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ADC: David Mark’s lawyer lauds INEC for swift response to Supreme Court ruling

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, who served as lead counsel for Senator David Mark in the legal proceedings concerning the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for adhering to the Supreme Court’s ruling without needing any prompting.

In a statement posted on his X account via @sanjsokutepa on Friday, Okutepa lauded INEC for proactively restoring the leadership status of the ADC on its portal, rather than waiting to be served with the apex court’s judgment.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court instructed David Mark to return to the Federal High Court for the hearing and resolution of matters arising from the leadership conflict within the ADC. This directive followed the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal, which on March 12 dismissed Mark’s appeal against a ruling of the Federal High Court dated September 4.

A former vice chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala, initiated the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, aiming to prevent the Mark-led leadership from presenting themselves as national officers of the ADC. Bala named the ADC, Mark, Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary), INEC, and Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, as defendants in the case.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Mohammed Garba, criticised the Court of Appeal’s order, which instructed the parties involved in the suit to maintain the status quo. The apex court determined that the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction by unilaterally issuing the status quo order.

In his post commending INEC, Okutepa stated, “I am a legal practitioner. I am not a registered member of any political party in Nigeria. I am equally not an employee of any government. I owe no allegiance to anybody except the truth, justice, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I was the lead counsel to Sen. David Mark at the Supreme Court in the judgment delivered yesterday (Thursday).

“Upon reviewing the INEC portal, it became evident that INEC has proactively reinstated the leadership of the ADC on its platform without any external prompting.”

He remarked that the reestablishment of the ADC leadership names on the INEC portal was a commendable action.

He said, “The ruling from the Supreme Court yesterday was unequivocal. The appeal made by Sen. David Mark was partially granted. The Court of Appeal’s directive for ‘maintenance of status quo ante bellum’ was determined to have been issued without jurisdiction and was thus annulled.

“It was this directive from the Court of Appeal that INEC cited as the basis for removing Sen. David Mark and his executive committee from its portal.

“As a corporate entity, INEC has shown deference to the Supreme Court’s ruling, without feigning ignorance of the judgment pending formal service. This is the appropriate course of action given the circumstances,” he remarked.

He pointed out that INEC had legal representation in the Supreme Court, emphasising that the swift reinstatement of the ADC leadership on the INEC portal was praiseworthy.

“This is how actions should be taken under the rule of law.” He stated that INEC has demonstrated its commitment to the rule of law in a nation where some institutions might expect to receive the court’s judgment before taking action.

He characterised such behavior as an abuse of power, where individuals intentionally delay compliance with court orders until prompted.

He further stated, “Until we collectively commit to adhering to the rule of law and due process, and refrain from taking the law into our own hands, Nigeria’s progress will remain an illusion.

He said, “In this instance, INEC displayed a unique understanding of the importance of respecting the rule of law without waiting for the Supreme Court’s judgment to be served, unlike some institutions and high-ranking Nigerian officials who often do.

“Many individuals in positions of power show a lack of respect for courts and their orders. In numerous instances, impunity prevails in our society. Even within the legal field, court procedures and orders are often ignored for personal gain and in a display of abuse of power.”




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Probe Anyanwu, Mohammed over false information to INEC – Factional PDP petitions IGP

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Ogbeide Associates, Solicitors and Counsel, holding brief for the factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, requesting an investigation into the party’s Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and factional National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, over a letter dated November 3, 2025, addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The petition alleges that the letter falsely claimed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had suspended Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as Acting National Chairman and appointed Mohammed in his place.

According to the petition, the NWC’s 608th Emergency Meeting of November 1, 2025, held barely 48 hours before the letter was written, resolved to suspend Anyanwu himself, along with three other officers, over allegations of anti-party activities.

The petition stated that no NWC resolution, minutes, or attendance record has been produced showing that the committee ever resolved to suspend Ambassador Damagum or appoint Mohammed.

The petition further noted that the official attendance record of the 608th meeting shows that Anyanwu was absent, while Mohammed was present at the meeting.

It noted that Mohammed had direct, firsthand knowledge of the meeting’s actual outcome before the disputed letter was sent.

The petition also draws attention to a subsisting Federal High Court judgment of October 10, 2024 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024), which recognised Ambassador Damagum as Acting National Chairman and restrained INEC from acting on any document not bearing his signature—a judgment Senator Anyanwu himself had forwarded to INEC for compliance in November 2024.

The petition notes that the Court of Appeal, on March 9, 2026, affirmed the NWC’s suspension of Senator Anyanwu.

In addition to seeking an investigation of the two named individuals, the petition asks the Inspector-General to examine how INEC handled the November 3 letter, given that the commission was already in possession of both the subsisting court judgment and the NWC’s suspension resolution at the time.

“This petition is not about personalities. It is about whether public institutions can be misled with documents that do not reflect the true position of internal party processes, and whether such conduct will be investigated as the law requires,” counsel for the petitioner said.

The lawyers called on the Nigeria Police Force to treat the matter with urgency, while indicating that the petitioner stands ready to provide all supporting documentation, including the relevant court judgments and internal party records, to assist in the investigation.




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Alleged fraud: Peter Obi officially serves Kenneth Okonkwo

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has officially served a writ of summons on actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo in a defamation suit filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division.

According to court documents dated June 25, 2026, Obi is seeking N8 billion in damages over statements allegedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026, and subsequently circulated on social media platforms.

The legal action is being pursued on Obi’s behalf by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) of Alex Ejesieme, SAN & Co. (Madiba Chambers), Awka, Anambra State.

DAILY POST reports that case stems from a growing dispute between the two former political allies, who have recently exchanged criticisms over political developments and leadership issues within the opposition movement.

The writ, issued by the court and marked for service outside Anambra State in neighbouring Enugu State, directs Okonkwo to enter an appearance within 42 days of being served or risk judgment being entered against him in his absence.

In the suit, Obi contends that comments made by Okonkwo during the television interview, which was later uploaded to Channels Television’s YouTube platform and amplified through his verified social media accounts, were false, malicious and defamatory.

The former Anambra State governor is claiming N5 billion as general damages for alleged injury to his reputation, character, integrity, public image, political standing and goodwill.

He is also seeking N2 billion as aggravated damages, citing what he described as the breadth, persistence and repetition of the alleged defamatory statements, including publications made after his lawyers issued a demand letter dated June 9, 2026.

In addition, Obi is asking the court to award N1 billion in exemplary damages, arguing that the defendant deliberately repeated and amplified the allegations despite being notified of his complaint.

Beyond monetary compensation, the plaintiff is seeking several court orders, including a directive compelling Okonkwo to publish a full retraction and apology on Channels Television, its YouTube platform, his social media accounts and in three national newspapers.

Obi is also requesting an order directing the defendant to remove all publications containing the disputed allegations from platforms under his control and a perpetual injunction restraining him from making similar allegations in the future.

The suit further seeks post-judgment interest on any monetary award granted by the court, as well as the costs of the action.




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Aisha Yesufu explains why she rejected House of Reps ticket

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Activist Aisha Yesufu has explained why she turned down an offer to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking at a public lecture on citizens’ participation in governance at Veritas University in Abuja on Thursday, Yesufu said she rejected the ticket because about 20 people had already purchased nomination forms and were contesting for the position.

“About 20 people had picked up forms for the ticket and I was not going to be part of irregularities. I was not going to be part of that system even though it was going to benefit me,” she said.

She explained that accepting the ticket would have unfairly affected other aspirants who had spent money and effort pursuing the position.

“The reason I didn’t take it was because of the process. There were about 20 competent people from whom money had been collected during the process who would be shortchanged,” she stated.

Describing the arrangement as unfair, Yesufu said: “The process was unjust; in my view, it was criminal. If we claim to be guided by the law, then why should we do something unjust?”

She added that she would rather lose than benefit from an unfair political process.

“I have no problem with losing. I would rather stand with ordinary people than pursue titles and honours through an unfair process. That is how I have always lived my life,” she said.

She also urged young Nigerians to become more involved in politics, stressing that political participation should go beyond voting during elections.




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