Innocent Ojefia Blog

It is understandable if the PDP-led government of Delta state is jittery over the fate of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as Sen Ovie Omo-Agege's determination to rightfully claim the mandate through the court to get to climax with the highly anticipated Supreme Court decider. It is however annoying and unacceptable for Oborevwori and the PDP in their desperation to win at all cost to attempt to defame President Bola Tinubu by engaging fifth columnists to accuse the President of moving to influence the ultimate Supreme Court judgment in favour of Omo-Agege. This is the most unfounded, baseless allegation. Oborevwori and Delta PDP must leave Tinubu out of the impending doom. Tinubu is not the judiciary. When court judgments are in favour of the PDP and other opposition candidates, then judgments will be hailed and commended. When the judgments are in favour of ruling APC candidates then the opposition will say it is influenced by Tinubu and APC. And by accusing the President they are al...

Deltans have expressed deep concern over troubling allegations of bribery against judges of the Delta State Governorship Appeal Court, whose judgment was recently delivered in Lagos State. In a widely circulated leaked audio, Hon. Daniel Mayuku, a senior member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and a former three-time member of the State House of Assembly representing Warri South West constituency, can be heard making disturbing claims. Mayuku stated in the leaked audio that three days before the pronounced judgment of the Appeal court, the Delta State PDP knew that the judgment favoured Ovie Omo Agege based on facts and available evidence. They allegedly used financial inducement and blackmail to influence the change of the judgement in favour of the PDP governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, against the true picture of the case. Mayuku in the leaked audio claimed that the Court of Appeals is highly corrupt and expensive, and that the Appeal court is the only place they ...

The recent outcry from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is transforming Nigeria into a one-party state, but upon closer examination, there is no evidence supporting this allegation. For instance, APC senators faced setbacks in the Court of Appeal, and an APC governor in Nasarawa State was ousted by the election's tribunal. In contrast, PDP's Bala Mohammad of Bauchi State triumphed in both the tribunal and the Appeal Court, and Gov Diri of Bayelsa secured re-election. President Tinubu demonstrated statesmanship by mediating in the attempted impeachment of the PDP governor of Rivers State, emphasizing a commitment to national unity. It's important to note that APC's losses are accepted as legitimate, while claims of manipulation arise when other parties face defeats. Belief in the Nigerian system, despite challenges, is crucial. Courts operate independently, and judgments, even if divergent from personal opinions, s...

  These are unusual times in politics and for politicians. Despite the dubious perception that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) platform introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has had limited impact on making the people's vote count, the stunning victory of Labour Party's Peter Obi in Lagos is one sterling outcome pundits have been unable to dismiss as something that could have been impossible to achieve without the BVAS in the presidential poll. Similarly, the outcome of the presidential and gubernatorial election in Oyo State where Governor Seyi Makinde never disguised his disapproval of PDP's unimaginative and provocative choice of its presidential candidate showed that he was able to give vent to his stance on equity without jeopardizing his re-election as governor of his state. In Delta State where the National Assembly election's outcome have been affirmed by the courts, the fact that APC comfortably picked two of three sen...

Recently, Jackson Ude published another concoction intended to bring disrepute to office of the President and the Judiciary. In a bizarre post on X titled "PDP to lose Delta, Plateau, and Nasarawa States," Ude's allegation appears delusional, unfounded, and highly ridiculous. Known for blackmail and disseminating fake news, Ude, unable to influence Peter Obi's efforts to overturn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's election victory, has shifted focus to State Governors and their election petition processes. Ude, displaying a lack of boundaries in his questionable practices, has fabricated this falsehood to ambush, manipulate and coerce the Judiciary in addressing perceived wrongs from the last general election. It is disheartening to witness Ude persist on the path of perfidy, as his attention-seeking escapades have victimized those unwilling to succumb to his blackmail for money. There are suspicions that Ude may now be working for the Delta State Government and the PD...

Hahaha! Loser and desperado called Atiku wants to merge with LP and other political parties in Nigeria. That's the biggest joke of the century. Which Nigeria does this desperado want to save? First, while LP is a splinter party of PDP, a merger of PDP with LP can never work for one simple reason. The so called Obidients don't believe in Atiku and his Atikulation. If Peter Obi merges with Atiku and his PDP, large number of Obedients would leave Peter Obi and his LP in droves. It's an impossible union.  Second, who would be the Presidential candidate in 2027, if PDP merges with LP? Atiku would never bow for Peter Obi to become the Presidential candidate because of ego and Peter Obi would never bow for Atiku to become Presidential candidate, because of his Obidients and Obidientism. That leaves both in a miserable political dilemma. Both of them have shot themselves in the foot. Third, even if both parties merged to become a political party, they can never defeat Tinubu in 202...

The Appeal Court, sitting at the Lagos Division, on Monday, reserved judgment in three separate appeals filed by the governorship candidates: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress, Kenneth Gbagi, candidate of the Social Democratic Party, and Ken Pela, the Labour Party Governorship candidate. They are all challenging the election of Sheriff Oborevwori of the People's Democratic Party as the governor of Delta State. The three-member panel, presided over by Justice Hamma Barka, reserved judgment in the three appeals after taking submissions from counsels for all the parties. Other members of the panel are Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole and Justice Hadiza Shagari. The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier declared the Governorship Candidate of PDP, Sheriff Oborevwori, as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Delta State. The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba had earlier upheld Oborevwori’s election as Governor ...

Following from the hazy events surrounding the NLC protest or is it labour party campaign rally of November 1 2023 in Owerri the Imo state capital, the Nigeria Labour Congress raised an alarm that it's president Joe Ajaero had been abducted by operatives of the Nigeria police force and issued an ultimatum for his release within 24 hours, failure which it threatened to embark on a nationwide strike. Barely within 24 hours, Nigerians were regaled with the picture and a video of the NLC president in a vehicle looking battered and the NLC claimed that it's president Joe Ajaero was brutalized with accusing fingers pointed at the Nigeria police force. The NLC also pointed accusing fingers at Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State as being responsible. Following this allegations, the Nigeria police force came out and denied involvement in the brutalization, claiming that it rescued the NLC President by taking him into protective custody to save his life when he was under attack. The Imo ...

The residents of Delta State are eagerly anticipating the adjudication of the Appeal Court in the case of Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege and the All Progressives Congress (APC) appeal. This dispute originated from the Delta State Governorship election held on March 18, where Sheriff Oborewori of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was wrongly declared the winner. Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege and the APC challenged the election results. Regrettably, the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Oborevwori's victory, leading Omo-Agege and the APC to file an appeal, asserting that the ruling of the tribunal constituted a miscarriage of justice and a violation of the rule of law. Many Deltans expressed dissatisfaction when the tribunal failed to address apparent violations of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, guidelines, and the 2023 general election manual. This decision was made despite substantial documentary evidence provided, raising concerns about the credibility of the...

As of today, our moral compass is not merely wavering; it is spinning in a disorienting dance of confusion. While we still gather in churches and mosques, donning our Sunday best or devout attire, the sacred words now merely graze the surface, failing to penetrate the soul. The Nigerian spirit, once founded on integrity, decency, and a beautiful tapestry of communal love, is fraying at the edges, overshadowed by a new and desperate gospel: "Survive. Thrive. By any means necessary." Young Nigerians, armed with talents and dreams as vast as the desert, find themselves ensnared in a labyrinth of ethical compromises. The desperation to not merely succeed but to achieve greatness at any cost has become a blinding light, dimming the beacons of decency we once depended on. We awaken daily to a symphony of distressing news: Everywhere you go, it is the same trade mark, the same hand writing. Insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and ritual killings. There is record-breaki...

The former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has urged all Nigerians, especially politicians to get down to the business of rebuilding Nigeria with the final seal on the Tinubu presidency as affirmed by the Supreme Court judgment. Reacting to the judgment that validated and upheld the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal on the election of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said the judgment has effectively ended all jostling on politics and leadership. "What the Supreme Court did is not just to affirm the validity of President Bola Tinubu's mandate, but a call to duty. The learned Justices saved Nigeria from unnecessary and prolonged distractions by promptly giving their verdict so that we can get down to the task of rebuilding our country. "Whatever each of the protagonists may feel, this is not a victory for President Tinubu alone or any political party. This is admonition for us to collectively work towards fixing Nigeria again," Omo-A...

Guess the Supreme Court did not review the “evidence” in their letter. A letter of one man’s opinion put forth here as “evidence”. Really sad how some so easily debase themselves when they allow their emotions and passions to control their thoughts. A situation now going on in USA since Trump took control of the soul of Republican Party. So much so that even those hitherto respected became choir to the lies and deceit:  They all "won" because they believed that it was ordained and mandated that they would win and how dare anyone disagree. And how dare anyone question that their “story” is not enough evidence.” Unfortunately for them, while many in the society would react and even buy into their stories, the courts that ultimately decided, wanted one thing and one thing only: EVIDENCE! A substantiated and adjudicated evidence not as hangs on, pastors, priests, imams, bishops, cardinals, voodoo master, chiefs, kings, Alhajis, etc said. But Evidence they did not present and woul...

The Supreme Court of Nigeria will finally deliver judgement in the appeals lodged by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his PDP counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Thursday,  October 2023. The legal teams of both the PDP and the LP candidates confirmed that the judgment on the appeals had been scheduled for tomorrow. In their legal briefs adopted at the apex court on Monday, Obi and Atiku are praying the court to overturn the judgment by the presidential election tribunal which affirmed the election of  Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu. More details to follow…

Chief Dele Momodu's passion and unwavering support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the current Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke is admirable. However, the air he claims has been cleared over the lingering controversy surrounding Atiku Abubakar's educational background is still hanging. I implore him to go back to our former Vice President after reading this piece for more clarification. *The Atiku WAEC Certificate Saga;* At Jada Primary School, his name was registered as Atiku Kojoli At Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, he registered as Atiku Abubakar But when he was to join Nigerian Customs, he presented a WAEC certificate that belong to 'Siddik Abubakar'. He them went to court to obtain an affidavit. The Affidavit read :Sadiq Abubakar (not Siddik as contained on WAEC certificate) is same person as Atiku Abubakar. At ABU Diploma in Hygiene, he bears Atiku Abubakar  Then he went to obtain a postgraduate certificate (miraculously without a undergrad...

The supreme court will on Monday hear the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the judgment which affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu. The court sent out hearing notices to the counsels for the respective parties on Thursday. Abubakar and the PDP had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. Among several issues raised, the petitioners alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act. They also alleged that Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were not qualified to contest and did not win the election by the majority of lawful votes cast. However, the presidential election petition tribunal, in its judgment on September 6, held that Abubakar failed to prove all the averments in his petition. Aggrieved, the PDP candidate filed an appeal before the apex court on September 18. In the 35 grounds notice o...

Noboa with little experience in politics was elected the youngest-ever president. He won 52.1 per cent of the vote after South American nation went to the polls on Sunday, compared with opponent Luisa González’s 47.9 per cent. His political career only started in 2021, when he got a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. Mr Noboa’s father Álvaro, who unsuccessfully ran for president five times, is the richest man in Ecuador. His corporation started in the growing and shipping of bananas — Ecuador’s main crop — and now includes more than 128 companies in dozens of countries. He has come into power at a time when Ecuadorians’ main concern is reportedly about safety amid rampant drug-trafficking-related violence. The government’s inability to tackle the unrest was laid bare in August, with the assassination of presidential candidate and anti-corruption crusader Fernando Villavicencio. Since then, other politicians and leaders have been killed or kid...

Investigation by this newspaper revealed that Dongban-Mensem acted in response to an avalanche of petitions and protests by political parties and their candidates, who allege that the judges of the tribunals were heavily compromised by the governors during the trial stage in their respective states. Consequently, was told that all appellate cases arising from the judgement of the various election petition tribunals in the 36 states of the country would be heard and determined in Abuja and Lagos divisions of the Appeal Court. By this action of Dongban-Mensem, only two of the 20 divisions of the court would determine all appellate cases arising from the judgements of the elections petition tribunals throughout the country. The order affects gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections, which have the court of appeal as the last court of adjudication. A source in the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja revealed that all appellate cases arising from the judgements of the elect...

The attention of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has been drawn to some developments in Nigeria's coastal economy, and to publications which report the proposed appointment of a certain fellow (not Ijaw) as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.  We are constrained by the exigencies of the recent federal political developments, especially in terms of appointments, which are skewed in favour of one ethnic nationality to make the following assertions: (1) That the Ijaw have been left out of the present government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have no representation in the entire executive branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria, except for only one federal Ministerial position. We assert that this is not acceptable to the Ijaw people who are major contributors to the Nigerian economy. The Ijaw nation has the dominant population in five coastal states of Nigeria and contribute disproportionately to the revenue of the country. (2) That we the Ijaw live in and oc...

The Delta State Election Petition Tribunal regrettably upheld the election of Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP as Delta State Governor. Reacting to the development, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege and the All Progressives Congress APC rejected the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ruling. Ovie Omo-Agege described the tribunal’s verdict as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice” and has since appealed against the judgment. On closer examination of the decision of the tribunal, it becomes obvious that the laws governing the election were abused, misused, or manipulated in order to arrive at the final verdict. Clearly, the judgment defied the spirit of the 2022 Electoral Act, as well as common sense and logical reasoning. A crucial question arises: Can an unmarked ballot paper, lacking a signature, stamp, and date, be deemed a valid vote? Apparently, the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal might have been unaware of the recent amendments to the electoral law as reflected in the ...

During the Delta State Election Petition Tribunal hearing, the APC and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege presented a compelling argument that is vital to removing the grip of a party that is holding power without delivering development. Because of Governor Okowa-Oborevwori's unwavering will to stay in office, the administration has been luring judges with risky tactics, which gave them Pyrrhic victory at the tribunal. It is, however, reassuring that Ovie Omo-Agege swiftly directed his legal team to appeal, anticipating the setback. There is no doubt that Deltans are tired of witnessing the stagnation and decay in our beloved State, and they fervently hoped for a verdict of change and revival of our State's progress and development. Ovie Omo-Agege and the APC presented a compelling case. This is known to every sincere Deltan who does not benefit from the decay and underdevelopment of our dear State under the People's Democratic Party. Governor Okowa-Oborevwori's determinati...

Human nature often leads people to embrace their opinions and desires, irrespective of factual evidence. This inclination highlights how personal preferences and biases can sway one's perception and acceptance of information, occasionally causing them to prioritize wishes over established truths. It underscores the intricate interplay between emotions and rationality in human decision-making, emphasizing how desires can shape beliefs and actions. The BBC has vindicated Tinubu in the controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu's academic records, addressing key points that exonerate him from allegations of forging his college diploma: The BBC's Global Disinformation Team found no evidence supporting claims that President Tinubu's diploma submitted to Nigeria's electoral commission was forged. President Tinubu's academic records were released due to a legal case initiated by his political rival, Atiku Abubakar, who accused him of diploma falsification. Chicago S...

I am highly disappointed in Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his utterances when answering questions at his press conference on 5th October, 2023 in Abuja.  What audacity? What reckless administration that willingly undermine election process? What democrat is Atiku with that statement? Is he the owner of Nigeria to have got the gut for himself and Obasanjo to allocate victory to PDP in their era?  Does Nigeria belong to Obasanjo and Atiku? Is someone believing his 'cock and bull' alleged victory? Atiku was quoted as saying, "... in 2003, PDP took over all the South Western States, with the exception of Lagos. " I stood between Obasanjo and himself (Tinubu), I said no, you (Obasanjo) can't take over Lagos, leave it, and he (Obasanjo) left it. This is how they played their politics since 2003. Not that they democratically won States, THEY TOOK OVER STATES." The failure of Democracy didn't start today. It started in 1999 under Olusegun Obasanjo's PDP led admini...

  After publicly receiving the deposition from Chicago State University (CSU), Atiku has filed the same at the Supreme Court. Challenges Ahead The Supreme Court is a court of appeal for judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) of 6th September 2023, and, as such, it is not a court for the admission of fresh evidence in election matters. The PEPT, which is the exclusive court for admitting evidence, whether old or fresh in election matters, has heard Atiku's petition and has delivered its judgment. Throughout the hearing of his petition, Atiku never presented any documentary evidence challenging Tinubu's certificate at the PEPT. Consequently, he is apparently precluded from introducing any evidence, whether "fresh" or "old," to the Supreme Court, considering that election matters are time-bound. The crucial question is this: even if, in the unlikely event, the deposition is admitted, what legal consequence will it have for President Tin...