Tribunal Upholds Labour Party As Winner Of National Assembly Elections In Lagos Constituencies

he National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday upheld the elections that produced two Labour Party candidates, Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Olawande George as winners of the Oshodi-Isolo Federal and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the LP candidate as the winner of the election after he polled 29,386 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ganiyu Johnson, who garnered 16,650 votes in the exercise.

Johnson, who represented the constituency from 2019 to 2023, had challenged the election outcome over alleged fraud. But the tribunal on Monday ruled that Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Olawande George were validly elected.

In a press statement released on Monday, Olubunmi Odesanya, Lagos Publicity Secretary Labour Party, described the tribunal’s decisions as great joy, adding that the judgements showed the impartiality of the judicial system in election petitions.

The statement reads: “It is with great joy that we celebrate the victories of our own sitting Honourable Members of the House of Representatives in the persons of Honourable Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Honourable Wande George as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja Lagos upheld their elections as Members representing Oshodi-Isolo II and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies at the National Assembly Abuja.

“This verdict affirms Labour Party belief that indeed our Judiciary can still dispense justice without fear or favour.

“It is our strong belief that our Nation, Nigeria, can still be salvaged with the right people in the right institutions of the State. We at Labour Party commend the Tribunal Judges for dispensing this fair and truthful judgement.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Judgement Day: VP Shettima, Gbajabiamila, Govs, Others Besiege Election Tribunal

Ahead of the final judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) on the petitions filed against the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu slated for this Wednesday morning, a mammoth crowd of litigants, lawyers and other interested parites have arrived the court.

Already seated in the courtroom were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Hope Uzodimma and Yahaya Bello of Imo and Kogi States, respectively, among others from the ruling party.

From the opposition side were the acting national chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, and the LP national chairman, Julius Abure.

Recall that former Vice President and candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), among others, had filed petitions challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.

LEADERSHIP reports that Tinubu contested the election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while Shettima was his running mate.

After months of legal fireworks, the Tribunal had fixed judgement on the petitions for this Wednesday.

The PEPT is sitting at the premises of the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja.

Security operatives were having hectic time vetting people, including journalists, who had trooped to the venue of the Tribunal to catch a glimpse of events on the judgement day.

Source: Leadership

INEC Makes Fresh Announcement Ahead Of Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that residents of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states can now visit their registered centres for the collection of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).

Naija News recalls that INEC suspended the collection of PVCs on February 5th 2023, days before the presidential election.

However, those who missed out during the exercise have been told to visit their centres now, especially in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states, where governorship elections are scheduled to be held on November 11, 2023.

The newly appointed National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, announced this in Abuja yesterday.

He said the development is in continuation of INEC’s preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in the three states, and that the current exercise only covers the three states where governorship elections will be held on November 11.

“The PVCs will be available for collection at all our local government area offices in the three states; eight in Bayelsa, 27 in Imo and 21 in Kogi. In addition, the commission has created other centres with a large number of uncollected PVCs.

“The details of all centres will be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three states,” Olumekun said.

According to him, the electoral body has earmarked weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from September 11 – to October 9th 2023.

Source: NaijaNews