2023: Court dismisses suit against Senator Oduah’s candidacy
A Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a suit against Senator Stella Oduah, seeking to invalidate her candidacy for the 2023 Anambra North Senatorial District seat under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
John Emeka, a PDP Senatorial Aspirant in the May 27 Primary Election, had alleged in the suit filed before the court that she lied under oath in both her expression of interest and nomination forms, including in the INEC Form CF001 she submitted to the commission; praying the court to declare it as false.
Delivering judgement, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit for being status barred.
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2023: Court refuses to grant relief against INEC on Voters Registration
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, refused to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately resume the registration of new voters, updating and revision of the register of voters until at least 90 days before the general election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, declared that INEC “is expected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5) and 178 (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 (1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, to continue voters registration, update and revision of voters register until 90 days before the General Election billed to take place on Feb. 25 and March 11.”
However, he held that “this court is unable to grant relief number 3 of the plaintiffs because going by the date of this judgement, from the date of this judgement, the defendant will have just a few days away from 90 days before the general elections of 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”
Rivers budgets N550bn for 2023 Fiscal Year, plans School Feeding Programme
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has presented a budget estimate of 550 billion naira for the 2023 fiscal year before the State House of Assembly; the highest in his administration’s history.
Tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation and Continuity,’ Governor Wike said the sum of 175 billion naira representing about 31% of the total budget, is proposed for recurrent expenditure. In comparison, 350 billion naira, representing about 63% of the total budget, is allocated for capital expenditure.
“We have also provided the sum of N5,000,000,00.00 under Special Projects to introduce and fund a free feeding programme for pupils in our primary schools to increase and sustain enrolments and reduce poverty,” he said at the ceremony on Thursday.
2023 budget: Governor Sule presents N148.9bn proposal to Nasarawa Assembly
Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has presented a 2023 budget proposal of N148,958,122,525.05 for the consideration and approval of the State House of Assembly ahead of the 2023 fiscal year.
Presenting the budget tagged ‘Budget of Economic Consolidation and Continuity’ on Tuesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa Governor said his administration would continue to anchor on transparency, accountability and the rule of law for the overall development of the state.
“A total of N90,566,516,459.56 representing 60.80% of the total budget is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure while the sum of N58,391,606,065.49 representing 39.20% of the total budget is set aside as Capital Expenditure for the year 2023,” he said.
IYC accuses Senate of frustrating Buhari’s efforts at inaugurating NDDC Board
The Abuja/Northern Nigeria Chapter of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has accused the Nigerian Senate of attempting to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s intentions at inaugurating the Niger Delta Development Board Commission (NDDC).
According to the group, the Federal Government removed the Sole Administrator of the Commission, Effiong Akwa Okon, with President Buhari directing that the Board be inaugurated immediately.
In a statement, the Chairman of the Council, Adams Marbo, expressed dismay at the continuous delay by the Senate to act on the NDDC issue. They noted that it was on the strength of the President’s position that the Minster for Niger Delta Affairs, Umanah Okon Umanah, during his visit to NDDC’s Headquarters, informed journalists that the names of the reconstituted Board had already been sent to the Senate.
Ojochenemi Onje-James
Ojochenemi Onje-James is a research writer and journalist with years of proven footprints in areas of crime and politics. She has a M.Sc in International Relations and Strategic Studies as well as a B.Sc in Mass Communication.
