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JUST IN: INEC explains kicking against tendering own documents against Tinubu’s election

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shed light on why it kicked against the tendering of its documents as exhibits by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Gregory Obi, to establish his petition against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The electoral body had on Thursday vehemently objected to the admission of several documents brought to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by Obi and the Labour Party for the purpose of tendering them as exhibits to justify their petition.

However, at Friday’s proceedings, INEC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro SAN, told the court that the electoral body kicked against the tendering of certified true copies of the documents, mainly election result sheets, because Obi and the Labour Party did not challenge the conduct of the election in the areas relating to the documents.

Pinheiro explained that issues were not joined in the local government areas where the result sheets were sought to be tendered, adding that it was wrong of the petitioners to go beyond the areas where the election is disputed.

He accused Obi of trying to confuse issues by bringing result sheets where he did not dispute the election and the returns adding that the presidential candidate ought to have guided himself with the pleadings in his petition.

According to INEC, the local government areas unlawfully smuggled into proceedings of the court are totally strange to the petition and cannot stand in the face of the law.

INEC’s explanation offered while lawyers were ordered to make an appearance, however, drew the anger of the Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani.

Justice Tsammani held that it was wrong of INEC’s lawyer to have smuggled the explanation into the proceedings because all parties in the petition had agreed to offer such explanations at the address stage of proceedings.

Pinheiro, in return, apologized to the court but said that he was forced to speak up on the objections because of the deluge of criticisms suffered in the media by his client.

The senior lawyer hinted that social media users had turned his client to an object of ridicule without finding out reasons for objections against the admissibility of the documents.

Meanwhile, the court has admitted as exhibits form EC8A from 21 local government areas of Adamawa and eight local government areas of Bayelsa States and parts of Rivers and Niger State as tendered by Obi and the Labour Party.

Peter Afoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, is conducting proceedings for Obi and LP.

Earlier, hearing in the petition of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) was further shifted to June 9 by the court to enable lawyers to obtain the May 26 judgment of the Supreme Court that would determine whether the petition still has life to sustain it or not.

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Lagos shuts construction site, issues warning over illegal structures

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The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has sealed a construction site and issued a 72-hour ultimatum to another property within the Lekki–Ikoyi corridor for engaging in unauthorised development.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), the agency said its officials sealed a building under construction at Femi Okunnu Road, Alexander Avenue, after the developers failed to obtain the necessary building permits.

LASBCA stressed that strict adherence to building regulations remains essential to curb the rise of illegal structures and ensure safety and orderly urban development across Lagos.

The agency also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to QMB Mart to dismantle all illegal structures erected on Coastal Road and under the powerline.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Abiodun, the space in question was originally designated as a parking lot but had been converted into a commercial complex without proper approvals.

“The occupants allegedly turned the area into a commercial hub, erecting a laundromat, clubhouse, and eatery without authorisation,” Abiodun said. “Development in Lagos must follow due process. Any structure built without approval or any change in the use of government-allocated spaces without consent is illegal. We are committed to upholding the state’s master plan.”

The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustained monitoring and enforcement across all development zones.

“Our duty is to ensure that all buildings in Lagos meet safety and regulatory standards,” she stated. “Anyone who erects structures without approval will be identified, marked, and subjected to necessary enforcement actions.”

LASBCA added that the ongoing enforcement drive will continue across the state as part of efforts to eliminate illegal constructions and promote a safer, well-planned Lagos.

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Anti-Trump Protest Breaks out in Kano (Photos)

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Islamic groups in Kano State are currently protesting against recent moves by United States President, Donald Trump, to intervene in the country’s security crisis.

The protesters trooped out on Saturday to counter Trump’s claim of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

They were seen displaying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘We condemn Trump’s threat to attack Nigeria’, ‘There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria’, ‘America wants to control our resources’, amongst others.

Islamic groups in Kano State are currently protesting against recent moves by United States President, Donald Trump, to intervene in the country’s security crisis.

The protesters trooped out on Saturday to counter Trump’s claim of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

They were seen displaying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘We condemn Trump’s threat to attack Nigeria’, ‘There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria’, ‘America wants to control our resources’, amongst others.

Ohibaba recalls that Trump recently designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over the alleged persecution of Christians in the country.

The US President subsequently threatened that if the Nigerian government fails to address the killing of Christians, the American military will intervene.

The Nigerian government has since denied the alleged Christian genocide, describing it as false.

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Kogi Govt Revokes Illegal Land Consent Approvals, Orders Revalidation Within Four Weeks

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The Kogi State Government has withdrawn the powers of land owners to issue consent approvals, directing that such authority will now reside solely with the Office of the Executive Governor of the State.

This was one of the key resolutions reached at the Kogi State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday, 6th November, 2025, at the New EXCO Hall, Government House, Lokoja, under the chairmanship of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the Executive Council Meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo said with the new directive, all previously issued consent approvals by land owners are now declared invalid, while holders of such documents have been given four weeks to revalidate them at the Office of the Executive Governor.

Fanwo explained that the decision was taken after the government discovered that several individuals were in possession of forged consent approvals, which pose both administrative and security threats to the state.

He said the revalidation process would enable the government to properly profile all land users, ensure genuine ownership, and enhance security across communities.

“We have found that many of the consent approvals being paraded are fake, and the state has no record of those holding them.

This situation poses a serious security risk. By centralizing the process and revalidating existing consents, we will know who occupies our land and for what purpose”, he stated.

The Commissioner said Governor Ododo’s administration remains committed to transparency, orderliness, and the protection of both citizens and investors in land administration, stressing that the move was in the overall interest of public safety and sustainable development.

He assured the citizens that the government will continue to implement policies that strengthen governance structures and safeguard the integrity of state assets.

Other key highlights from the Executive Council meeting included directives to Commissioners to provide three boreholes each in their local government areas, the restriction of articulated vehicles on Lokoja roads during the day, approval for transformer procurement across senatorial districts, and consideration of the 2026 Draft Budget christened “Budget of Shared Prosperity.”

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