This was made known in a post made the body’s official twitter to inform the general public and political gladiators in readiness for the said date.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says that “votes cast in all parts of Nigeria are equal,including the FCT, which has been interpreted to be the 37th state of the country”.
Falana said this while commenting on Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution which has become a contentious issue in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking on a Television Interview monitored by our Newsroom, Falana said he will not be making a definite comment on the issue at the moment since it has become a serious legal matter now pending in court. He however noted that there exists court decisions on the status of Abuja already.
“I had expressed an opinion on section 134 of the Constitution on the 23rd of January this year – that is about a month before the presidential election. On that occasion, I expressed a legal opinion and that is why I was very hesitant to join the bandwagon when lawyers started to give political interpretations of that section.
“I did state that there is no electoral college in Nigeria and therefore the votes cast or recorded in any part of the country are equal. Section 134 of the Constitution specifically requires a winner of a presidential election to meet certain requirements. The first one is to score the majority of lawful votes and the second is territorial spread, a two-thirds majority of the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“And since the FCT has been interpreted to be a 37th state in Nigeria for the purpose of the constitution I didn’t see any controversy at the material time and that was when I expressed my opinion.
“But now that it has become a serious legal issue and the matter is now pending in court, I am very reluctant to speak definitively on the section because there are decisions of the court on the status of Abuja,” Falana said.
Ayu was suspended for anti-party activities after passing a vote of no confidence on him.
While reading a resolution, the secretary of the party in Igyorov ward, Vanger Dooyum, said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies – contributed to PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the governorship election.
Ayu is also accused of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution. Twelve out of the seventeen exco members signed the documents endorsing his suspension.
They also alleged that the PDP chieftain did not vote during the governorship and state assembly elections held on the 18th of March, 2023.
According to them, most of Ayu’s closest allies worked for the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
The suspension letter was signed by the ward chairman of Igyorov, Kashi Philip, alongside the exco.
The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress; APC in the 2023 election slated for March 18 2023 has reiterated that his resolution to contest the Polls come saturday.
A statement made available to us by the Akanimo Udofia/ Victor Antai Gubernatorial Campaign Council read thus;
“The Akanimo Udofia/ Victor Antai Gubernatorial Campaign Council wishes to alert the members of the All Progressives Congress APC and the general public that the rumours that Obong Akanimo Udofia has stepped down for the candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP) Senator Bassey Albert is false, unfounded and misleading.
For the avoidance of doubts, Obong Akanimo Udofia will contest the Gubernatorial elections tomorrow March 18, 2023 on the platform of the APC.
The general public is enjoined to disregard the fake news as such emanate from the camp of those who wish to lower the reputation, integrity and esteem of Obong Akanimo Udofia, to their level.
Barr. Imo E. Akpan,
Director of Communications/Spokesperson,
Akanimo Udofia Campaign Council
17/3/2023”
