Judiciary
BREAKING: Appeal Court Affirms Wole Oluyede as PDP Governorship Candidate in Ekiti
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has affirmed Dr. Wole Oluyede as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel led by Peter Chudi Obiorah, alongside Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Peter O. Affen, set aside the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti which had nullified the party’s primary election.
The appellate court held that the primary election conducted by the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki was valid, transparent and in compliance with both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti had on January 13, 2026 nullified the PDP governorship primary election held on November 8 and 9, 2025, which produced Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate.
Dissatisfied with that judgment, the PDP challenged the ruling at the appellate court. In its decision on Thursday, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and overturned the earlier judgment.
The court further declared that the primary election was duly conducted and in line with the relevant legal provisions.
The ruling effectively resolves the internal leadership and candidacy disputes that had trailed the party’s preparations for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
With the judgment, the court has provided legal clarity that could allow the PDP to proceed into the election with a unified position behind its candidate.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has warned that the bail granted to activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore could be revoked if he fails to appear at the next hearing in his ongoing trial over alleged defamatory comments against Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The warning was issued on Thursday by Justice Mohammed Umar after Sowore and members of his legal team were absent when the case was called.
Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over claims that he referred to President Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts shared on his social media accounts, including X and Facebook.
During the proceedings, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defence to conclude cross-examination of the first prosecution witness. He told the court that the defendant had been duly served with a hearing notice through his lawyers but failed to appear.
Kehinde noted that no explanation had been provided either by Sowore or any member of his legal team for their absence, despite the defence reportedly having about 30 lawyers.
Citing Section 352(1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the prosecution urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant to compel his appearance.
However, Justice Umar declined the request for now, noting that the defendant had consistently attended previous hearings since the trial began late last year. The judge said the court would give Sowore the benefit of the doubt since it was his first absence.
He warned, however, that if the defendant fails to appear at the next hearing, the court would not hesitate to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until March 16 for continuation of the trial and ordered that another hearing notice be served on the defence.
A Chief Magistrate Court Grade 1 sitting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has sentenced three individuals arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to 10 years imprisonment each for arms trafficking, without the option of fine.
The convicts — Sakina Garba, Ali Gono, and Ibrahim Abdulrashid — were apprehended by DSS operatives between January and February 2026 following intelligence reports on an arms trafficking network operating in the area.
According to security sources, the suspects were intercepted along the Wukari–Jalingo road while attempting to transport arms and ammunition concealed in two sacks filled with food items.
Recovered items from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition, 105 rounds of 7.82mm ammunition, and 14 AK-47 rifle magazines. Security operatives also recovered three Point of Sale (POS) machines and ₦200,200 in cash from the suspects.
Investigations revealed that the weapons were allegedly being transported from Bantaje village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State to a suspected bandit kingpin.
Meanwhile, in a related development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, a female suspect, Halima Haliru Umar, who was also arrested by DSS operatives, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of 302 rounds of live ammunition.
During the court proceedings, DSS operatives presented the recovered ammunition and other exhibits as evidence before the court.
The presiding judge, Justice Haliluwa Joseph Yilwatda, subsequently adjourned the matter until May 8, 2026, for sentencing.
Earlier, a DSS witness told the court that the suspect was arrested in Plateau State while attempting to courier the ammunition to a notorious bandit leader. The witness tendered the recovered ammunition, investigation report, the defendant’s statements, and cash found in her possession as evidence.
Security sources noted that the arrests and prosecutions form part of ongoing efforts by the DSS to dismantle arms trafficking networks fueling banditry and terrorism across Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 18 for the commencement of trial of a man, Innocent Chukwuma, accused of using social media to call on the military to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter on Monday following a request by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, who asked the court for more time to study the case file.
Kaswe told the court during the resumed hearing that he had only recently been briefed on the matter after the Department of State Services (DSS) transferred the case file to his office.
He therefore requested an adjournment to enable him properly review the file before proceeding with the trial.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to May 18 and May 19 for trial.
Chukwuma had earlier been arraigned before the court over an alleged post on social media considered to be inciting.
Reports indicate that operatives of the Department of State Services tracked him to Oyigbo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was arrested.
The charge before the court, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025, is between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly posted on his X handle, “@TheAgroman,” calling for a coup in Nigeria and urging the military to suspend the current government.
Part of the post reportedly read: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigerian Government, and join the AES. That is all we need now.”
The trial is expected to begin on the next adjourned date.