Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue a Certificate of Return to Gboyega Oyetola.

Adeleke made the request following a judgment by the election tribunal.
Recall that the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal chaired had on Friday sacked the Osun Governor.

The ruling was given by a three-men panel led by Justice Tertse Kume.
The majority judgement of two judges against one ordered that the Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Adegboyega Oyetola.
The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314, 921 against Adeleke’s 290, 266.

But in a letter to the electoral umpire Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Adeleke urged INEC not to issue the certificate of return to Oyetola pending the outcome of his appeal.
The letter partly signed by Hashim Abioye, lawyer to Adeleke, read: “As Solicitors to the 2nd Respondent, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, we humbly write to notify you that consequent upon the dissatisfaction of the 2nd Respondent by the najority decision of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on January 27, 2023, the 2nd Respondent has applied for a certified true copy of the judgement to enable him pursue his appeal against the said judgement.
“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly ask you to apply the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, by not issuing any certificate (of) return to the 1st petitioner in the petition pending the outcome of the appeal which we are confident will be favourable to our client.”

Abia: PDP Releases Timetable For Fresh Governorship Primary.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of a fresh Governorship Election Primary in Abia State.
This followed the death of its Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general elections, Prof. Uchenna Eleazar Ikonne, on Wednesday.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Friday, said the decision was pursuant to the provisions of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the timetable and schedule of activities released by the party, notice was given to  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, Jan. 27.
It also fixed sale of nomination forms for Jan. 27 to Jan. 31, fixing last day for the submission of already purchased forms for Feb. 1.

The screening of aspirants according to the party, will hold on Feb. 2 and Screening Appeal on Feb. 3.
It stated that fresh aspirants were permitted to participate in the current exercise alongside those who contested in the earlier primary.
”The State Congress (Gubernatorial Candidate Nomination) is also scheduled for Feb. 4,” it stated.
The party advised all its leaders, critical stakeholders, member and supporters in Abia State to be guided by the statement accordingly.

APC: ‘Buhari Too Busy To Attend All Tinubu’s Campaigns.

The presidential campaign council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday spoke on the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari in some campaigns of the party.
A member of the Public Affairs Directorate of the PCC, Mariya Ibrahim Baba on Friday said President Bubari is too busy to attend all the campaigns of the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Mariya during an interview on Arise TV said President Buhari had marked out places he would accompany Tinubu for campaigns.
She further stated that it would not be wise for President Buhari to abandon all his duties as president for campaigns.

Mariya, however, stated that the president will be in Katsina very soon to campaign for Tinubu.
She said, “Buhari is still the president of Nigeria and he has work to do. If you notice he has outlined the places he will accompany the presidential candidate to campaign and he has been to other places even when we flagged off our campaign in Jos he was there and he’s going to be in Katsina very soon.
“But he is the sitting president and you don’t expect him to leave the office for the whole campaign period to go out to campaign when he has work to do. It doesn’t make sense.

“He has to divide his time into these two very important areas. As the president, he has to attend to his duties too.
“He has accompanied our candidate and he will continue to accompany him until election day.”

Judicial Magic’ – Shehu Sani Reacts As Tribunal Sacks Adeleke As Osun State Governor.
Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to the tribunal order which sacked Ademola Adeleke as the Governor of Osun State.

The former lawmaker in his reaction to the Friday ruling described the tribunal judgment as a sad day for democracy.
Recall the Election Petition Tribunal in Osun State on Friday declared Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

The tribunal headed by Justice Tertse Kume by its ruling overturned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which had declared Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the poll.
The tribunal in a majority judgment of two judges against one ordered that the Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Oyetola.

The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 219,666
The tribunal sacked Adeleke for the case of overvoting in some polling units across the State.
Justice Kume declared that INEC did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
However, Sani in his reaction seemed to hold a different opinion as he posted that what happened in Osun State is equal to judicial magic, adding that the development is sad for democracy.
The Senator wrote: “Osun state; Judicial magic. A sad day for Democracy.”

2023: Reject APC for jettisoning restructuring — Atiku tells Ebonyi indigenes.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Ebonyi State electorate to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the coming election for his party’s failure to restructure and devolutionize powers to states and LGAs.
Recall that APC had promised to restructure the country and even set up a restructuring committee headed by Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, but later stopped the process.

Addressing party supporters and stakeholders in Ebonyi State on Thursday, Atiku promised to implement restructuring and devolve more powers to the states, adding that “APC has abandoned the issue of restructuring.
“They are a very deceitful party. We are committed to it and we mean it. So, give us support. We are going to deliver.

“We are convinced that this state is a PDP state. And as you know, I am committed to power devolution as well as resource control, restructuring and I know all the southeastern states have been yearning for it.”
The national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said all the developments undertaken by the administration of Governor David Umahi belong to the PDP.

Osun: Protest In Osogbo Over Tribunal’s Judgement.
Members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their numbers, trooped onto the streets of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Friday to express their displeasure over the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal.

The protesters, who marched from Jaleyemi area of Osogbo, gathered at the popular Olaiya junction at about 4pm.
No fewer than three PDP branded vans were sighted amongst other vehicles, including motorcycles, as the junction became crowded.
The demonstrators mounted road blockades at the roundabout hindering free movement of vehicles.
However, it was a peaceful demonstration as residents calmly continued the day’s activities.
The aggrieved PDP members accused the Election Tribunal of injustice and unfairness for pronouncing Gboyega Oyetola as the winner of last year’s governorship election, insisting that Ademola Adeleke will remain in office.

2023: I’ve Served Nigeria To Best Of My Capacity – Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he has done his best to serve the country and hopes he will be remembered positively for his achievements while in office.
Buhari, who is on a two-day visit to Katsina State, said this on Thursday during the inauguration of some projects embarked on by Governor Aminu Masari-led administration.
In a statement released by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President hope that history will be kind to him and his administration after his tenure.

The Nigerian leader also commended the Katsina state government for its developmental efforts.
He said: “I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me.”
“Governance or leadership, as I have emphasised on many occasions, is an enormous responsibility embodying trust and requiring sacrifice so that the community of people that entrusted a leader with that burden can, in both short and long terms, stand to benefit from the uprightness of the leadership.
“In November 2022, I received a letter from the Governor of Katsina State, inviting me to pay a State Visit to commission projects executed by his administration. I was confident in giving my consent to the request.

“Firstly, I noticed that the Governor’s letter had already earmarked many projects that are beyond commissioning for a State Visit spanning only two days, and secondly, I was impressed by the transparency implied by the manner that each of the projects was associated with its cost of execution.
“I am under the impression that the Governor is using this occasion to announce his silent achievements, many of which were unknown till today.”

Osun Guber: Tribunal Sacks Adeleke As Osun Governor.

The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal chaired on Friday has sacked Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke.
The ruling was given by a three-men panel led by Justice Tertse Kume.
The majority judgement of two judges against one ordered that the Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Adegboyega Oyetola.

The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314, 921 against Adeleke’s 290, 266.
Justice Tetsea Kume, while delivering a majority decision, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The tribunal sacked Adeleke for overvoting in some polling units across the State.

Osun Guber: Adeleke Rejects Tribunal Ruling, Heads To Appeal Court.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has rejected the ruling of the Osun State election petition tribunal that sacked him as governor of the Southwest State. The tribunal, in a two versus one ruling, had declared Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the authentic winner of the election.
Reacting to the ruling in a statement by his media aide, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke stated that he would appeal the ruling.

Adeleke described the judgement of the governorship tribunal as “a miscarriage of justice”, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The governor faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”
While urging his supporters to remain calm, Governor Adeleke vowed to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal, insisting he remains the rightful winner of the July 16 election.

2023: LP Campaign Council Speaks On Peter Obi Withdrawing From Presidential Race.

The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has denied media reports that its standard bearer, Peter Obi, is planning to withdraw from the presidential race.
The LP PCC made this known in a statement on Friday in reaction to reports that Obi is planning to step down for his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
According to the statement issued by its media unit, the LP campaign council stated that its presidential candidate does not have any plan to quit the February 25 election or step down for anyone, describing the report as ridiculous and fake.
It also accused some unnamed political parties of cloning Obi’s image on gift items to paint a picture of one who is trying to swing votes in his favour through inducements.

Anti-Party::PDP Suspends Ebonyi Okorie.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the Ebonyi State Chairman of the party, Mr Tochukwu Okorie, for alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.
Okorie’s suspension was ratified at the party’s emergency meeting held on January 27, 2023 after it extensively reviewed his conduct and activities so far.

A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, stated that is in Pursuant to Sections 29 (2) (b) and 57(3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) the NWC has on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) approved the suspension of Okorie Tochukwu Okoroafor with effect from Friday, January 27, 2023, over allegations of anti-party activities and violation of provisions of Section 58 (1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The statement said that consequently, Okorie Tochukwu Okoroafor has been referred to the Party’s appropriate Disciplinary Committee for further action.

All Efforts made to reach the suspended chairman, Tochukwu Okorie, for comment proved abortive as at the time of filing the report.

Abdullahi Sule Loses Son.
Hassan Sule, son of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has reportedly died.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Lafia on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, Hassan died after a brief illness on Thursday night at the age of 36.

The statement stated that the deceased who got married to his first wife, Hajiya Sule, in June last year was Governor Sule’s eldest son.
It added that the late Hassan will be laid to rest in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area today at 10am.

Leave Atiku Out Of Your Plot To Blackmail Buhari – PDP Fires Tinubu.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has urged his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to leave me out of his plot to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former vice president asked Tinubu not to drag him into his alleged feud with Buhari, which resulted in his open condemnation of the President’s monetary policy on redesigned Naira notes and his handling of the fuel scarcity rocking the nation.

Recall that speaking on Wednesday during the APC presidential campaign in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu claimed that there were plans to sabotage the 2023 elections and his success in the forthcoming polls.
Tinubu cited the lingering fuel crisis and naira redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the plot to scuttle the poll and his expected victory.

Reacting, the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Tinubu was using the problems as an excuse for his imminent defeat.

Firing back, Tinubu, through the Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said he was only drawing Buhari’s attention to saboteurs possibly working in cahoots with the PDP.
Onanuga stated that no political blackmail and attempt by the PDP campaign to create a conflict between Tinubu and Buhari, his long-term ally, could succeed.

Spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization, Kola Ologbondiyan, while reacting to Tinubu’s reaction to an earlier comment by the Atiku campaign organisation, described as pathetic Tinubu’s attempt to turn around to blame the PDP for his woes less than 24 hours after he stood on the public stage at his presidential campaign rally to accuse the Buhari administration of sabotage.

2023: NEF Alleges Plot By Some Individuals To Interfere With Election.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has alleged some unidentified individuals are reportedly planning to interfere with the 2023 general elections starting February 25th.

The Director of Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, noted this in a statement issued on Friday.
NEF, however, revealed its stand against any act capable of scuttling the initial plans for credible elections and a peaceful transition of power to another administration.

It said it had reviewed the difficult conditions under which Northerners and other Nigerians currently live, as well as concerns over the security of the elections, which will be conducted in February and March this year.

The Northern elites said rumours making the rounds suggest the possibility that the elections may not hold, and some kind of unconstitutional contraption may be forced on Nigerians after May this year.
NEF said those who peddle the rumours point to the near-desperate circumstances under which Nigerians live.

NASS Threatens Warrant Of Arrest On Emefiele.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Wednesday failed to appear before the House of Representatives.
The development prompted the lawmakers to invite him to appear before the house on Thursday.
It was earlier reported that the legislators on Tuesday set up an ad-hoc committee to meet with the CBN and Managing Directors of Banks on the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes and cashless policy.

The House of Representatives had asked the apex bank to extend the deadline for the deposit of the old notes by six months.
Following Emefiele’s failure to appear before the house on Thursday, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila threatened to invoke the provisions of section 89(D) of the 1999 Constitution as amended to compel Emiefele to appear before the House.

Section 89 gives the parliament power to issue a warrant of arrest on anybody who refuses to honour an invitation from them.
A letter read on the floor of the House on Thursday by the Speaker and signed by CBN’s Deputy Governor, Corporate Services said Emefiele will not honour the invitation because he was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s delegation to Dakar, Senegal.

2023: Makinde’s Alliance With Wike, PDP G-5 Will Cost Him 2nd Term – Oyelese.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, may have bid farewell to a second term in office for refusing to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says a former Minister of Power and Steel, Wole Oyelese.
Oyelese said this in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday while addressing journalists.

The former minister said over 90% of political appointees under Makinde are supporting the candidacy of Atiku; hence the governor should consider his alliance with the five aggrieved PDP governors ahead of February 25th.
Recall that Makinde is part of the G-5 governors headed by his Rivers state counterpart, Nyesom Wike. The PDP chieftains have openly rejected the party’s presidential candidate for not siding with them on the national chairmanship position of the party.

The G-5 governors are asking PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign and let a Southerner occupy the office, this among others was their precondition to support Atiku’s candidacy.
Oyelese, however, said on Thursday that Makinde needed Atiku most in the forthcoming election, saying his re-election into office lies in the victory of the PDP presidential candidate.

I Never Blamed Buhari For Petrol, Naira Notes Scarcity – Tinubu.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has said he did not blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the scarcity of petrol and new naira notes.
Speaking on Wednesday during the APC presidential campaign in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu claimed that there was plans to sabotage the 2023 elections and his success in the forthcoming polls.
Tinubu cited the lingering fuel crisis and naira redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the plot to scuttle the poll and his expected victory.

Reacting, the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; and the spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Tinubu was using the problems as an excuse for his imminent defeat.
But in a statement on Thursday, Tinubu, through the Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said he was only drawing Buhari’s attention to saboteurs possibly working in cahoots with the PDP.
Onanuga stated that no political blackmail and attempt by the PDP campaign to create a conflict between Tinubu and Buhari, his long-term ally, can succeed.

CBN Bans Dollar Charges On Domestic Transactions.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday morning launched the Nigerian National Domestic Card Scheme, Afrigo.
According to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, transaction charges on all cards would be paid in naira.
He, however, stated that in the case of international transactions, charges can be paid in dollars.
According to him, AfriGo would be cheaper and would be a matter of national pride, with potential to boost financial inclusion.

2019: Bullion Vans That Entered Tinubu’s House Missed Their Way – Adewale Declares On National TV.

The organizing secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Ayodele Adewale on Thursday declared that the bullion vans spotted on the eve of a 2019 election at the residence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu actually missed their way.
The APC chieftain submitted that the vans had no business at the Bourdillion residence of the former Lagos State Governor on that day.

Defending the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC further, Adewale said Tinubu didn’t invite the vans neither did anyone in the house invite them.
He added that he was at the Lagos Bourdillion residence of Bola Tinubu on the day of the bullion van saga and there was no money in the bullion vans.
He made the submission during a live interview on Arise TV’s morning show.

PMB Receives $538.05M For Agricultural Development Programme.

The total sum of $538.05 million has been received by President Muhammadu Buhari for the development of the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) for Nigeria programme.

The amount was jointly given for the programme by the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

President Buhari, in a statement on Wednesday, lauded the efforts of these three institutions for the provision of support in Senegal.
The president at the Feed Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dakar urged other African leaders to at least allocate 10% of their nations’ budgets to agriculture as agreed in the Malabo Declaration of the African Heads of State and Government.

Obasanjo Meets Wike In Rivers.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday met with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
It was earlier reported that Governor Wike received Obasanjo and the former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi at his country home in Rumuepirikom, Obio Akpor local government area of the State.

Obasanjo was in the state to speak at the 2023 Port Harcourt International Conference in Port Harcourt which was held at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Center in Port Harcourt.

The conference was titled, “Deepening Democratic Culture And Institutions For Sustainable Development And Security in Nigeria”.

The former president while speaking at the event condemned the style of political campaigns in the country ahead of the 2023 general election, he called for a change in orientation.
Obasanjo while addressing attendees at the event laments how Nigerians are dragged into the directionless, meaningless and opportunistic personal or narrow ambitions of leaders.

FG Budgets N1.2tn To Service CBN Loans.

The Federal Government plans to spend N1.2tn on servicing the loans it got from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Ways and Means Advances.

Ways and Means Advances is a loan facility used by the central bank to finance the government in periods of temporary budget shortfalls subject to limits imposed by law.
According to The Punch, the 2023 fiscal framework document showed that the Federal Government allocated N6.31tn to service its total debts.

A breakdown showed that the Federal Government allocated approximately N3.3tn to service domestic debts, N1.81tn for foreign debts and N1.2tn for ways and means.
The document also showed that this was the first time the Federal Government was making a budgetary allocation for ways and means.
However, the CBN has said on its website that the Federal Government’s borrowing from it through the Ways and Means Advances could have adverse effects on the bank’s monetary policy to the detriment of domestic prices and exchange rates.

Shettima Housed Notorious Terrorist, Kabiru Sokoto – Naja’atu.
A former director in the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Naja’atu Muhammad, has recalled how a notorious terrorist kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, was arrested at the house of former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima.

Recall that Naja’atu dumped the APC last weekend after resigning from her position as the Director of the Civil Society directorate of the party.

The Kano State-based politician declared her allegiance with the opposition Peoples Democratic (PDP) and has since been pointing accusing fingers at her former party.
Speaking during her session with Arise News morning show, Naja’atu said Nigerians must not forget so soon how Sokoto was arrested about a decade ago at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Shettima was a sitting Governor in Borno State at the time Sokoto was apprehended.

Speaking about the forthcoming 2023 elections, Naja’atu said it is worrisome that someone who a terrorist was found in his care is picked to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket alongside former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She lamented the spate of insecurity under the APC administration which she had just left.

Why We Re-arrested Ex-JAMB, NECO Registrar, Dibu Ojerinde – ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed why it re-arrested a former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde.

It was reported earlier that the anti-corruption commission had re-arrested Ojerinde
An ex-deputy director at JAMB, Jimoh Olabisi on Wednesday had alleged in court that Ojerinde used him to divert federal government funds.
Olabisi who is a witness of the ICPC stated this while speaking at the federal high Court in Abuja.

Ojerinde was arraigned by ICPC on July 6, 2021, on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion.
The commission alleged that the former registrar committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).

In a statement to newsmen on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, disclosed that the agency’s investigators wants to question the former NECO boss on new evidence uncovered in relation to his ongoing trial over alleged diversion of funds.

According to the ICPC, its operatives uncovered two accounts opened in the names of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International Schools Ltd, into which funds were diverted using fictitious names of students.