Politics
Supreme Court throws out INEC’s appeal against SDP, awards N2m cost

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, filed to query the leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The Commission, through its team of lawyers, sought to set aside the October 17, judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld an order that compelled it to include SDP candidates in by-elections that were conducted across 12 states of the federation.
INEC faulted the appellant court for affirming the judgement of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025, which was instituted against it by the SDP.
SDP had in the suit, challenged the refusal of INEC to recognize its candidates for the by-elections, after they emerged through primaries that were monitored by the electoral body.
On its part, INEC contended that letters and notices that were sent to it, on behalf of the party, were invalid.
According to the Commission, the correspondences were signed by the Acting National Chairman of SDP, Dr Sadiq Umar Abubakar, and the National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.
It noted that the duo were previously suspended by the party. It was INEC’s position that internal party suspensions invalidated all the letters that Dr. Abubakar and Dr. Agunloye signed, including nomination of candidates for the by-elections.
Meanwhile, following SDP’s legal action, the high court ordered that all its candidates should be recognised and included in the ballot.
Even though INEC complied with the high court order, it, however, took the matter before the appellate court.
In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed the appeal and upheld the high court verdict. Not happy with the outcome, INEC lodged the appeal which the Supreme Court also dismissed on Friday.
A five-member panel of the apex court declared that the appeal had turned to an academic exercise, noting that elections had since held with all the winners sworn in.
In the lead judgement that was prepared by Justice Mohammed Idris, the Supreme Court said it found no reason to dislodge the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.
“The substratum of this appeal has been dissipated, “ the panel held, saying “courts do not engage in interventions on academic questions.”
It held that there was nothing upon which the apex court could exercise its adjudicatory powers.
Stressing the absence of any live matter for determination, the Supreme Court declined questions on interpretation of the Electoral Act, saying the issues could not be resolved in vacuum.
Aside from dismissing the appeal, the court awarded a N2million cost against INEC’s lawyer.
The post Supreme Court throws out INEC’s appeal against SDP, awards N2m cost appeared first on Vanguard News.
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Politics
2027: PDP dismisses alliance with other parties in Abia
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia State chapter has dismissed every suggestion linking it with alliance with other political parties in the State.
The Chairman of the PDP in Abia State, Abraham Amah stated this on Thursday at the PDP State Secretariat, Umuahia, while reacting to questions about a possible alliance involving the party.
Amah, who described the PDP as strong, united and formidable for the 2027 battle in Abia, said anybody issuing statement in proposal or support of an alliance is not speaking for the party.
He maintained that having successfully uploaded the names of its candidates for various elective posts, his party is prepared to go into the 2027 election battle without seeking the support of any other party or donating its platform to any other political party to use.
“As far as we are concerned, as at today, we do not have any agreement with any other political party.
“Am privileged to know what is happening at the party, not only in the State but at the national level. So we do not have any such agreement with anybody,” Amah said.
The Abia PDP Chairman also declared that there is no faction in the State as according the him, all the names of the candidates of the PDP he leads, had already been successfully uploaded on the INEC official portal.
He further said that Abia PDP has taken up the task of reconciling aggrieved primary election aspirants.
Earlier in his speech during a press conference, the PDP governorship candidate in Abia State, Kelechi Anosike said he would pay N90,000 minimum wage to Abia civil servants if elected the governor.
Anosike, who faulted the Abia State government for its system of salary payment, alleged that the State government is not paying N70,000 salary across board.
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Politics
NDP, party to beat come 2027 – Imo chairman, Amadi
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the newly appointed Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Imo State chapter, Kyrian Amadi, has boasted that the NDP is the party to beat in the upcoming electoral contest.
He said the party has put in place strategic measures to strengthen its hold not only in Imo but also in all the states across the federation.
Amadi made the remark after his emergence as the state chairman of the party by its national leadership in preparation for the 2027 electoral exercise.
According to him, the NDP is a party for the masses, with its ideology anchored on strict adherence to democratic tenets, equity and social justice.
“We are firm when it comes to good and purposeful governance.”
He reiterated that the NDP is a party to watch in the forthcoming political dispensation, as Nigerians of good conscience and patriotism have identified with the party both in the state and across the nation.
The chairman expressed gratitude to the national leadership of the party for its efforts to ensure that the NDP is deeply rooted in all the 27 LGAs as well as the 305 wards in the state.
Amadi described the acceptance of the party in the state as “passionately volcanic” while appealing to Imo electorates who are yet to identify with the party to hasten their actions and register with it.
He asserted that the NDP is one of the frontline opposition political parties in the country that means well for Nigerians in terms of good governance, including massive infrastructural development, human capacity building, inclusiveness and accountability.
The chairman also revealed that the party still has windows of opportunity granted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the substitution of its candidates for the State Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
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Politics
Atiku saw value in me, Peter Obi betrayed me – Kenneth Okonkwo
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, says the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, saw value in him.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Okonkwo said former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi betrayed him.
The Nollywood veteran-turned politician said this barely 24 hours after Atiku appointed him as his spokesman.
He said he had publicly ended his relationship with Obi in 2024 after concluding that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate lacked the decisiveness required to lead Nigeria.
“As a public affairs analyst that I have been from 2009 before I ever met Peter Obi, I proceeded with my job. You were one of the earliest interviewers that interviewed me in July 2024 when I said I wasn’t speaking for him anymore because he’s not decisive.
“I’ve seen in him certain qualities that make him unfit to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I made it public. By then, I had finished my job with him. But in order for the people to know that I am not speaking for him anymore, I made it public, and I went my own way, and I was doing my own job.
“He was the one who betrayed me,” Okonkwo said.
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