News

Appeal Court upholds judgement sacking Plateau PDP Rep

Published

4 years ago

October 28, 2022

vicky

A Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, on Friday 28 October, affirmed the ruling of the National and State House of Assemblies Election Petition Tribunal, which sacked the lawmaker representing the Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Musa Agah of the Peoples Democratic Party, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to return Muhammad Alkali of the Peoples Redemption Party as the valid winner of the February 26, 2022 bye-election.

The tribunal had last month in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Hope Ozoh, Khadi Umar, and Zainab Bashir, held that the PDP candidate was not validly nominated by his party, having a subsisting judgment of the High Court that was affirmed by the Court of Appeal, that the PDP had no valid structure in Plateau State to nominate a candidate.

The tribunal had further ruled that there was over-voting in the results declared by INEC to announce Agah as the winner of the February 26, 2022 bye-election.

Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s ruling, the PDP candidate and his party approached the Appellate Court and urged it to dismiss the judgment.

However, ruling on the matter on Friday, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the tribunal and insisted that the nomination of the PDP candidate was an error as the state chapter of the party lacked the structure to produce candidates for the election.

According to the Appeal Court, the Peoples Democratic Party took very important things for granted when it failed to comply with an earlier judgement which directed them to go back and do the right thing by constituting legally acceptable excos of the party.

The Appeal Court presided over by three Justices headed by Justice Teni Hassan, therefore, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate earlier issued to Musa Agah of the PDP, and issue same to Gwoni Mohammed of the PRP as the legally elected candidate for February 26, 2022 House of Representatives bye-election for the Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency.

On the issue of over-voting during the election, the appellate court ruled that the claim could not be substantiated.

News

Ekiti council polls: Court dismisses ADC suit against EKSIEC

Published

1 hour ago

October 17, 2026

PlateauReports

The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has dismissed a suit filed by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, challenging the guidelines for the December 12, 2026, local government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, elections.

The suit was instituted against the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC, and its Chairman, Justice Cornelius Ilori Akintayo, rtd, seeking to invalidate the guidelines issued for the conduct of the forthcoming elections.

A statement issued by EKSIEC Information Commissioner, Soji Oloketuyi, on behalf of the commission’s chairman, said the case was initially filed at the Federal High Court, which subsequently transferred it to the State High Court for adjudication.

Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice S.B.J. Bamise dismissed the action in a 76-page judgment, describing the plaintiffs as “meddlesome interlopers” who, according to the court, sought to truncate the forthcoming local government elections.

The court also awarded costs of N100,000 in favour of EKSIEC and the other defendant in the suit, marking a legal development in the commission’s preparations for the December 12 elections.

The commission said the judgment followed the ADC’s challenge to the electoral guidelines, as preparations continue for the conduct of the 2026 local government and LCDAs elections across Ekiti State.

Ekiti council polls: Court dismisses ADC suit against EKSIEC

News

28 kidnap victims rescued in Katsina, Zamfara, suspected pipeline vandals arrested

Published

5 hours ago

October 17, 2026

PlateauReports

The Nigerian Army troops have rescued 28 kidnap victims in Katsina and Zamfara states.

The troops arrested three suspected pipeline vandals in Rivers State and kiled two suspected criminals in Bauchi State.

This is contained in an operational report detailing military activities across several theatres between Thursday and Friday, released in Abuja on Saturday.

The report said that troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 27 victims kidnapped by suspected terrorists in Gamji community, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, at about 12:25 a:m., on Friday.

It said the rescued victims were handed over to the community leader, Falalu Suleiman, for further action.

The report noted that troops responding to an attack on farmers in Dutsen Maru community, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, forced the attackers to flee and abandon one kidnap victim.

According to the report, troops rescued the victim and recovered three motorcycles and a donkey.

It further said that in Rivers State, troops of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, arrested three suspects over an alleged vandalisation and removal of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) along the Bonny export line serving the Port Harcourt refinery.

“The operation took place at Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area, on Thursday.

“The troops recovered 210 pieces of vandalised pipes, 12 boats, five motorcycles, six batteries, a generator, a fire extinguisher and two heavy-duty metal-cutting machines,” it said.

The report noted that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspected buyer.

It also said that troops of Operation MESA, acting on intelligence about ransom payment to kidnappers, engaged and neutralised two suspected criminals in the Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to the report, troops also arrested a herder and his son over an alleged killing in Jimpi village, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area in separate operation.

The report further said that troops of Operation Enduring Peace recovered the body of a civilian kidnapped on October 14 in Gwol-Hoss community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“The decomposing body was discovered along the Gwol-Hoss-Makera Road on Friday and evacuated by family members for burial,” it said.

The report said that troops responding to an attack on illegal miners at Makale mining site in the Bokkos Local Government Area also found two bodies, while the assailants fled on sighting the troops.

According to the report, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of both incidents.

It added that troops of the 17 Brigade engaged armed terrorists on motorcycles in Kurba village, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina state, forcing them to abandon one motorcycle.

It added, “The operations form part of ongoing efforts to rescue abducted persons, combat violent crime, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen security across the country.”

(NAN)