News
Presidential Election: Legal Practitioner and Social Critic, Inibehe Effiong Urges LP, PDP not to panic over INEC’s objections
A legal practitioner and social critic, Inibehe Effiong has urged people not to panic over objections to admissibility of documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the ongoing hearings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, saying
it is a distraction, while claiming that the objected documents by the INEC were duly certified, adding that the Court will act on them.
In a post via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday, the legal expert claimed that “the Electoral Commission’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations”.
He alleged that the INEC had basically aligned its defence strategy with the other Respondents, including the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Effiong said, “People should not panic over objections to admissibility of documents by INEC at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. I’m not surprised by INEC’s roguish and embarrassing attitude. These are public documents duly certified. The Court will act on them. It is a distraction.
“Ordinarily, INEC being the maker of the documents which they’ve certified, that is Form EC8 series (polling unit & collation results), they’re not supposed to object to their admissibility.
“I’ve always said that INEC’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations.
“The documents have been admitted, though the Respondents will state the grounds for their objections in their final addresses.
“Typically, the tribunal will look into the documents and act on them.
“As long as the documents have been duly certified, there’s no cause for alarm.
“INEC has basically aligned their defence strategy with the other Respondents (Tinubu, APC and Shettima). They’re working in sync as they always do.”
At the resumed hearing of the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP challenging the election of President Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, counsel to the petitioners, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, said that the team had prepared a second schedule of documents to be tendered.
Some documents the petitioners tendered in evidence through Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, were certified true copies of Form EC8A downloaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from its Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
The Form EC8A was for eight local government areas of Bayelsa, 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, 20 local government areas of Ogun and of 23 local government areas of Kogi.
Form EC8As are sheets used for collection of results at the polling units level.
But counsel to INEC, Mr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, objected to the admissibility of all documents relating to Kogi except for those of five Local Government Areas, namely, Olamaboro, Ofu, Omala, Okehi and Ajaokuta.
He said this was because the five local governments whose documents he did not oppose were specifically pleaded in the petitioners’ pleadings.
Pinhero also objected to the admissibility of the documents relating to the BVAS except for Kogi, Rivers and Sokoto states.
News
Fayose Meets Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Holds Closed-Door Talks at OOPL
The meeting has, however, sparked political speculation, coming at a time when discussions around the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and national reconciliation efforts are gaining momentum.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Fayose, who arrived at the OOPL complex was received by aides of the former president before proceeding to Obasanjo’s private where the meeting was held.
Although details of their discussions were not made public, sources close to the meeting described it as “a private visit” that lasted for over an hour.
The former Ekiti governor, known for his outspoken political style and criticism of national leaders, has in recent times called for unity among southern political actors ahead of future political realignments.
The meeting has, however, sparked political speculation, coming at a time when discussions around the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and national reconciliation efforts are gaining momentum.
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.
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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