Football

Don’t watch us on TV anymore – Super Eagles captain, Musa sends message to Tinubu

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Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to watch the team on television anymore but to come over to Ivory Coast and cheer them at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

Musa, who spoke on behalf of the Super Eagles players, said this during the team’s Zoom meeting with the Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, on Wednesday.

The former Leicester City forward also appreciated Enoh for his words of encouragement to the Super Eagles as they prepare to tackle Cameroon in the AFCON Round of 16 fixture on Saturday night.

Musa said: “We have a message that we are going to send to you [Enoh] to the President.

“We don’t want him to watch the game on TV anymore, we want him over here [Ivory Coast] to come and cheer us together. So this is our own message to the President.”

Enoh responded, “The president will come. I can assure you the president will come. He has told me when he wants to come and my prayer is that gradually we are going to get to the point where the President can come. He will come. I will bring the president, he will come,” he assured.

Musa then said: “Finally, we really appreciate your words of encouragement to the team, thank you.”

Nigeria had finished in second position in Group A behind leaders Equatorial Guinea.

Peseiro’s men remain unbeaten in the tournament so far after two wins and one draw.

World News

Nigerians shouldn’t wait for government to do everything- Remi Tinubu

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First Lady Remi Tinubu has charged Nigerians not to wait for the government to do everything for them.

“We cannot wait for the government to do everything,” Mrs Tinubu said in a statement after hosting the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) in her office at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Her statement comes amid severe economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy after President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29.

Mrs Tinubu urged Nigerians to be compassionate to others as the effects of subsidy removal continue to bite harder.

“We must lend a helping hand to everyone around us,” she added, urging women to instil in youth good moral values.

“The youth must realise who they are, their true identity as Nigerians and not the borrowed foreign culture. I remember that growing up, when there is a birthday party, we all as children would eat from the same tray, and this enhanced our oneness then. At that time, the whole village raised a child,” she stated.

Meanwhile, analysts have adjudged Mr Tinubu’s subsidy removal policy as good for the economy.

But the delay in providing palliatives to cushion the ripple effects of the policy has left many criticising it as prices of food and other commodities continue to skyrocket.

Politics

Port Harcourt refineries will start production in December- President Bola Tinubu promises NLC, TUC

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STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

LABOUR UNIONS TO SUSPEND FURTHER PROTEST AFTER FRUITFUL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TINUBU

The leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Usifo, held a meeting with President @officialABAT Wednesday evening at the State House, Abuja.

Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest.

They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general.

President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.

President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country.

Dele Alake

Special Adviser to the President(Special Duties, Communications & Strategy)

August 3, 2023

Politics

UN secretary general Guterres congratulates Tinubu, seeks stronger ties

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UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on Tuesday congratulated Bola Tinubu on his inauguration as the 16th Nigerian president.

Mr Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said this while fielding questions at UN headquarters in New York.

“Nigeria is an important partner of the United Nations, has an important role to play in the promotion of sustainable development, in the promotion of peace and security in the region and beyond,” Mr Dujarric explained.

“And we look forward to deepening the ties between Nigeria and the United Nations.”

In a related development, the UN secretary general also congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his reelection as president of Türkiye.

Politics

I’ll review Buhari’s Naira redesign policy – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inaugural speech today, May 29, promised to review the Naira redesign policy of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu who noted that the new and old currency notes would be treated as legal tender, added that the Central Bank of Nigeria must work towards a unified exchange rate.

He said;

“Monetary policy needs thorough house cleansing. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians.

“The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.”

Politics

President Buhari confers GCFR and GCON titles on Tinubu and Shettima

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President Buhari today May 25, conferred the titles of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic GCFR and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger GCON honors on the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his VP-elect, Kashim Shettima in Abuja.

The GCFR is the highest honour to be conferred on anyone in Nigeria.

The ceremony was attended by the wives and children of the politicians as well as their close friends and associates.

President Buhari will on Monday, May 29, hand over power to Tinubu.

Politics

Atiku to call 100 witnesses to testify against Tinubu

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Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that no fewer than 100 witnesses are ready to testify against President-elect, Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The petitioners intend to call not more than 100 witnesses.”

Chris Uche, Mr Abubakar’s lawyer, told the Court on Saturday morning.He further revealed that he and the respondents have agreed on the number of witnesses to take the stand as well as the minutes to be allotted to each witness.

“The parties have all met and considered and agreed on the witnesses and duration of the examination of witnesses and the examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination and we have also agreed to streamline the number of witnesses as well as the duration of each party to call witnesses subject to ratification by the honorable court,” Mr Uche told the Court.

According to him, it was proposed that 30 minutes be allocated to the star witnesses of the respondents which include INEC, Mr Tinubu and his party, APC.

“We also proposed 30 mins for evidence in chief and 30 mins for cross-examination of the star witnesses for the respondents,” disclosed Mr Uche.

He added that the petitioners “are suggesting that there should be no cross-examination of a respondent witness by a respondent” stressing that “the petitioners intend to call not more than 100 witnesses.”

Meanwhile, Haruna Simon Tsammani, the chair of the five-member panel of justices, adjourned the case to May 22, following Roland Otaru’s request to adjourn the matter for the consolidation of petitions from the Labour Party and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Mr Otaru, a lawyer on Mr Tinubu’s legal team, requested adjournment because of the absence of the team’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun.

The Court has scheduled Monday, May 22, for the ruling on the application to livestream proceedings.

Politics, World News

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken calls Tinubu, pledges to strengthen US partnership with Nigeria

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The US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, on Tuesday, May 16, called President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released by Blinken’s office says during the call, Blinken emphasized his continued commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria relationship with the incoming administration.

It further stated that the Secretary noted that the U.S.-Nigeria partnership is built on shared interests and strong people-to-people ties and that those links should continue to strengthen under President-elect Tinubu’s tenure.

The statement added that Secretary Blinken and President-elect Tinubu discussed the importance of inclusive leadership that represents all Nigerians, continued comprehensive security cooperation, and reforms to support economic growth.

Tinubu who is currently in Europe will be sworn into office on May 29.

Politics

I’ll govern Nigeria like Yar’Adua-President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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President-elect Bola Tinubu says he will follow the good examples of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s when he assumes office from May 29.

Mr Tinubu, in a tribute to commemorate the 13th year of the former president’s demise, described the late president as a “friend and political associate” who Nigeria will never forget.

“May 5, 2010 may have long gone but, for some of us, the wound is still fresh. We remember the day as much as we remember the purposeful life lived by Mallam Umaru Yar’Adua.

“As I prepare to take the reins of leadership of this country on May 29, I am determined to follow the good examples set by leaders like Mallam Umaru Yar’Adua who showcased exceptional sense of propriety and selfless service to our dear country,” Mr Tinubu said.

“Rest on, dear brother. May your soul continue to find peace with your Maker, ameen”.

Mr Yar’Adua, a former Katsina governor between 1999 to 2007, succeeded former president Olusegun Obasanjo in office in May 2007.

His reign was cut short after he died in a Saudi Arabia hospital in May 2010. He had spent many months treating undisclosed hailment before his shocking demise.

Brought in via an election which he admitted was “flawed”, Mr Yar’Adua was hailed for initiating reforms in the electoral process.

He also saw to the dousing of the then-raging Niger Delta agitation which crippled the oil sector, the nation’s top earner.

Politics

We’ll make corruption unattractive, Tinubu assures Nigerians

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President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has said his incoming administration will put incentives and policies in place that will make corruption unattractive for judges and other Nigerian workers.

A statement by the Office of the President-elect signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz on Thursday quoted Mr Tinubu as making the pledge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the inauguration of the Magistrates Court complex.

The event was part of Mr Tinubu’s two-day visit to the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Nyesom Wike administration.

Mr Tinubu said with the right incentives that guarantee a conducive working atmosphere and policies that make it easy for workers to acquire credit facilities for essential needs the temptation for corruption would reduce.

“You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor and dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes that are necessary. We must fight corruption but we must definitely look at the other side of the coin.

“If you don’t want your judges to be corrupt you got to pay attention to their welfare. You don’t want them to operate in hazardous conditions,” he said.

The president-elect said lack of consumer credit which could make it easy for workers to acquire property such as houses and cars makes them susceptible to corruption.

“If you have consumer credit that will reduce the propensity for corruption. We don’t want our judges to play foul, to compromise justice. I promise we are going to review all of these in a policy think tank.”

Mr Tinubu also reiterated his commitment to the unity of Nigeria promising to be fair to all.

“The unity of this country is not negotiable. That is what Wike and I are promoting jointly. I promise I will be fair to all.”

Earlier, Governor Wike said the complex contained 24 courtrooms, offices and other facilities meant to decongest the state high court complex and expand access to justice.

He said his administration consider the welfare of judges and condition of courts essential for speedy justice dispensation.

Mr Wike charged the state Judiciary to ensure proper maintenance of the edifice for which financial provision had been made.

He once again thanked the President-elect for accepting to visit the state and commission the projects.

Politics

President-elect Tinubu urged to focus on electricity

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Association of Rural Electrification Contractors of Nigeria (ARECON) has urged President-elect Bola Tinubu to pay extra attention to electricity projects and challenges confronting the sector.

The association made the plea in a statement signed by ARECON’s spokesman, Rotimi Raheem, on Wednesday.

Mr Raheem dismissed reports of alleged misconduct of the managing director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad-Salihijo Ahmad, adding that allegations of conflict of interest were false.

He said since 2020, ARECON, under its present leadership, had approached the business of electrification differently through a five-year strategy document that had strengthened the internal working of REA.

Mr Raheem said ARECON had consistently been improving REA project delivery vehicles, saying that the agency was established to align with the federal government’s objectives on project delivery.

According to him, ARECON has consistently delivered to REA clean and sustainable energy infrastructure nationwide under the power ministry.

He said allegations of fraud and conflict of interest had recently been recounted against Mr Ahmad.

According to him, ARECON described these attempts as ploys by detractors to tarnish the image of the MD of REA.

He explained that the REA boss had also described as untrue and defamatory a petition written against him to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by Donnington Nigeria Limited, accusing the REA chief of holding the position of a director in Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Ltd while equally serving as MD/CEO of the agency.

Mr Raheem said in 2022, REA officially hit and crossed the one million connection milestone by deploying a standalone solar home system for improved energy access across Nigeria.

He said the objective of SHS for households and MSMEs component of the Nigeria Economy Power (NEP) was to help millions of households and MSMEs access better energy services at affordable cost.

“The target beneficiaries are people in off-grid locations or underserved customers that have inefficient and unreliable energy access.

ARECON also believes that for the tempo to be sustained in the realisation of sustainable electricity across Nigeria, as REA continues its vision and mandate of universal access to affordable electricity, it is imperative for paid elements to abstain from false allegations against the MD of REA,” stated Mr Raheem.

Politics

President-elect Bola Tinubu returns to Nigeria after spending over a month in France

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President-elect Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending over a month in France.

The aircraft conveying the former Governor of Lagos state and his wife, Oluremi, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 04:30pm on Monday, April 24.

They were received by the Vice-President-Elect, Kashim Shettima; Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; amongst many other high-ranking members of the party

Politics

I advised Tinubu, Atiku to step down for younger generation- Wole Soyinka

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Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has disclosed that he advised the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to step down for the younger generation.

Soyinka said this during an interview on Arise Television morning show on Wednesday, April 5. Soyinka said:

“When Atiku came to my office in Ikeja, he came with Gbenga Daniel, my former governor. I said to him listen is about the time you people left the stage. Why don’t you just go away? We need an infusion of fresh blood into the system.

“For some people, maybe they read it as blood-letting, no I said, an infusion of fresh blood. I said so I cannot support you. I think your generation should really quit. He was not the only one. I then sought out the current President-elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and I gave him exactly the same message.

“I said whatever you people are planning, I am convinced that when a younger generation, new thinking, new sensibility, new energies, so why don’t you just leave the seat.

“Let’s look for somebody who is a really brilliant individual and use your influence to catapult that person to power. And this country will see a massive transformation.

“We spoke for about one and a half hours, and then Bola Tinubu said no. He said there were still things he could contribute,” Soyinka added.

Politics

Nigerians who protest against Tinubu at White House, APC calls them ‘losers’

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Tai Balofin, chairman of the APC United States chapter, says Nigerians should not be disturbed by people protesting the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president-elect in front of the White House.

Mr Balofin, in a statement on Thursday, said the chapter had mobilised “true” Nigerians to come out in support of Mr Tinubu’s mandate.

He expressed optimism that those protesting against Mr Tinubu’s emergence as the president-elect would not succeed in their mission to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria.

“We wish to inform the public that a group of the Nigerian 2023 presidential election losers are currently protesting at the park in front of the White House,” said the statement.

It added;

“It is important to note that the US government is not involved or in support of the protest, as anybody can get approval for a peaceful protest. It is our belief that the Nigerian presidential election was free and fair, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the election.”

The statement pointed out that the majority of Nigerian voters gave the former Lagos governor their mandate, and “no propaganda, manipulation or tissue of lies” can stop his inauguration.

“We want to assure Nigerians that Nigeria will not secede, and it will remain united. We must work together to salvage it,” said Mr Balofin and urged Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful.

The APC chieftain in the U.S. stated that justice would prevail and the mandate the people gave Mr Tinubu at the poll would be respected.

Politics

Supreme Court dismisses ex-minister’s suit against Tinubu, Atiku

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The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by a former junior education minister Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP as presidential candidates of their political parties.

The apex court threw out the suit on the grounds that it was statute-barred, having no life to support it and legs to stand upon.

Justice Inyang Okoro, who presided over a five-member panel of justices of the court, dismissed the appeal after the former minister withdrew his case when informed that the case was filed outside the time prescribed by law.

Mr Nwajiuba and a civil group, the Rights for All International, a non-governmental organisation, had asked the Supreme Court to cancel the processes that produced Messrs Tinubu and Abubakar as candidates of their political parties.

He had lost at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal on the same ground that his case lacked merit that could make the court look into it.

Politics

Court grants Atiku and Obi’s request to serve petitions on Tinubu, Shettima and Masari through APC

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A request by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for permission to serve their petitions on Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and Kabir Masari though the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been granted by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

A three-member panel, presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, granted the request on Friday, March 24, in three rulings on the three ex-parte motions filed by Atiku and PDP; Obi and LP; and APM.

Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) who represented Atiku and the PDP sought leave to serve Tinubu with the petition and other accompanying processes through the APC.

Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN) who represented Peter Obi and the Labour Party sought leave to serve Tinubu and Shettima though the APC.

Oyetola Atoyebi (SAN) who represented APM sought leave to serve Tinubu, Shettima and Masari through the APC.

Politics

I’m happy Bola Tinubu’s drug dealing in Chicago will take centre stage before Nigeria’s Supreme Court- Festus Keyamo

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Festus Keyamo, a spokesperson for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, says he is happy President-elect Bola Tinubu’s drug-related case in the United States would be heard in Nigeria’s court.

In a tweet he posted on Monday via his verified account, Mr Keyamo stated that the hearing would set aside the difference between dispassionate adjudication of issues and stop the propaganda against Mr Tinubu’s shady past.

Mr Keyamo said he was confident that the court would favour Mr Tinubu.

“I am excited about the issues raised in those election petitions. All the deceit and lies and disinformation and misinformation about otherwise very simple and clear issues are about to be busted by our Law Lords. Whoever continues to argue after that should relocate to another planet,” stated Mr Keyamo.

The APC campaign spokesman added, “Nigerians will finally see the huge difference between calm, dispassionate adjudication of issues and all the hoopla caused by garrulous spokespersons shaking and falling on stage. Ignorant TV hosts turned debaters, misinformed documentaries, illiterate tweeps and some dancing Hijabi mamas.”

Last November, Mr Keyamo claimed that Mr Tinubu, the party’s flag bearer, only shared a “block of flats” with notorious cocaine dealers in Chicago, pushing back after the release of court documents that suggested Mr Tinubu’s ties to illicit drug business and money laundering in the United States.

“What happened was that Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) went to open an account. The address which he used in opening the account was the address used by these people…(sic). I think some blocks of flats. Maybe, he happened to be in that block of flats too,” Mr Keyamo had said to defend his principal.

“So, they now link it that the other people they were investigating for narcotics are in the same address used by Asiwaju to open

Certified copies of the 1993 case recently released by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois was published.

The documents confirmed that the U.S. government had in July 1993 sought forfeiture of proceeds of narcotics Mr Tinubu was accused of laundering.

The matter was resolved in a compromise between the Tinubus and the U.S. authorities, with the Tinubus being asked to keep the money in the Heritage Bank account while the $460,000 in the Citibank account was forfeited.

Politics

Bola Tinubu as President-elect stand, anyone who is aggrieved should proceed to court – President Buhari

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President Buhari has said that the declaration of APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu as President-elect stands and that anyone who is aggrieved with the outcome of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election, should proceed to the court, if they have the locus to do so. 

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Thursday, March 9,  titled “At the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, LDCs”, disclosed that President Buhari is against any plans to annul the elections which many have said was characterized by irregularities. 

According to Garba, President Buhari has said that he will not allow June 12, 1993, saga to repeat itself.

He pointed out that before the President’s trip to Doha for the UN Conference, there were calls for the cancellation of the elections but that he had always maintained that the outcome of the election will be accepted by his government and must stand. 

“In addition to other things, this trip, more than any other, speaks to the courage, political stamina and statesmanship with which the President has managed the affairs of the nation.

Before the trip, he was faced with orchestrated attempts to poison public opinion against national institutions, particularly the presidential election and its conduct by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as an institution, against which vile and unsubstantiated allegations were hurled.

The clear intent of this was creating an atmosphere of fear, polarising the public and demonising the administration of the President.

The wishful thinkers appeared to assume that the June 12, 1993, election crisis, the worst ever since the civil war could be recreated.

Those who sought to do this forgot what the President said at the palace of the Gbong-Gwon Jos, when he went to the city to inaugurate the Tinubu-Shettima campaign:  “this election will not be annulled; whoever is the winner will be president.

President Buhari not only muted himself, following the cacophony, he picked up international travel: Bola Tinubu’s election stands. If you are aggrieved, go to court.”

Politics

Senior Nigerian lawyer Pius Akubo rejects appointment to Tinubu’s legal team

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Pius Akubo has rejected the appointment to be part of President-elect Bola Tinubu’s legal team expected to defend his controversial win in the February 25 presidential election.

Mr Akubo said he was unaware of the appointment, and there had been no official communication between himself and Mr Tinubu’s camp.

“In the last twenty-four (24) hours or so, the social media space has been agog with a trending unsigned letter in respect of appointment of Presidential Election Petition Legal Team by All Progressives Congress (APC) wherein my name is listed as number 10,” said the senior lawyer in a statement.

Mr Akubo added;

“With all due respect, I wish to state that I had no prior knowledge of the said appointment. As a matter of fact, I have not received any official communication on the subject matter hitherto. Suffice it to say that I was taken by surprise to hear of the said appointment vide social media.”

Mr Akubo pointed out that he could not defend the former Lagos governor for personal reasons even if such contemplations were being made. “In the circumstance and for personal reasons, I hereby decline the said appointment,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party are seeking to contest Mr Tinubu’s victory. With the PDP and Labour claiming victory in the election, the country is set to witness a consequential legal dispute that could last for several months.

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