The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna State has dismissed the petition filed against two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives members.

The tribunal on Saturday, dismissed the petitions instituted against David Umar Gurara, who represents the Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency, and Hon.

They were returned in the House of Representatives election conducted on February 25, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They duo were dragged before the tribunal by the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Gabriel Haar Zock and Hon.

In his petition, Zock alleged that the elections were not conducted in 43 polling units, asking the tribunal to nullify INEC’s proclamation and order fresh elections.

Zakari had instituted a petition against Shadow alleging that he presented a forged school certificate and prayed the tribunal to order INEC to issue him a certificate of return as he came second during the election.

Delivering the judgment in the petition filed by Gabriel Haar Zock, the Tribunal Chairman Justice H.H Kereng, who delivered judgment in David Umar Gurara’s petition, declared that the petitioner had failed to provide credible evidence to prove his case. He dismissed the petition in its entirety.

Also, while delivering judgment on Zakari’s petition against Shadow, Hon Justice. Abdu Maiwada Abubakar dismissed the petition for lacking merit.

One of the lead counsels to the two respondents, Barr. Kassai Jessy, said the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the two petitioners for lack of merit.

He said the tribunal was magnanimous enough not to grant any fine against the petitioners for wasting its time.

Withdraw SWAT Team from Nembe–INC President Urges IGP

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa


The  President of Ijaw National Congress (INC) Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) to withdraw the men of the Strategic Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) team from Nembe Bassambiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.

Prof. Okaba said, Nembe Bassambiri is under siege and it’s a desecration of Ijaw land by the agent of the federal government in the name of arresting and mopping up of illegal weapons in the community.

According to him, the SWAT has taken permanent abode in Nembe even when the security operatives claimed that the operation was successful, adding that people are worried while some have vowed not to return back to the community.

“What we have in Nembe is fear, uncertainty and if urgent step is not taken to address it might escalate to other neighbouring communities.”

The INC number one man while addressing journalists at the Ijaw House on Saturday in Yenagoa said, the policemen in Nembe outnumbered the people of the community, saying the operation is far from being discreet as fire arm were been used indiscriminately.

He said, continue staying of SWAT in Nembe is not in the best interest of the people. “The IGP should withdraw them to allow normalcy return for the people to go about their normal business”.

“If the SWAT team have come to mop up arms, how many have they mop up, and how many offenders have been arrested? Their continuous stay in the community is worrisome. Would they remain in the community before, during and after election? Federal government should withdraw them now for peace to reign.

“As INC, we endorse the outcome of the expanded security council meeting that was held in Yenagoa” he said.

Speaking further he said, the November 11 governorship election in the state should be about capacity to deliver.

“All the leading aspirants have their antecedents and their track record will speak for them. Ijaw nation is too matured to allow results to be written from nowhere. This crisis must stop”. he said.

“Ijaw man should desist from the politics of bitterness. We have not come to blame anybody because they are all our children. We call on the people to allow peace to return. Already family are separated, children are out of school and many have been displaced and the economy is completely down as a result of the crisis. We need to let peace reign.

“From discovery, it has become a trend since 2015 election where some people will chase away perceived opponents from the community. The people should remember that before election they were one family and after election they will still remain one family, politics is not a do or die affairs”.

It could be recalled that the Men of the police Strategic Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) team and some non-state actors in military camouflage on August 12 invaded Bassambiri community on the orders of the Acting Inspector General of Police and the team still occupied the community till date.