Today’s Headlines: INEC speaks on Tinubu’s academic credentials, Senators will decide Akpabio’s fate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has yet to receive Certified True Copies (CTCs) of recent Federal High Court rulings concerning African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials.

Responding to inquiries on the court order invalidating the candidacy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the David Mark-led ADC leadership, Amupitan said that the commission “does not act on social media reports” but strictly on verified legal documents.

“As of today, I have not received a certified true copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court because we don’t just act on the basis of what is on social media.”

“I remember one of the judgments of the Supreme Court sometime ago where something was posted on social media, trended, and the Supreme Court disowned itself from it, leading to investigations.

“Normally, when we receive a judgment like that, it comes to the commission, first to the chairman, who asks for expert advice from the relevant department before it is taken to the commission for review,” Amupitan said.

On the court ruling ordering him to present Tinubu’s credentials, Amupitan maintained that he would only take necessary legal steps once formally served with the court order.

“I have not received the order. So, when I receive the order, I will look at what the order says and then know what to do accordingly,” he stated.

Addressing the requests for early voting provisions for journalists, security agencies and INEC officials on essential duties, the chairman noted that the proposal remained constrained by existing statutory frameworks.

“INEC initiated the process for early voting as part of the amendment of the Electoral Act, but it did not find support from the National Assembly to make provisions relating to early voting.

“So, this is still not known to our law, but it’s going to still be a process of advocacy to ensure that this is done,” he said.

Amupitan confirmed that the 54 registration officers recently indicted for sabotaging voter registration procedures were full-time staff of the commission, asserting that INEC would not cover up any wrongdoing.

INEC ‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍‍‍⁠‌‌⁠‌Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while speaking at a news conference in Abuja.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the Senate will decide whether incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio will continue as head of the 11th National Assembly.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Yilwatda said the decision would ultimately be made by senators elected into the next assembly.

He said the party leadership would not impose a candidate for the position, but clarified that the APC leadership would determine who emerges as the Senate Majority Leader.

“The Senate actually determines it (Senate President). Let’s wait for the election first. Do you know what? I don’t have anybody in mind. The Senate will determine whoever they want to make as Senate President. Well, the party will only just bring the majority leader,” he said.

With about eight month to the inauguration of the 11th Senate, the stakes for the Senate Presidency has been high.

Earlier in the year, the senate amended its standing rules, restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who have served at least two consecutive terms.

The decision came amid speculation that former senators Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ovie Omo-Agege are considering a return to the red chamber and a possible bid for the senate presidency in 2027.

The revised rules stipulate that only senators in the current 10th senate who secure re-election into the 11th senate in 2027 will be eligible to contest for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president.

While not much was heard about the Senate Presidency bid of Okowa and Omo-Agege, that of Uzodimma has been gaining ground.

During the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja last month, Akpabio hit Uzodimma indirectly.

The Senate President cautioned governors against abandoning their constituents in pursuit of political offices that might not be available to them, drawing on his experience as a former governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“For my brothers who are governors, I want you to know that you must not abandon your people. I did eight years as a governor. And the constitution says you should do eight years. There’s no need for you to start eyeing another position that is not available”, he had said.

Akpabio spoke days after some senators passed a vote of confidence in him and endorsed him as President of the 11th Senate.

Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has admitted selling heavy weapons to buyers across different countries.

He said his clients included the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

According to him, his primary motivation was to make money rather than concern himself with how the weapons were used.

Kalu made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television and acknowledged his involvement in international arms trading.

He however said he eventually abandoned the business following pressure from his parents.

He explained that his activities involved the movement and sale of heavy weapons between countries.

He, however, dismissed suggestions that he was particularly concerned about the potential consequences of his transactions.

Making money, he noted, was his overriding interest.

“No, no, no, no, no, no. I was selling guns to make money, whether they blow up, it’s not my business,” he said.

He said his arms dealings were not limited to the African National Congress (ANC), which fought against apartheid in South Africa but to any interested buyer who could afford the weapons.

“No, I was selling to anybody that wants to buy. If you have the money, you want to buy in D.R.C, I sell to you, you want to buy in Namibia, you want to buy…” he said.

Asked where he sourced the weapons, Kalu declined to disclose it and described such information as a private matter.

“It’s only my business,” he said during the interview.

On the proliferation of weapons and Nigeria’s present security challenges, Kalu distinguished his former business from the circulation of small arms.

He maintained that his transactions involved heavy weapons traded between countries.

“No, these are heavy arms that were sold country to country,” he said.

The senator was also asked specifically whether his dealings extended to Libya during Gaddafi’s rule.

Rather than deny the transaction, he maintained that he sold to anyone with the financial capacity to purchase the weapons.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday swore in members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, “warning judicial officers against political pressure and intimidation.”

The CJN gave the warning at the swearing in of members and a capacity-building workshop organised by the Court of Appeal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 375 judges took the oath of office as members of the 2027 election petition tribunals.

She said that misinformation, intimidation and attempts to prejudice pending proceedings had no place in a society governed by the rule of law.

“Members of the public and media organisations should therefore exercise care in sharing information and commenting on matters before the courts.

“Criticism of judicial decisions, when informed and responsibly expressed, is a legitimate feature of democratic discourse; however, misinformation, intimidation and attempts to prejudice pending proceedings have no place in a society governed by the rule of law,” she said.

The CJN also cautioned lawyers against filing multiple suits and seeking conflicting court orders in election-related disputes ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

She further warned judges handling 2027 election petitions against compromising fair hearing in their bid to deliver speedy justice.