Former President Buhari had appointed Ararume as board chairman of the national oil firm in September 2021, but he was later sacked and replaced with Margaret Chuba Okadigbo in January 2022.

Ararume, a former senator representing Imo north, had sued the president, arguing that his sack was “wrongful” and amounted to “disruption and interruption” of the term of his office.

The federal high court in Abuja agreed with Ararume and voided his removal. He was also awarded N5 billion in damages.

The former president had said he would appeal the verdict.

In his response to NNPCL’s appeal dated July 31, Ararume said the firm’s move is “a waste of the precious time of the court”.

The former senator said the company’s appeal should be dismissed with a huge cost in his favour.

“We submit that this is not a case of misnomer, but consistent with the position and attitude of the appellant as if the 2nd respondent sued by the 1st respondent at the court below was still a parastatal of the government,” Chris Uche, counsel to Ararume, said.

The NNPCL is challenging Ararume’s victory on 18 grounds.

The firm, through Yusuf Ali, its counsel, said the lower court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the suit, having been statute barred.

NNPCL argued that the lower court erred by holding that the president could appoint a non-executive owing to the petroleum industry act of 2021.

The post NNPCL heads to a’court over judgment voiding Ararume’s removal as board chair appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Justice Taiwo, in a judgment, held that Ararume remained the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election as at today and should be declared winner of the election.

The judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Ararume within 72 hours from the delivery of the judgment for him to be formally inaugurated by the Senate President.

The post Court declares Ararume winner of Imo North Senatorial bye-election appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Among the list of the aspirants in the September 3 bye-elections are ex-lawmakers and former senior government officials.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled October 31 for the bye-elections to fill 12 vacant national and state assemblies seats across eight states.

Six of the seats are of the national assembly while the remaining six are of state assemblies.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yekini Naben, APC spokesman, said the party cleared all the aspirants who purchased expression of interest and nomination forms to contest in the primaries.

Only one aspirant each was listed for four state constituencies as well as Lagos east senatorial district which has Mukhail Abiru, former Lagos commissioner for finance.

Ifeanyi Ararume, a former senator, is seeking to contest the Imo north senatorial election alongside Chidinma Uwajumogu, the sister to the late occupant of the seat; and Mathew Omegara, a former member of the house of representatives.

Godknows Bolaji Igali, a former permanent secretary in the federal ministry of power who is vying for the APC ticket in the Bayelsa central senatorial district, is being challenged by Henry Daniel Ofongo, current member of the house of representatives.

For the Bayelsa west senatorial poll, among the three APC aspirants is Peremobowei Ebebi, former deputy governor of the state.

Among the contenders for the Cross River north senatorial election is Zana Itiunbe Akpagu, outgoing vice-chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) while Doknan Danjuma Sheni, a former vice-chancellor of Plateau State University, is seeking to contest for Plateau south senatorial district.

Below is the full list of aspirants cleared by APC:

Imo north senatorial district

1. Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume
2. Mathew Omegara
3. Achonu Athanasius Nneji
4. Uchendu Maric Chijioke
5. Ibezim Chukwuma Frank
6. Uwajumogu Edith Chidinma
7. Uchenna Onyeiwu Ubah
8. Okoro Eze Joachim
9. Nwachukwu Bright Uchenna
10. Onuoha Chikwem Chijioke
11. Ihim Iheanacho (Acho) Celestine

Cross River North senatorial district

1. Ochicha Odey Anthony
2. Joe Odey Anthony, SAN
3. Harry Godwin Odey
4. Zana Itiunbe Akpagu
5. Fidelis Ebi Egoro

Obudu state constituency (Cross River)

1. Agbor Godwin Adase

Bayelsa west senatorial district

1. Mathew Karimo
2. Omonikeke Kemelayefa
3. Ebebi Peremobowei
Bayelsa central senatorial district

1. Festus Dauniebi Sunday
2. Abel Ebifemowei
3. Timipa Tiwei Orunimigbe
4. Henry Daniel Ofongo
5. Godknows Bolaji Igali

Plateau south senatorial district

1. Doknan Danjuma Sheni
2. Nanvel Nimfel
3. Prof. Emmanuel Joseph Daniyang
4. Nora Ladi Daduut
5. Damian Dongnaán Shekarau

Kosofe II state constituency (Lagos)

1. Saheed Wasiu Obafemi

Lagos east senatorial district

1. Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru

Nganzi state constituency (Borno)

1. Mohammed Ali Gajiradi
Bayo state constituency (Borno)

1. Maigari M. Abare

Bakura state constituency (Zamfara)

1. Bello Dankande Gamji
2. Lawali Isa
3. Saídu Dan Bala
4. Sani Mohammed Yar’kofogi

Ibaji state constituency (Kogi)

1. Mathew Omachonu Eguche
2. Patrick Obwu Abah
3. Joseph Enemona
4. Jerry Omaiwala
5. Moses Emmanuel Commander
6. Atule Egbunu
7. Ogwu Harry Uba

The post Godknows Igali, Ararume, UNICAL VC… the 45 aspirants APC cleared for bye-election primaries appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.