Television Nigerian

In Abuja, where the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) is located, protesters from the Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) have demonstrated.

In the ongoing evaluation of the February 25 presidential election, fairness and impartiality are demanded in the protest.

The protesters, who were mostly dressed in black, showed their support for those who have been harmed by the widespread insecurity that has gripped the nation, especially the North Central region.

The recent killing spree needed to stop, they demanded.

The protesters held up numerous placards with messages like “INEC Must Revert Polling Unit Results,” “We Take A Stand – May Nigeria Win,” “Stop The Violence,” “Nigeria Not For Sale,” and “We Stand For Justice,” among others. In addition, they shouted slogans in favor of good governance, justice, and transparency in the Tribunal’s legal proceedings.

The group’s convener, Dr. Moses Paul, emphasized during his speech to the audience that they were not affiliated with any political party and instead stood in support of justice and effective government alongside the Nigerian people, according to Leadership Newspaper.

He emphasized the need to maintain the integrity of the proceedings taking place inside the Appeal Court, harshly denouncing any judges who might be swayed by bribery or disregard the Nigerian constitution, and threatening them with severe repercussions.

Dr. Paul remarked, “Any judge that decides to collect money or decides not to follow the Nigerian constitution, any judge that decides to do the wrong thing so that Nigeria can go down, e no go better for una! Because until Nigeria takes its place in the club of nations, Africa won’t advance until we demonstrate dignity, honesty, direction, and leadership, the entire continent of Africa as well as the rest of the world are waiting for us. When the entire world is keeping an eye on us and waiting for us, we cannot watch as our country crumbles to nothing. Because of all the blood and death we have witnessed, we are no longer even crying. As a group, we demand accountability, equity, justice, and fairness from everyone.

Another group member, Lucky Obiyan, expressed concern regarding a political agenda that places personal gain above the welfare of the country in the run-up to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In his statement, Obiyan claimed that the Free Nigeria Movement would not cooperate with a body that would be subject to the whims and aims of the ruling party. He urged the Appellate Court and Supreme Court to uphold justice and pleaded with the decision-makers not to let bribery compromise the integrity of the process.

The protest was peaceful and there were no reports of violence or arrests, this newspaper learned despite the significant police presence.

After Dr. Alex Otti was disqualified from serving as the governor-elect of Abia State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) responded.

The PDP has refuted Otti’s assertions that the PDP and the Abia State Government were behind a deliberate plot to remove him following the recent Kano Federal High Court ruling that led to his dismissal.

According to Ferdinand Ekeoma, the spokesperson for Otti, reports that the PDP and the Abia State Government were behind were unfounded and misleading.

However, the party acknowledged the decision made by the Federal High Court in Kano in a press release issued by Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, the Abia PDP vice chairman and acting state publicity secretary.

Remember that the Labour Party was found to have violated the 2022 Electoral Act by failing to submit its member list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the allotted 30-day period prior to the primaries, rendering Otti and other Labour Party candidates in Abia State ineligible for their positions.

Amah clarified that Mr. Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim was the one who submitted the application to invalidate the certificates of return given to all Labour Party candidates who were declared winners in the states of Kano and Abia.

The PDP emphasized that the court approved Mr. Ibrahim’s request after basing its decision on the provisions of the amended Electoral Act.

The statement emphasized once more that neither the Abia governor-elect nor the Labour Party had been the target of legal action brought by the Abia PDP in Kano’s Federal High Court.

However, the vice chairman claims that the Abia PDP has instructed its legal team to carefully review the judgment because it is a responsible political party.

In addition, the Abia PDP has already filed a petition with the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal accusing the incoming governor and the Labour Party of rigging the election. In order to reclaim what it sees as its legitimate mandate, the party is also looking into other legal options.

The PDP urged the residents of Abia State to maintain their composure and peace during this time, assuring them that justice will ultimately triumph once the Election Petition Tribunal issues its ruling.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Labour Party were sued in the case (Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023) brought by Mr. Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim. The court determined that the Labour Party’s primary election process was invalid because it failed to submit its membership register to INEC within the required timeframe.

As a result, the judge determined that the votes cast for the first defendant (Labour Party) were wasted votes because the party had violated the electoral act’s provisions regarding having a candidate and declaring an election winner.