By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, thereby upholding the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to intervene in matters concerning the party’s planned national convention.

Delivering judgment in a set of nine consolidated appeals, a three-man panel of the appellate court unanimously affirmed the earlier decision of the lower court. The Federal High Court had previously barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or validating any convention organised by the Turaki-led faction.

The legal battle stemmed from a dispute over the party’s scheduled national convention, initially planned for November 14 and 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Turaki faction had challenged a lower court order that restrained the party from proceeding with the event.

In its ruling on Thursday, the Appeal Court rejected the appellants’ contention that the matter constituted an internal affair of the party and was therefore outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. The panel held that the Federal High Court was fully competent to hear the suit.

Delivering the lead judgment, the court stated that the appellants could not “repackage a clear violation of the party constitution and that of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an internal party affair.” It emphasised that the issues raised extended beyond internal party politics and touched on statutory and constitutional violations.

Consequently, the court dismissed the appeals for lacking in merit and awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants, to be paid to the respondents.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has urged women and girls to actively participate in the digital space, emphasizing the importance of online safety and emerging technologies.

The call was made on Sunday during a one-day workshop organized by CITAD at Sudawa College of Nursing & Midwifery, Kano. The workshop, themed “AI Deepfakes, Cyberbullying, Harmful Content Reporting, and Data Protection,” aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge to navigate the digital world safely.

Speaking on behalf of CITAD Executive Director Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, CITAD Programme Officer Isah Garba said the organisation uses information and communication technology (ICT) to promote social development, good governance, and education.

“Every 8th of March, CITAD marks International Women’s Day with unique activities that empower women and girls,” Garba said. “Our focus is on promoting women’s rights, fighting gender-based violence, advancing digital inclusion, cybersecurity, peace-building, and youth entrepreneurship training.”

He added that the workshop was particularly designed to address challenges posed by emerging artificial intelligence technologies, including AI deepfakes and cyberbullying.

“The session equips participants with practical skills to identify AI-manipulated images and videos, report harmful content using platforms like Repotrix, and safeguard their personal data online,” Garba explained.

On her part, Miss Ogedegbe Sarah, representing the students of Sudawa College of Nursing & Midwifery, lauded the initiative and called on participants to apply the knowledge gained.

“In today’s world, where artificial intelligence plays a significant role, it is crucial that we understand how to protect ourselves online and report harmful content,” she said.

International Women’s Day, celebrated every 8th of March, commemorates women’s struggles for equality and liberation, spotlighting issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence and abuse.

The theme for IWD 2026 is: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Vice President Kashim Shettima has vowed that the Federal Government will end insurgency in the North-East with “decisive and overwhelming force”.

This followed recent attacks in Borno State that resulted in casualties among security personnel and civilians.

Shettima, in a statement on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, declared that the government will not be intimidated by the attacks, which included abductions in Ngoshe and coordinated assaults on military formations.

“We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable.

“This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State,” the Vice President stated.

He disclosed that the government is deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to affected areas in response to the attacks.

“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair.

“Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order,” Shettima said.

The Vice President revealed that President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the attacks and directed swift and total mobilisation of the security architecture.

“The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he stated.

The recent attacks targeted military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, with insurgents briefly overrunning some positions before reinforcements arrived. In Ngoshe, residents were abducted by the terrorists.