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Atiku Defeated Buhari in Katsina, Claims PDP State Chairman
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The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State, Sailisu Maijigiri, told the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, on Tuesday, that his party defeated President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23, 2019 presidential election in the state.
The figures he however gave failed to tally with those his party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alluded to in their petition as the “true results” they obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server.
Maijigiri appeared before the five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, at the instance of the PDP and Atiku, who are by their petition challenging the victory of Buhari and his All Progressives Congress at the poll.
The petitioners, on Tuesday, presented 13 witnesses, in addition to the six they earlier called on Monday.
Testifying as the eighth petitioners’ witness, Maijigiri who served as the party’s collation agent for the presidential election in Katsina State, said the collation of the results of the poll carried out by his party in the state, showed that his party polled 905,000 to defeat Buhari and the APC whom he said scored 872,000 votes.
He said, “We (the PDP) won the election in Katsina State not the APC. The APC scored 872,000 and the PDP scored, 905,000.”
But the respondents’ lawyers pointed his attention to the claim by the petitioners in their petition conceding defeat to Buhari.
Asked if he was aware that the petitioners, according to the results they claimed to have obtained from INEC’s server, stated that in their petition that they polled 160,203 votes while Buhari scored 155,633 votes, he said, “The figures we have are the results that we collated in our state, and not the ones from the server.”
In the results officially declared by INEC, Buhari won his home state of Katsina with 1,232,133 to defeat Atiku who polled 308,056 votes.
Another agent of the PDP in Katsina State for the presidential election, Dan Abdusallam, who testified as the 10th petitioners’ witness at the tribunal , was also asked if he was aware that the petitioners conceded defeat to Buhari in Katsina State, he said, “It will never happen that Atiku would concede defeat to Buhari in Katsina.”
In his testimony, he alleged that the election was marred by over-voting in some polling units as the total votes cast outnumbered the number of accredited voters.
Two ad hoc electoral officers who served during the election also told the tribunal that they electronically transmitted results of the election into the INEC server.
The Punch
Jude Bellingham scored a dramatic extra-time winner as England overcame an unfortunate Norway to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Bellingham slid home the winning goal in the first half of extra time after a second Norway goal was ruled out by the VAR for an Erling Haaland foul.
Andreas Schjelderup had given Norway the lead, but Bellingham equalised with a brilliant finish — although England were fortunate the goal stood after the ball struck the Spidercam during the build-up.
England rode their luck at times but will now face either Switzerland or old rivals Argentina as they seek to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 1966.
New York Times
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed relief and joy over the release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
“It is such a big relief for all of us. Right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much,” the governor told Channels Television.
President Bola Tinubu has also expressed delight over the successful rescue of abducted children and teachers, commending the military, the DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force for ending their 56-day captivity.
The President said the security operation led to the arrest of eight suspected abductors while several others were neutralised, describing the outcome as a major relief for the victims, their families and the nation.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised the security agencies for what he described as their tireless efforts in securing the victims’ release.
He also sympathised with the children, teachers and their families over the trauma they endured during the prolonged ordeal
The President further commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government throughout the rescue operation and urged the state to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar incidents.
President Tinubu also directed emergency response agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide the rescued children and teachers with all necessary medical care and relief support as they recover from the ordeal.
The schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued after about 56 days in captivity.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the victims were freed through the efforts of security agencies.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said.
He disclosed that eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Onanuga said the rescue operation did not involve any exchange or concession to the kidnappers, noting that a notorious gang leader whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted for his alleged crimes.
He added that security agencies would provide a full account of the operation soon.
“In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised. There was no quid pro quo in the rescue, as one of the terrorists, a kingpin whose release was demanded by the kidnappers, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon,” he added.
In a video shared alongside the statement, a woman believed to be one of the rescued teachers was seen thanking President Bola Tinubu for securing their release. The schoolchildren were also seen eating biscuits and joining the teacher in chanting, “Thank you, sir,” at the end of her remarks.
“Hello sir, our father, we are grateful. Mr President, sir, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety and we appreciate all you did for us. We could see your hand in this. Thank you very much. Every security operative tried so much, and that is why we are still alive today. We are very grateful to you. Thank you very much,” the teacher said.
