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BREAKING: Court transfers Plateau Labour Party governorship ‘double nomination’ suit to Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Jos has on Wednesday transferred the Plateau State Labour Party Governorship case to the Federal High Court Headquarters, Abuja on the directive of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that all cases involving the double nomination of candidates be transferred to the Headquarters.
It would be recalled that Justice D. V. Agishi of the Federal High Court Jos had ordered the Labour Party LP, Dr Patrick Dakum and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appear before the Court in ninety six (96) hours to show cause why they cannot be restrained from substituting Amb. Yohanna Margif as the validly elected candidate of the party.
Our correspondent reports that Amb. Yohanna Margif who is the Governorship Candidate of the LP in Plateau State ahead of the 2023 elections had approached the Court through his Counsel M. B. Abdullah Esq.
In a Motion exparte dated the 15th August 2022 and filled on the same 15th August 2022, prays the court for the following orders:
While presiding the case on Wednesday at Federal High Court Jos, Justice Agishi told both the Plaintiff and Defendants Counsels that “there is a directive by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that all cases involving the double nomination of candidates should be transferred to the Headquarters and base on that she is transferring the file to Abuja immediately.”
The judge however vacates the 96 hours earlier given to all defendants since she is no longer handling the matter.
Chief Kutu Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is the Counsel to the second defendant, Dr Patrick Dakum while speaking with Journalists after the case disagreed with the issue of double nomination, saying he is ready to appear in Abuja whenever he is served.
Counsel to the Plaintiff Amb. Yohanna Margif sai d M. B. Abdullah Esq told Journalists that his client has never sworn an affidavit for his withdrawal as the Candidate of the party
“We had approached the court for An order for an interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant whether by itself, its agents, privies or assigns or any other person acting through it, or howsoever from taking any action or process or further action or process for changing or substituting the plaintiff as the validly nominated candidate of the 1st defendant for the seat of Governor of Plateau State based on the purported letter of withdrawal, notice affidavit or any other document whatsoever not written or signed by the plaintiff or personally delivered by the plaintiff to the 1st defendant pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff’s motion on Notice for an interlocutory injunction”.
Also at the court, Counsel to the Labour Party C.K. Fwana kicked against the transfer of the Case to Abuja told the court that he was not satisfied with the development.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that the Plateau state chapter of the Labour Party had on June 9, 2022, conducted its primary election which saw the emergence of Yohana Margie as the Governorship Candidate of the Party and a Certificate of Return was Presented to him by the National Chairman of the Party Julius Abure.
But in a dramatic twist, the party conducted another primary election on August 5, in Jos amidst controversy and reported that Yohana Margie had resigned which produced Dr Patrick Dakum as the new candidate of the party in Plateau.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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