| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Page No./Weblink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 31, 2021 | CJN Moves to Save Judiciary, Summons Justices over Conflicting Court Orders | The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad has summoned six Chief Judges of State High Courts in the country in a bid to address tje growing issue of indiscriminate granting of court orders and injunctions by some pliable judges who have by their dishonourable conduct brought the Bench to disrepute. The States Chief Judges invited before the National Judicial Council (NJC) include those of Rivers, Anambra, Jigawa, Kebbi, Imo and Cross River States. A copy of the letter of invitation seen by THISDAY indicated that the affected Chief Judges are to appear before the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as a prelude to appearing before the NJC to explain what warranted issuance of conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction. While the High Courts of Imo, Jigawa and Anambra States need to explain their roles in the Anambra governorship election, the High Courts of Rivers, Kebbi and Cross River States on the other hand, are involved in the case of the PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. THISDAY gathered that the CJN complained bitterly on the huge embarrassment caused to the Nigerian judiciary by the actions of those who issued the conflicting orders upon ex-parte applications by some politicians. According to him, “This is even more compelling having regard to earlier NJC Warning to judicial officers on the need to be circumspect in granting Exparte applications”. Similarly, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which shared same position as the CJN, has also condemned the now rife development, stating that it would be willing to sanction any member found wanting. | Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad, National Judicial Council (NJC) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/31/cjn-moves-to-save-judiciary-summons-justices-over-conflicting-court-orders/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 31, 2021 | INEC Releases Delta Constituency Bye-Election Candidates’ List | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of candidates for the Isoko South 1 State Constituency bye-election in Delta State. The commission had on August 10, 2021, released the timetable and schedule of activities for bye-election in the constituency following the declaration of vacancy by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Monday, August 30, in Abuja, stated that the commission has fixed Saturday, September 11, 2021 for the election. Accoridng to him, “Twelve political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates for the bye-election. The personal particulars of one (1) female and 11 male candidates have been published in the constituency as required by law. The list has also been uploaded on the commission’s website and social media platforms for public information. While we reassure all political parties of a level playing field, the commission expects parties and candidates to conduct their electioneering campaign and election-day activities with civility and decorum consistent with the provisions of the law.” | INEC, Delta State, Isoko South 1 State Constituency bye-election Bye-Election | https://dailytrust.com/inec-releases-delta-constituency-by-election-candidates-list | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 31, 2021 | Govt Says Nigerians to Feel Impact of Economic Growth Soon | Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has expressed hope that Nigerians will soon feel the impact of gradual growth in the nation’s economy. The minister spoke, on Monday, August 30 at a media briefing held with regards to the recently published Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates of the second quarter of 2021 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS had claimed that the country’s GDP grew by 5.01 per cent, culminating in the third consecutive quarter of growth since last year’s slowdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Bureau, it is the strongest real GDP growth the nation’s economy has recorded since the last quarter of 2014. Ahmed noted that though the impact of the growth might not be felt by the masses now; there is a gradual improvement across sectors of the economy. She stated that there has also been a decline in the prices of food crops. Ahmed, however, blamed the pace of insecurity across the country for the decline recorded in the agricultural sector. According to her, “When these estimates are considered along with declining inflation rate, which slowed from 18.17 per cent at the end of Q1 to 17.75 per cent at the end of Q2 and as at July stands at 17.38 per cent, it is clear that the economic recovery is gradually picking up steam. | Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | https://guardian.ng/news/govt-says-nigerians-to-feel-impact-of-economic-growth-soon/ | |
| Vanguard Newspaper | Tuesday, August 31, 2021 | US to Nigeria: We Can Help Identify Sponsors of Terrorism | As part of efforts to help Nigeria overcome the continuous carnage inflicted on its citizens by terrorists and armed bandits, the United States government on Monday, August 30, stated it is willing to provide Intelligence to assist Nigeria identify sponsors of terrorism in the country. US Ambasssdor to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard made this disclosure at a round-table interaction on U.S. – Nigeria military cooperation with journalists at the US Embassy in Abuja noting that discussion in this regard was ongoing. Leonard’s comments followed the disclosure by Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the Commander of United States Europe and African Air Forces Command, that the induction of A-29 Super Tucano Fighter aircraft into Nigerian Air Force operations, will be a defining moment in combating terrorism and other violent extremism. On the A-29 Super Tucano, Ambassador Beth Leonard, stated that the induction of the Fighter aircraft was a significant milestone in the U.S. – Nigerian bilateral relations, assuring that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Nigeria to fight insecurity. Furthermore, the Ambasssdor stated that the U.S. was committed to supporting democracy and economic programmes of the Federal Government of Nigeria, adding that her government will also ensure that the full package with regards to the agreement between Nigeria and the U.S. on the Super Tucano would be fully implemented. | Nigeria, United States, Terrorism | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/us-to-nigeria-we-are-willing-to-provide-intelligence-to-assist-in-identifying-sponsors-of-terrorism/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, August 30, 2021 | Buhari Pleads with Jos, Other Warring Communities to Give Peace Chance | President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the warring groups in Plateau States and other parts of the country to embrace peace and end the shedding of blood seen in the country in the past few days. The President in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, also assured all citizens that his government was on top of the situation and was moving ahead to crush perpetrators of the unrest in Plateau State. However, he stated that to achieve success in that regard, communities must unite to end the orgy of violence seen in the past few days. According to the statement, “But to achieve success, our communities must unite against against these horrific attacks. Retributive violence is not the answer. While these troubled communities are being reinforced with security personnel, our religious, traditional and other community leaders must not allow the use of their spaces for the propagation of violence and incitement to violence.” Teh statement further read that, “It is important both for Nigerians and the international community to appreciate that there are a multitude of factors attendant to these troubles. ” He also pointed out that there is the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism, as well as the spate of kidnappings for ransom, “transformed by some misinformed global media into a Muslim-on-Christian threat. Yet, in reality, there are no religious connotations at all when the primate purpose of these acts is to extract money. Then the herder-farmer clashes - while international voices and some Nigerian politicians who seek personal gain from division declare this a matter of religion, for those involved it is almost entirely a matter of access to water and land." It further stated that, “As for Nigerians, what we need is to come together. And we must do this firstly and for the most part by our own hands, by casting asunder those who seek to divide us for their own nefarious financial and political gain.” | President Muhammadu Buhari, Plateau State | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/30/buhari-pleads-with-jos-other-warring-communities-to-give-peace-chance/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, August 30, 2021 | APC States Align with FG on 15% Annual Release to Healthcare Services | The All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled States have stated their resolve to align with the Federal Government on the declaration of 15 per cent annual allocation and release to healthcare services. They have also resolved to undertake the establishment of sustainable healthcare financing systems such as health insurance and health emergency trust fund. The position of the APC states was contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday, August 29 and jointly signed by the Kwara State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Raji Razaq and the Director General of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, following the meeting of Commissioners of Health and Executive Secretaries of Primary Healthcare Development Agencies in APC States on Improving Primary Health Care Delivery. The meeting was held on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme “Improving Primary Health Care Delivery in APC State”. The objectives of the meeting included Identifying challenges of primary health care delivery; Proffering sustainable solutions aimed at tackling the identified challenges confronting primary healthcare delivery; Facilitating the adoption of uniform implementation of policy initiatives on primary healthcare delivery across all APC states, among others. The meeting resolved the following among others: APC States to undertake establishment of sustainable healthcare financing systems such as health insurance and health emergency trust fund; APC States should domesticate Primary Health Care under one roof in line with Federal Government policy initiative under the National Primary Health Care Development Authority; Priority consideration should be given to maternal and child nutrition in primary health care delivery services. | All Progressives Congress (APC), Healthcare | https://guardian.ng/news/apc-states-to-earmark-15-budgetary-allocation-for-healthcare/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 30, 2021 | Nigeria Reports 93 COVID-19-Related Deaths, 362 New Infections | Nigeria has confirmed 93 COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the number of total fatalities to 2,454. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this in its daily report. The centre stated that 53 deaths were recorded in the country in 24 hours, an indication that the third wave of the disease is ravaging the country.The disease control centre noted that the figure includes a backlog of fatalities recorded in Lagos State, which also topped the list of new daily infections with 200 out of the 362 infections recorded across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday, August 29. The centre stated that the new infection figure has increased the country’s infection toll to 191,345 cases. The agency did not indicate if majority of the known active cases were from the contagious Delta variant or other variants of concern as stated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The NCDC noted as follows: "Our report for Sunday includes backlog of cases reported for Delta State from Aug. 26, (2), Aug. 27 (4), and Aug. 28 (9) and a backlog of deaths reported for Lagos State.” The centre added that 2.7 million people had been tested, 178,283 cases were treated and 236 discharged as of Sunday, August 29. | Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), COVID-19 | https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-reports-93-covid-19-related-deaths-362-new-infections/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 30, 2021 | Unite to Rescue Nigeria, Elumelu Begs PDP Members | Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, has pleaded with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve their differences and work towards rescuing Nigeria. During the 92nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party at the weekend in Abuja, the lawmaker stated that Nigerians had lost “hope in the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as corruption and treasury looting have taken centre stage, with the nation being laid bare to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and thugs, who have now taken control of territories, marauding highways, razing communities, killing, maiming and kidnapping citizens on a daily basis, with nothing done to salvage the situation.” He further stated that in six years, the ruling party is “wrecking the once-thriving economy handed over to it by the PDP in 2015.” Elumelu argued that Nigeria had been “turned into the poverty capital of the world, with 33.3 per cent unemployment rate, as over 60 million flourishing businesses are closed down and about 83 million Nigerians are now unable to afford their daily meals and other necessities of life.” He also deplored Nigeria’s 98th ranking among 107 nations in the Global Hunger Index. According to Elumelu, the current administration has continued to “mortgage the sovereignty and future of the nation with reckless borrowing and accumulated N33.107 trillion debt for which it has nothing to show, but decayed infrastructure and a desolate economy.” He warned that the proposal to borrow another N5.62 trillion for the 2022 budget would increase Nigeria’s debt stock to N38.7 trillion, with “no clear-cut repayment plan.” | Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://guardian.ng/news/unite-to-rescue-nigeria-elumelu-begs-pdp-members/ | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, August 30, 2021 | PDP Crisis: Litigation Threatens October Convention | The end may not yet be in sight for the crisis bedevilling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In Abuja, on Sunday, August 29, the PUNCH gathered that this is due to the fact that feuding members of the party have so far refused to withdraw pending litigation from Court. Although the party’s National Caucus, the Board of Trustees, Governors and the second highest decision-making body of the party, the National Executive Committee, meet last week and ratified the appointment of the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi, as acting National Chairman, the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, insists he remains in office. A highly placed member of the party’s NEC who confided in our correspondent, in Abuja, explained that party leaders were “well aware” of the landmines the pending litigation represent. The source stated that, “We cannot pretend, we have a problem on our hands. There is no doubt some of our members want Secondus out, they have their reasons. There are also those who want him to remain and at least complete his tenure in December, they also have their reasons. But as a party in opposition, we cannot afford to make mistakes that the ruling party can take advantage of to destroy us. Getting Secondus out at this point is like taking a bull out of a China shop. He will not go down without a fight. As we speak, there are three court orders, two restraining him, one asking him to resume immediately." Another source stated that, “The PDP is an institution, it is bigger than all of us who are members. We must be prepared to make sacrifices in the interest of our party. Under Secondus we’ve lost three of our Governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress, several serving and former legislators, as well as members of the BoT. Must everybody leave the party before he knows it is time to call it time?” It was equally gathered that supporters of the National Chairman have approached the High Courts in Port Harcourt and Cross Rivers to vacate the restraining orders issued against Secondus. | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://punchng.com/pdp-crisis-litigation-threatens-october-convention/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Friday, August 27, 2021 | PDP Picks Oct 30 For National Convention | The National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold on October 30 and October 31, 2021. Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, made this known after the National Caucus meeting of the party in Abuja, on Friday, August 27. He stated that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party will pick the venue of the convention. He stated thus: “We have just risen from our 40th meeting of the national caucus of our great party, the PDP, where we have resolved to submit to the NEC of our party the recommendation from the National Working Committee for the National Convention of our party, to be held between Friday, 30th of October to Saturday, 31st of October. The venue will be determined tomorrow by NEC. Also, this distinguished body had empaneled eight distinguished leaders of our party under the able leadership of ex-President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, to interface with our leaders who are involved in these issues of court, so that all court matters can be now withdrawn and then for normalcy to continue to return to the party." Governor Tambuwal added, “I appeal on behalf of this body to all well meaning members of our party in the interest of the party to sheath their sword and let us embrace peace because Nigeria is waiting for PDP; and I believe that we have the capacity to resolve whatever issues we have internally.” | PDP, National Convention | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-picks-oct-30-for-national-convention | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 26, 2021 | Court Clears Abia Rep of Alleged Certificate Forgery | A High Court, sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday, August 25 cleared the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, of alleged certificate forgery. Delivering judgment on the suit filed by Mr. Okechukwu Ezeala, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, Justice O. A. Chijioke held that the claimant “failed” to prove his allegation beyond reasonable doubt. Ezeala had filed the suit alongside Chima Anyaso, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who lost in the last Bende Federal Constituency election. The judge agreed with all the arguments of Kalu’s lead counsel, K. C. Nwufor, affirming: “The matter is a pre-election matter and therefore statute-barred and frivolous. Benjamin Kalu fully complied with the law in his change of name. The claimant failed to differentiate or prove his claims of forgery and impersonation against Benjamin Kalu.” The court also agreed with Nwufor that the claimant ought to have produced the original bearer of the name, which Kalu alleged was impersonated. Ezeala had challenged the authenticity of the primary and secondary schools certificates Kalu presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which qualified him (Kalu) to contest the 2019 election. Ezeala had asked the court to scrutinise the certificates, which he claimed were not earned by Kalu because they bore different names. He also prayed the court to declare Kalu unqualified to contest the election if it found the certificates had been forged. | Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Certificate Forgery | https://guardian.ng/news/court-clears-abia-rep-of-alleged-certificate-forgery/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 26, 2021 | Reps Reprimands PPPRA For Allegedly Doctoring Revenue Documents | The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has frowned at the Pipeline Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) for failing to give appropriate figures of its daily output of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products in the country. Chairman of the Committee, James Faleke, and other members maintained there were discrepancies in the records presented vis-à-vis revenues owed the government. Faleke, therefore, asked the agency to reappear on Thursday, August 26 to give further clarification on the discrepancies, as PPPRA Assistant General Manager (AGM), Corporate Services, Kimshi Apollo, could not give clear answers to some of the questions asked by the lawmakers. Trouble started when the chairman noted that the documents submitted by the agency showed the daily output of PMS and other products were the same from 2018 to 2019. It was also observed that the daily consumption of PMS was put at 48 million litres within the period under review, while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was put at 10.5 million litres per day. In another document, the agency claimed it discharged 59.90 million litres daily in January 2019, 55.04 million in February and 55.66 million litres in March. The document further indicated that the supply jumped to 60.27 million litres in January 2020, then 60.56 million litres in February and moved down to 56.07 million litres in March 2020. Again, the supply jumped to 61.92 litres per day in January 2021, went down to 58.09 million litres in January, and moved up to 66.64 million litres in March 2021. Faleke stated thus: “The records presented have contradictions that cannot be ignored. Tell us that the documents are not correct, so that we can move forward. The data you gave us, yesterday, which says 52 million per day was wrong, so your naira figure too will be wrong.” In his response, Apollo stated that the agency brought the constant figure of 48 million litres based on what transpired earlier, on Monday, regarding the average daily consumption by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). In his ruling, the chairman directed PPPRA to produce, unfailingly, the records of the entire daily output of petroleum products, as well as remittances to the Federal Government. He also asked the Financial Reporting Council, Accountant General’s Office and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to scrutinise the records and reappear today. | House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Pipeline Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) | https://guardian.ng/news/reps-reprimands-pppra-for-allegedly-doctoring-revenue-documents/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 26, 2021 | Jos in 24-hour Shutdown After Fresh Attack Leaves 36 Dead, Houses Burnt | After President Muhammadu Buhari met behind closed doors with Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, some gunmen, on Tuesday August 25, turned the state to a theatre of war, as they attacked Yelwan Zangam community, close to the permanent site of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), killing about 36 people and burning houses. The attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. despite the dusk to dawn curfew imposed in Jos North council as well as Jos South and Bassa council areas. The attackers shot sporadically, gunning down fleeing residents and burning some others in their homes. Before the incident, the fragile bridge linking the community to other communities was destroyed to prevent help from coming to the people. | Jos Attacks | https://guardian.ng/news/jos-in-24-hour-shutdown-after-fresh-attack-leaves-36-dead-houses-burnt/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | House Threatens to Withhold CAC’s 2022 Budget over Missing Financial Reports | The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has threatened to withhold the 2022 budgetary allocation to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) over non-rendition of its financial statements in the past four years. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Faleke, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 24 during an interactive session on the 2022-2024 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), with the CAC Registrar General, Abubakar Garba. According to him, the documents submitted by the Commission indicated that its revenue had always been lower than its expenditure from 2016 to 2020. He stated that the CAC’s budgetary performance in 2021 had already put it in deficit due to its spending which he said was unhealthy for the organisation and overall financial status of the country. The lawmaker therefore stated the CAC would have its budgetary allocation withheld until it submits its financial report from 2016 to 2020. | House of Representatives, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/25/house-threatens-to-withhold-cacs-2022-budget-over-missing-financial-reports/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | IG Tasks Govs, Police Personnel on Community Policing | The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, on Tuesday, August 24, called on the state governments and police personnel to ensure that those drafted into the community policing system are people with proven character. The police boss, who stated that the Federal Government has adopted community policing to check crime and criminality, a practice he stated was obtainable in most parts of today’s world, spoke when he addressed officers and men of the command while on a working and familiarisation tour of the state. Alkali announced that statistics have shown the reduction in the level of crime in some parts of the country since the community policing model was adopted, compared to what it was when he first resumed office as the Inspector General of Police. According to him, “I think I can say statistically that what we have in South-South, South-East and even South-West has changed greatly from what we met and in the other parts of the country. We are also doing much to improve the situation there. The IG also commended the state government on its efforts to help the police rebuild the Police Training School in Ogida near Benin-city. | Inspector General of Police, Community Policing | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/25/ig-tasks-govs-police-personnel-on-community-policing/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | PDP Governors Hold Emergency Meeting | All 13 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been summoned to an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 26. A statement from the PDP Governors forum signed by its Director-General, C.I.D Maduabum explained that the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, after consultation with his colleagues agreed to convene the meeting. According to Maduabum, “The Chairman of the PDP GOVERNORS FORUM , Rt Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, in consultation with his colleagues has summoned an emergency meeting of the Forum to hold on Thursday 26th August, 2021 at 5pm. The meeting will discuss recent developments in the PDP." The Governors enjoined all PDP members and stakeholders to exercise patience as efforts are being made to ensure continued stability of the Party in the days ahead. Sources hinted that the meeting became imperative because of the need to immediately resolve the leadership crisis in the battle. The meeting will take a final decision on when the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will hold. PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Suleiman Nazif had announced on Tuesday, August 24 that the NEC meeting would hold on Friday, August 27. The failure of the suspended National Chairman, Uche Secondus, to convene the NEC meeting is one of the issues that worsened his travails. | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governors, Emergency Meeting | https://guardian.ng/politics/pdp-governors-hold-emergency-meeting/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | PDP Crisis: After Court Order, 2 Deputies Claim Secondus’ Seat | Two factions have emerged in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by a Port Harcourt High Court on Monday, August 23. The court had restrained Secondus from parading himself as PDP helmsman and party member following the intense crisis rocking the party. Sequel to that, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Suleiman Nazif, are laying claim to Secondus’ seat. Both deputies are claiming to be acting chairmen of the party. Akinwonmi, via a statement, announced that with Secondus’ suspension, he has the powers to preside over meetings of the party in acting capacity. He announced the postponement of the NWC meeting slated for yesterday, Tuesday, August 24. However, while Akinwonmi announced the postponement of the NWC meeting, the Nazif-led faction met and reached some key resolutions. Nazif told newsmen at the end of their meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would hold on Friday, August 27. | PDP | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-crisis-after-court-order-2-deputies-claim-secondus-seat | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | Attack on NDA Facility Won’t Dampen Military Action Against Criminality, Buhari Vows | President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Tuesday’s attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) facility will only buoy the country’s military action to totally eliminate evil in the country. Buhari stated that the attack will not dampen the morale of our Armed Forces as it is intended to, instead it will speed up their determination to make a decisive end to the criminality besetting the nation. Noting that the attack, which led to the loss of lives, came at a time that the military had put insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other types of criminals on the retreat, Buhari stated that the heinous action would accelerate the total uprooting of evil in the polity, which members of the Armed Forces are solidly resolved to accomplish in the shortest possible time. Commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones, and praying God to comfort them, Buhari vowed that the deceased would not die in vain, as the degenerate act would have consequences that will eventually clean the country of vermin, and emancipate the polity from deliberate, targeted and contrived atrocious acts. A statement signed by the President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday, August 25, quoted the President as thanking Nigerians who value and appreciate the efforts of the military. He urged those playing hateful politics with the dastardly act to desist, noting that rather than recriminations, it was the time for all patriots and people of goodwill to support and encourage those who are in the vanguard of the battle against wickedness in the land. | Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), President Muhammadu Buhari | https://guardian.ng/news/attack-on-nda-facility-wont-dampen-military-action-against-criminality-buhari-vows/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, August 23, 2021 | PDP Crisis: Anxiety As Secondus Rejects Oct. Deadline | There is anxiety in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the crisis bedevilling it is worsening ahead of the party’s national convention. The current wave of uncertainty and anxiety in the party is sequel to the decision of the embattled national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, not to leave office in October. Multiple sources in the party confided in our correspondent on Sunday, August 22, that Secondus is insisting on completing his tenure of four years, saying he would vacate office only if the party’s constitution is amended. Secondus was elected at the December 2017 national convention of the PDP held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, along with other NWC members and his tenure of four years is supposed to end in December 2021. However, a PDP expanded stakeholders’ meeting resolved barely two weeks ago, in Abuja, that Secondus’ tenure should elapse in October in order to nip in the bud the raging crisis in the party. The meeting which had state governors, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, former ministers, former governors and National Assembly Caucus in attendance also directed Secondus to summon the National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the second highest decision-making organ of the party, to ratify processes leading to the party’s convention in October. Howeverm sources close to Secondus confided in Daily Trust, that Secondus has rejected the October deadline given him to leave office, and insists on completing his tenure of four years in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution. | PDP, Prince Uche Secondus | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-crisis-anxiety-as-secondus-rejects-oct-deadline | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, August 23, 2021 | Rivers APC Pledges Level Playing Field for Aspirants | The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied claims that it has a preferred gubernatorial aspirant ahead of the 2023 elections. The State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Mr Isaac Ogbobula disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday, August 22, titled, ‘We have no preferred aspirants—APC chairman’. Ogbobula stated that reports quoting him as saying that the immediate past Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside; oil mogul, Tonye Cole and Biokpo Awara, are preferred aspirants were false. His statement read thus: “My attention has been drawn to reports that I stated that APC has preferred aspirants. I said no such thing. My dear party leaders and members, please ignore the fake report. It is the handiwork of fifth columnists bent on setting confusion in our midst. We must expect more of these acts of mischief and blackmail as the 2023 countdown kick starts." He alos added that, "We must not allow anyone to ascribe to any party functionary an act which he or she did not undertake. Kindly ignore the circulation of fake news.” | Rivers State, APC | https://punchng.com/rivers-apc-pledges-level-playing-field-for-aspirants/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 23, 2021 | Ortom, Ohanaeze, Falana Kick Over Unknown Grazing Routes | Criticism is trailing last week’s directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to a committee to reclaim old grazing routes, with Nigerians kicking against the move and warning that the move could court a civil war. This new move is coming three months after the Southern states have commenced signing laws prohibiting open grazing in the 17 states of the region following their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on May 11 and some days to the September take-off of the anti-grazing laws in the Southern states. This, notwithstanding, the Federal Government has continued to tinker with the unpopular policy as it frantically repackages the failed 2017 Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy. It was repackaged as the 2019-2028 National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in 2019 due to RUGA’s widespread rejection. Two years after the introduction of NLTP, the package is currently described as the Livestock Intervention Programme (LIP), and part of it is reclaiming the old grazing routes. Ahead of the September target date, the anti-open grazing laws have become operational in Ogun, Abia, Oyo, Ekiti, and Ebonyi. Rivers, Osun, Bayelsa and Ondo states, which have signed legislations, while Delta, Akwa Ibom and Enugu states have sent bills to their state assemblies. A few other states like Anambra, Cross River, Imo, Edo and Lagos are yet to begin legislative process on the bill. What has now stirred the hornets’ nest is a statement released on Thursday, August 19, which unveiled President Buhari’s move to revive 368 grazing reserves in 25 out of the 36 states in the country by approving recommendations of a committee chaired by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, to review, ‘with dispatch’, 368 grazing sites to determine the levels of encroachment, stakeholder engagements and sensitisation. | President Muhammadu Buhari, Grazing Routes | https://guardian.ng/news/ortom-ohanaeze-falana-kick-over-unknown-grazing-routes/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, August 23, 2021 | Jos Killings: Security Personnel To Go After People Attacking Innocent Citizens | The local authority of Jos North Local Government Area, on Sunday, August 22, stated that it will go after any person who attacks innocent citizens and fish them out to face the full wrath of the law. The authority also stated that it would arrest residents of the community or area where the event took place for appropriate sanctions of the suspects. This development is coming in the wake of the August 14 attack on Fulani travellers around Gada-biyu – Rukuba road of Jos North LGA and the subsequent disturbances in other communities. Management Committee Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Shehu Bala Usman, made the declaration following the review of the curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government. The Chairman stated that the administration of Governor Lalong had invested so much towards the attainment of peace in the area, warning that his administration would not allow any individual or groups who are bent on sabotaging the government’s efforts to destroy such gains. He warned that his administration would no longer tolerate any act that could cause havoc and pain on innocent citizens, reiterating that whoever is found wanting no matter their status would be dealt with within the ambit of the law. He, therefore, appeal to traditional, community and religious leaders, development and youth organisations, as well as officials of tricycle owners/riders and the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, Jos North and well-meaning individuals to assist the government in sensitising their followers and members on the need to live in peace and to report any strange movement to security operatives. | Plateau State, Jos Attacks | https://dailytrust.com/jos-killings-security-personnel-to-go-after-people-attacking-innocent-citizens | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 23, 2021 | COVID-19: Nigeria Logs 187,023 Total Infections – NCDC | The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) stated that Nigeria has recorded 187,023 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections as of August 22. The NCDC made this known via its website on Monday, August 23, adding that the country reported 388 additional COVID-19 infections on August 22. It stated that the recent surge in infections was driven by the spread of the Delta variant in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new infections indicated a decrease from the 1,064 cases announced on Sunday, August 22. The Public Health agency noted that eight COVID-19 related deaths were recorded, which increased the country’s fatality figure to 2,268. It added that the new cases were reported in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The NCDC stated that Lagos State reported the highest number of infections of the day with 166 new cases, followed by Akwa Ibom (89), Rivers (76) and Oyo (15). Amongst others were; Edo (12), Benue (11), Delta (7), FCT (4), Ogun (4), Kaduna (2), Gombe (1) and Nasarawa (1). The NCDC added that the country has successfully treated 168,455 COVID-19 cases following the discharge of 135 additional patients on Sunday. The agency noted that the number of active coronavirus infections in the country had risen to 16,300, from 16,055 reported on Saturday. | COVID-19, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) | https://guardian.ng/news/covid-19-nigeria-logs-187023-total-infections-ncdc/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | ‘Amosun was Never Okupe’s Campaign Coordinator’ | A former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun Central Elders Caucus and Campaign Coordinator for Senator Ibikunle Amosun during his Senatorial Campaign between 2001 and 2003, Mr. Francis Gbenga Adenmosun, has faulted Dr. Doyin Okupe’s allegation that Amosun was his (Okupe)’s campaign coordinator. Okupe had alleged that the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Amosun was his campaign coordinator in Ogun Central Senatorial District during the run up to the 2003 gubernatorial election. However, disputing that allegation, Adenmosun said he was taken aback by the strange claims made by Okupe in a public medium. “It is on record that I was the Secretary of PDP, Ogun Central Elders Caucus and Campaign Coordinator for Senator Ibikunle Amosun during his Senatorial Campaign between 2001 and 2003, and I can authoritatively say that Senator Amosun was a candidate himself and definitely not the campaign coordinator for Okupe. Indeed, as a candidate himself, it would not have been possible for him (Amosun) to have been the campaign coordinator for Okupe or any other candidates,” he said in statement. | Doyin Okupe, Ibikunle Amosun | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/19/amosun-was-never-okupes-campaign-coordinator/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | APC to Hold LG Congress Sept. 4 | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed Saturday, September 4, 2021 for the conduct of the Local Government Area Congresses. The National Secretary of Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement issued Wednesday said the sale of forms for various party positions had commenced. He said: “APC Schedules Local Government Area Congresses for Saturday, 4th September, 2021; begins sale of forms.” However, the party is yet to fix a date for the State Congresses. | LG Congress, All Progressives Congress | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/18/apc-to-hold-lg-congress-sept-4/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | Ward congress returns Enugu APC to crisis mode: Party torn between foundation members and joiners | Members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state have returned to the trenches. Like it happened in 2018 during a state congress that dealt a sharp surd in the unity of the state chapter, bringing it into two factions, the ward congress election held on July 31 has restored the party to fresh contentions. While the 2018 episode had thrown up a pseudo faction led by a non-member of the party, this one has however, brought with it a self-acclaimed “acting chairman” who until now was the Deputy state chairman of the party in the state, Gilbert Chukwunta Chukwunta said that the decision was taken to save the party from further implosion considering the crisis, which had torn it into factions since 2015. He said that the “removal” of Nwoye from office was in compliance with Article 21 (A) of the APC Constitution, which stipulated guidelines on how to remove such party official from position. He had denied that neither Onyeama nor Nnamani had a hand in the “removal” of Nwoye. Incidentally, while the Chukwunta group was announcing his “removal”, Nwoye, who had met with members of the State Working Committee at the party’s secretariat, had slammed “suspension” on the former Speaker, Eugene Odoh, Ada Ogbu, Flavour Eze and EL- Aja, over their alleged role in the ward congress. They were said to have conspired with ward congress committee sent to the state to hijack the sensitize materials brought for the election, thereby denying party members use of the items during the exercise in the 260 wards of the state. | Enugu State, APC Ward Congress | https://guardian.ng/politics/ward-congress-returns-enugu-apc-to-crisis-mode-party-torn-between-foundation-members-and-joiners/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | APC Denies Zoning President to South | The caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, has refuted media reports that the party has zoned the presidency to the southern part of the country ahead of the 2023 poll. Buni stated yesterday that there was no iota of truth in the speculation making the rounds in a section of the media. Said he: “This is absolutely false! Where was it done and at what occasion? This is a mere fabrication of the writer’s imagination. It is completely misleading.” | APC Zoning, Mai Mala Buni | https://guardian.ng/politics/apc-denies-zoning-president-to-south/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | Ogun Senators, Ex-Chairmen File Appeal Against APC Ward Congress | Two serving Senators from Ogun State, Senators Lekan Mustapha (Ogun East) and Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West), have filed petitions challenging the conduct of the ward congress before a five-man appeal panel currently sitting in Abeokuta.Apart from the two Senators, elected party chairmen of 2018 in the state as well as some members of the Congress committee also submitted petitions. The Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Mr Segun Ojo, said that “all the petitioners have the interest of the party at heart. They want the party to be strong and united. There’s no acrimony in the party in the State. APC is in government in the state and we will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace of the state or disorganise the party.” | Ogun State, APC Ward Congress, Lekan Mustapha, Tolu Odebiyi | https://dailytrust.com/ogun-senators-ex-chairmen-file-appeal-against-apc-ward-congress | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, August 19, 2021 | 2023: Use Your PVC To Retire Old Politicians, Youths Urged | A former aspirant in the 2019 governorship election in Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Ajia, has urged youths to unite in their decision to elect the young persons during the 2023 General Elections. Ajia stated this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital during a press conference to mark the International Youth Day. The former PDP governorship aspirant said there was the need for the youth to look beyond Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) and elect young leaders during the next General Elections. According to him, it was time for the nation’s young electorate to work for themselves by obtaining their permanent voters’ card (PVC) and vote during elections. “Our first responsibility is to register as voters and obtain our permanent voters’ card (PVC). It is the most important weapon that we need for the battle ahead of us. The youth have the power to retire all the older politicians based on their scorecard since 1999. Their efforts have only brought us insecurity, unemployment, high level of corruption, among others,” he said. | Youth, PVC, 2023 General Elections, Mohammed Ajia | https://dailytrust.com/2023-use-your-pvc-to-retire-old-politicians-youths-urged | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | Setback For PDP As Wike Insists Secondus Must Go | Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said the present National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot lead it to victory in the 2023 general elections. Speaking on a live television interview in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Wike said for the PDP to win the 2023 general elections, the Secondus-NWC must be removed. He said, “If you go to the public and ask Nigerians if PDP is ready to take over power in 2023, if you take referendum, you will know that Nigerians are even waiting for PDP. But the fear of Nigerians is whether PDP is ready to take over power. So, people are concerned about it. Obviously, it is ripe for PDP to take over, but you must be prepared to take over. And we said with what we have now, it will be difficult to take over power in 2023 if there is no amendment. Leadership was the problem." | PDP, National Working Committee, Nyesom Wike | https://dailytrust.com/setback-for-pdp-as-wike-insists-secondus-must-go | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | Congress: Thugs Take Over APC Secretariat In Kano As Appeal C’ttee Begins Sitting | Hundreds of fierce-looking young men were sighted yesterday at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, the venue for the ongoing sitting of the national appeal committee to address complaints that trailed the conduct of the party’s ward congress. Most of the young men in front and around the party secretariat along Maiduguri road were seen holding weapons like daggers, clubs and machetes and were smoking. Dr Kabir Matazu, the chairman of the six-member committee from the national headquarters of the party, told journalists that the secretariat was chosen as a fair venue for the committee’s sitting to avoid any allegation of bias from any quarter. Kano was one of the states that witnessed parallel congresses during the exercise in July, with some of the aggrieved party members that kicked against the consensus arrangement threatening to institute legal action to challenge the congress. | APC Ward Congresses, Kano State, Appeal Committee | https://dailytrust.com/congress-thugs-take-over-apc-secretariat-in-kano-as-appeal-cttee-begins-sitting | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | Anambra Gov’ship: Uzodinma, Bello, Ganduje, Others Form APC Campaign Council | The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated its campaign council for the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. The campaign team is headed by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and had other party members like Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello; and Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege among others. Inaugurating the committee at the APC National Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja, Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, charged the campaign team to deliver Anambra to the APC. | Anambra 2021, APC Campaign Council | https://dailytrust.com/anambra-govship-uzodinma-bello-ganduje-others-form-apc-campaign-council | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | The problem with Northern Nigeria, by Jega, Makarfi, others | Prominent Northern leaders held a meeting in Abuja, yesterday, where they identified some of the problems clogging the wheel of growth and development in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They also announced the formation of the ‘Abuja Roundtable’, a non-partisan and non-governmental group, designed to address the challenges facing the region. Some of the leaders at the meeting include 1993 presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention, Ibrahim Tofa; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed; former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega; former governors, ministers, senators; and military officers. Addressing journalists after the meeting, Tofa said: “These challenges are many and they cut across the region. These have manifested in the collapse of institutions and services, widespread poverty and inequality, mutual suspicion, endemic insecurity, disunity, despair, and a dearth of hope across the region. Every community has challenges. But to overcome challenges, there is a need to admit their existence.” Acknowledging the failure of Northern leaders, the group said: “We have no difficulty admitting all is not well with Northern Nigeria and taking primary or vicarious responsibility for the current state of affairs. We must all – leaders, followers, and passive onlookers – accept our share of responsibility. But beyond that, we must collectively resolve to take action and remedy what went wrong going forward”. | Insecurity, Northern Nigeria, Abuja Roundtable | https://guardian.ng/news/the-problem-with-northern-nigeria-by-jega-makarfi-others/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | Dokpesi denies interest in PDP chairmanship seat | People Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Raymond Dokpesi, has debunked reports that he is interested in national chairmanship of the party. The opposition party is expected to elect a new chairman in October to replace Uche Secondus. The former chairman of Daar Communications stated yesterday that he would not risk a dent on his integrity, having made his stance clear earlier. According to him, contrary to reports in some national dailies, he has no interest in contesting the position of the party’s national chairman. “I wish to categorically state that I have no interest whatsoever in the position of National Chairman of the PDP or any other national office in the party. While remaining a committed party man, I cannot and will not risk a dent on my integrity, having earlier made my stance clear. Members of the public are advised to disregard the report,” Dokpesi said. | Raymond Dokpesi, PDP National Convention | https://guardian.ng/politics/dokpesi-denies-interest-in-pdp-chairmanship-seat/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | Azubogu, Metuh, others fault PDP on Anambra guber campaign council | Representative of Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chris Azubogu and former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, have faulted composition of the Anambra State governorship campaign council. Also, the immediate past state chairman of the party, Ken Emeakayi, said that he has written to register his objection to his inclusion in the campaign council without consultation and asked to be excused from the group. PDP had unveiled what it described as a high-powered campaign council comprising a former Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, senators Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah, among others to sell Valentine Ozigbo’s candidacy. Announcing the campaign structure at a media briefing in Awka, PDP had named Dr. Winston Udeh as Co-Chairman, while Emeka Azubogu was named among the zonal directors. But in a disclaimer, Azubogu, who was among the 12 aspirants that featured on the June 26, 2021 governorship primary, denounced his membership of the campaign council. Azubogu said he was was not consulted before the composition of campaign council, adding that he was surprised to see his name as Zonal Director of the campaign. | Anambra 2021, PDP Campaign Council | https://guardian.ng/politics/azubogu-metuh-others-fault-pdp-on-anambra-guber-campaign-council/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | How ward congresses worsened crises in Southwest APC | The ward congresses conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday July 31 have left the party more divided in most states of the Southwest. Several factions in state chapters held parallel congresses against the directives of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). According to the Guardian, despite the leadership of the party looking for means to address these problems, aggrieved members across the state chapters have expressed determination to give whatever it takes to challenge the authorities in their state caretaker committees in the planned local governments and state congresses. In Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, some factions that held parallel congresses said worse scenarios are likely to happen in the coming congresses, except the Governor Mai Mala-Buni-led Caratekare/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), took necessary steps to address the injustices and anti-democratic actions perpetuated by the state’s caretaker committees and some governors during the last ward congresses. | APC Ward Congresses, South-West | https://guardian.ng/politics/how-ward-congresses-worsened-crises-in-southwest-apc/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | Kyari: Host Communities to Get $500m Annually from New PIA | The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, yesterday calmed frayed nerves among some indigenes of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, maintaining that the three per cent approved under the new Petroleum Industry Act could be bigger than what the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) currently gets. Speaking when he appeared on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Kyari noted that given about $16 billion total expenditure by the oil and gas sector last year, host oil communities could earn as much as $500 million yearly if the trend continues. The new law mandates the payment of three per cent of oil companies’ operating expenses in the previous year to the host oil communities, which are mostly in the Niger Delta. The GMD noted that whereas the oil-producing communities could not determine what projects would be located in their areas before now, from now on, the new legislation ensures that they largely control their funds and projects in the communities. | Petroleum Industry Act, Mele Kyari, Host Communities | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/17/kyari-host-communities-to-get-500m-annually-from-new-pia/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | At Last, It’s Victory for Jarigbe | Respite on Saturday was said to have finally come the way of Senator-elect for Cross River North Senatorial District, Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe following refusal of the Court of Appeal, Abuja to set aside Jarigbe’s declaration as winner of the December 5, 2020 bye-election for the senatorial district in Cross River State. Although this is not the first time Jarigbe will be emerging victorious in his bid to move to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, this victory however has finally brought to an end legal battles for the seat of Cross River North Senatorial District which became vacant owing to the demise of the former occupant, late Senator Rose Oko. In its ruling on Saturday, the five-member panel held that the applicants have not shown any slip for the court to amend its own judgment in the Cross River Senatorial District bye-election judment delivered earlier by the Calabar Division of the court. | Cross River Senatorial District By-Election, Appeal Court, Jarigbe Jarigbe | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/17/at-last-its-victory-for-jarigbe/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 2023: NIPSS Blames Political Parties For Women Exclusion | Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has commenced sensitization efforts aimed at mobilising political party leaders and other stakeholders to deepen women participation in the nation’s political process. Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on “Strengthening of Women in Political Process in Nigeria” organised by NIPSS, European Union and others, the Acting Director General of the institute, Brig-Gen. Chukwuemeka Udaya (rtd), regretted that notwithstanding the existence of the Nigerian gender policy, participation of women in the political process at various levels is still very low. According to him, political parties are to be blamed for stalling efforts at boosting more women participation in the nation’s politics and governance. | 2023 General Elections, Women Inclusion | https://dailytrust.com/2023-nipss-blames-political-parties-for-women-exclusion-2 | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | COVID-19: Aides, Workers At Risk As Buhari Flouts Isolation Guidelines | There is fear and apprehension that the mandatory isolation being observed by President Muhammadu Buhari may put his aides and other workers in the State House, Abuja, at risk of contracting COVID-19. Although his spokesperson said the president was going to observe self-isolation on return from the UK on Friday, but it seems that the president has moved on with work, which required mingling with people, contrary to federal government’s guidelines. In addition to mandatory self-isolation for travelers to be sure of their COVID-19 status, there were fears that the president could be at risk having been in contact with key staff of the Nigerian High Commission in London, some of who were reported to have tested positive for the disease. Accordint ot DailyTrust, the president has announced two key appointments - Chief Judge of the FCT High Court and judges of the Shari’a Court of Appeal as well as signing into law the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2021, indicating that the president is in active work mode, contrary to rules by both the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NSCDC). It is believed that the President should have postponed all official engagements while observing the COVID-19 protocols. | COVID-19, Muhammadu Buhari, Self- isolation | https://dailytrust.com/covid-19-aides-workers-at-risk-as-buhari-flouts-isolation-guidelines | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | Ikpeazu Calls For A New Constitution | Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has called for a new Nigerian constitution. Ikpeazu made the call at the 5th Osasu Show Symposium where he delivered a lecture, on Monday. According to Governor Ikpeazu, the new Constitution will restructure the country and devolve more powers to the federating units, entrench resource control at the state level; establish federal, state, and local government police formations; and be more responsive to the protection of the rights of all citizens, as well as provide a level playing field where all Nigerians will be treated equally. The governor stated that the major fundamental flaw of the present constitution is that it lacks the ownership of the people which is a key ingredient that clothes Constitutions with the requisite legitimacy. | Constitution, Okezie Ikpeazu | https://dailytrust.com/ikpeazu-calls-for-a-new-constitution | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | Osinbajo: Great Nations Too Face Security, Economic Challenges | The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, said whatever situation that the country was going through was nothing alien to history as many great nations across the world, had and are still encountering the kinds of security and economic challenges that Nigeria currently faces. Osinbajo, who spoke while playing host to a delegation from the Arewa Concerned People for National Unity and Religious Tolerance from Kano, led by Alhaji Auwal Maidabino, stressed that there was no great nation anywhere that has not had the sort of challenge that Nigeria is currently faced with. This, he claimed was especially so in countries, “where you have a multi-racial, multi-religious setup, and the greatest nations in the world are multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic". | Economy, Yemi Osinbajo | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/12/osinbajo-great-nations-too-face-security-economic-challenges/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | Your Opinions on Supreme Court Judgment, Malicious, Self-serving, Buni Tells Keyamo, Others | Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has berated some members of the party, including the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Festus Keyamo, over their comments on the recent Supreme Court judgement in the Ondo state governorship election and described their comments as both malicious and self-serving. Keyamo, SAN, in a leaked memo, had said while the ruling party won the legal battle in the Ondo state governorship election, the Supreme Court has just weaponised all those that would be aggrieved by the APC Congresses to proceed to court to challenge the competence of the Buni-led committee to organise the congresses and national convention. But Buni, while inaugurating Appeal Committees on the recently-conducted Ward Congresses yesterday in Abuja, said, the comments from some persons, who should have known better was just to play on the gullibility of the public. | All Progressives Congress, Mai Mala Buni, Suppreme Court Judgment on Ondo2020 | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/12/your-opinions-on-supreme-court-judgment-malicious-self-serving-buni-tells-keyamo-others/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | Nigeria has never been more divided, says Ortom | Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that Nigeria, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), is witnessing its worst level of disunity since independence. The governor disclosed this, yesterday, in an interview with journalists at Makurdi Airport, following his return from Abuja where he attended an expanded meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders. He said: “They (APC) have shown that they are not a government that believes in protecting the life and property of Nigerians. Nepotism is at its highest level in this country under the APC government. Nigeria, since independence, has never been divided like this. Everybody is working for himself. Tribalism is promoted above the unity of the country. We cannot afford to fail Nigerians by not providing an alternative platform as we walk towards 2023. Because of that, we have met with the stakeholders of our party to find ways towards reforming the party." | Samuel Ortom, Federal Government, APC | https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-has-never-been-more-divided-says-ortom/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | APC may postpone local council, state congresses | Indication has emerged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might shift its local council and state congresses billed for the end of the month. Chairman of the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, dropped the hint yesterday while inaugurating the ward congress appeal committee in Abuja. It was learned that APC is yet to receive a report on the ward congresses held in 12 states, just as disgruntled faithful from 14 states had filed petitions against the exercise. Buni, who charged members of the panel on fairness, reminded them that their findings would determine when the local council and state congresses are holding. Represented by the secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, the CECPC chair insisted that the July 31, 2021 ward congresses “went substantially well,” adding that it was incumbent on the party to address the issues raised by aggrieved members. | APC Congresses, Mai Mala Buni | https://guardian.ng/news/apc-may-postpone-local-council-state-congresses/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | Death Wish: DSS Grills Ex-Adamawa Gov Over Audio On Buhari | The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday grilled a former Adamawa State governor, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, over an audio clip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reconciliation meeting where President Muhammadu Buhari was wished dead by a chieftain of the party. The APC chairman in Yola South LGA of the state, Sulaiman Adamu, was suspended on Tuesday over a leaked audio in which he and another chieftain wished President Buhari had died at the peak of the COVID-19. The Guardian revealed that Bindow was at the DSS office in Yola on Wednesday. The source said Bindow’s invitation came after the DSS quizzed some politicians who made the death wish statements against the president. Reacting, the former governor said he had threatened to leave the venue of the meeting when the statement was being made by the chieftains. A statement issued by Sadiq Abdullateef, the Special Assistant on Media to the former governor, explained that Bindow, who was in attendance at the reconciliation meeting, cautioned against the diatribe, threatening to leave but the viral audio was mischievously doctored to remove his words of caution. | Muhammadu Buhari, Death Wish, DSS | https://dailytrust.com/death-wish-dss-grills-ex-adamawa-gov-over-audio-on-buhari | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, August 12, 2021 | Oshiomhole: I’m No Longer Interested In Chairing APC | A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, says he no longer has interest to lead the ruling party. Oshiomhole said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Victor Oshioke. He was reacting to a statement credited to Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the party. Eze had said Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and others were plotting to bring back Oshiomhole as national chairman. But Oshiomhole asked Eze to leave him out of the party’s leadership tussle. He said it is frivolous for any person to assume that Keyamo, who actively supported his removal, would want him to return. | Adams Oshiomholo, APC | https://dailytrust.com/oshiomhole-im-no-longer-interested-in-chairing-apc | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | Secondus: PDP governors’ six-hour meeting deadlocked | All 13 Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, rose from a marathon six-hour meeting without categorical pronouncement on resolving the crisis rocking the party. As it stands, Prince Uche Secondus, PDP national chairman, still endures an uncertain fate, as the meeting convenes again today. At the meeting, which held at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the governors were unable to find a way out of the lingering leadership crisis following persistent calls for the resignation of the national chairman. Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, expressed readiness of the governors to continue the meeting with other stakeholders, like the Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Assembly caucus, until the Secondus issue is resolved. Although Secondus arrived the venue of the meeting hours after it had kicked off, he remained defiant that he won’t resign from office. It was gathered that the Governors subjected Secondus to serious ‘grilling’ that lasted 40 minutes. The questioning had to do with series of allegations, including misappropriation of party funds and deliberate manipulation of party affairs resulting in serious divisions in the organs of the party. | PDP Governors' Forum, Uche Secondus | https://guardian.ng/news/secondus-pdp-governors-six-hour-meeting-deadlocked/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | APC crisis: Panic as security personnel besiege secretariat | There was panic among staff of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday, due to the presence of heavily armed security personnel at the national secretariat of the party. According to The Guardian, a detachment of heavily armed police and Department of Security Services (DSS) personnel positioned themselves at strategic locations within the precinct of the party secretariat, situated at No. 40, Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja. However, APC’s Caretaker Secretary, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, explained that the measure was aimed at protecting life and property in the party secretariat. He maintained that the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led leadership remains on firm ground notwithstanding the position of those opposed to his continuous stay in office. | APC National Secretariat, Security | https://guardian.ng/news/secondus-pdp-governors-six-hour-meeting-deadlocked/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | PDP Govs, Secondus Reach Deal, Convention May be Brought Forward | After meeting behind closed doors on Monday, Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the embattled National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, appeared to have reached a new deal as part of efforts to resolve the crisis which engulfed its leadership and ensure lasting peace in the main opposition party. The deal involved consideration of an early date for the party’s national convention, as against the initial date of December 9. With the new deal, widely believed to be in the overall interest of the party, the December convention might be brought forward to either October or November, according to Thisday Newspaper. | PDP Governors' Forum, Uche Secondus, National Convention 2021 | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/10/pdp-govs-secondus-reach-deal-convention-may-be-brought-forward/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | PDP Commences Membership Registration | The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced online membership registration and revalidation in soe states. The states piloting the initiative in the first phase of the programme are Anambra, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Adamawa, and Sokoto. Speaking on Monday in Abuja while launching the project the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus stated that the “country must at this point in time migrate from analogue to digital. Data is the key to development; data is the key to proper planning and data is the way a country would be able to attract development from the global community. We as a party cannot do otherwise. We are operating in social media space, so PDP cannot do without data.” Secondus explained that by offering online registration, the party was providing Nigerians with a transparent platform to harness their democratic potential. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the e-registration was a demonstration of PDP’s readiness for the 2023 general election. Jibrin assured members that the crisis rocking the party would soon be a thing of the past. | Membership Registration, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/10/pdp-govs-secondus-reach-deal-convention-may-be-brought-forward/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | ADP Opposes IBB’s Call For Two-Party System | The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has kicked against the suggestion by a former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), that Nigeria should run a two-party system. Addressing newsmen at the weekend in Kaduna, the ADP National Chairman and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Sani Yabagi, said two-party system is not good for Nigeria. Babangida had reportedly called for a two-party political system in Nigeria, saying that was critical to building Nigeria’s democracy. But Yabagi said, ”I don’t ascribe to two-party system for Nigeria because we are practicing democracy. Babangida was talking about a different system of government which he ran during his time.” Asked if with the APC and PDP as major political parties Nigeria was indirectly practising a two-party system, the ADP helmsman said, “no we are not, because yes, the majority can have its way but the minority must have its say too and it helps the majority to operate properly.” | Action Democratic Party, Sani Yabagi, Ibrahim Babangida | https://dailytrust.com/adp-opposes-ibbs-call-for-two-party-system | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 | Delta Blasts Own Lawmakers Who Voted Against E-Voting | Delta State government on Monday declared that representatives from the state in the National Assembly who voted against the electronic transmission of election results did not represent the aspirations of the people of the state. Addressing a press conference in Asaba after receiving the State Resident Electoral Commissioner in his office, the Commissioner of Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said any representative of Delta in the National Assembly who voted against the electronic transmission of electoral results did so out of selfish interest not for the state. “Delta has continued to re-echo what we want which is entrenching electoral integrity because manipulation in elections would be bypassed through electronic means. Anyone representing Delta and has voted contrary to electronic transmission has voted selfishly because such is not according to the yearnings and aspirations of Deltans,” he said. | Electronic Transmission of results, Electoral Bill 2020, Delta State Government | https://dailytrust.com/delta-blasts-own-lawmakers-who-voted-against-e-voting | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, August 9, 2021 | Buhari Has Failed on Security, PDP Tells Masari | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, to stop lamenting over the persistent banditry in his state, but be on the side of the people by boldly telling President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government that they have failed in the area of security. In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it was indeed a distressing and colossal mark of failure that President Buhari’s home state, Katsina, was being taken over by bandits, who were overrunning local governments, killing, raping, maiming and pillaging innocent citizens, while the President, who promised to lead the fight against insurgency from the front, continued to recede deeper into the safety and comfort of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to the PDP, “It is totally upsettling that while Mr. President is busy with his unnecessary rhetoric in Abuja, bandits, according to Governor Masari, are having a field day in persistent attacks on 10 local government areas, killing and robbing innocent citizens on daily basis. “While it is common knowledge that President Buhari has failed and especially, in his three-pronged focus of security, economy and anti-corruption, it is however regrettable that his administration could be so aloof, cold and unperturbed as bandits ravage our citizens in most states and particularly in Mr. President’s home state. What a failure!" | Insecurity, Katsina State, Aminu Masari, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/09/buhari-has-failed-on-security-pdp-tells-masari/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, August 9, 2021 | Ngige, Ehanire are Ineffective as Ministers, Says PGF DG | The Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has described both the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire as ineffective at their duty posts for being unable to proactively pre-empt strikes of health workers in the country. Lukman, in a statement issued yesterday entitled: ""Labour Issues and Need for Reorientation in Nigeria"", said the ministers and all stakeholders must as a matter of urgency lock themselves in the most qualitative form of negotiations with all workers in the health sector to restore some minimum standards in the sector. “It is quite frustrating, when political appointees, such as Ministers of Labour and Health are unable to proactively preempt strikes of health workers in the country. As loyal members of APC, being the governing party, we must appeal to our Ministers of Labour and Health to wake up to their responsibility and end this political embarrassment coming with a huge cost to lives of citizens,” he said. | Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, Chris Ngige, Osagie Ehanire, Labour Issues | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/09/nans-wants-bandits-listed-as-terrorists/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, August 9, 2021 | PDP Crisis: Governors Decide Secondus’ Fate Today | Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today decide the fate of the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal would chair the meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja. The meeting is billed to discuss the internal crisis that led to the resignation of seven deputy national officers of the party a few days ago and to review the circumstances leading to calls for Secondus’ resignation. Secondus is under intense pressure to resign before the expiration of his tenure in December 2021, when another national convention would be held for the election of a new crop of NWC members. Daily Trust reports that some PDP bigwigs are not comfortable with Secondus sequel to the gale of defections that has hit the party in recent times. Secondus is also accused of not carrying other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) along in the scheme of things. But the PDP helmsman said a few days ago that those plotting his removal were doing so to hijack the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. | PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, Uche Secondus | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-crisis-governors-decide-secondus-fate-today | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, August 9, 2021 | Anambra Gov’ship: APGA’s Candidate Best Man For The Job — Group | Leaders of some youth organisations have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of Chukwuma Umeoji of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State. The youth leaders, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Youth Leaders, in a communique signed by Obinna Ozoji and Mustapha Ahmed after their monthly congress held in Enugu, called for mass support for Umeoji who, they said, possessed the requisite leadership prowess to lead the state to greater heights. | Anambra Governorship Election 2021, APGA, Chukwuma Umeoji | https://dailytrust.com/anambra-govship-apgas-candidate-best-man-for-the-job-group | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 9, 2021 | Senate denies proposing creation of 20 new states | The Senate has debunked media reports that its Committee on Constitution Review had proposed the creation of additional 20 states. The spokesperson and Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, insisted that the panel never made any such proposal. He acknowledged that the committee received several bills demanding for creation of more states. According to spokeperson, the Committee is “Far from recommending creation of any state. The committee, while acknowledging receipts of several bills proposing the creation of new states, decided that it is not in a position to recommend or propose the creation of any state unless there is compliance with the provisions of Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic (as amended)". | Creation of New States, Senate, Constitution Review | https://guardian.ng/news/senate-denies-proposing-creation-of-20-new-states/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, August 9, 2021 | Anambra Governorship poll: PDP appoints Ekwunife as Campaign D-G | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday appointed Sen. Uche Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, as the director-general of its campaign for Anambra governorship election. The Governor of Adamawa state, Mr Ahmadu Fintiri, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Abuja after the party leadership meeting held at the Abuja residence of the party National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Fintiri said that the decision was reached at the meeting held with governors, members of the National Working Committee and some of the aspirants who participated in the election. Fintiri expressed satisfaction with the preparation being made for the election and the reconciliation of all aspirants for the election. In his remarks, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus expressed hope that come Nov. 6, the PDP would be would win the state election. Secondus tasked all aspirants to forget the past and be united for the interest of the party. | Anambra Governorship Election 2021, PDP | https://guardian.ng/politics/anambra-governorship-poll-pdp-appoints-ekwunife-as-campaign-d-g/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, August 9, 2021 | 2023: Who Leads Nigeria? | With exactly 559 days to the 2023 presidential election, the search for a new leader for Africa’s most populous country and largest economy – Nigeria – has begun. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had early in the year announced Saturday, February 18, as the date for the 2023 general election. Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), had curiously opened up a new angle to the 2023 debate, when in an interview on the Arise News Channel, last week, hinted at the qualities a majority of Nigerians should consider in their choice ofthe next occupant of Aso Rock, the Presidential Villa. IBB as Babangida is fondly called, had suggested that individuals in their 60s should be the focus of Nigerians as potential presidential or vice presidential candidates in 2023. Further, IBB said such persons should have deep knowledge of the economy, must have contacts across the nation and must have been traversing the geo-political zones, marketing their acceptability and capacity. With this submission, the former military president, was believed to have ruled out a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, from the 2023 presidential run, because they would be in their 70s by the next election. Given this situation, political pundits have identified a number of Nigerians, who would be under 70 years by 2023 and have the capability to add value to the society, judging from their contributions in either the public or private sectors. | 2023 Presidential Election | Frong page, page 60. | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, August 4, 2021 | Ahead of 2023, Nigeria’s Dominant Political Parties Battle Survival, Leadership Crises | For the two main political parties in the country – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – the road to 2023 appears ominous. Both parties are not only bogged down by leadership crises, they are also plagued by seemingly survival battles. Since the APC was coupled together on February 6 , 2013 by the different tendencies that came together, it has not been able to constitute a Board of Trustees. The ruling party is today facing stringent legal complications, which have thrown its leadership into confusion since last weekend, after a Supreme Court judgement in the Ondo State governorship election sounded the alarm that Gvernor Mai Mala Buni is disqualified by section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to serve as national chairman of the party. The judgement suggested that the party would have lost the state to PDP had the opposition party’s governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, joined APC’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, in the suit PDP, on its part, is not only contending with a crisis of confidence but it is also desperately afflicted by a spree of defections by governors and lawmakers elected on its platform, which has been compounded by yesterday’s resignations of seven national executive members of the party over allegations of marginalisation by the party leadership. Leading the defection train was the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, followed by Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, and, most recently, Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, whose defection had also raised some constitutional concerns following the manner of his emergence as Governor | 2023 General Elections, APC, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/04/ahead-of-2023-nigerias-dominant-political-parties-battle-survival-leadership-crises/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, August 4, 2021 | PDP Govs to Meet over Resignation of Top Party Officials | The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said that Governors elected on the platform of the PDP would meet over the resignation of top officials of the the party. Seven national officers of PDP had on Tuesday tendered their resignation letters alleging unfairly treated by the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus. Those who tendered their letters of resignation were the Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Deputy Woman Leader, and Deputy National Auditor. A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, said “in order to address the situation, the PDP Governors' Forum has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the affairs of the Party and the way forward.” | PDP, Aminu Tambuwal | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/04/pdp-govs-to-meet-over-resignation-of-top-party-officials-2/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, August 4, 2021 | PDP BoT Member Joins APC | Senator Joy Emordi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Wednesday, 4 August 2021. Senator Emordi was received by Governor Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, former Senate President -Ken Nnamani, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State. Emordi defected the PDP a day after seven National Officers of the party resigned their position. | Joy Emordi, APC, Defection | https://dailytrust.com/just-in-pdp-bot-member-joins-apc | |
| TheCableNg | Wednesday, August 4, 2021 | MATTERS ARISING: COVID-19, cholera on rampage — and Nigerian resident doctors down tools | On Monday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced an indefinite strike over complaints of irregular payment of salaries, allowances, members welfare, health hazard allowances, among other issues. The strike action comes at a time when the country is battling the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of cholera in many states. Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in the number of COVID cases in recent days. The country recorded 505 fresh infections on Tuesday, 3rd August 2021. Even more alarming is that the Delta variant of COVID-19, which has been linked to increased infection rates, has been recorded in six states (Lagos, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers and the FCT) since the first reported case in the country on July 8, 2021. Also, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the resurgence of cholera in many states has also killed 526 people in the country. Based on the recent data released by the NCDC, 18 states and the FCT have reported cholera cases since the beginning of the year. The affected states are Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Niger, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, and the FCT. As of July 22, the suspected cases recorded in the affected states stood at 22,130. | Covid-19, Cholera, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Strike Action | https://www.thecable.ng/matters-arising-covid-cholera-on-rampage-as-nigerian-resident-doctors-down-tools | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | APC May Annul Last Week’s Ward Congresses | The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to annul its ward congresses held last Saturday, the first in a series of steps in the selection of delegates that would ultimately lead to the party’s convention. A consensus is already burgeoning around outright cancellation of the congresses to avoid legal landmines in the foreseeable future, going by the Supreme Court judgment in the Ondo governorship election last week, which touched on the fate of the current APC national Caretaker leadership, according to THISDAY Newspaper. It is believed that Vice President Osinbajo, who has been asked to resolve the matter by the President, is intent on ensuring that the party benefits from what seems to be a legal warning from the Supreme Court judgment, which had a 4-3 verdict with the justices questioning the constitutional validity of a sitting governor holding such an executive post as national Caretaker Chairman of the party. | APC, Ward Congresses, Mai Mala Buni | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/03/apc-may-annul-last-weeks-ward-congresses/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 2023: Why Nigerians Should Reject APC, PDP — Jega | A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has asked Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general polls. Jega, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service as reported by DailyTrust, said the two big parties had failed to engender good governance and development in the country. He argued that since the return of democracy in 1999, after many years of military rule, PDP and APC which have run the country failed to live up to expectations. Jega further said, ""Nigerians should never give their trust to the parties again. It is now very clear that these parties would never change, even if they are given another chance."" Prof. Jega revelaed that he has since registered with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to help Nigeria. | Attahiru Jega, APC, PDP, PRP | https://dailytrust.com/2023-why-nigerians-should-reject-apc-pdp-jega | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | Medical Services Crippled, Patients Stranded As Resident Doctors Down Tools | Patients of public hospitals across the country were left stranded on Monday as members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on strike action following the failure of Federal and State Governments to fulfill its promises on salary payment, hazard allowance, medical residency training fees, and COVID-19 allowance among others. NARD had in a communiqué issued Saturday after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, said it would resume its nationwide strike on Monday, August 2, following the inability of the federal and state governments to meet its demands and implement the memorandum of action after 113 days. Report by Daily Trust reveal that while patients on admission in some of the hospitals were hurriedly discharged and asked to leave the hospitals, outpatients were denied access to the health facilities. Earlier in the year, the association had suspended its indefinite nationwide strike following a Memorandum of Actions (MOA) signed at the instance of the Minister of Labour, Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige. | Resident Doctors, Industrial Actions | https://dailytrust.com/medical-services-crippled-patients-stranded-as-resident-doctors-down-tools | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 2 Years Without Dadiyata, Family Resort To Prayers | It is exactly two years since a popular critic of government and lecturer, Abubakar Idris popularly known as Dadiyata, disappeared without any hint of his whereabout. Dadiyata, who could have been 36 this year, was was bundled into his BMW car from his house in Barnawa area of Kaduna by some men and driven away in the early hours of August 2, 2019. The Kaduna State Government, in a statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Aisha Dikko, explained that government had no idea of the whereabouts of Dadiyata and had no involvement whatsoever in his abduction. On the second anniversary of his abduction, Kaduna State police spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, told Daily Trust that there had not been any breakthrough in the case, but that the case was open and investigation was ongoing. However, Dadiyata’s younger brother, Aminu Idris, said, “It is almost like we have given up on the ability of security agents to investigate this case. The police always claim they are on it but nothing tangible has come out; there is no sign that they will do anything since the abduction.” Aminu further said that at the beginning of their misfortune, there were rumours that many Nigerians were being secretly incarcerated, adding that even though there was no certainty, such rumour had given the family some hope that Dadiyata might be alive. In the face of uncertainty and lack of faith in the Nigerian system, the family say they have now resorted to prayers and ask Nigerians to join them in prayers for the safe return of their son. | Dadiyata, Abduction | https://dailytrust.com/2-years-without-dadiyata-family-resort-to-prayers | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | FG confirms COVID-19 third wave amid doctor’s strike | The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 (PSC), Boss Mustapha, said all countries in the West African region were beginning to see the third wave with Nigeria recording about 500 cases daily in the last seven days. Mustapha further said “It is no more news that the Delta variant has made its way into Nigeria. The PSC is particularly concerned about the situation in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Plateau and FCT as this variant has made its way into these states and accounts for the rising cases in these states and across the nation. Lagos alone accounts for over 50 per cent of the number of cases. “This development calls for great caution because the virus is very virulent and raging in so many other countries. We must therefore keep observing the Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPIs) and also ensure that we get vaccinated. Vaccination prevents severe cases and reduces hospitalisation and deaths but does not eliminate contacting it, hence the need to religiously observe the NPIs,” he said. | Covid-19, Delta Variant, Vaccination | https://guardian.ng/news/fg-confirms-covid-19-third-wave-amid-doctors-strike/ | |