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Suit To Compel PDP NEC Meeting: Court Orders Substituted Service

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The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has granted an order permitting a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, to serve the National Chairman of the party, Illiya Damagum court processes through substituted means.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order, yesterday, while ruling on an ex parte application filed by Sowunmi’s counsel, Anderson Asemota, to allow him to serve the second to seventh defendants in the suit processes via substituted means.
Others to be served through substituted means are the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the national organising secretary, Umar Bature.
Also to be served through substituted means are the National Auditor, Okechukwu Daniel, the national treasurer, Ahmed Yayari, and the national youth leader, Muhammed Kadade.
Mr Asemota told the court that he had been able to effect service on the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the first and eighth defendants.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Mr Asemota told the court that the application for substituted service became necessary when all efforts to personally serve the second to seventh defendants were futile.
The judge granted the plaintiff’s request for an order of substituted service of court processes on the second to seventh defendants and adjourned the matter until March 4 for a hearing.
Mr Sowunmi approached the court seeking an order directing the party leadership to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to present the party’s activities from the date of the last NEC meeting.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/70/2024, the plaintiff is also asking the court for an order, directing the 1st to 7th defendants to call a NEC meeting of the party to present the proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party officers at all levels.
He is further seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the second to eighth defendants from functioning or discharging the functions of their offices until they call for or cause to be called and held a meeting of the PDP’s NEC in total fidelity and obeisance of the party’s constitution.
The plaintiff wants the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of Article 31(2)(d), 4 and 5 of the PDP constitution (as amended in 2017), he, as spokesman of the party during the last election is obligated and/or entitled to file the suit to give effect to the aims and objectives of the PDP and to ensure that the provisions of Article 7 of the PDP constitution are observed and respected by members and national officers.
He also sought a declaration that under and by virtue of the provisions of Article 31 (2)(4) and (5) of the PDP constitution and Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the first to seventh defendants are obligated to hold quarterly or at the request of one-third of members of NEC of the PDP, the meeting of the NEC.
He said the meeting was where the first to seventh defendants would present quarterly financial reports or the party’s income and expenditure to the NEC members.
He stated, “A declaration that, under and by virtue and the provisions of Article 31 (2)(4) and (5) of the PDP constitution and Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the first to seventh defendants are obligated to call for or cause to be called and held quarterly or at the request of the one-third of members of the NEC of the PDP at which the defendants shall present quarterly reports containing the activities of the PDP to the members of the NEC.”
He also wanted the court to declare that the defendants are under obligation to call for a PDP NEC meeting to present proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party offices at all levels and procedures of selecting party candidates for elective offices to the NEC members.

 

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CTC Chairman Attributes Fubara’s Emergence To God’s Plan

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The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Asari Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Orolosama Amachree, has attributed the emergence of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State to divine intervention.
According to him, Governor Fubara’s leadership was ordained by God to liberate the Kalabari people from underdevelopment.
Hon Amachree made this statement when the Ido Community Council of Chiefs paid him a courtesy visit.
He highlighted Governor Fubara’s numerous contributions to the Kalabari people, including the award of the original Trans-Kalabari road project worth N225 billion.
The CTC Chairman emphasized that the Kalabari people had no option but to support Governor Fubara’s administration wholeheartedly.
He criticized the defected former Rivers State House of Assembly members representing the five Kalabari state constituencies for aligning with enemies of the state government.
Hon Amachree praised Governor Fubara for declaring Asari-Toru as his second home and demonstrating immense love for the people, citing the completion of the Emohua-Kalabari road and approval for the reconstruction of the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema road project as examples of the Governor’s commitment to the ethnic nationality.
The CTC Chairman assured the Ido Council of Chiefs that his administration would continue to prioritize the wellbeing of the people and announced the approval for the provision of three public conveniences for the community.
Earlier, the spokesman of the Ido Community Council of Chiefs, Chief Igbigioyibo Emmanuel, expressed the loyalty and support of the Chiefs and people to Governor Fubara’s administration.
He thanked the Governor for his love and the appointment of Hon Amachree who has embarked on various empowerment programmes, as well as the rehabilitation of key infrastructures to better the lives of the people at the grassroots.

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We’re Ready For Edo Election, INEC Assures Stakeholders

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Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has reassured stakeholders in Edo State that the commission is prepared for the upcoming governorship election on September 21.
Addressing the stakeholders in Benin on Wednesday, Prof. Yakubu emphasised the importance of cooperation to ensure a credible election process.
He highlighted that the meeting, traditionally held before major off-cycle governorship elections, is co-hosted by the INEC Chairman and the Inspector-General of Police to discuss election preparations.
Prof. Yakubu detailed that the session aimed to engage with political parties, candidates, accredited observers, media, and other stakeholders to review preparations for the election.
He noted that the Inspector-General of Police would address security preparations, while he himself would cover electoral preparations. Together, they would address any issues or concerns raised by the attendees.
The INEC Chairman outlined that preparations for the election began last year with the release of the timetable and schedule of activities, in accordance with legal requirements.
Out of 13 statutory activities listed from the publication of the election notice to election day, 11 have already been completed.
Prof Yakubu reported that the final list of candidates had been published, with minor adjustments made following court orders. The Labour Party’s running mate was replaced as directed by the court, and the National Rescue Movement (NRM), which missed its nomination deadline, was included on the ballot after a court order.
With the conclusion of the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo, 184,438 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been issued 119,206 for new voters and 65,232 for various updates and transfers.
Edo State now has a total of 2,629,025 registered voters. A detailed breakdown of PVCs collected for each of the 4,519 polling units will be published soon, while uncollected PVCs will be secured in the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election.
Prof Yakubu also revealed that INEC has accredited 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) to deploy 1,836 observers and 114 media organisations with 721 journalists.
Thousands of agents representing candidates and political parties will be present at the 4,730 polling and collation locations across the state.
The BVAS machines will be used for voter accreditation and uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Dr. Greg Igbinomwanhia, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), urged political parties to adhere to the rules to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. Political party chairpersons and candidates also delivered goodwill messages and raised concerns regarding the election.

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Two Million Voters To Elect Next Ondo Gov – INEC

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More than two million voters will be participating in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state.
They would determine the fate of 17 governorship candidates of the political parties participating in the election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, disclosed this in Akure, at a seminar organized by the International Press Center (IPC) and funded by the European Union (EU).
The programme was part of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGNII) project, with IPC serving as the lead partner under Component 4, which focuses on support to the media.
Mrs Babalola also said that the INEC has said it would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) during the election.
According to her, “Ondo State has a total of 2,053,061 registered voters. They would be participating in the governorship election scheduled for November 16, this year. INEC has made necessary arrangements to ensure a free election”.
The REC noted that efforts and preparedness were in place to ensure a credible, inclusive, free, and fair gubernatorial election.
Mrs Babalola added that the portal for media registration for the election had opened.
Speaking on BVAS and IREV, the REC, said that the commission would ensure the use of BVAS and IREV during the election to ensure a free, fair, and credible poll.
She said similar arrangements have been made in Edo State for the September 21 governorship election.
In his welcome address, IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, emphasized the essential role of the media in promoting electoral integrity.
Mr Arogundade noted that elections were the cornerstone of democratic societies, highlighting the importance of capacity training for journalists in preparation for election coverage.
He said that the dialogue aimed to foster collaboration among critical stakeholders, ensuring that the media remains fair, accurate, ethical, and professional in covering the upcoming Ondo State election.
The Executive Director, also underscored the importance of journalists’ involvement in voter education, helping to inform the electorate about their rights and responsibilities.
A Senior Lecturer at Elizade University, ilara- Mokin, Dr Tunde Fajimbola, spoke on the media’s role in addressing key issues in the governorship election.
The Founder of the Journalism Clinic, Mr Taiwo Obe, guided participants on asking the right questions and telling impactful stories during electoral coverage.
In his remarks, CEMESO Executive Director, Dr Akin Akingbulu, emphasized that off-cycle elections had become a significant feature of Nigeria’s electoral calendar. He highlighted the need for journalists to be well-equipped to contribute to credible electoral processes.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Prince Leke Adegbite, commended IPC for its efforts in building journalists’ capacity through training.
Adegbite acknowledged that the media dialogue came at the right time and assured the organizers that participants would strive to achieve set goals.

 

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