The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Abayomi Tella, has called on the party members eyeing positions to improve on their relationship with electorates, as well as grassroots mobilization, saying the opposition party could not afford a ‘try and error tactic’ in 2027.

Tella stated that if they failed to build relationships and trust, they would loose their popularity and the election.

Tella spoke on Monday during a programme organized by the PDP candidate for Abeokuta South federal constituency election in 2023, Toyin Amuzu.

The chairman encouraged them to be at peace with one another and spread the word about the party to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

“To all our intending aspirants, it’s not until the election is about six months that you would be getting close to the people.

“That’s why you loose your popularity and lost elections. Create relationship with the people now that election is still far, not everything is money, get close to the grassroots and do it now.

“I want to plead with all of us that we should use this platform to unite our party.

“Whatever you call strength is in unity, we can’t afford to do a try and error again. 2027 is our year, yes, but we have some certain responsibility to take,” he said.

On his part, Amuzu said, “well, if we have a lot of representatives, senators, and governors empowering people within their four years tenure, I’m sure by now everyone would have a job.”

The Federal High Court in Lagos has declined jurisdiction in a suit challenging the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, striking out the case brought by residents and property owners in the Okun-Ajah community of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, in a consolidated ruling on multiple preliminary objections raised by the defendants, held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Consequently, the case, marked FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, was struck out.

However, the Judge directed that the suit be transferred to the Lagos State High Court, which he deemed the appropriate forum to adjudicate on the issues raised.

The Plaintiffs, Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community), Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo filed the suit on behalf of Okun-Ajah residents and affected property owners, seeking to halt the coastal road project over alleged encroachment on their lands.

They asked the court to nullify any construction or planning activity on their properties, alleging unlawful encroachment and trespass.

Among the reliefs sought were orders to invalidate the road designs affecting their land, to restrain the authorities and contractor from continuing construction on the disputed area, and to award damages for the alleged trespass.

The defendants named in the suit include the Honourable Minister of Works, Dr. Dave Umahi; Engineer Olukorede Keisha; the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing; Lagos State Attorney-General; the Lagos Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Surveyor-General of Lagos State; General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency; and Hitech Construction Limited.

In response, the 1st to 3rd and 9th Defendants filed separate preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Represented by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Prof. J.O. Olatoke, SAN; Y.A.H. Ruba, SAN; Roy U. Nwaeze, SAN; and Ibukun Fasoro, they argued that the matter fell outside the purview of the Federal High Court.

The preliminary objections were supported by affidavits, to which the plaintiffs responded with a counter-affidavit.

In his ruling, Justice Aluko upheld the objections, stating that the legal questions raised and the reliefs sought were more appropriately handled by the Lagos State High Court. He ruled in favour of the Defendants, bringing proceedings at the Federal High Court to a close.

“Counsel to the Plaintiffs made an alternative submission in his written address, urging the court not to strike out this suit if the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate over the case.

“Counsel urged the court to transfer this suit to the State High Court, instead of striking out same.

“I agree with Counsel on this request, as this court possesses the needed power and jurisdiction to accede to such prayer.

“This court is fortified under Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, which provides thus: ‘No cause or matter shall be struck out by the court merely on the ground that such cause or matter was taken in the court instead of the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which it ought to have been brought, and the Judge of the court before whom such cause or matter is brought may cause such cause or matter to be transferred to the appropriate High Court of a State or at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in accordance with Rules of Court to be made under Section 44 of this Act.

“The Objections of the 1st-3rd and 9th Defendant/Objectors are therefore, sustained. This court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate over the subject-matter in this case.

“Pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, this suit is accordingly transferred to the Lagos State High Court as the appropriate court for adjudication”, Justice Aluko held.

A tragic incident unfolded on the evening of Saturday, along the Bwari-Dutse Road in Abuja, where a shooting linked to a VIP convoy claimed the life of a bystander and left several others injured.

According to reports, the chaos began after a Daf Trailer Truck reportedly lost its brakes and rammed into five tricycles around 6:50 p.m., resulting in a deadly crash.

Eight people were injured in the accident, and two later died from their injuries at Kubwa General Hospital.

As emergency responders and commuters grappled with the aftermath of the crash, a VIP convoy approached the gridlocked scene.

Eyewitnesses reported that security personnel in the convoy began firing shots into the air, apparently in an attempt to clear the road.

Amid the confusion, a stray bullet hit Timothy John, a passerby from Dutse Baupma, in the chest.

He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The identity of the VIP or those responsible for the gunfire has not yet been disclosed, sparking public outrage and concern over the reckless actions of convoy security operatives.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into both the accident and the shooting, with the body of Timothy John taken for autopsy.