Politics
Orji Urges Tribunal To Quash PPA’s Petition
Gov Theodore Orji of Abia has urged the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to dismiss the matter filed by Chief Chris Akomas and the Progressive People Party (PPA) Counsel to the governor Wole Olanikepun (SAN), who made this known while objecting to the hearing of the application for leave of court to issue Pre-hearing notice to the petitioner, said that it was brought out of time. Olanikepun submitted that the proper time to take out the pre-hearing notice was on June 24 when the respondent filed and served their reply to the process and not on July 8. He said that the application was incompetent and that the court lacked the jurisdiction to extend time by virtue of Paragraph 18(1) of the first schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. The senior advocate said that the provision of the law was trite, adding that Paragraph 18(4) stipulated that the proper thing for the tribunal was to dismiss the application and declare the petition as “an abandoned petition”. Counsel to INEC Adegboega Awomolo (SAN), and Mr Chibuike Nwokeukwu, who appeared for PDP aligned themselves with the submission of Olanikepun. Responding to the application, Mr U. Nwoko, applied for a short adjournment at least for 24 hours to enable him to look at the issue of law and case law cited by the respondents and reply accordingly. The application was not objected to by the respondents’ counsel and the tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Mobolaji Ojo, held that the application was not frivolous and adjourned the case to July 15 for continuation. Also the tribunal has fixed July 27 as the hearing date of the preliminary objection brought by Orji in the petition filed by Chief Emenike Owanta of Democratic Front for Peoples Federation (DFPF). Hon. Ojo ordered the respondents, who gave notice of their intention to bring the objection to file it on July 19 and that the petitioners should reply to it on July 22. The tribunal had earlier heard and granted the application of the petitioner for leave to apply for pre-hearing notices. Our correspondent reports that the governor is challenging the competence and jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain Owanta’s petition. Owanta had dragged the governor, PDP and INEC to the tribunal over unlawful exclusion of the party to contest the April 26 governorship election in the state.
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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