire said within the said period, registered voters who could not collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on February 5, 2023 before the last general elections would be able to get their cards. “The Commission has earmarked week days (Monday – Friday) from 9.00am to 3.00pm for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from 11th September to 9th October 2023,” INEC National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement on Tuesday. “The PVCs will be available for collection at all our Local Government area offices in the three States: eight in Bayelsa, 27 in Imo and 21 in Kogi. “In addition, the Commission has created other designated centres with large number of uncollected PVCs. The details of all centres will be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in the three states. The Commission also redeployed two RECs to other states. The REC for Edo State, Obo Effanga, takes over in Bayelsa for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship poll, while Ayobami Salami moves to Lagos from Ekiti State. “The two States are among those without RECs following the end of tenure of the last holders of the offices,” INEC said. The electoral umpire enjoined political parties and candidates to conduct themselves peacefully and to avoid utterances and actions capable of causing a breach of peace in their ongoing campaigns

  A Kano State High Court has set aside the suspension of the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from the party. Justice Usman Na’aana on Tuesday granted an interim injunction restraining Boniface Aniebonam, Agbo Major, and 16 other respondents from parading themselves as national officers or leaders of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice. The judge also set aside “the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as member of the applicant (NNPP)”. On August 29, 2023, the group led by NNPP chieftains — Aniebonam and Major — within the party suspended Kwankwaso for six months for hobnobbing with politicians outside the NNPP. Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, who came fourth in this year’s presidential election. The Aniebonam and Major group, which controls NNPP Board of Trustees said “material evidence” in public affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” and political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC); his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi. The group would subsequently expel Kwankwaso over “failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee”. The Aniebonam and Major group also accused Kwankwaso of “financial impropriety relating to the mismanagement of public funds”. However, the Kano court stopped Aniebonam, Major and 16 other respondents from parading themselves as party officials and fixed October 5, 2023 for the case.

  The tribunal on Tuesday sacked Sen. Jibrin Isah, the Senate committee chairman on customs, excise, and tariffs, on the ground that elections were cancelled in some 94 polling units. The tribunal sitting in the state capital; Lokoja, also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplement election in the affected 94 polling units. The tribunal chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiako, who delivered the judgement on the petition brought before it by Victor Adoji, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), agreed with the prayers of Mr Adoji. Mr Adoji, through his counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Mr Isah on the grounds that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the PVCs collected were more than the margin of his win. The petitioner had pleaded with the tribunal to annul the election of Mr Isah and order a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units in the senatorial district. Delivering a unanimous judgement of the tribunal, Mr Orjiako agreed with the submission of Mr Usman, annulled Mr Isah’s victory, and ordered the withdrawal of his certificate of return. “Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units are 59,730 and the margin of victory is 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer ought to have declared the election inconclusive without making a return. “Consequently, this honourable Tribunal hereby grants the reliefs sought by the petitioners. We also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah. “The tribunal hereby also orders INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units where the election did not hold or was cancelled in order to determine the winner,” Mr Orjiako declared. Culled from Journalist101

  The Federal Government and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have agreed to give the government two weeks to address some of the grievances of the Congress. This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong, in Abuja at the end of a meeting with the leadership of Trade Union Congress, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo. A statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Olajide Oshundun, on Tuesday, said, “The meeting was convened by the Minister to resolve TUC’s and Nigeria Labour Congress’ differences with government and to avert the pending warning strike by organised labour. “According to Lalong, the issues for which a two-week timeline was set for their resolution include wage award for federal civil servants to cushion the effect of rising poverty among them, and tax exemption for a certain level of workers, both in the public and private sectors. “The other issues on the two-week timeline are to put structures in place to ensure effective implementation of the palliatives declared by the Federal Government for the states and the FCT, and to set out the modalities for accessing the N70 billion proposed for the funding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), among others. “The Minister declared that after the two weeks, the meeting would reconvene for further discussions, and added that the parties understood that some of the issues were urgent, while some would require a long span of time to resolve. “According to Lalong, the parties also agreed that there would be no strike within this peace period of two weeks “while we are doing deliberations and also working towards realising some of these objectives.” “The President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, stated that the two-week timeline was reasonable, as it would give the government ample time to address the issues. “He disclosed that at the commencement of the meeting, the leadership of TUC was pushing for a one-week timeline for the resolution of issues in dispute, but had to reconsider after weighing government constraints, stating, “We also need to be pragmatic.” “Osifo stated that their demands, as contained in a communique earlier issued by the Congress, include resolving the impasse between Lagos State Government and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), increasing the amount provided for palliative as the sum of N5billion allocated per state is inadequate to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians. “Earlier, in a press conference, the Minister had implored Nigeria Labour Congress to suspend its planned two-day warning strike scheduled for 5th and 6th September, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already recorded by the government in securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens. “He urged the leadership of NLC to give the government some time to address the issues raised holistically. “The Minister reassured Nigerian workers that the government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.”

  Ahead of the Wednesday’s judgment to be delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court, the Nigeria Police Force has said that policemen across the country are “fully prepared” to maintain law and order. In a statement on Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, the police warned politicians and mischief makers against misinformation and unguided utterances capable of inciting violence. The police said deployment across the length and breadth of Nigeria have been strengthened to forestall law and order in the country. “The Police wish to reiterate the commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property before, during, and after the judgment,” Adejobi said. “The NPF has diligently emplaced all necessary deployments and security measures during this critical period as officers and men are fully prepared to maintain order and enforce laws while respecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens. ”The police “strongly cautions all individuals, including mischief makers and political gladiators, to be cautious in their actions and statements as the Force will not condone activities capable of inciting violence or causing a descent into anarchy”. The police urged citizens to embrace peace and maintain calm, regardless of their political affiliations. Earlier on Monday, the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari, said the Tribunal will deliver its judgments on the cases before it challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 poll. The court also said the proceedings will be open to live broadcast by interested television stations. Tinubu’s election is being challenged by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Atiku, a former Vice President, came second in the keenly contested poll; while Obi, an ex-governor of Anambra State, came third.

  The Director of Strategic Communications for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, said he would have expelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he had the power. Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme on Tuesday, Momodu accused Wike of trying to destroy the party, saying, “I don’t have the power, if I had power I would have fired him (Wike) long ago.” The PDP chieftain, however, said he does not fault the ministerial appointment of Wike by President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ask why he would fire the former Rivers State governor from the party, Momodu replied, “Such and unruly person who wants to destroy our party? One individual cannot hold everybody to ransom. If we fought the military, we fought the military in this country, Tinubu was part of those who fought the military in this country, and then you will now allow a civilian dictatorship?” Ahead of the 2023 elections, Wike and other four then governors that made up the G-5 in the PDP withdrew their support for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar over disagreement concerning power sharing within PDP. The ex-Rivers governor supported the eventual winner of the election, Tinubu, who rewarded him with an appointment as FCT Minister. Some members of the PDP just like Momodu have been calling for Wike’s expulsion from the party but the minister in a recent appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today dared the leadership of the party to suspend or discipline him. “Who will discipline me? I should be the one calling for the discipline of these people who violated the party’s constitution, in the way that the party supported rotation. “Who will suspend me? I want to dare anybody,” Wike said. He said he informed PDP leadership before he took the ministerial offer of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike said he remained a PDP chieftain despite working for the APC government. “I want to support Asiwaju (Tinubu) to finish well,” he said. He insisted that he owed no one an apology for supporting power shift to southern Nigeria.

  A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has called on the Nigerian judiciary to uphold the people’s choice and not select winners during an electoral process. He made this remark while speaking on Arise News on Tuesday.   “I want to appeal to the judiciary on moral suasion purposes that democracy is about the will of the people; it is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. “Selecting the choice of who should be president, governor, senator, or a House of Representatives member should never be through the court. “In this setup, there are three arms of government, though equal but independent. So, if one of them now decides on our behalf who should be president or governor, it is unheard of and absolutely shambolic. Recall Vanguard reported yesterday, how Bode George warned the judiciary not to allow it to be used to disrupt the electoral process as it delivers judgment on the Presidential Election Petition. He issued the warning while speaking during a state-of-the-nation press conferece in Lagos, the elder statesman faulted the Federal Government’s method in the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians describing it as voodoo economics. “On the palliatives given to states by the Federal Government, George said: “There is no individual in this globe called earth that knows it all. Who is the Chief Economic Adviser in the Villa? “Is he a voodoo economist? Is he a medieval economist? Basic theory in economics says that when too much money is chasing a few goods, it causes hyperinflation. You gave N5 billion to states as palliatives, Who took that decision? Lagos has more than 22 million people, Bayelsa has about two million people and they have the same money. “Kano with a huge population got the same with Jigawa. Is it money for the boys or money for the people? The whole world is now a global village. “The moment Russia shut down their gas pipeline to Europe; they have all been in hell. What we are talking about here is the pain the people are passing through. “In England too, there is pain and the people are shouting, doctors are on strike and the salary can no longer meet their daily needs. The cost of electricity has gone through the roof. “But in Nigeria, what the hell are we doing here?”

  As Nigerians await the judgment of the Presidential Election Tribunal on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has insisted on continuing it remaining two day warning strike. The Labour union commenced its warning strike today, shutting down economic activities across the country.   Reports filled by our correspondents across the nation, revealed that many business activities, banks, courtrooms were shut, as civil servants observe the warning strike. Recall that NLC through its president Joe Ajaero vowed to embark on a two-day warning strike in protest against the Federal Government’s failure to address the challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies. However, Vanguard had reported how the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, (tribunal) sitting in Abuja, would on Wednesday, deliver judgment on petitions seeking to nullify President Bola Tinubu’s election. As businesses and economic activities were partially paralyzed in Abuja today, won’t the planned two day strike affect tomorrow’s judgement?. When contacted, the leadership of the NLC vowed to continue the strike, noting that it will serve as a warning to the Federal government to as a matter of urgent address the challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.

  US First Lady Jill Biden on Monday tested positive for Covid-19, the White House said. President Joe Biden tested negative. The 72-year-old first lady is experiencing “only mild symptoms,” her office said and will remain in the couple’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Jill Biden last tested positive for Covid a year ago. President Biden, 80, was administered a Covid test Monday evening and tested negative, the White House said, adding that he will continue regular testing and monitor for symptoms. The United States has been experiencing a rise in Covid cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks.