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Tribunal: Atiku, PDP Indicates Plans To Call 100 Witnesses

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Both the Peoples Democratic Party and it’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar are challenging the declaration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February 25 election.

Both PDP and Atiku have indicated plans to call “not more than 100 witnesses” to the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Counsel for Atiku and the PDP, Chris Uche, addressing the court in Abuja on Saturday, said all the parties had met, and considered and agreed on the numbers of witnesses, duration and examination of witnesses.

Uche added that though the new time given them to call the witnesses is seven weeks, they would need three weeks, since the issues were getting narrower.

All the parties in the suit agreed to streamline the numbers of witnesses as well as the duration of each party to call witnesses.

For the evidence in chief, they categorised them into 30 minutes for the lead witness because they will tender and identify documents.

They also proposed 15 minutes for each respondent for cross-examination and five minutes for re-examination of the lead witness of the petitioners. In addition, 10 minutes was proposed for other witnesses of the petitioners, as well as 10 minutes for cross-examination of these witnesses, by the respondents.

The star witnesses of the respondents — the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu and the APC — 30 minutes was proposed, while 30 minutes was proposed for cross-examination of the respondents’ witness, by the respondents.

INEC said it has two witnesses that will testify, while the counsel to President -elect said it had 39 witnesses ready.

For the President-elect, the report of any star witness should be made available 48 hours before hearing.

The schedule of documents to be filed must be given to other parties before the hearing and calling of witnesses.

Examination of experts/star witnesses was fixed for 20 minutes, while cross-examination by respondents was scheduled for 30 minutes. Re-examination was fixed at five minutes.

Furthermore, examination of non-experts/star witness was scheduled for 10 minutes; cross-examination, 15 minutes; and re-examination at five minutes.

The same applies for the APC. The only difference is the number of witnesses — it has 25 witnesses set to testify.

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Sanwo-Olu prepares the way for Tinubu’s official visit to Lagos state

President Tinubu is expected to inaugurate several key projects executed by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, including the Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge, designed to ease traffic congestion across the metropolis.

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President Bola Tinubu will officially visit Lagos state on April 8 and 9, during which he will commission several completed projects by the administration of governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said during a press briefing outlining activities for the President’s visit.

Omotoso said that Lagos remains Nigeria’s commercial hub and that the projects slated for commissioning reflect the administration’s investments in transportation, infrastructure, education, and public sector development.
According to him, President Tinubu is expected to inaugurate several key projects executed by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, including the Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge, designed to ease traffic congestion across the metropolis.

Other projects include the Lagos State Geographic Information Service building, a multi-agency complex named after the President, a newly completed school complex, and the Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki.

He added that the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle comprises 36 public schools—31 secondary and five primary schools—situated on 11.73 hectares of land in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Omotoso said the redevelopment of the complex demonstrates the government’s people-oriented approach, noting that it serves about 20,000 pupils.

” These projects have been carefully conceived and executed to address the needs of our growing population, ease mobility, stimulate economic activity, and enhance social welfare,” he said.

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Jega loses wife, Hajiya Hadiza

Hajia Hadiza passed on yesterday and was buried according to Islamic rites.

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The Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has lost his wife, Hajiya Hadiza Jega.

Hajia Hadiza passed on yesterday and was buried according to Islamic rites.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President at the janazah (Islamic funeral rites) yesterday at the National Mosque in Abuja, conveyed the President’s heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

President Tinubu described the late Hajiya Hadiza as a woman of uncommon grace and strength, noting that she played a pivotal role as a steady support system to her husband throughout his years of public service, including his tenure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

A statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the President also applauded her contributions to education and community development, highlighting her quiet but impactful influence in advancing social causes.

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Atiku hires US lobbying firm for $1.2m to boost image – Report

One of the objectives of the engagement is to “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s “lobbying narratives” in the United States, while also working to “advance understanding” of Atiku’s “leadership posture and policy vision” among policymakers.

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Ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has hired a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., to strengthen his reputational standing in the United States.

The PUNCH reported that the details of the deal are contained in documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, which show that the agreement was signed on March 9 and 10, 2026, by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji on behalf of the former vice president.

According to the filing sighted on the Department of Justice ’s website on Sunday, the contract is aimed at shaping perceptions of Atiku within U.S. policy circles and countering narratives linked to the Nigerian government.

One of the objectives of the engagement is to “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s “lobbying narratives” in the United States, while also working to “advance understanding” of Atiku’s “leadership posture and policy vision” among policymakers.

Under the arrangement, the firm is expected to facilitate meetings between the former vice-president and U.S. government officials, including members of Congress, as well as provide advisory services on policy positioning and engagement strategy.

“These activities include lobbying and government affairs engagement with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and executive branch officials concerning issues related to democratic governance, regional stability, economic development, and U.S. engagement with Nigeria and the broader West African region,” part of the contract reads.

The firm will also undertake “promotion, perception management, and public relations activities designed to enhance understanding among U.S. policymakers and relevant stakeholders” of Atiku’s positions.

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