Politics
Your Appeal Lacks Merit, Ambitious – Abiodun, INEC, APC Tell Adebutu, PDP
Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have described the appeal filed against the ruling of the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Ladi Adebutu, as lacking in merit and ambitious.
This is just as the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos on Tuesday reserved ruling in the appeal filed by Adebutu against the re-election of Governor Abiodun after listening to the argument of the parties.
Adebutu is challenging the 30th September ruling of the election tribunal which upheld Governor Abiodun’s victory at the 18 March governorship election in the state.
At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal reserved judgement after the adoption of all processes by all the parties. The court said the date for judgement would be communicated to the parties and three days notice would be given.
Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to grant his clients’ appeal and set aside the decision of the tribunal.
According to him, the tribunal erred when it failed to consider the case on its merit before proceeding to dismiss the petition before it.
In response, A.J Owonikoko SAN, urged the Court to dismiss the appeal for lacking merit. On the issue of 49,000 disenfranchised voters which appellant raised, he pointed out that appellants only called 48 witnesses instead of all the alleged disenfranchised voters whose disenfranchisement was to be proven.
He added that the Court cannot amplify 48 witness to 49,000 witnesses, as Appellants want
Similarly, appearing for the 2nd Respondent, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, also urged the Court to throw out the appeal while identifying and adopting his brief.
He stated that contrary to the position set out by Chief Uche SAN, the decision in Atiku’s case completely encapsulates the issues in this appeal.
He argues that in that appeal, the Supreme Court simply adopted in toto the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered by this court.
He added that incidentally, the same Samuel Oduntan, who was rejected as a witness by the Court of Appeal in Atiku’s case metamorphosed as PW 93 in this appeal. In response to the Court, he undertakes to provide the court with a copy of the judgment
Olanipekun also identified about eight key findings of the Trial Tribunal that the Appellants did not challenge, adding that Appellants have abandoned about five Grounds of Appeal.
On the margin of lead, he contended that there is nothing for the Court to even consider. He urged the Court to dismiss the appeal for lacking merit.
In response, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, who identified 3rd Respondent’s Counter-Affidavit and Written Address filed on 8 November 2023, also prayed the Court to dismiss the application.
He pointed out that the appellants misstated the prayer in the motion because the prayer is to strike out the List of authorities.
Chief Chris Uche SAN and Chief Gordy Uche SAN appeared with Olumuyiwa Obanewa, O Lawal, and Abduljaleel Musa for the Appellants while A J Owonikoko SAN and Dr Remi Peter Olatubora SAN appeared with D O Atti-John and Chiamaka I Nwamanam for the 1st Respondent
Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, Prof Taiwo Osipitan SAN, Mrs Titilola Akinlawon SAN, Kehinde Ogunwumiju SAN, and Bode Olanipekun SAN appearing with Mrs Olayemi Badewole were for the 2nd Respondent while Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu OON, SAN, Tayo Oyetibo SAN, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye SAN, and Kunle Adegoke SAN appeared with Olanrewaju Baruwa, Mrs Ojuri, D D Owoeye, and Adeyinka Adegbite for the 3rd Respondent.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Ngozi Odu, issuing them a seven-day notice to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly cited eight specific allegations of gross misconduct as the basis for the move.
This is the third time Fubara and Odu would be facing impeachment proceedings from the Assembly since coming to office in 2023.
Attempts to impeach them in 2023 and 2025, amid political feuds between the Governor and his predecessor and erstwhile political god-father, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been halted by presidential intervention.
Here are the allegations below:
1. Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds
2. Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds
3. Hindering the Rivers Assembly from performing its constitutional duties
4. Illegal appointments of persons without screening by the House of Assembly as provided by the Constitution
5. Seizure of salaries and funds meant for Assembly members
6. Seizure of salaries of the clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi
7. Refusal to implement provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary
8. Withholding of funds meant for the running of the Rivers House of Assembly Service Commission and hindering its activities
Lilian Adebayo, the wife of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has said that the party will unseat the ruling All Progressive Party at the 2027 election if Nigerians are true to themselves.
Mrs Adebayo made this assertion known on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after an event in Abuja.
According to her, the opposition party has overcome its crisis after the expulsion of its former chairman, Shehu Gabam and others.
She said Nigerians should vote the APC out in the 2027 general election due to the hardship the party has plunged citizens into.
“There is always a crisis in the party; the SPD has been able to handle its own. The problems in the party have been resolved.
“He has a great chance of winning the election if Nigerians are honest with themselves. If Nigerians think that the ones they consistently vote for would move the country forward, they live in denial,” she concerning the husband.
Recall that SDP recently expelled Gabam and other party executives.
The party’s state chairmen on Wednesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police to investigate Gabam over alleged misappropriation.
In a significant political move, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Mbah announced his decision during a televised broadcast in Enugu after weeks of speculation.
He said, “Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress.”
Mbah explained that his decision to join the PDP was informed by the need to reshape Enugu and reorganise the politics of the state.
“Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organize ourselves politically and how we secure the future of our project and our people.
“Leadership sometimes demands painful decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes a time, when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.”
Ahead of the governor’s defection, all members of his cabinet had on joined the ruling party.
Governor Mbah’s Senior Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the mass defection in a video posted on his social media handles on Monday. In the video, several government officials were seen openly declaring their allegiance to the APC, chanting praises for President Bola Tinubu and affirming their commitment to the new party.
“Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah,” Nwomeh stated.
The officials, including commissioners and top aides, could be heard in the video declaring, “We are now in APC; tomorrow is here; it is APC all the way; it is Jagaban all the way; from top to bottom.”
The collective defection marks a significant political shift in Enugu State, which has been a PDP stronghold since 1999.
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