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Kano Tribunal Reserves Judgment In Petition Against Gov Yusuf’s Election

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The Kano State Election Petition Tribunal, last Monday, reserved judgment in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The APC is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring Mr Kabir-Yusuf the winner of the March 18 governorship election. Respondents in the petition are INEC, Mr Kabir-Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The three-member panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, said the tribunal would communicate the date for the judgment after all parties had adopted their final written addresses.
“I am honoured and privileged that this is my first assignment as the Chairman of a Tribunal, and I prayed to God to guide me to uphold the integrity of my job.
“We will be fair. Be rest assured that we will read what the law says, and we will read it to the best of our knowledge,” Mr Akintan-Osadebay said.
Earlier, counsel to the APC, Offiong Offiong, SAN, in adopting his final written addresses dated July 31, August 6, 7, and 8, replied on points of law.
“We urge the court to adopt our written addresses as our argument and urge the tribunal to uphold our petition and grant our reliefs.
“The second respondent brought two membership registers before and after the election. The membership number is inconsistent.
“It shows that the second respondent was not a member of NNPP before the election; he became a member after the election, and all the ballot papers used in some local governments were not signed, stamped and dated,” Mr Offiong said.
In the same vein, the counsel to INEC, Mr Emmanuel Osayomi, adopted a written address dated August 1 and filed August 2.
Mr Osayomi urged the court to dismiss the petition on grounds that the petitioner did not prove his case.
The counsel to Mr Kabir-Yusuf, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, adopted his final written dated July 31 and filed on August 1.
“I urge My Lord to disregard the position of Pw31 statement on oath dated May 26; there is no evidence,” Mr Awomolo said.
Responding counsel to NNPP, John Olusola-Baiyeshea, SAN, adopted his written addresses dated July 30 and filed July 31.
He prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition absolutely, describing it as “the most unapproved petition”.
The petitioner closed his case with 32 witnesses before the tribunal, while INEC closed their case without presenting any witnesses on July 20.
Mr Kabir-Yusuf closed his case on July 22, with the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi as a lone witness while the NNPP closed its case without calling any witnesses on July 24.

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Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi

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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.

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Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip

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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.

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Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General

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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has dissolved the State Executive Council.
The State Executive Council members include commissioners, Special Advisers and the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.

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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