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After 11Hrs, Ogun Tribunal Concludes Ruling In Governorship Petition

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After a judgement which lasted for more than eleven hours, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, upheld election of Governor Dapo Abiodun, as the winner of March 18 election.

Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal in a unanimous decision dismissed the petition filed against Abiodun by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

The panel held that Adebutu’s petition was “incompetent, defective and lacking in merits.”

The INEC had declared Abiodun winner after polling 276,298 votes, while Adebutu scored 262,38 and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came distant third with 94,754 votes.

But, PDP and Adebutu dragged Abiodun and APC before the Tribunal, alleging that the governor did not win the majority of votes cast during the March 18 governorship election.

PDP and Adebutu in the petition marked, EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023 accused the INECof non-compliance to the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the election.

The petitioners also alleged that elections were disrupted by thugs in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the election.

Adebutu sought an order of the court to declare him as the winner of the election.

He also prayed the court to order the INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards which cut across 16 Local government areas of the State where elections were either not held and/or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.

But the judges held that the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-compliance, overvoting, disenfranchment of voters, non-qualification of second respondent (Abiodun) and corrupt practices during the polls, beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Kunaza while reading the lead judgement held that the forensic experts have nothing to prove that they are qualified experts, adding that their reports cannot be relied on.

The panel also held that the there was no direct evidence that voters were disenfranchised during the election.

The tribunal maintained that the disenfranchised voters must testify that they were ready to vote; if they were allowed to vote their candidate would have won; and that they had their voters’ cards and were registered voters.

On the alleged non qualification of Abiodun due criminal records, Kunaza declared that the petitioners have failed to show that the second respondent (Abiodun) had been tried, arraigned and convicted in the US.

“On the whole, the petitioners have not successfully proven the allegation of non compliance with the electoral act and have not discharged the burden of prove,” he said.

In dismissing the petition, Kunaza “I uphold the election of Dapo Abiodun as the dully elected governor of Ogun State in the March 18 election.”

BIG STORY

Trump’s Threat Not A Joke, Ask Him for 100 Days To Eliminate Terrorists and Their Sponsors — Adeboye To Tinubu

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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on the Federal Government to urgently take decisive action against terrorists and their financiers in the country in light of the recent warning issued by United States President Donald Trump.

Adeboye made the appeal during the November Holy Ghost Service, where he addressed the congregation and reacted to the new development involving the United States.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to give the newly appointed service chiefs a three-month deadline to eliminate terrorists and those responsible for funding their operations. According to him, if the security chiefs are unable to meet the directive within the stipulated time, they should tender their resignation from office.

Adeboye stated that the current security challenges did not originate under the present administration, noting that the President inherited the situation. He recalled that there was a similar moment during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when he personally advised Buhari to take strong action as violence and killings escalated. However, Adeboye said the suggestion was not fully implemented.

The cleric explained that the former president initially acted on the guidance by giving the service chiefs a three-month ultimatum to tackle Boko Haram insurgents, and security agencies made swift moves at first. He added that when the timeline expired without achieving the expected results, he sought a meeting with Buhari to follow up on the matter.

Adeboye said that the discussions held at that time were private, and although details were not shared with the public, one key point from the meeting was that government must not only focus on neutralising terrorists but also on identifying and removing their sponsors, regardless of their status or influence.

He further cautioned that if the United States were to carry out a military strike in Nigeria, the country should not expect rescue or support from global powers. He stated that countries such as China, Russia, and Britain would likely issue condemnations but would not intervene.
Adeboye stressed that the situation in the country requires seriousness and urgent action.

He said that this is not the moment for assigning blame or engaging in debates over terminology, religion, or politics, pointing out that the essential concern is that innocent citizens continue to lose their lives.

He advised President Tinubu to engage with President Trump diplomatically and request a 100-day grace period to address the security crisis. Adeboye further noted that once such a window is secured, the President should issue firm directives to the service chiefs and security agencies to resolve the problem within 90 days.

He said that in the event the new security team fails to deliver within the timeframe, they should be required to resign, adding that this would ensure accountability and seriousness in handling the task.

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Kola Dada Breaks New Ground With Kwara State Waste Management Deal

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Upwardly mobile businessman, Kola Dada, popularly known as KDD, is set to showcase his next major move after months of quiet planning and strategic development.

Information reaching The Nation indicates that KDD has struck a significant waste management deal with the Kwara State Government, a project that officially commenced in November.

Sources disclosed that the partnership, sealed through Dada’s company, followed several months of negotiations with the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, led by Dr. Abubakar Ayinla.

According to insiders, Dada’s entry into the waste management sector marks another milestone in his illustrious career, having already established a strong reputation in South Africa, where his entrepreneurial exploits are widely celebrated among industry professionals.

Though KDD has kept details of the deal closely guarded, limited to his trusted inner circle, he has reportedly been shuttling frequently between Lagos and Kwara State to oversee operations and ensure smooth execution of the project.

A source further hinted that this may only be the beginning of Dada’s expanding business ventures, as he is said to be working discreetly on several other deals expected to unfold in the near future.

Unbeknownst to many, KDD shares a close friendship with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, a relationship said to have deepened during his years of business in the country.

The recent development underscores Dada’s steady rise in the Nigerian corporate space and his commitment to driving innovation and sustainability through strategic partnerships.

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Wema Bank Empowers Tech Innovators At Akure, Zaria, Ibadan, And Lagos With Hackaholics 6.0

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Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has continued to deepen its commitment to youth innovation and entrepreneurship with Hackaholics 6.0, its flagship campus ideathon. This year, the Hackaholics train has toured four Nigeria cities from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to the University of Ibadan (UI) and Purple Academy, Lagos, bringing together some of the brightest young minds in Sub-Saharan Africa to create transformative solutions to real-world problems.

With over 3,000 entries submitted so far, at each location, hundreds of students and young entrepreneurs gathered to receive industry-led masterclasses, and develop ideas aimed at solving challenges in the ecosystem. For four days in each location, participants were immersed in the full Hackaholics experience, from ideation to mentorship to pitch readiness, culminating in high-energy final pitches where the best ideas emerged. In every location, three Ideathon winning teams; including one women-led group and two Hackathon teams walked away with invitations to compete at the Hackaholics 6.0 Grand Finale. These teams now stand a chance to scale their solutions with the backing of Wema Bank’s innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, MD/CEO Wema Bank, Plc, Moruf Oseni, said, “Hackaholics has always been about more than technology. It is about empowering young people to think differently, create boldly, and contribute solutions that can move our industry and nation forward. The level of talent and creativity we have witnessed so far further reinforces why we continue to invest in this programme. The innovative ideas and solutions coming out of the participants have the power to shape the future of financial services and beyond, and we are excited to see them come to life.”

Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into a cornerstone of youth engagement and innovation in Nigeria. With over 12,000 applicants from 15 schools, and a total of over $300,000 disbursed in funding, including ₦75 million awarded to women-led teams between 2023 and 2024, the program has consistently delivered on its mission to create a vibrant ecosystem where students, innovators, and early-stage founders can collaborate, learn, and grow while building long-term relationships with Wema Bank.

As the Hackaholics 6.0 train continues its journey to more cities before the Grand Finale, Wema Bank remains committed to empowering the next generation of Nigerian innovators. Students and young entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/ for more information on how to participate and submit their entries.

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