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Bello wanted PDP to Defeat APC -Faleke Tells Tribunal

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Faleke

Mr James Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, has called on the State Election Petition Tribunal to declare him the validly elected governor of Kogi State.

Faleke made the call in Abuja on Monday while being led in evidence at the tribunal by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

“I confirm to all the documents that were tendered this morning to be the ones I refer to in my petition.

“I will like to adopt the documents in my witness statement on oath and as my evidence in the petition.

“I want the tribunal to accept my petition and grant my reliefs as stated in paragraph 27 of my witness statement on oath and declare me as the winner’’, Faleke said.

When asked during cross-examination by the Counsel to the 1st respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if he was still a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he said ‘yes.’

He said “I am not aware that the 2nd respondent, Gov. Yahaya Bello, is a member of the APC. All I know is that the 2nd respondent campaigned and worked for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“I was also not an aspirant at the primary election, but one of the conditions Audu picked me as his running mate was because I am a member of the APC.”

Faleke told the tribunal that he did not know any of the candidates who contested with the late Audu.

According to Faleke, “I did not see the result of the primary election because I left the venue but the next information I had is that Late Audu won the primary and I was chosen as the running mate.”

He also told the tribunal that the result of the election, which he said he co-won with Audu, the late APC candidate , was declared in each polling unit and each of the ward collation centres.

Faleke said the death of Audu had nothing to do with the inconclusiveness of the election and that they had already won before it was declared inconclusive.

He said that he knew they had already won the Nov. 21 governorship election and that was why he did not participate in the Dec. 5 election.

“Myself and Prince Audu were declared winners at each polling unit, ward collation centre, each local government and the state collation centre. The state’s Returning Officer declared the result at the state collation centers.

“Prince Audu died in the morning and the election was declared inconclusive in the evening, so it was declared inconclusive far after the death’’, Faleke said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of the documents that was tendered and admitted in evidence were Form CF001, Form CF002 and many more.

NAN

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Anyone Opposing U.S. Strikes Is Nigeria’s Enemy or Profiting From Insecurity — Ex-General Enenche

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A former Nigerian military general, Enenche, has described opposition to United States support and strikes against terrorists as unpatriotic, insisting that such resistance only aids insecurity or serves personal interests.
Reflecting on his experience in active combat zones over two decades ago, Enenche said he witnessed firsthand the human cost of insecurity. According to him, security goes beyond the battlefield, affecting human lives, the economy, and even cyber space.
“As a military man who fought in that area over 20 years ago, I saw with my own eyes the casualties, the rage and the devastation. When you talk about security, you are talking about human security, economic security, cyber security. It affects everyone,” he said.
He welcomed the United States’ decision to support Nigeria, describing it as a positive development for the country. Enenche referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to assist Nigeria, noting that such cooperation signals hope rather than danger.
“America has come out boldly to say, ‘We are going to help you’. President Donald Trump said they will assist Nigeria. For me, this is the beginning of good things to come for this country,” he stated.
The retired general criticized individuals who consistently oppose foreign support, accusing them of spreading fear and pessimism.
“Where some people see negatives, we should see positives. Those who constantly project fear and pessimism, I see them as enemies of this country,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with Nigeria’s past peacekeeping missions, Enenche questioned why similar objections were not raised when Nigerian troops intervened in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Congo.
“Anytime Nigerians cooperate and act as a team, we get results,” he added.
He further clarified that while foreign allies may not deploy ground troops, Nigeria must still take responsibility for on-ground operations, with strong backing from state and local governments.
“They may not put boots on the ground, but we must do the foot-on-ground work. We must deploy the necessary resources, and that is where state governments and local governments must support this effort,” he said.
Highlighting the sophistication of recent operations, Enenche emphasized that the strikes were intelligence-driven and precise, targeting terrorist strongholds.
“Look at the capacity, look at the weapons used. Do we have that capability? This was intelligence-driven and precise. These terrorists do not want to be followed to their staging or assembly areas,” he concluded.

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‘Give Them Their Money Directly’ — Tinubu Warns Governors Over LG Allocations

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to state governors over the handling of Local Government (LG) allocations, insisting that funds meant for LGs must be paid directly to them in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
Speaking on Friday at the 15th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the apex court has once again made its position clear, leaving no room for ambiguity. According to him, compliance is no longer optional, as the judgment is binding on all tiers of government.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly’. If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” the President said, adding that he has chosen to be patient and respectful with governors.
However, Tinubu warned that continued delay or refusal to implement the ruling would attract consequences, noting that enforcement could begin through FAAC disbursements if necessary.
Emphasizing the rule of law, the President said the ultimate authority remains the Supreme Court and its judgment must be obeyed without excuses.
“We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he concluded.

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‘I’ve Bragged To U.S., EU Partners That Nigeria Will Implement State Police To Tackle Insecurity’ — Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing state police as a key strategy to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, revealing that he has already communicated this resolve to international partners in the United States and the European Union.

According to the President, insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria, and addressing it requires bold structural reforms beyond conventional federal policing. Tinubu stated that the current centralized policing system is overstretched and inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, making decentralised policing an urgent necessity.

He explained that state police would allow for better intelligence gathering, quicker response times, and security solutions tailored to local realities. By empowering states to take greater responsibility for security within their territories, the federal government believes crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence can be tackled more effectively.

Tinubu also noted that discussions around state police are ongoing, involving consultations with state governments, the National Assembly, and other key stakeholders. He emphasized that proper legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse of power.

The President’s statement signals a renewed push for constitutional reforms that have long been debated in Nigeria. Many security experts and political leaders have argued that state police could strengthen internal security, while critics have raised concerns about potential misuse by state actors.

By openly assuring international partners of Nigeria’s intention to implement state police, Tinubu appears determined to move the conversation from debate to action, positioning the reform as a cornerstone of his administration’s security agenda.

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