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

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, ABUJA
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 recognise 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 the 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 into an academic exercise, noting that elections had since been 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 a vacuum.
Aside from dismissing the appeal, the court awarded a N2 million cost against INEC’s lawyer.
The post Supreme Court dismisses INEC’s appeal against SDP, awards N2m cost appeared first on Vanguard News.
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Politics
Tinubu has cornered INEC, security agencies, judiciary – Lawyer laments
A Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Al-zubayr Abubakar, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu has cornered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the security agencies and the judiciary.
Abubakar made the claim in an interview with JKD TV, a Kaduna-based television.
According to him, no leader, even during the era of military dictatorship and repression has ever governed the way Tinubu is currently governing, alleging that court judges, who are supposed to stand for justice, have all been brought under his influence.
The lawyer further lamented that all of Nigeria’s security agencies work for Tinubu rather than for the country.
He added that the President has crippled INEC and has it firmly under his control, stressing that it is the reason opposition parties are constantly being plunged into one problem after another.
The lawyers said, “Today, all of Nigeria’s security agencies work for Tinubu rather than for Nigeria. If I were to insult Tinubu here right now, you would immediately see the DSS and the police. They wouldn’t even stop to question you,they would simply say you had insulted the nation. Is Tinubu the nation?
“To make matters worse, the judges, who are supposed to stand for justice, have all been brought under his influence. So if you have a legal case, would you truly have the confidence to take it to court? How can the police treat opposition parties fairly?
“How can INEC be expected to act impartially? Look at what happened to the PDP. The Supreme Court delivered a judgment against the Wike faction, yet INEC continues to recognize and work with that faction. Under such circumstances, how can Nigerians have confidence that INEC will conduct a free and fair election?”
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Politics
APC chieftain, Ayekooto demands investigation as PFIPC controversy indicts top govt officials
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ayekooto Akindele has called for an in-depth investigation into the controversy surrounding the formation of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.
DAILY POST reports that following an allegation of bribe leveled against President Bola Tinubu’s chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila by the self-acclaimed Director General of PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the presidency had disowned the agency and the accuser.
However, Adeyemi in an interview with Channels TV on Thursday night, insisted that his appointment was legit, alleging that the Chief of Staff was privy to all his operations.
Reacting, Ayekooto in a statement on his official X handle on Friday, expressed certainty that Adeniyi must have collaborators in and outside the government.
“One thing is clear Prince Adeniyi has collaborators within and outside the government”, he wrote.
He called on authorities to investigate top offices, including the office of the Director General of Budget for allegedly allocating money to the fake agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for creating account for for the PFIPC and the Inspector General of Police, IGP for providing police protection for Adeyemi.
He wrote, “Now, we know one MIMI ABU who is a Director in Head of Service of the Federation office signed an approval letter on behalf of head of service to employ staff for a non existent government agency.
“By now, the DG Budget who prepared the 2026 National budget should tell us why he allocated money to a non existent presidential council, CBN Governor, Accountant General of the Federation should tell us the documents they relied on to open accounts for Mr Mathew Adeniyi.
“How come Nigeria Police gave Mr Matthew Adeyemi orderly and police protection throughout his scam activities.
“Civil Servants in SGF and Head of Service offices who gave him office keys in the Federal Secretariat must tell us on whose instruction they acted”.
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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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