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Emergency rule: Dagogo’s legal team protests transfer of case to Abuja

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The legal team representing former federal lawmaker from Rivers State, Farah Dagogo, has formally opposed the relocation of his suit challenging the Federal Government’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

Ekwutosblog recalls that last week, the suit which was filed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, was transferred to the Abuja Division.

The transfer followed a directive from the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Aside the suit by Dagogo challenging the emergency rule, every case challenging the state of emergency was also transferred to Abuja.

However, the legal team of the former lawmaker, in a letter addressed to the Chief Judge and copied to the Presiding Judge of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, disapproved the transfer, stating that it is a violation of judicial independence and due process.

Dagogo’s lead counsel, Chief Cosmas Enweluzo, SAN, argued that the Attorney-General lacked the statutory authority to request the transfer of a case from one judicial division to another, as he is a party to the suit, representing the President.

“Your Lordship, allowing a party to dictate the forum of adjudication sets a dangerous precedent and erodes public confidence in the justice system.

“The current development amounts to forum shopping and constitutes an abuse of court process,” the letter further stated.

Enweluzo restated that the effects of the State of Emergency and the actions of the Administrator are being felt in Rivers State, and therefore the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court is the appropriate forum for hearing the matter.

The legal team advised the Chief Judge to reconsider the decision and uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

President Bola Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, citing threats to national assets.

The President further suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator of the state.

Dagogo, in response, initiated a suit on April 9, 2025, challenging the constitutionality of the President’s actions.

The case which was formerly presided over by Justice Turaki Mohammed, had been adjourned to May 26, 2025, for further proceedings.

However, before the scheduled date, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court approved a request by the Attorney-General of the Federation to transfer the case to Abuja.

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2027: Atiku’s eyes on ADC ticket, PDP may be forced to back him – Sambo

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The Director of News and Politics Editor of Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, says the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is planning to secure a presidential ticket for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Sambo stated this on Monday’s edition of ‘The Morning Show’.

According to him, people are also saying that if Atiku gets the ADC ticket, and things go very well for him, then PDP in one way or the other, may be forced to support his presidential bid.

“The major problem of the ADC right now is that INEC has not even listed David Mark as the national chairman of the ADC, and Atiku hasn’t picked the party’s membership form,” he said.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Atiku had assured his followers that he would be running for the presidency in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking through one of his spokespersons during the 2023 presidential election, Tunde Olusunle, the former Vice-President said he would run again in 2027 because Nigeria needs to be saved from the Intensive Care Unit under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

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INEC recognises me, Barde is fake – Danladi Yau on Gombe ADC chairmanship dispute

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The leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe State has deepened, with Malam Danladi Yau insisting that he remains the authentic chairman of the party.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the State Executive Council meeting in Gombe last Friday, Yau dismissed claims by Alhaji Auwal Abba Barde, who has continued to parade himself as chairman of the party.

“I am the authentic chairman of the ADC in Gombe State, recognised by INEC. Anybody parading himself as chairman is fake. Barde was expelled in 2022, so how can he still claim leadership,” Yau said.

He displayed a letter of appointment and introduction issued to him by the ADC National Working Committee in December 2022, which also presented him to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the acting chairman for the state.

Yau’s remarks came in response to a counter-announcement by Barde, who earlier declared the removal of Yau as state secretary alongside the deputy chairman and youth leader.

Despite his suspension in September 2022 by the national leadership over alleged anti-party activities, Barde has continued to command loyalty among some state executives.

According to Yau, Barde’s tenure as chairman expired in 2019 after serving the constitutionally permitted two terms of four years each.

He argued that Barde’s continued claim to leadership was illegal and damaging to the party’s credibility.

Pledging loyalty to the David Mark-led national leadership of the ADC, Yau announced plans to begin fresh membership registration across all 114 wards in Gombe State, saying the move was part of efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The ADC under my leadership is working to rescue Nigeria from APC-induced hardship. With unity, mobilisation, and commitment, we can give Nigerians the alternative they deserve,” he added.

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2027: I’ll run for presidency – Atiku clarifies ‘not desperate’ comment

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has assured his followers of running for the Presidency in 2027.

Atiku gave the clarification through one of his spokespersons during the 2023 presidential election, Tunde Olusunle.

Speaking with ThisDay, Olusunle said Atiku would run again in 2027 because Nigeria needs to be saved from the Intensive Care Unit under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Olusunle disclosed that Atiku made the clarification from his holiday home in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after reading reports that he was not desperate to be president.

Speaking over the weekend, Ola Olateju, who represented Atiku at an event in Lagos, said the former Vice President was not desperate to be president.

Olateju said Atiku plans to build a better Nigeria.

However, Olusunle said Atiku disowned the statement, stressing that it was not from him.

“I did not issue that statement. When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject and what my contribution or intervention will be, so we are on the same page.

“In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distill my thoughts. Prof. Olateju was not speaking for me.

“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned. The degeneration in our country, the level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable,” he said.

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