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2023: 16 Rivers APC Assembly Candidates Disqualified

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A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has disqualified 16 House of Assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress from contesting the 2023 elections for non-compliance with the new Electoral Act.

Fidel Info reports that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Adamu, gave the ruling on Friday, following a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party for non-monitoring of the APC legislative primary by the Independent National Electoral Commission in suit number FHC/PH/CS/152/2022.

The councils and constituencies affected are: Obio/Akpor 1 and 2, Andoni, Okrika, Ahoada west, Khana1and 2, PH 1, 2 and 3, Etche 1 and 2 Oyigbo, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.

The Spokesman, Elections Campaign Council of the Rivers All Progressive Congress Party, Sogbeye Eli, expressed surprised at the judgement, but said party would never break despite it being attacked by anti-democratic forces.

Eli, in a statement,urged party faithful and the supporters of the affected candidates in the affected state constituencies neither to despair nor be agitated.

He stated that the party has proceeded with an appeal to reverse the judgment and restore the mandate of candidates ahead of the elections, pointing out that the APC would be on the ballot in the state.

The statement read, “The 2023 Elections Campaign Council of the APC received with surprise the news of another judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt this afternoon ordering the disqualification of our candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly in 16 State Constituencies for the March 11, 2023 general election.”

“Delivering judgment in the case brought by the PDP; PDP v. INEC and 33 Others (FHC/PH/CS/152/2022), Justice Turaki Mohammed ruled in favour of the plaintiffs for non-monitoring of the APC legislative primary by INEC in Andoni, Etche Constituency 1 & 2, Tai, Gokana, Oyigbo, Eleme, Port Harcourt Constituency 1, 2 & 3, Khana Constituency 1 & 2, Okrika, Ahoada West and Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 & 2.”

“With this verdict, only the candidates for Ahoada East 1 & 2, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1 & 2, Emohua, Degema, Akuku Toru 1 & 2, Asari Toru 1 & 2, Bonny, Ikwerre, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Abua/Odual and Ogu/Bolo were spared in the judgment. In the circumstance, the Campaign Council is compelled yet again to urge party faithful and millions of Rivers people supporting our candidates in the affected State Constituencies not to despair or be agitated as we proceed on appeal to reverse the judgment and restore our candidates ahead of the elections.”

“We recall that the same INEC had led evidence to prove that the Commission monitored the APC primary before another Judge of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division, in another matter challenging the eligibility of our candidates for the National Assembly (Senate and the House of Representatives).”

It further stated that “The enemies of democracy in our state who are afraid to meet us at the polls are out to break our spirit and force a fait accompli on the Rivers electorate who are backing our candidates.”

“But they have failed. We will contest the coming elections at all levels and win after setting aside this judgment as the constitution allows the APC.”

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Binani Applauds Decision To Declare Adamawa Gubernatorial Election Inconclusive

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa State, Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, has applauded the Independent National Election Commission for its decision to declare the gubernatorial election in the state as inconclusive.

Fidel Info reports that The 18th of March election was declared inconclusive on the 20th of March by the state collation officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Muhammadu Mele of the University of Maiduguri, due to the irregularities in the votes margin.

The incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the candidate of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 421,524, while Binani polled 390,275.

He said, “Elections were not held in 47 wards, affecting 69 polling units. So, this gives us a margin of 31,249. The total number of PVCs collected in places where elections were not held amounted to 37,016.”

Binani alleged that violence and irregularities were recorded in 16 of the 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, hence the decision to declare the elections inconclusive was just.

“My position is that the INEC REC did very well by declaring the result inconclusive and my reasons are simple,” she said on Friday during a monitored programme on Channels Television .

“Whoever saw or monitored the election of Adamawa State knows that the election was marred with violence, rigging, over-voting and all manner of irregularities.”

“The figures that were deposed were really, as far as I’m concerned, concocted figures.”

According to her, several of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were bypassed, allowing for over-voting and intimidation of electoral staff in a number of locations.

“[For instance] if the BVAS accredited only 10 people, you’ll find out that over 30 people must have voted. That is part of irregularities,” she added.

According to her, the only way for the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) to “come out clean” was to declare that result inconclusive.

Citing the Electoral Act, she argued that INEC has the powers to review the results within seven days to determine whether any declaration was made under duress or where it failed to comply with the electoral laws and regulations.

“I’m never afraid, but all I’m asking is that let INEC please conduct a review on this said local governments so that it will bring out the real figures for all the candidates,” the APC candidate said when asked if she was worried about winning the rerun.

“That is all I am asking, and as soon as that is done, we would be home and dry, and then we would be confident to go back to the field.”

On the possibility of becoming the first elected female governor, Ahmed said she feels great and happy.

“I’m not doing this for Binani; I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for every girl child in this country. It’s for all the women in Nigeria,” she added.

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BREAKING: Adeleke Reinstated As Osun State Governor

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Ademola Adeleke has been reinstated as governor of Osun state once again by the court of appeal in Abuja.

Fidel Info reports that A three-member panel of justices ruled in Adeleke’s appeal on Friday, concluding that the electoral tribunal erred in finding that Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress had proven their claim of excessive voting.

Adeleke is the legitimately elected governor of the state, according to the jury that rendered its decision on Friday.

The Osun governorship election tribunal, in January, held that Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Consequently, the majority judgment of the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Adeleke appealed the judgment.

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Gov-Elect Alex Otti Promises Total Restructuring Of Abia

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Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor-elect, has revealed that Abians should expect general restructuring of the state once he assumes office.

Fidel Info reports that while Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, Otti said in the next few days he would appoint a team that would help him, adding that he would create a bigger and more robust economy in Abia.

Otti said, “In the next few days, I will appoint a team that will be sworn in on the 29 of May. I will appoint the right people who will help me.”

“We will look at a lot of things, but we will take it step by step, including revenue.”


“As of yesterday, I have already started engaging banks. Things they will expect is a general restructuring of Abia.”

He added, “There is no problem in taking loans, but the problem is what you do with the loans. Payment of salaries is my priority.”


“We will create a bigger economy, a robust economy, we will do everything possible to ensure our economy grows.”

NEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, declared Otti the winner of the Abia State Gubernatorial election on Wednesday evening after the resumption of the final collation of governorship election results in Umuahia.

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