News
Supreme Court Dismisses APC’s Application To Review Zamfara State Governorship Judgment
The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed an application, asking it to review its judgement which nullified the victory of the candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, at the 2019 General elections held in Zamfara State.
With one out of seven justices dissenting, the court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed, held that the application by the APC is an abuse of court process.
Reading the majority judgement, Justice John Okoro said the apex court lacked the jurisdiction to review its own judgement.
“The finality of the Supreme Court is sealed,” he held.
“The application is a gross abuse of court process, it is frivolous.
“The application is hereby dismissed.”
Justice Okoro further awarded the cost of N2 million against the appellant to be paid to the first – 140th respondents.
The fresh application before the apex court was brought by a faction of the APC led by a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari.
The APC Counsel, Roberte Clarke, had urged the court to grant his clients’ application by setting aside the consequential order which gave victory to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates in the State.
Mr Clarke also urged the apex court to order the APC to conduct fresh primaries.
The Senior Lawyer argued that the apex court’s previous orders were made without jurisdiction.
However, the Lawyer of the Kabiru Marafa-led APC faction in Zamfara, Mike Ozekhome, urged the apex court to dismiss the application and award huge costs against the applicants’ Lawyer.
The Supreme Court had, on May 24, ruled that the APC did not conduct valid primaries in the build-up to the 2019 General elections in Zamfara.
The apex court validated the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, which ruled that no valid primaries were conducted by the APC in Zamfara State.
The court in a unanimous judgement by a five-member panel decided that a party that had no valid candidate cannot be said to have emerged winner of the elections.
In an appeal brought by the APC, the apex court ruled against the appellant and ordered a fine of N10 million against the APC.
“Candidate other than the first appellant with the highest votes stand elected. A cost of N10 million is awarded against the appellant,” the court had ruled.
It then declared the first runners-up in the 2019 general elections in the State as the winners of all the offices earlier declared to have been won by the APC and its candidates.
Dissatisfied with the apex court judgement, APC, through Mr Clarke, filed an application on June 17, 2019, asking the apex court to “review, amend, correct and/or set aside the consequential orders” contained in the May 24, 2019 judgment of the apex court.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revealed one of the reasons he can’t make peace with Governor Similayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Wike accused Fubara of removing a chief in his family and went ahead to make another person a chief.
The FCT Minister stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists at a media parley in Abuja.
According to reports, the statement comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the State, with Wike and Governor Similayi Fubara at the center of the feud.
“Sometimes when you people talk about this peace, you don’t take everything. You don’t just sit outside to talk.
“Look at me, a former governor, Minister of of the FCT, Governor (Fubara) had the temerity, the audacity, because he has money from federation account, because he has more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), will enter my own family to remove a chief and make another person a chief,” Wike said.
Akwa Ibom state Police Command has said that some locally made firearms have been recovered during stop and search operations along Ikot road in the state .
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state DSP Timfon John and made available to Journalists in Uyo on Thursday stated that the recovered firearms was in a determined effort to rid the state of illegal firearms and criminal elements .
The statement reads in parts:” Operatives of the Command intercepted a Mercedes Benz C300 with customized plate number FORBES JR, leading to the recovery of a locally fabricated firearm and two live cartridges.
“The operation, which took place at the Control Post in Ikot Ekpene, was part of the Command’s intensified stop-and-search strategy aimed at curbing crime and enhancing public safety.”
He said the vehicle had three male occupants who were identified themselves as: Nsisong Paul Okon, 27, native of Itak Village in Ikono local government area ,Francis Forbes, 62 from Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village and Prince Forbes, 27, of Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village from Ikono local government area respectively.
However, John disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba M. Azare has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reaffirms its zero tolerance for unlawful possession of firearms and remains resolute in ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state”.
President Bola Tinubu has instructed lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allow the impeached and reinstated Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to continue leading the house.
The President made this position known when he met with the lawmakers at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
As reported earlier, this is the first time President Tinubu is meeting the lawmakers since the crisis began in the house January 13, 2025.
One of the lawmakers told newsmen that ” Obasa is staying. We will obey the president. What we had was a family meeting. The President condenmed Obasa’s actions but blamed us for not carring him (Tinubu) along during the impeachement execrise”.
However, the lawmaker said President Tinubu warned Obasa to carry everyone along.
” He also warned him (Obasa) that if there were any future complaints from any quarters, he would be gone. “The President said he should let peace reign; and so based on that, we have accepted.”
On the pending matter in court, the source said: “The President has instructed him to withdraw it.”
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