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2023 Presidency: Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Atiku’s Eligibility To Contest

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A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, dismissed the suit seeking to challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to vie for the office of the president.

Delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff that instituted the case lacked the locus standi (legal right) to do so.

Justice Ekwo described the plaintiff as a “busy body and meddlesome interloper.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a group, Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 had sued Atiku, the People’s Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

The EMA challenged Atiku’s eligibility to contest for the presidency on the grounds that he was not a Nigerian citizen by birth.

The group asked the court to hold, among others, that considering the provisions of Sections 25(1) &(2) and 131(a) of the constitution and the circumstances surrounding the former vice president’s birth, he cannot contest for the top office.

It was reported that the Adamawa State Government, through its Attorney-General (AG), had on July 27, 2021, sought an order of the court to be joined in the suit.

The court, in the motion dated April 26 and filed June 24, granted the prayer of the AG of Adamawa to be joined in the case as the 5th defendant.

The Adamawa government had told the court that Atiku was eligible to vie for the office of the president.

It said Atiku, against whom the suit was primarily directed, is a citizen of Nigeria from Adamawa who had been elected as a governor of the state in 1999 and served as the vice president of the country between 1999 to 2007.

It stated that the suit threatened the right of not just the ex-vice president to contest the office of the president “but that of the citizens of Nigeria, of Adamawa origin covering 12 out of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state.”

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ADC Constitution Blocks Peter Obi’s 2027 Presidential Ambition — Clears Path for Atiku, Amaechi, Amaechi

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) may have ruled out former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from contesting under its platform in the 2027 general election, based on a key provision in its constitution.

According to Article 8 of the party’s Third Schedule on Primary Election Guidelines, all presidential aspirants must not be affiliated with any other political party at the time of their declaration.

This clause could serve as a major roadblock for Obi, who is still officially a member of the Labour Party. His media aide, Mr. Tanko Yunusa, confirmed the development, stating:
“That will be made public if he decides to do that. At the moment, he is still a member of the Labour Party.”

With Obi’s eligibility in question, political observers say the stage may now be set for figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to emerge as strong contenders should they seek the ADC presidential ticket.

This development adds a new twist to the build-up toward the 2027 elections, as opposition alliances and party crossovers continue to shape Nigeria’s political landscape.

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Don’t Step Into Edo Without My Approval – Edo Governor Tells Peter Obi

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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has issued a stern warning to former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, cautioning him against visiting the state without prior notification and approval from the state government.

The governor’s remarks, captured in a video that has gone viral on social media, underscore a growing trend of opposition-led state governments expressing concern over visits by Obi—particularly those deemed humanitarian in nature.

“There’s a new sheriff in town,” Governor Okpebholo stated during an address to his supporters. “Peter Obi cannot enter Edo State without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed if he does. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. This is not a joke.”

Okpebholo further criticized Obi over a previous visit to the state in which he reportedly donated N15 million. The governor questioned the consistency of Obi’s public image with his financial gestures, referencing Obi’s oft-repeated claim of living a frugal lifestyle.

“He says he has no ‘shishi’ [money], yet he came here and gave out N15 million. Where did that money come from?” the governor queried. “After that visit, there was unrest in Benin, and unfortunately, three lives were lost. This is why I am insisting that any future visit must be formally communicated to my office.”

This warning follows a similar incident in April 2025, when Obi was allegedly advised against visiting an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Benue State. That visit was part of his humanitarian outreach to communities affected by violence linked to herdsmen.

Governor Okpebholo’s comments have sparked public debate, raising questions about the intersection of politics, security, and humanitarian engagement in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.

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Nigeria Should Be Generating 60,000MW of Electricity – Aliko Dangote

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Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has criticized Nigeria’s low electricity output, insisting the country should be generating at least 60,000 megawatts of power.

Speaking during a tour of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, Dangote highlighted the country’s untapped potential in the energy sector. He pointed out that the Dangote Group alone currently generates over 1,500MW of electricity for its internal operations — a figure that, he says, puts the national power supply of just 4,500–5,000MW into stark perspective.

“If we, as a single company, are generating over 1,500 megawatts for our own use, Nigeria shouldn’t be producing just three times that amount. We should be aiming for 50,000 to 60,000 megawatts,” Dangote said.

He called the refinery project a testament to what’s possible in Nigeria and stressed that such industrial feats could be replicated in the power sector.

“What we’ve done here shows there’s nothing impossible. If we can build this, we can certainly scale up Nigeria’s power generation,” he added.

Dangote argued that increasing Nigeria’s electricity output to 30,000MW or more is a less complex task than building a refinery, and emphasized that power development is not solely the government’s responsibility.

“Raising generation to 25,000 or 30,000 megawatts — with proper transmission and distribution — is achievable. But it requires strong private sector involvement,” he said.

The business tycoon urged wealthy Nigerians and private investors to stop moving capital abroad and instead invest in Nigeria’s development. He stressed that capital flight was stunting growth and undermining national progress.

“We keep asking the government to exit the sector — and they’ve done that through privatisation. Now it’s our turn to invest. We know the country, we know the leadership. Let’s put our money here.”

Dangote also condemned corruption and the habit of hiding stolen wealth overseas, warning that such practices have no value to the culprits or the country.

“There’s corruption everywhere, but other countries still grow because their wealth stays within. When people steal and stash funds abroad, it benefits no one — not even their families,” he said.

Looking ahead, Dangote revealed plans to make Nigeria a global leader in fertiliser production. He aims to scale up production to 12 million tonnes within the next 40 months, making his company the largest fertiliser producer in the world.

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