Politics
EDO GUBER: Tribunal Affirms the Election of Okphebholo
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Monday Okphebholo of the All Progressives Congress APC as governor of Edo State.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
In its judgment, the panel says Asue Ighodalo and the PDP failed to call competent witnesses to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the Tribunal said non-compliance must be proven convincingly.
The Tribunal says the failure of the petitioners to call polling unit officers, presiding officers or even voters during the election proved fatal to their petition.
The Tribunal says most of the 19 witnesses called by the PDP merely gave hearsay evidence during the proceedings. Justice Kpochi faulted what he termed as PDP’s realiance of Section 137 of the Electoral Act to dump documents on the Tribunal.
The Tribunal says it’s not for it to scrutinize documents tendered by the petitioners.
The Tribunal further says the BVAS machines tendered by the petitioners remain dormant, as it’s not the duty of the Tribunal to access the data in the machines.
In the unanimous decision, the Tribunal thereby restated that to prove overvoting as alleged by Ighodalo and the PDP there’s the need to tender the voters register, BVAS machines and polling unit results or Forms EC8A.
Following this, the Tribunal dismissed the petition of Asue Ighodalo of the PDP for lacking in merit.
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo who got 247,655 votes. PDP are challenging the results from 765 polling units of the 4,519 units in Edo State.
The PDP candidate faulted the outcome of the election on grounds non-compliance with the Electoral Act and the failure of Monday Okphebholo to secure majority of the lawful votes cast.
Putting that in context, the PDP governorship candidate alleged improper computation of votes by INEC, non serialization of electoral materials and overvoting.
Politics
Kano assembly by-elections hold Saturday
Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.
The Kano State Police Command has announced movement restrictions in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas ahead of the February 21, 2026, State Assembly by-elections.
The announcement followed a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano, Zango Abdu, held on February 19, 2026.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the command stated that ICCES “met today, 19th February 2026 and concluded security arrangements ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo LGAs State Constituencies, slated for February 21, 2026.
”The Co-Chair of ICCES and Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said that the command, “in collaboration with other security agencies, has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, credible, transparent, and successful by-elections for Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies.”
The statement read, “Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.
”It added that “exceptions will only be granted to vehicles on essential services, such as ambulances, fire service trucks, and vehicles of electoral officers and accredited election observers.”
Politics
Abuja Area Council Elections Hold Tomorrow
Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
Photo: FCT ABUJA
The FCT Police Command has announced a 12-hour restriction on movement across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
” The directive applies to all residents, except essential service providers and duly accredited election officials,” he said.
The Command urged residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and to cooperate with security agencies to guarantee a safe, free, and credible electoral process.
Members of the public were also encouraged to report suspicious persons or activities through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08061581938.
The police said the measure is part of broader security arrangements aimed at maintaining law and order during the elections across the FCT’s area councils.
Politics
Rivers lawmakers halt impeachment of Fubara and Odu, following Tinubu’s interventions
The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.
Photo: River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. PHOTO: https://theverdict.ng/
The Rivers State House of Assembly suspended today the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The lawmakers reached the decision following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu recently.
The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.
The resolution to halt the process was adopted on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, presided over by the Speaker, Majority Leader, Major Jack.
The House had, at its first sitting of 2026, begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.
The claims included the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and an alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, among other issues.
Lawmakers said the notice of allegations was issued under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).In a letter dated January 16, 2026, the Assembly asked the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations.
However, the Chief Judge declined, citing a subsisting High Court order restraining further action on the matter.
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