| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No/Web link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | INEC: Politicians See Elections as War | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said Nigerian politicians saw elections in the country as war. INEC, then, set up an election crisis communication team to manage crises arising from elections. Speaking in Abuja, when the Commission inaugurated the Election Crisis Communication Team (ECCT) in collaboration with the Centre for Development and Democracy (CDD), INEC National Commissioner in charge of information and voter education, Festus Okoye, said, “As a result of the way elections are pursued by politicians, elections are almost akin to war. It is almost like a perennial crisis. “The commission must be better prepared in communicating its positions. Our communication must be robust and focused on the long-term needs of the commission. It must be diverse, proactive, coordinated and consistent, with effective feedback mechanisms. “Our communication strategies must recognise and amplify the demographic changes in the voting population; the increasing use of technology by a sizable number of Nigerians, the increasing engagement by Nigerians with the electoral process and the affirmation of the Nigerian people in their belief that the commission has the capacity and courage to conduct transparent and inclusive elections.” Okoye said INEC hoped that the team would provide consistent, timely and targeted messaging to various stakeholders. | INEC, 2023 General Elections, Nigerian Politicians | Page 28 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | Delta 2023: Appeal Court Sets Aside Oborevwori’s Sack as PDP Candidate | "A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal has set aside the sack of Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Delta State. The panel led by Justice Peter Ige yesterday set aside Oborevwori sack on the grounds that the lower court erred in law in reaching the conclusion that Oborevwori was not qualified to participate in the governorship primary election of the PDP on account of forgery and perjury. Oborevwori who is the current Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly had emerged winner of the PDP governorship primary after he polled 590 of the total votes cast at the March 25 primary election. However, David Edevbie who came second with 113 votes had dragged Oborevwori and the PDP to court accusing Oborevwori of falsehood and that he forged the academic certificates he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Delivering judgment in Edevbie’s suit, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja had on July 7, sacked Oborevwori as candidate of the PDP having found him guilty of alleged forgery of his academic certificates and perjury, and ordered the PDP to submit the name of Edevbie, who came second at the March 25 governorship primary. Dissatisfied however, Oborevwori approached the appellate Court to challenge his removal as PDP governorship candidate. In the unanimous judgment yesterday, the three-man panel agreed with the appellant that the suit filed by David Edevbie was wrongly initiated, because allegations of criminal offenses must be proven beyond affidavit evidences." | Sheriff Oborevwori, David Edevbie, PDP Governorship primary, Delta State, Appeal Court | https://bit.ly/3Ay199h | |
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | FG Proposes N19.76trn Budget for 2023, Projects Deficit May Rise to N12.41trn | "The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed yesterday said the federal government was proposing an aggregate expenditure of N19.76 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year. The minister who made this known at the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) interaction with the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, however said she may not be able to make provision for treasury funded capital projects in the 2023 fiscal year. Ahmed also said the budget deficit for the 2023 fiscal year may be between N11.30 trillion and N12.41 trillion, depending on the choice that would be made by the Federal Government on the issue of fuel subsidy payment. She stated that the Federal Government was projecting total revenue of N8.46 trillion, out of which N1.9 trillion was expected to come from oil-related sources while the balance would come from non-oil sources. Ahmed explained that the benchmark crude oil price was pegged at $70 per barrel and at an exchange rate of N435.57 to a dollar, oil production was put at 1.69 million barrel per day, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was projected at 3.7 per cent while inflation was put at 17.16 per cent in the MTEF. She said petrol subsidy would remain up to mid-2023, based on the 18-month extension announced early 2021, in which case only N3.36 trillion would be provided for it in next financial year." | Budget 2023, Federal Government, Zainab Ahmed, Deficit | Page 10 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | Ayu: PDP Not Built on Any Individual, No Person Can Destabilise It | "In apparent reference to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, read the riot act to party members, saying PDP is not built on any individual, and no one can distract its leadership. Ayu gave the warning in Kano, when the party received former Kano State Governor and Senator for Kano Central Senatorial District, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who formally defected to PDP. He declared, “The PDP is built by the people and that is why it is called the people’s party. It was never built on an individual and can never be built on an individual. “As the people’s party, it is not waiting for anybody. We will win election everywhere and will not only win in the north, we will in the south; we will win in the South-south. The PDP will win nationwide. “By this time next year, we shall have PDP government in place. Nobody can destabilise this party. We are not going to be distracted. Don’t mind all those peddling crises. “We shall overcome all distracting forces. We shall overcome all difficulties. Every member of PDP is important. We will do everything possible to bring all those that have left the PDP back.” " | Iyorchia Ayu, People's Democratic Party, Ibrahim Shekarau | Page 1 & 10 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | Ekiti Tribunal Grants APC Leave to Inspect Election Materials | "The Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal (ESEPT), has granted leave to the All Progressives Congress (2nd respondent), to inspect the documents and other forms used by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the June 18 governorship election in the state. The ESEPT had earlier granted same leave to the Petitioner and Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Segun Oni. Oni instituted the petition against the APC’s candidate, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on the premise that he scored the highest number of lawful votes cast in the poll. In his ruling, the Chairman of the ESEPT, Hon. Justice Wilfred Kpochi, granted the prayers of the APC and the 2nd respondent in the suit. Justice Kpochi said: “It is germane for the applicant to defend the petition. Also, the oral application by the second respondent as prayed at the tribunal is granted.” The tribunal urged the fourth respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to grant the APC access to inspect all documents and materials used for the conduct of the Ekiti governorship election on June 18. " | Ekiti State Governorship election 2022, Election Petition Tribunal, SDP, APC | https://bit.ly/3PVvqV7 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 30th August 2022 | Abia 2023: Ohafia Stakeholders Back Emenike | "The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State in the 2023 elections, Chief Ikechi Emenike, has been given a major boost by stakeholders in Ohafia Local Government Area, who have vowed to ensure his victory in the elections. The Ohafia stakeholders took their firm stand on their choice for the state at a meeting hosted by Chief Stanley Orji Oba at Abiriba, specifically asking Emenike to forge ahead with his mission to free the state from misrule. Hon Uche Dike Okoro who delivered an address on behalf of Ohafia Stakeholders said that “Ndi Abia have resolved that an end has come for bad governance, and are looking up to Emenike to save them. We have adopted him door-to-door, house-to-house,” he said, adding that the APC governorship candidate “towers above the other candidates in competence, integrity, visionary leadership, and brims with practicable ideas to develop Abia State.” Emenike, in his remarks, told the Ohafia stakeholders that he has committed himself to lifting Abia State out of the pit of underdevelopment which bad governance has plunged it. “There will be a better Abia State at the 32nd anniversary of its creation,” he said, alluding to the fast pace of development that the state would experience under his care as governor." | Ikechi Emenike, Abia State Governorship election 2022, Ohiafia LGA | https://bit.ly/3CBTVns | |
| The Guardian | 30th August 2022 | NNPP unveils female running mate for Oyo gubernatorial candidate | "The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Oyo State, at the weekend, unveiled a female, Alhaja Atinuke Adesope, as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Mr. Popoola Olukayode Joshua, ahead of the 2023 general elections. Adesope, who was officially presented to the party’s supporters at her unveiling ceremony held at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, commended the leadership of the NNPP for giving equal opportunities to women. She said all residents in every part of the state should expect positive impact of democracy in every aspect of their lives. “I have been officially announced today as the deputy governorship candidate to Joshua, I promise to work with the governor to execute civil rights when you vote us into power in the 2023 general election,” she said. In his remarks, Joshua said his running mate has a rich experience in politics and her selection was a plus for the party. Joshua said NNPP was well equipped to take over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State come 2023." | The New Nigeria Peoples Party, Oyo State,Atinuke Aswaiow | https://bit.ly/3czK476 | |
| The Guardian | 30th August 2022 | Ogun PDP’s thorny road to 2023 gubernatorial race | "A peculiar challenge facing the Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since it lost power to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2011, is gradually resurfacing as the 2023 governorship election fast approaches. Former member of House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu, whom the national headquarters of the party had recognised as Ogun PDP governorship candidate is being challenged by Segun Showunmi, who is also claiming to be the party’s candidate for the 2023 governorship race following a recent ruling by an Appeal Court in Abuja. Both factions conducted separate primaries and while Olurin emerged as the governorship candidate of the faction loyal to Obasanjo, Isiaka won the gubernatorial ticket of the faction loyal to Daniel. But with the help of the late Senator Buruji Kahamu, who supported Obasanjo, the former governor and his loyalists had to leave the PDP after the court declared Olurin as the duly-elected flag bearer of the party. Olurin came second behind the winner, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of APC. However, if the votes of Olurin and Isiaka were added, PDP would have successfully defeated Amosun." | Ogun State, PDP, Ladi Adebutu, Segun Showunmu, Governorship election 2023 | https://bit.ly/3TlnsI1 | |
| The Guardian | 30th August 2022 | 2023 election: Shekarau dumps NNPP senate ticket, joins PDP | "Former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has formally decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Shekarau announced that he has dumped the senatorial ticket of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The former governor was received into PDP at his Mandubawa home by the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar. Shekarau declared that his action was predicated to restore justice and fairness in Nigeria. The senator representing Kano central assured readiness to mobilize his supporters across the country to guarantee the victory of Atiku by next year’s presidential election." | Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano State, 2023 General Elections | https://bit.ly/3RfXZxy | |
| Daily Trust | 30th August 2022 | PDP Crisis: Be Calm, Something Will Happen Soon – Wike | "Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday said something will happen soon on the lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking during the flag-off of Eneka internal roads in the Obio-Akpor LGA of the state, on Monday, Wike boasted that nobody could threaten him as he would do what is right no matter the “gang up” or blackmail. “Anybody who knows me knows that once I have made up my mind and I believe that what I am doing is right, if you like, let the whole people team up, as far as my conscience is clear, I will do what is right at all times; It doesn’t matter any gang up. All of us should be calm; you’ve heard what is happening in PDP. Nothing has happened yet but by the grace of God; something will happen,” he said." | Nyesom Wike, Peoples Democratic Party | https://bit.ly/3Tsflti | |
| Daily Trust | 30th August 2022 | Mixed Reactions Trail Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, Wike London Parleys | "The meetings between the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in London last week have received heavy bashing from political stakeholders in Nigeria. Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Agbo Major, told Daily Trust that the parleys were the height of insensitivity by the participants. He said it was wrong for them to move in droves to a foreign land to discuss issues that affected Nigeria. Major said, “Do British politicians come to Nigeria to discuss political issues? Are there no suitable places to discuss local issues about our country in Nigeria? Our leaders have continued to give in to the claws and dictates of neo-colonialism and so can’t be trusted anymore. We urge the Nigerian electorates to punish all those involved in this ill-conceived mission to continue to mortgage our future by denying them votes in 2023."" He further said the trips had “worsened the plight of Nigeria and Nigerians at a time there is heavy pressure on forex leading to monumental inflation never seen before; at a time the value of our currency has continued to plummet. Where is the wisdom in this ignominious outing? We must punish them in February 2023 with our votes accordingly.” Similarly, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), through its National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Adamu Tudun-Doki, said the monies used for the trips would have gone a long way in assisting ordinary Nigerians. He said, “Seriously, if we are serious about the situation in the country, we have IDPs all over the place, this monies for foreign trips can be put to good use. I expect these politicians to have a rethink about these trips. Also, that is why Nigerians should have a rethink about who they vote for in the next elections.” A political analyst, Jide Ojo, said he did not know what difference meetings in London would make that meetings in Nigeria would not. He said, “My main concern is the use of state resources for meetings that could be held in the country. But if you talk about the legality of them, I don’t think that a law has been broken.”" | Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu, London Meetings, Agbo Major, Ibrahim Adamu Tudun-Doki, Jide Ojo | https://bit.ly/3QWKvqS | |
| The Cable | 30th August 2022 | Tinubu: I’m here to answer a higher calling — not to do what is comfortable | "Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he is in the 2023 presidential race to do what is right for Nigerians. In a tweet on Monday, the former Lagos governor said he is in the race to answer “a higher calling” which is his love for Nigeria. “We are not here to do what is comfortable. We are here to do what is right for our people and our country,” the tweet reads. “We are here to answer to a greater, higher calling. That calling is the love of Nigeria. We dare not miss this chance because we cannot be sure of another.” The APC candidate, whose choice of running mate sparked criticisms in different quarters, has been meeting with political bigwigs to gain their support ahead of the 2023 elections." | Bola Tinubu, 2023 Presidential election | https://bit.ly/3RmTWzC | |
| The Cable | 25th August 2022 | EXCLUSIVE: Atiku heads for London in last-ditch effort to woo Wike | "Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has headed to the UK in an attempt to resolve his rift with Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, TheCable can report. Sources close to the former vice-president said Abubakar is billed to meet with the Rivers governor on Thursday. Abubakar’s desperate move to resolve the issues between him and Wike came a day after Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), met with the Rivers governor in Paris, France. “The PDP presidential candidate headed for London today after arriving Paris yesterday. He is billed to meet with Wike tomorrow in an attempt to resolve the issues between them,” a source said. Also, associates close to the PDP presidential candidate are not happy with the way in which Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, and Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger, have criticised Wike and they want Abubakar to call them to order, another insider said." | Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, 2023 Presidential Election | https://bit.ly/3R5VU7x | |
| This Day Newspaper | 25th August 2022 | Wike-Tinubu Pact is Real, He’ll Work for Us, Says Ibrahim Masari | "After weeks of speculation and moves shrouded in secrecy, former vice presidential placeholder for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, yesterday, confirmed that the much-talked about pact between Tinubu and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike was true and real. Masari disclosed that the two men agreed to work together without Wike necessarily leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Masari spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa Service from London, where the talks between the APC presidential candidate and the Rivers State governor, allegedly, took place. He said Wike would work for the emergence of the APC candidate as president in next year’s election, but did not need to defect to the party. Masari explained that the kind of understanding Tinubu and Wike had was such that would not affect the place of former governor of the state and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi. Addressing the finality of the working agreement, given the equal desire by the Atiku Abubakar camp to make peace with the Rivers State governor, Masari said, ”Well, only God knows what would happen next. But what we are seeing now, what has transpired is that we are going to work with Wike and he will be useful to us. “If you could remember, it was APC that caused the failure of APC in Bauchi; it was members of the party that led to the defeat of the governor from their own party. In Adamawa, too. So, what I want people to understand, someone can still assist you even without joining your party if he wants to." | Ibrahim Masari, All Progressives Congress, Nyesom Wike, Bola Tinubu, 2023 Presidential Election | Page 33 | |
| This Day Live | 25th August 2022 | Sanusi to Political Aspirants: Prioritise Healthcare, Education Spending | "A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, advised political aspirants running for different public offices to prioritise healthcare and education spending in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Sanusi, who spoke yesterday in Lagos at the 10th Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation (MAMF) August event with the theme: ‘Nigeria Healthcare System: The Past, Present and the Future,’ expressed displeasure over the low investments in education and healthcare sectors, which he noted has led to increased brain drain and low productivity of the sectors. He urged on the political class to make the issues of healthcare delivery and education top priorities, when making strategic infrastructure and development policies in the country, in order to reduce the brain drain in the country. Sanusi lamented that the federal government put more interest in having fuel subsidies than paying salaries of teachers and doctors, who educate and provide the essential medical treatment to children and wives. He said due to the negligence of the medical profession and academics, the country has lost a lot of experts to other countries, where they are making more impacts, which Nigeria could have benefited from, adding that, “education and health sectors are the foundation of development and if you lose it, you will be finished. “I do hope that in the political discourse in Nigeria, there would be conversations around education and primary healthcare. When political aspirants run for office, we should ask them what their plans for primary healthcare, education are and how they would deal with malnutrition,"" he said." | Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Education, Healhcare, Political Aspirants, Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation | https://bit.ly/3TdzcMD | |
| This Day Newspaper | 25th August 2022 | Ayu: PDP’ll Win 25 States, Majority in National Assembly Seats Despite Crisis | "National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, said despite the raging leadership crisis in the party, PDP would win over 25 states and majority seats at the National Assembly in the 2023 general election. Ayu said this at a meeting with the 28 PDP governorship candidates. Speaking at a meeting with the 28 PDP governorship candidates, Ayu said, “We are happy that the members of the party are very determined that we don’t just win at the national level. State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, state governorship, we want to return about 25 state governors or more as we used to have. So, the mood in the party is excellent.” Ayu said the governorship candidates came to express their concerns in their various states. He stated , “They briefed us on the efforts they are making in their various states to win the election. As you know, the elections will be won in the states not just at the national level." | Iyorchia Ayu, People's Democratic Party, 2023 General Elections | Page 33 | |
| This Day Live | 25th August 2022 | 2023: I only recognise APC candidates… defectors on their own, says Buhari | "President Muhammadu Buhari says he will only campaign for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections. Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, said Buhari will not recognise former members of the party or those who have court cases against APC candidates. In a statement on Wednesday, the president was quoted as saying he will not betray or undermine the APC ahead of the elections. “The Presidency wishes to put it on record, and at the same time, reassure faithful party members that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a “disciplined soldier” of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other,” the statement reads. “This is a warning to decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party tent should link what they are doing to President Buhari." | Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress, 2023 General Elections | https://bit.ly/3QWsMjy | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 25th August 2022 | Why We Met IBB, Abdulsalami Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket — Babachir | "A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has opened up on why he and a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, met with former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawal and Dogara, who are top chieftains of the APC, had kicked against the selection of a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, by the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as his running mate. Daily Trust reports that Lawal and Dogara have been engaging in high-powered consultations against the same-faith presidential ticket of the ruling party. On Monday, they were in Minna, Niger State, where they met Babangida and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar. In a phone interview with Daily Trust, Babachir, said though they were in Minna to greet retired General Abdulsalami, who just returned to the country from a medical trip, they also used the opportunity to visit General Babangida. He also said the issue of the Muslim-Muslim ticket was discussed. “But there is no way we will be there without the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue coming up. It came up and naturally we discussed it." | Babachir Lawal, Yakubu Dogara, 2023 Presidential Election, All Progressives Congress, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalam Abubakar | https://bit.ly/3QRUaiz | |
| The Guardian | 25th August 2022 | Accord picks ex-Zamfara SSG, Bello Maru, as Chris Imumolen’s running mate | "Bala Bello Maru, a former Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, has been announced as the running mate to Accord Party’s presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen. The announcement, which was made via a press statement made available to The Guardian on Thursday, stated that the party presented the North West political influencer after due consultations and realisation of his powerful political clout in the northern leadership hemisphere. The National Chairman of Accord, Muhammad Nalado, said from all indications, the party’s leadership has struck a good South-North synergy at a time when Nigeria must attain a solid form through inter-regional inclusiveness. He expressed confidence that the party would produce the next president and vice president of Nigeria." | Accord Party, Muhammad Nalado, Bala Bello Maru, Christopher Imumolen, 2023 General Elections | https://bit.ly/3PReUp4 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 24th August 2022 | INEC: Electoral Process Incomplete Without Offences Commission | "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, lent support to the bill seeking the establishment of an electoral offences commission to prosecute election offenders, saying the electoral process cannot be complete without such a commission. Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in Abuja at a one-day public hearing on the “Bill for an Act to Establish National Electoral Offences Commission to Provide for the Legal Framework for Investigation and Prosecution of Electoral Offences for the general Improvement of the Electoral Process in Nigeria.” Yakubu said the proposed law would enable the commission clampdown on electoral crimes and ensure effective prosecution of electoral offenders, particularly, high-profile politicians, who sponsor thugs to carry out violence acts. The INEC chairman also sought amendment of Clause 44 of the bill, which empowers the Attorney General of the Federation to make rules and regulations with respect to the functions or powers of the proposed commission. He said giving such powers to the AGF could conflict with the work of the commission, as it should be independent. Yakubu further revealed that since the 2015 general election, about 125 cases of electoral offences had been filed in various courts, with 60 convictions secured, the most recent one being in Akwa Ibom State." | Electoral Offences Commission, National Assembly, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu | Page 1 | |
| This Day Live | 24th August 2022 | Lamido: No One Has Offended Wike, No Basis for Reconciliation | "Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, yesterday, dismissed the idea of reconciliation between the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Lamido said no one had offended the embittered governor of the oil rich state. The former Jigawa State governor, who spoke on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, said PDP should leave Wike alone, because if anyone had offended him at all, it was the convention, and not any individual. Describing Wike as an emperor in Rivers, Lamido said those who had so far visited the governor as part of a reconciliatory move between him and Atiku were well-wishers, who did so at their individual levels." | Sule Lamido, Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, People's Democratic Party | https://bit.ly/3dW7unz | |
| This Day Newspaper | 24th August 2022 | Tinubu Consults Ahead of Presidential Campaign | "As campaign for the 2023 poll kicks off on September 28, 2022, the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is not leaving any stone unturned as his ongoing consultation recently took him to the Abeokuta home of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Going by the timetable and the schedule of activities released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the campaign by political parties to canvass for votes from the about 95 million electorate will officially commence on September 28, 2022. This will however be the first time that political parties will embark on a five-month campaign train following the signing of the Electoral Act 2022 into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. Although the campaign window is yet to open, major contenders of the presidential election have been criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country trying to sell their candidacy. As part of his ongoing consultation, Tinubu last week met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to intimate him about his ambition." | Bola Ahmed Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, 2023 Presidential Election | Page 16 | |
| Daily Trust newspaper | 24th August 2022 | Tinubu, Wike’s London Meeting Rattles PDP, Atiku | "The London meeting of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has unsettled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Daily Trust reports. Wike, who came second during the presidential primaries of the PDP has been at loggerheads with Atiku following the selection of the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the vice presidential candidate of the party. Efforts by the leaders of the party to persuade Wike to key into Atiku’s project have hit the rock, instead, the Rivers State governor has upped his romance with the chieftains of the ruling party and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Analysts believe that this development will heighten the anxiety in the camp of the former vice president. Reliable sources close to both Tinubu and Wike told this paper that the two personalities met on Monday in London, where issues revolving around the presidential aspirations of the former Lagos State governor were extensively discussed. A source in the campaign council of Tinubu said the meeting, which he described as “fruitful” was attended by six persons, three from each side while a former minister in Wike’s camp, who also confirmed the meeting, said there was nothing wrong with the parley, saying Atiku is also meeting with APC governors. It was learnt that two things are being ironed out, whether Wike should dump PDP and join the APC or remain in PDP but work for the APC at the presidential election." | Nyesom Wike, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Presidential Election | Page 4 | |
| Daily Trust newspaper | 24th August 2022 | 2023: Kwakwanso Promises To Reform Maritime Sector | "The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Kwakwanso, has promised to transform the nation’s maritime sector, which he said, had been neglected by previous administrations. He stated this in Lagos on Tuesday at a meeting with stakeholders in the maritime sector. The former governor of Kano State also vowed to place the control of the nation’s maritime sector in the hands of stakeholders. “The maritime industry gave birth to our great party, the NNPP, so my being here is largely to listen, appreciate and understand the expectations of maritime operators from me and our party should we eventually emerge winners of the 2023 general elections. The meeting was organised by the Prime Maritime Project ahead of the 2023 general elections." | Rabiu Kwankwaso, Maritime sector, New Nigeria Peoples Party, 2023 General Elections | Page 27 | |
| Daily Trust newspaper | 24th August 2022 | Why Election Results Can’t Be Manipulated — INEC | "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the electronics transmission of results cannot be manipulated, due to the nature of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). Prof. Mohammad Kuna, the Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during a panel discussion at a two-day workshop organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) headed by former Head of States, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and The Kukah Centre. “With the nature of the BVAS, the uploaded polling units (PUs) results cannot be manipulated. The machine was not designed to edit the photographic result uploaded and sent to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV); and once sent cannot be recalled” Kuna said. " | 2023 General Elections, National Peace Committee, INEC | Page 27 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 24th August 2022 | Obi meets Afenifere leader, Adebanjo in Lagos | "Just as the horse-trading amongst political parties and rivals gets underway, the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, yesterday met with the leader of Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, at his home in Lagos. Obi met with Adebanjo and members of the South and Middle Belt Leadership Forum. In a tweet, Obi said he was accompanied by members of the party and other stakeholders. He wrote: “Presently visiting Pa Ayo Adebanjo and members of the South and Middle Belt Leadership Forum.” Pa Adebanjo had said Obi and not Atiku or Tinubu should be elected president in 2023. He hinged his support for Obi’s aspiration on justice, equity and inclusiveness, insisting that the next president should come from the Southeast. “On the principle of rotation, what nullified Tinubu is because Southwest has had its own; South-South has also had its own, why not the Southeast? It is not a case of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Tinubu is a very good and qualified candidate but what disqualified him is the fact that we can’t say we believe in rotation, you have had two bites on a pie when one of you has not had a bite. The same thing disqualifies Atiku, after a Northerner has ruled us for eight years; you want another Northerner to go there? But they want to turn the issue by saying the Northeast has not had it. They should have protested when President Buhari was coming back that Northwest has had it,” he said. While noting that he is not a member of LP, Adebanjo said he is ‘obidient,’ a slogan used to describe supporters of Obi. He argued that people should criticise his choice based on the principle of fairness and not sentiment." | Peter Obi, Labour Party, Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere | Page 9 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 19th August 2022 | We Won’t Endorse Any Candidate – PFN | The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Thursday said that it will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 general elections. The Secretary of PFN, Bishop Cosmos Ilechukwu, who briefed the press on the resolutions of the extraordinary joint meeting of its National Advisory Council (NAC) and National Executive Council (NEC) in Lagos, noted that same faith ticket was not in the interest of the country as it would jeopardise peaceful co-existence. While lamenting that some political parties chose to ignore the counsel of PFN that same faith ticket, be it Christian-Christian or Muslim-Muslim, will not augur well for the unity and future of Nigeria, he said the body would continue to collaborate with like mind organisations and individuals to ensure that the 2023 elections delivered a ticket that would further the unity of Nigeria. | PFN, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Cosmos Ilechukwu | Page 25 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 19th August 2022 | Defection: Shekarau’s Camp Continues Deliberations Today | The Shura Council of Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s political structure will today continue its deliberations on whether or not the former governor should leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) barely two months after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Daily Trust reports that Shekarau has been in contact with the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent weeks, with the two leading political parties making overtures to poach him from the NNPP. This followed the unrest that arose as a result of Shekarau and his associates’ dissatisfaction with the arrangements NNPP, which they believe denied them party tickets to contest for elections in 2023 based on the agreement they reached before joining the party from APC. However, the Shura Council meeting scheduled for Thursday which was expected to decide on the next step for the Kano Central senator and his followers could not be concluded because of some setbacks. Shekarau’s spokesman, Dr Sule Ya’u Sule, confirmed to our correspondent that the meeting which started early on Thursday could not conclude and reach a position because some of the sub-committees saddled with some responsibilities could not conclude their assignments. He said some of the sub-committees like the one meant to sample public opinion on the development said they needed more time to come up with their report, hence that the meeting had to be adjourned to 3pm on Friday. Meanwhile, a member of the Shura Council told Daily Trust yesterday that it was not true that Shekarau and his associates joined the NNPP at a time it became too late for the party to submit their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as stated by the leader and presidential candidate of NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He said it was on record that most, if not all Shekarau’s associates, joined the NNPP in June, alongside their leader, noting that INEC’s last day of withdrawal/replacement of candidates was July 15, for presidential and National Assembly, and August 12, for governorship and Houses of Assembly. | Shura Council, Ibrahim Shekarau, NNPP, Defection | Page 25 | |
| Vanguard Newspaper | 19th August 2022 | Wike, Atiku feud’ll be over soon – PDP Bot Chair, Walid Jibrin | Amid the cold war between the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, yesterday, urged party members to be calm, assuring that the misunderstanding between the two leaders would be resolved soon. Atiku had appointed a seven-man team led by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, to hold discussions with Wike’s team, led by former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana. The two camps are billed to meet in Port-Harcourt on a date yet to be announced. But in a statement the BoT Chairman, Senator Jibrin noted that contrary to the generally held belief among Nigerians, what was happening within the party was not a crisis but rather a misunderstanding among family members. The BoT chairman promised that the misunderstanding will soon become a thing of the past as relevant organs of the party were already working towards resolving outstanding issues. | Senator Walid Jibrin, PDP Crisis, Wike Atiku Feud | https://bit.ly/3c6EKHS | |
| The Guardian Online | 19th August 2022 | Ex-Anambra PDP guber candidate defects to LP | Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the former Anambra Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has defected to the Labour Party (LP), Ozigbo said in a statement in Awka. “There comes a defining moment in the life of any country when all people of good conscience must stand up to be counted. Those times offer no middle ground; you are either on the dark side or on the side of the light. For Nigeria, 2023 is such a moment, Nigerians will be divided into two classes – those who will work to entrench the forces that have destroyed Nigeria or those warriors of the light who will work to bring justice, equity, and peace to our beloved country,” he said. Ozigbo said that his decision was based on his love for Nigeria. “The Obi-dient movement cannot be ignored, shamed, or waved away. It is the fastest growing and biggest political movement in Nigeria today. I acknowledge the brilliant choice of Peter Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. Together, this is an unbeatable presidential ticket and they deserve the support of all well-meaning Nigerians". | Valentine Ozigbo, Defection, PDP to LP | https://bit.ly/3psQnvW | |
| This Day Newspaper | 19th August 2022 | Atiku : How I Will Lead Nigeria Out of Current Electricity Challenges | Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Abubakar Atiku, yesterday outlined how he will lead Nigeria out of its current electricity challenges. In a statement he personally signed, Atiku said that having keenly observed developments in the power sector, he was convinced that his solution to the electricity crisis as encapsulated in his policy document, ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’, remains the most proactive plan to lead Nigeria out of darkness. “In this regard, my approach is to first remove the entire electricity value chain from the exclusive list and give states the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity for themselves. An industrial dispute with the federal government in Abuja should not affect an industry in Lagos or a factory in Aba or in Kano or even an average Nigerian who just wants to get home, watch the news and sleep under a ceiling fan,” he stated. The former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the main opposition party, PDP, reiterated that his policy shall aim at achieving greater coordination of investments in the entire electricity value chain. “Investments in additional generation capacity are futile without consideration for the complementary transmission and distribution infrastructure to wheel the additional energy. Any investment in additional generation capacity would be competitively procured considering a viable mix of renewable (hydro, solar, wind and biofuels) and non-renewable (coal, gas) options for energy security. Thirdly, ahead of procuring additional generation, both transmission and distribution capacities would be enhanced with government and private sector support for investments,” Atiku stated. In this regard, the former vice president promised to incentivise private investment in the development of multiple greenfield mini-grid transmission systems to be looped into the super-grid in the medium to long term while allowing the federal government focus on policy, regulation, and standardisation. | Atiku Abubakar on Electricity Challenge, Electricity Challenge, PDP Presidential Candidate | Page 8 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 19th August 2022 | Alleged Certificate Forgery: Court Orders AA to Present Witnesses against Tinubu | Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Action Alliance (AA) to present its witnesses in court on October 12, this year when hearing will commence in the alleged certificate forgery suit against former Lagos State Governor, and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Justice Egwuatu gave the order shortly before adjourning Thursday’s proceedings to enable parties in the suit complete their exchanges of brief in the suit. AA had on June 21, approached the court for an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from including the name of the APC in the ballot of the 2023 presidential election. The party equally asked the court for another order restraining the electoral umpire from accepting the name of Tinubu as the candidate of the APC in the forthcoming presidential election. The plaintiff in the Writ of Summon marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/954/2022, predicated its request on the claim that both the APC and its presidential candidate, Tinubu, are not qualified to participate in the 2023 presidential election on alleged forgery committed by Tinubu in 1999. While the AA is the sole plaintiff, INEC, APC and Tinubu are the first, second and third defendants respectively. When the case came up on Thursday, Mr Ukpai Ukairo, AA’s lawyer, informed the court that he just received the objection of Tinubu to the suit and would need a short time to respond to it. Similarly, INEC represented by one Hassan Mohammed also indicated interest to respond to the case of the plaintiff and also requested a short adjournment. While there was no representation for the APC, despite evidence of service, Tinubu’s lawyer, Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), told the court that the suit is an abuse of court process and a waste of the court’s precious time because the subject matter involves issues that happened over two decades ago. According to Ogala, the foundation for the suit against his client was rooted in the 1999 electoral forms he (Tinubu) submitted to the then electoral body. The lawyer further claimed that the case of the AA has become statute barred because it was placed on the report of the Lagos State House of Assembly which probed Tinubu a long ago over the alleged certificate forgery issue. | Court Suit, Alleged Certificate Forgery, INEC, Bola Tinubu, AA, Action Alliance, October 12 | Page 12 | |
| Punch Online | 19th August 2022 | Shun Rivers votes, lose poll, Wike tells PDP | Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday warned the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on the risk of shunning the votes from his state. He stressed that Rivers State is too strategic politically to be ignored by any serious- minded politician who wants to win election. In a veiled reference to his ongoing spat with the former vice-president, Wike said he knew how to win elections and urged others to “show that you have what it takes for the candidate to win election.” The rift between Atiku and Wike started after the governor’s ambition of becoming the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections failed following the emergence of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate. A reconciliation panel set up to resolve the crisis between Wike and Atiku had scheduled to meet in Abuja on Friday (today) but the governor’s camp is insisting on the resignation of the PDP chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, a condition that the Atiku loyalists rejected. It is uncertain the meeting would hold as the two camps have also not agreed on the venue. But speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike claimed more politicians in the state are renouncing their membership of other political parties and joining the PDP in droves. He said the new entrants are doing so because they were delighted at the ongoing infrastructural development by his administration and they believed the PDP was a better party to associate with. The governor stated this during the flag-off of the 11th flyover project, which was performed by a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, at the Rumuola- Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state. This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to newsmen. The governor explained that the ongoing collapse of the membership strength of other political parties in the state was an electoral advantage for the PDP.Wike said, “We have collapsed every other party. Every day people from All Progressives Congress are joining our party. We are here doing that and some people are in Abuja; ask them how many persons have they brought to the party.” | Rivers State, Rivers Vote, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike | https://bit.ly/3dKzRFb | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | Muslim-Muslim ticket: APC insists no plot to unseat Adamu | All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted media reports alleging plot to unseat National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu. The refutation came against the backdrop of speculation that the top echelons of the party have perfected moves to sack Adamu and bring on board former Benue State governor and Minister for Special Duties, George Akume. The reports had suggested the plan was part of efforts to appease Nigerians opposed to APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. But the party, in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said there is no iota of truth in the story, even as it blamed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the speculation. Morka said: “The reports are based on the imagination of its sponsors, ostensibly unnerved by the remarkable achievements of Adamu since assuming office as National Chairman. “Our party and leaders are currently focused on the important task of building a strong and vibrant electoral campaign and will not be distracted by the boring chirps of idle speculators. The opposition PDP is quite welcome to continue to dissipate its energies on innuendoes, chasing after phantom plots in APC, rather than concentrating on mending its broken and acrimonious house. The National Working Committee of our party stands united under Adamu’s leadership as national chairman with the singular commitment to wining the next general election.” | Muslim-muslim Ticket, APC, Abdulahhi Adamu, George Akume | Page 3 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | Appeal Court confirms Okorie Ebonyi PDP chairman | Following the verdict of Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, which confirmed Tochukwu Okorie as Chairman of Ebonyi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he, yesterday, described the judgement as victory for democracy, noting that the judiciary has, once again, showed its obligation as the last hope of common man. Okorie, in a statement in Abakaliki, described the judgment as victory for all and congratulated members of the party, stakeholders and entire Ebonyians for the victory. The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, had nullified and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC) of April 13, 2022, which installed Mr. Silas Onu as Chairman, Ebonyi chapter of the PDP, and restored Okorie the substantive chairman of the party in the state. In a unanimous decision, the three-man panel of Justices held that the trial court erred when it assumed jurisdiction to hear the matter being an internal affair of the party, which is not justiciable. The statement reads: “Yesterday, the Appeal Court, sitting in Abuja, summarily restored the mandate freely given to me by members of PDP as the substantive chairman of the party in Ebonyi. I congratulate our members, supporters, leaders, stakeholders and the entire Ndi-Ebonyi on this momentous victory. This victory is, indeed, our victory and I am humbled by the outpouring of love, solidarity and goodwill on me, especially the way our members have stood by me and the party throughout this period. I am, therefore, using this opportunity to implore our members to end every disagreement, as the time to move forward is now.” | Court of Appeal, Tochukwu Okorie, Ebonyi State, PDPChapter Ebonyi State Chairman, Silas Onu | Page 7 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | 2023: E-Transmission Of Election Results Has Come To Stay – INEC | The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday promised that the results of the 2023 general elections would be transmitted electronically. There have been calls by stakeholders that the deployment of technology in the country’s electoral processes be enhanced to address hitches witnessed in previous elections. It was against this backdrop that the Electoral Act was amended by the National Assembly. President Muhammadu Buhari had, on February 25, assented to the Election Act 2022 after its passage by the National Assembly. One of the key provisions of the law is the deployment of technology in the electoral process. Section 52(2) of the Act says: “Subject to Section 63 of this bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the commission (INEC), which may include electronic voting.” Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of Media Trust Group (owners of Daily Trust newspapers and Trust TV) on election debate, the INEC boss said going forward, the electoral body would transmit election results electronically. Yakubu, told the delegation that the transmission of elections results from the polling units (PUs) would be a permanent feature in the nation’s electoral processes. “Yes, it is going to be permanent in all elections conducted by the commission going forward. But I wish to draw your attention to the fact that we did not start the electronic transmission, at least, from the polling units to the IReV Portal, in Anambra or FCT elections. “It was actually on August 2020 that we deployed that for the Nasarawa Central State Constituency by-election, the first election conducted under COVID-19. So, if you look at the IReV Portal, you could see all the results from the 2020 to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and all the other by-elections we conducted,” Yakubu said. | Mahmood Yakubu, INEC, E-transmission of results, 2023 General Election | Page 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | Tinubu Visits Obasanjo In Ogun | The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, behind closed doors in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Tinubu, in company of his team, met Obasanjo as part of his ongoing consultation and fence-mending process to actualise his presidential bid. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, an APC chieftain, Bisi Akande, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, among others were in his entourage. He was welcomed with funfair by his supporters and members of the party, including Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele and former governors, Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel. The former Lagos state governor immediately went straight into a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo at the penthouse residence within the OOPL. Obasanjo and Tinubu were known to be political foes, which dated back to their days as president and Lagos State governor respectively. | Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola Tinubu, Closed Door Meeting | Page 31 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | Masari: APC’ll Win 2023 Polls Despite Nation’s Challenges | Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, yesterday, boasted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2023 general election, despite the current unpleasant socio-political and worsening security situation in the country. Masari spoke in Igbaja, Kwara State, during the inauguration of an ultra modern hostel/campus named after him by the management of a private university, Al-Hikma University, Ilorin. He said Nigeria’s current challenges were not in isolation, but had global dimensions. Examining APC’s chances in the 2023 elections, the Katsina State governor, who spoke with a lot of confidence, explained, “Those saying it will be difficult for the APC to win the forthcoming election, they don’t know what they are saying at all. “That was what they said in 2019 that it will be difficult for the APC to win, because of the country’s situation, but it has come to pass that they were wrong. The fundamental thing is that the issue affecting this country has global dimensions. The whole world is facing crisis and inflation. America is going under the worst inflation in the last 40 years, likewise Ghana, Niger, and our neighbouring countries. We have to appreciate what is going on in the world before we unnecessarily criticise an issue that is global. The issues we have are beyond what one country can solve. “I consider this as a passing phase in our development journey. Countries that are over 400 years old are still facing some crisis. When did the Irish and British overcome theirs? See, we have history to learn and borrow from and we should pray for our leaders to do what is right. But all of us should know that we have a role and contribution to make.” Masari said agriculture remained a major sector of the economy that could take Nigeria out of its economic woes, stressing that with the rising cost of food items across the globe, the country must grow its own food to be self-reliant. | Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, Nation's Challenges, 2023 General Election, APC's proposed victory | Page 1 & 10 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 18th August 2022 | Ayu: We Take Responsibility for Our Defeat in Ekiti Guber Poll | National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, said the party’s leadership has taken responsibility for its poor outing during the recent governorship election in Ekiti State, in which the PDP came third. Ayu, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti while receiving members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State, under the auspices of ‘Ekiti Progressives’, urged the defectors to deploy their permanent voters card (PVCs) to halt the All Progressives Congress (APC) maladministration in 2023. The SDP members had left the PDP in the build-up to the June 18 governorship election, due to former governor Ayodele Fayose’s alleged despotism in the party. Represented by the National Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, Ayu expressed regrets over the abysmal outcome of the last governorship election, adding that the party’s national leadership accepted responsibility over the PDP failure and apologised to the aggrieved members. “I am happy to welcome you back to the party, because we can’t do it alone in a bid to rescue this nation from the APC that has destroyed this country across sectors. We need to change this APC through our PVCs, we should chase them out. You can do it. Let me say that Ekiti belongs to PDP and we should go out massively to mobilise for our candidate and his running mate to rescue us from the problems we are facing under the APC. I want to make it clear that what happened during the June 18 poll was caused by us, we must admit that it is our fault, not your fault and we are asking for forgiveness. Please, forgive us; it won’t happen again. It is obvious that you have shown your strength in SDP by coming second in that election and we know had it been we worked together, it would have been a different story today. I want to plead we work together to deliver our candidates in 2023 and we’ll return to the Villa.” | Defectors, SDP to PDP, Ado Ekiti, Taofeek Arapaja, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, PDP National deputy Chairman South | Page 14 | |
| Vanguard Online | 18th August 2022 | We’ll conduct LG polls without PDP – OSIEC Chairman | Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, Mr Segun Oladitan, yesterday, disclosed that with or without the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the commission will conduct local government elections in the state as scheduled. Reacting to the PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman’s decision to boycott the exercise, Oladitan said it would have been better for the party to take part in the exercise to test its legitimacy in the court. He said: “We have not received an official message from PDP. But they shouldn’t have boycotted the election, we are aware of the sections of the electoral act they are laying claims to that we do not have the right to conduct the election. But instead of boycotting the election, they should have participated and let us go and try the legitimacy of the process in the court of law. Before we fix a date for the conduct of the local government election, all political parties were involved and a PDP representative was present. We are not deterred about the action of PDP, we are going ahead with the conduct of the election. Boycotting the election will not stop the process.” Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the PDP to stop threatening to unleash violence over the election, advising it to seek redress at the court of law instead. The party Chairman, Gboyega Famodun in a statement by his media aide, Kola Olabisi, said: “The PDP should have in mind that Governor Gboyega Oyetola who is still enjoying the protection of the constitution as the subsisting bonafide governor of the state would not allow anyone to dictate to him on how to run his government within the stipulated four-year pact that he signed with the people of the state.” | Chairman Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, Mr Segun Oladitan, PDP, APC, Boycott, LG Election, Osun State | https://bit.ly/3c13YaS | |
| This Day Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | 2023: PDP is an Underdog Engaging in Propaganda, Says Adamu | National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has described the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as an underdog engaged in propaganda to try to discredit the ruling party. Adamu made the remarks yesterday when a group, APC Professionals, led by former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, paid him a courtesy visit at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja. Lamenting that PDP was engaging in propaganda to discredit the APC-led federal government, the APC chairman said every election was peculiar, even though the issues might be the same. He noted that members of the group had held very important positions in the country, saying the country would not hesitate to tap from their knowledge to ensure better contributions in the national building effort. According to Adamu, “Whatever it is, if we genuinely want to develop the manifestos, the experience that you have gathered over time will be very useful and when we call upon you to have a share of your expertise, you will not hesitate to join and give your best.” Adamu regretted that most of the laudable programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration were not getting to the grassroots, because leadership at that level was driven by those who were not educated. | APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, APC | Page 43 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | Osun LG Election: Don’t Allow Yourself to Be Used, PDP Advises Electoral Body | Following the move by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct local government election on October 15, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday sounded a note warning to the Commission on the need to retrace its steps. The PDP, however, advised the commission and its officials to avoid being used as tool for illegality. The OSIEC chairman, Mr. Segun Oladitan, announced on Monday that the local government election would be conduct as scheduled for October 15, 2022. But reacting to the announcement, the State Chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, stated clearly that the party would shun the election because it is in conflict with provisions of the new Electoral Act. Adekunle declared at a press conference that was held yesterday at the PDP’s secretariat, Osogbo, that the planned election is an effort in futility and a delibrate attempt to plunge the state further into financial abjection and misery. He said: “For us in PDP, we have advised them that the OSIEC should not allow itself to be used as a tool for illegality. We as a matter of fact, sent delegation to the commission to tutor and enlighten them on consequences of turning themselves into prisoners of another man’s desperation. We have asked them to stop the local government election being planned by the state government because the election conflicts completely with provisions of the law. “The planned election, we want to maintain, is a futile effort that will certainly not stand and as we’ve mentioned severally, it is an attempt to plunge the state further into financial abjection and misery. All men of good conscience should demand explanation from Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, on the reasons behind his insistence on conducting an election he knows is clearly against the Electoral Act. Or is Osun State no longer a constituent part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where the act regulating conducts of election is clearly spelt out?"" “We are not unaware of a recently rushed bill by the Osun State House of Assembly to render life support to the brought in dead idea of railroading the state into a clearly illegal exercise. But, the law is settled that no state electoral law can override the provisions of the Electoral Act made by the National Assembly of Nigeria. “Section 28 of the Electoral Act, 2022, stipulates that no election can hold until a notice of 360 days is given to all relevant stakeholders before such election. “The Electoral Act also provides without any room for Mr. Oyetola’s kind of dilly dally, in section 29, a period of 180 days within which list of candidates must be published. “There’s no ambiguity in the fact that the period within which the outgoing APC’s administration in Osun State is left with, is clearly far less than the period stipulated in paragraphs 28 and 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022. | #OsunDecides2022, Osun LG Election, October 15, Osun State, PDP, OSIEC, Akindele Adekunle, Osun State Chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee | Page 45 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | Your apology accepted, Archbishop tells Lalong | Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Matthew Audu, has told Governor Simon Lalong that the apology he tendered to the Church has been accepted. “Your apology is accepted. The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has already accepted your apology, and so it goes for all of us,” Audu said at the opening of the 19th General Assembly of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, yesterday. According to the cleric, since the Church encourages its members to go into politics, the intention is to work at making a difference in politics, in line with the mandate of the Church. While assuring the governor that the Church will neither disgrace him nor allow him to fail, Audu asked him to advise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the need for unity, national integration and carrying all segments of the country along, which is the major concern expressed by Christians on the choice of it presidential candidate and the running mate. Meanwhile, Lalong, at the event, has reaffirmed his loyalty, commitment and faith in the Catholic Church, as well as the desire to always be a good ambassador wherever he finds himself. | Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Matthew Audu, Simon Lalong, Apology | Page 30 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | Wike’s meeting with Obi after botched one with Atiku’s camp raises dust | With time running fast to the commencement of the presidential election campaigns next month, the mind games playing out between camps of the two gladiators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), keep throwing spanners in the works and dimming hopes of an accelerated resolution to the crisis in the party. After a reconciliation meeting between camps of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike was botched on Monday, aggrieved Wike, the same night, hosted the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to a private meeting for the second time in weeks, fueling suspicions about the governor’s next move.The Rivers governor has been meeting with top politicians recently, especially, those from other political divides, raising speculations about his loyalty to the PDP after failing to clinch the party’s presidential ticket. Although Wike has repeatedly pledged his loyalty to the main opposition party, his body language suggests divided loyalty. Although the purpose of Wike’s meeting with Obi could not be ascertained, it may, however, not be unconnected with the elections. Just like the previous meeting on June 22, 2022, the motive for the latest meeting was not made public by either politician. Social media users have expressed delight in the growing political bond between Wike and Obi, describing it as a good development. They also prayed for Obi to secure the support of Wike ahead of the elections. | Peter Obi, Nyesom Wike, Meeting | Page 9 | |
| Leadership Online | 17th August 2022 | INEC Redeploys 2 RECs, 8 Directors | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday redeployed two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and eight directorate level staff. The commission had earlier redeployed 385 staff nationwide, as part of efforts to ensure efficient and optimal performance. The affected staff were either serving in their states of origin or have served for between 10 and 32 years in the same state. INEC in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, signed by the chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye said the redeployment was in line with the commission’s extant policy. The statement said the REC Cross River State Dr Cyril Omorogbe was posted to Akwa Ibom State, while Dr Alalibo Johnson Sinikiem the REC Edo State was posted to Cross River State. INEC in the statement titled: Redeployment Of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) and Posting of Staff said the redeployments/postings take immediate effect. “Handing and taking over should be concluded on/or before Friday 26th August 2022,” the statement added. | INEC, Redeployment, RECs, Edo State, Cross River State, Akwa Ibom State | https://bit.ly/3w9SqsK | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | 2023: Voters, Not Rumour Peddlers, Will Decide Atiku’s Fate – Wike | Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that votes by the electorate will determine the victory of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, in the forthcoming general elections, not rumour peddlers. He described support by some politicians to Atiku as inconsequential if they are not working to mobilise grassroot voters to secure victory for PDP. The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kevin Ebiri, said it was unfortunate that some politicians based in Abuja derived pleasure insinuating something against him to curry favour from the PDP presidential candidate. He said, “We are busy campaigning with our projects on how our party will win election in the state. Other people are busy in Abuja carrying rumours and gossip. We are busy here (in Rivers) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We’ll start Monday again, flagging off projects, commissioning projects that will sell our party. “Everyday in the newspapers, Wike did this, Wike did that, then they will call the candidate. You see what I said about Wike today. Rent seekers. No job. Instead of you to do something that will make your party to win 2023 elections, you’re only busy everyday (saying) Wike said this. Where you heard from Wike I do not know. Maybe in your dream. “You want to support the candidate, you’re not at home, you’re in Abuja. Come home and campaign and work for the party. Stop this Abuja politics of carrying rumours to the candidate.” “I am not running for election. He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. So, allow Rivers State to continue to do what they are doing by using our projects to campaign to our people.” | Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, PDP Crisis | Page 16 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 17th August 2022 | Bauchi Gov’ship: CSO Petitions INEC, Wants Former Air Chief Disqualified | The Accountability and Democratic Project (ADEP), a civic group, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the disqualification of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique (retired) from contesting the Bauchi State governorship election in 2023. The group’s Executive Director, Ahmad Muhammad, in the petition, asked INEC to disqualify Sadique, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bauchi, over alleged disparity in the forms he submitted to the commission. According to him, a cursory look at the forms showed the candidate claimed that he was born in Azare without providing details. He also said there was no evidential document to prove his academic qualifications and his Nigerian citizenship. “It is in this light that we write your good office to draw your attention to this grave disregard for the law and ask that you apply the law appropriately by disqualifying the said Abubakar Sadique Baba,” he said. Reacting, the APC candidate said those seeking his disqualification were ignorant of the law.Sadique’s spokesman, Salisu Ahmed Barau, said the former Chief of Air Staff, as a Nigerian, had served the country diligently as “Air Force general and worked in the Nigerian Air Force for 42 years. “Therefore, for any group to come out and ask for his disqualification, it shows that it is ignorant of the law.” | Accountability and Democratic Project , ADEP, INEC, Calls for Disqualification, Bauchi State, Abubakar Sadique, Bauchi State Governorship Election | Page 16 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | My Only Agenda Is To Serve Nigerians — Atiku | Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections Atiku Abubakar says he has no other agenda but to serve Nigerians. He spoke in Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday at an event where thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Atiku, who was received by a mammoth crowd at the Mahmud Ribadu Square in Yola, said he would address the challenges facing Nigeria if elected. It was the first time he was returning to his hometown after emerging as the candidate of the PDP for the 2023 presidential election. Atiku urged the electorate in Adamawa State to consolidate on the support given to him throughout his 30-year political career. He also called on party members to united and work together. Meanwhile, National Chairman, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has said he will not step down despite pressure on him to do so. Ayu is said to be under pressure to step down as part of the condition to settle the rift between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. “We restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years,” Ayu’s media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said in a statement yesterday. The spokesman of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, denied knowledge of any condition from Wike’s camp asking the national chairman to step down. | Atiku Abubakar, PDP Crisis, Iyorchia Ayu, Adamawa State | Page 26 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | Fulani elite disown Miyetti Allah’s statement on Obi | Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa (COFPIA) has distanced itself from a statement by the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhassan Salah, against the candidature of the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. The Fulani professional group enjoined Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah, saying the group does not represent or speak for the Fulani ethnic group in any way. Salah had, in an interview with a national newspaper, said the Fulani would not support the candidature of Obi, describing the candidate as a tribal bigot and someone who hates the North. He claimed that when Obi was the governor of Anambra State, he destroyed the businesses of Northerners and chased Hausa and Fulani people away from the state. But in a statement, yesterday, COFPIA National President, Prof. Mohammed Gidado, and National Secretary, Hajiya Mairo Modibo, picked hole in Salah’s claim.While acknowledging Miyetti Allah’s right to freedom of expression, it COFPIA reminded them that they don’t have the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria, especially when they have not lived up to expectations. To this effect, COFPIA said Fulbe people all over Nigeria would not be bound by that politically-sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah. | COFPIA, LP, Miyetti Allah, Fulani, Mohammed Gidado | Page 45 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | Catholic group rejects Lalong’s apology, tells gov to resign | A group in the Catholic Church has rejected the apology by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State over his political utterances involving the Pontiff. Rather, the church tasked the governor to make restitution by embarking on a 40-day fast and stepping down as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.Upon his appointment as DG of APC campaign for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, Catholics had come hard on Lalong, a Catholic knight, but he said the Pope was not against his acceptance of the position. Later, he apologised for dragging the Pontiff into the fray. Mass Servants Association of Nigeria (MSAN) said it is not enough for the governor to express remorse, adding that he must prove it by embarking on a 40-day fasting and prayer as well as rejecting the position. The governor had earlier tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), admitting that it was an error on his part to have linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics. But yesterday, in a statement signed by Moses Idoko, MSAN said Lalong must repent and return every penny from the promoters of the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Quoting the Canon Law, Idoko said: “Lalong must confess to the priest for reconciliation with God and with the Catholic Church. “Most importantly, Lalong must denounce the APC presidential ticket. He must openly condemn this evil that could potentially destroy the nation. Except these are done, the governor’s purported apology will still be seen as a charade. God can’t be mocked,” the group added. | Simon Lalong, Canon Law, MSAN, Moses Idoko | Page 45 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | Ayu: I’ve Not Resigned and Won’t Resign | National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, dismissed speculations about his status as the leader of the party, saying he has not resigned and would not be forced to resign now, because he was elected for a four-year tenure. Ayu’s statement came as presidential candidate of PDP, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, led other chieftains of the party to receive some defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State into PDP. Those that accompanied Atiku, aside from Ayu, included ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo; PDP presidential running mate and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. A statement from Ayu’s Media Office stated, “We restate, therefore, that the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years. “Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution is clear on the removal and/or resignation of the national chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s constitution for more information on the matter.” Earlier, in a tweet, Ayu’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Simon Imobo’tswam, wrote, “The PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years.” Imobo’tswam followed up with a formal statement that said Ayu’s attention was drawn to a story in some national news media, purporting he had resigned, and particularly insinuating that the alleged resignation letter was with former Senate President David Mark. The statement said, “If Dr. Ayu had resigned, he would give his resignation letter to the Deputy Chairman (North), not Senator Mark. Section 45 (i and ii) of the party’s constitution is clear on this. “So, where does Distinguished Senator David Mark come in here, being that he is not even a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)? It appears that those who have been procured to blackmail the national chairman out of office are not even aware of what the party’s constitution says about the matter. “The national chairman is on a crucial assignment to lead the PDP on a historic rescue mission, come February 2023. And he will not be deterred or distracted by media terrorism or political blackmail. PDP members and the general public are advised to ignore any story of such phantom resignation.” | PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, PDP Crisis, Simon Imobo’tswam, PDP NWC, PDP's Constitution | Page 1 & 10 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | Osun LG Elections to Hold October 15 | The Chairman Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) Otunba Segun Oladitan yesterday confirmed that the local government elections in the state would be conducted on the 15th day of October, 2022. Speaking at a press conference the chairman recalled that when the commission conducted elections in January 2018, it was based on parliamentary system. He emphasised that the October 15th elections that would be conducted shall be on presidential system whereby Chairmen of Local Government Councils shall be elected directly and the Ward Councillors shall be elected separately. According to him “For some time now, the commission had been making necessary contacts with relevant stakeholders and carrying out in-house preparations for the conduct of local government elections.” “As recent as Friday the 12th day of August, 2022 the commission had parley with all the political parties in the State where they were informed of the impending conduct of the elections.” Oladitan stressed that in accordance with the Oath, which members of the commission took they shall ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent and credible. | Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, Otunba Segun Oladitan, October 15 | Page 29 | |
| Punch Online | 16th August 2022 | Again, Peter Obi meets Wike, Mimiko, others | The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has again met with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko. The trio also met on Monday night with top politicians like former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Gombe State ex-governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo; and a host of others at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mimiko shared a photo with the aforementioned politicians on his Twitter page, adding that it was nice to share some time with them. Though the ex-governor did not give a reason for the meeting, The PUNCH confirmed that the meeting was held at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital. Obi had met Mimiko last week Thursday, 11 August, 2022. The motive for the meeting was not made public by either of the politicians. The Labour Party presidential candidate had also visited Wike two months ago. The closed-door meeting lasted for a few hours at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt. Though the outcome of the meeting was not known, the two politicians were seen shaking hands in front of Governor Wike’s residence in pictures online. Obi’s first visit to Wike came amidst speculations that Wike may dump the Peoples Democratic Party, due to the fallout over the presidential primary of the party and the failure of the party’s presidential standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, to pick the Rivers governor as his running mate for the 2023 general elections. | Peter Obi, Meeting, Nyesom Wike, Olusegun Mimiko, Donald Duke | https://bit.ly/3piv0NX | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 16th August 2022 | Kenyan Poll: Protest, Jubilation Trail Ruto’s Victory | Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election amid dramatic scenes. He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5% of the vote, according to the official results. The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga’s campaign.Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the result, saying it was “opaque”. “We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Mr Odinga’s party agent earlier alleged that there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election. This was the first time Mr Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years, but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga to succeed him. The 77-year-old former prime minister, who got 48.8% of the vote, was running for president for the fifth time. Electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati said he had done his duty despite receiving threats. “We have walked the journey of ensuring that Kenyans get a free, fair and credible election. It has not been an easy journey – right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured,” he said. In his speech, President-elect Ruto thanked the electoral commission for overseeing the election. “It is a wonderful evening… all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya,” Mr Ruto said, calling Mr Chebukati a “hero” and dismissing the other commissioners’ dissent of his win as “a side show”. Mr Ruto said he wanted to be a president of all, and for the country to focus on the future. Celebrations have broken out in several parts of the country, including in Mr Ruto’s strongholds of the Rift Valley, and that of his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, in the Central region. Supporters of Mr Odinga have staged protests in the western city of Kisumu and some parts of Nairobi. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Kenyan president-elect on his victory. Buhari, in a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said outcome of the elections demonstrated that democratic process, values and principles remained the best way for the people to select their leaders and hold them accountable. | #KenyaDecides2022, Kenya, William Ruto, President-elect, IEBC | Page 26 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 15th August 2022 | Jonathan: Don’t Mortgage Your Children’s Future, Vote Good Leaders | Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has urged the Nigerian electorate to be circumspect with their votes during next year’s election and not mortgage the future of their children by voting leaders with conscience. Jonathan, who spoke while delivering a keynote address titled: ‘Lasting Legacy: Key to Nigeria’s Development Issues’, at the one-year memorial summit in honour of the late Captain Idahosa Okunbo in Abuja, Saturday, said Nigerians “must shift away from the politics of bread and butter.” While urging the people to elect the kind of leaders deserving of the country so that she could claim her rightful place in the comity of nations, Jonathan said Nigerians should ensure that only those who would foster national unity were elected to lead the country. His words: “Ahead of 2023 elections, we are getting ready to be wooed and wowed at campaign grounds by various politicians seeking different offices. But these thoughts are beyond 2023. It is about Nigeria and the kind of leadership it deserves now and in the future to ensure that our country assumes its rightful place among the comity of nations. “My charge to Nigerians is to be circumspect in the exercise of their voting rights. We must shift away from the politics of bread and butter and ensure that we do not elect leaders that will buy our conscience today and mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren. “We should endeavour to elect only those that will leave legacies of unity, peace, and development,” he said, adding that those with aspirations to lead the country in all capacities should be concerned about the value of their leadership style"". Jonathan stated further that every political leader should be fired by the kind of legacy he wanted to leave behind for posterity. According to him, “Those who also lead at various capacities in politics and business, be they councillors, council chairpersons, governors, lawmakers at both state and national levels as well as boardroom gurus, should be bothered about the value of their leadership style. | Goodluck Jonathan, 2023 General Election, Voters, Keynote Address | Page 52 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 15th August 2022 | Peterside: First Year of Nigeria’s Next President May Be about Blood, Sweat, Tears | With exactly 194 days to the 2023 presidential election, the President of Anap Foundation and Founder Stanbic IBTC, Chief Atedo Peterside has stressed that whoever emerges victorious at the poll would require a lot of hard work and tough choices in his first year for someone who is serious in addressing the myriad of challenges confronting the country. Peterside tweeted this at the weekend, in response to comment by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, that he (Obi) has not promised to make anyone happy if he becomes president because of the current situation in the country. Precisely, the economist stated that a serious presidency in the first year might be about, “blood, sweat and tears, not happiness.” According to him, delays would not be required in implementing critical reforms in the country. Peterside, who is the Convener of GoNigeria wrote: “The first year of a serious presidency commencing 29 May, 2023, might be about blood, sweat and tears and not happiness. The gain will only come after the initial pain. An incoming federal government must address insecurity and economic mismanagement ‘head-on’ instead of ‘kicking the can down the road.’ In the meantime, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a former presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has advised Nigerians to interrogate all the presidential candidates on the plans to tackle the rising spate of insecurity and terrorism in the country. Moghalu who Twitted this yesterday, wrote: “It seems to me that the most important question for the 2023 elections and whoever wins the presidency is the existential matter of security and the shrinking territorial integrity of Nigeria under the threat of terrorism. We should interrogate all the candidates on this. “I don’t think we’ve heard enough from them on this. We must not let the 2023 election be about stylish but empty slogans and emotional vituperations without a cold look at our fundamentals. A state is not really a state in international law if it’s not in control of its territory.” | Chief Atedo Peterside, Peter Obi, Kingsley Moghalu, Tweet, 2023 General Election | Page 50 | |
| Arise News | 15th August 2022 | ‘Ayu Must Go’: Rivers Governor Wike’s Camp Insists on Choosing Successor for PDP Chairman | Supporters of the Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have given an “irreducible minimum condition” for reconciliation in the faceoff between them and the leadership of the main opposition party. The pro-Wike camp said the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, must go, insisting also that they should be allowed to choose his successor. The supporters of the Rivers State governor urged former Senate President David Mark to speak up on the post-presidential primary election crisis. They alleged that Mark was with Ayu’s letter of resignation. Those demands came ahead of Monday’s meeting of a six-man committee comprising representatives from the camps of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Wike, for reconciliation talks. But Atiku, in a statement on Sunday, painted a gloomy picture of the country, stating that the statistics on Nigeria’s current position is grim and disappointing. A source, who was a member of the previous National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP during the Uche Secondus tenure, said, “By ensuring the removal of Ayu, Atiku can be said to have shown that he has the capacity to keep to the agreement of inclusiveness, trust and avoid any victimisation of the supporters of the Rivers State governor.” Speaking exclusively with THISDAY, the source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has betrayed the confidence of the Rivers State governor, Wike. “Nigerians know that Wike would have won the ticket, but for treachery. He lost the presidential ticket and the chances of becoming the running mate to the presidential candidate due to treachery,” the source said. According to the source, “Wike has lost twice. He wants to be a stakeholder in the presidential campaign. So, we want the office of the national chairman, because of what we will be bringing on board. Wike has a lot to bring on board. He has capacity.” The source also alleged the PDP national chairman had already signed a resignation letter. It said, “What is Ayu bringing to help Atiku? He should resign if he has honour. After all, he signed the resignation letter that he will resign if the presidential candidate comes from the north. The letter is with David Mark. David Mark should speak out.” The source explained that the purpose Wike was inviting APC chieftains to inaugurate some of the projects he executed was to show the world that he had capacity and had a lot to contribute to the party. It added, “Defecting to another political party is not on board.” The source, who played an important role in the sack of Secondus, added, “Wike lost the presidential ticket and the running mate position. He is asking for the office of national chairman. If Atiku is sincere, he should allow Ayu to go. He can appoint him as his chief of staff, if he wants to earn the trust of Wike and his supporters. We have a lot to contribute.” | Iyorchia Ayu, Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, PDP Crisis, David mark, Calls for Ayu to Resign | Page 1 & 6 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 15th August 2022 | APC Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Shun Sentiments, Vote Quality Leaders – Idowu-Fearon | The Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has urged Nigerians to shun sentiments and vote for quality leaders in the 2023 general elections. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket has received heavy bashing from individuals and groups, especially the Christian community. Speaking in a virtual interview with journalists in Kaduna, Idowu-Fearon said Nigeria did not need a Christian or a Muslim president, but a leader who had the fear of God who would reflect that virtue in governance. He said, “I have received several calls and text messages asking for my comments, but I refrained from passing comments because we are a very sick nation. We are informed people but we are very ignorant. Speaking in a virtual interview with journalists in Kaduna, Idowu-Fearon said Nigeria did not need a Christian or a Muslim president, but a leader who had the fear of God who would reflect that virtue in governance. He said, “I have received several calls and text messages asking for my comments, but I refrained from passing comments because we are a very sick nation. We are informed people but we are very ignorant. “Nigeria does not need a Christian president or a Christian vice president, nor does it need a Muslim president or vice president. What Nigeria needs is a president who has the fear of God, who will take the values of that religion to governance. Let us move away from sentiments. What is important is leadership quality. “My advice is this; the Christian leaders who are trying to convince Christians, what is their track record; we need to start thinking, those who have suddenly come up to say they are Christians and are asking Christians not to vote for Muslim-Muslim ticket, what is their track record? Since they have been out of government, what have they done for their communities back home; what have they done within the party they are affiliated with? Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, leadership demands integrity; whatever you say, people should believe you. Leadership calls for honesty, humility, compassion and sensibility.” He, therefore, urged Nigerians to move away from religious and tribal sentiments, adding that, “If I had the opportunity of meeting Tinubu, Atiku and Obi, I will ask them serious questions because I do not care whether they are Muslim or Christian.” | Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Muslim-muslim ticket, Shun Sentiments | Page 50 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 15th August 2022 | SERAP Threatens To Sue INEC For Ending Voter Registration | Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Nigerians who have carried out their voter registration online to complete the process. INEC recently disclosed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at physical centres. SERAP, in an August 13 letter signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said closing the gates on eligible Nigerians and denying them the time and opportunity to complete their registration could not preserve trust in the electoral process. “Denying a significant number of eligible voters the time and opportunity to complete the registration for their PVCs would impair the right to vote of those affected, deny them a voice in the 2023 elections, and lead to disparate and unfair treatment of these voters. “The failure of the applicants to complete their registration may be due to factors entirely outside of their control, especially given the well-documented challenges faced by many Nigerians at registration centres across the country,” the letter read in part.The organisation threatened to sue the commission if the recommended measures were not taken within seven days. | SERAP, INEC, Sue INEC, Calls to Extend CVR | Page 54 | |
| Punch Online | 15th August 2022 | Ekiti PDP adopts new leadership style, Fayose kicks | Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State under the aegis Ekiti PDP Stakeholders have expressed concerns over the party’s dismal performance in the June 18 governorship election, and canvassed a new leadership style to move it forward. Stakeholders at the meeting co-convened by a former deputy governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, and former PDP National Treasurer, Adewale Aribisala, called on party members ‘to go back to their units and wards and begin serious mobilisation for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Project.’ According to a communiqué made available on Sunday by the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju, the stakeholders including former deputy governors, former party chairmen, former national working committee members, former local government chairmen and former national and state lawmakers at the meeting on Thursday said, “There is urgent need to rẹ-strengthen the party in order to win subsequent elections in the state. “The current style of one-man-show leadership of Mr Ayo Fayose is ineffective, totally primitive, outdated, bizarre and utterly rejected. “There is an urgent need for the party to fashion out a new leadership style that will engender unity among PDP members, and ensure victory for the party in subsequent elections. Henceforth the party in the state adopts a collegiate leadership style for the collective rescue mission of the party losses and liabilities.” However, Fayose’s aide, Lere Olayinka, said, “It is their right to say what they said; it is their right to say they want collegiate or universal leadership. It is normal to pursue interests within a political party; it is also the right of others to say we want it this way. At the end of the day, we will sit down and harmonise positions and we move forward.” Olayinka, who, derided the group, said, “If you belong to a group that you say this is a group of armed robbers, and if you come out to say you are no longer part of that group, whatever benefit you made when you were in the group should be surrendered as restitution before you can be taken to be serious.” | Ekiti PDP Stakeholders, Ekiti State, #EkitiDecides2022, Ayo Fayose, Leadership Style | https://bit.ly/3zYT9hb | |
| Punch Online | 15th August 2022 | What INEC must learn from Kenya elections – Ex-minister | As Kenya is moving closer on Monday to knowing the outcome of its closely-fought presidential election after days of anxious waiting, a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has highlighted what he described as “urgent lessons” that the Independent National Electoral Commission must learn from the Kenya polls. The PUNCH reports, Monday morning, that Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto was leading with slightly more than 51 per cent of the votes against his close rival Raila Odinga – with 48 per cent in the presidential race, in the collation of results for the elections held August 9, 2022. Taking to his Facebook page Monday morning, Chidoka, in a post titled, ‘Kenya Presidential Election: Urgent Lessons for INEC,’ noted that the delay in Kenya’s collation of election results which was taking up to six days would not augur well for Nigeria. He said, “As of 6 am Nigerian time the Kenya Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission had tallied results from 253 out of 291 constituencies, Ruto is leading with 51.18% of the votes cast while Raila Odinga is at 48.14%. The winner needs 50% plus one vote to coast home. With 38 constituencies to go, the IEBC will likely announce the final result by midday today.” Chidoka, who is also a former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said the upload of results from polling units in Nigeria was an excellent innovation but the country needs to go further and upload the following: Form EC 8B – the ward collation results from the Residential Areas and Form EC 8C – the Local Government collation results. “Upload the collated results for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate election after collation and declaration. “Upload the form EC 8D – state collation results as signed by party agents before proceeding to Abuja,” he added. “The delay in Kenya where all the poll stations results were online since August 11, and collation has taken about six days will not augur well for Nigeria,” he said. He noted that INEC was usually faster than the IEBC but “we are now confronted with a new system where parties can tabulate results from INEC uploads. “To improve transparency, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System backend should automatically collate the Polling Unit results for the ward level and print copies for validation and signing by ward agents of the political parties.” Chidoka noted that this would “ensure that the result at the backend of the BVAS is consistent with the result on the BVAS tablets.” “This is key for post-election issues,” he revealed. | Lessons from Kenyan Election, Osita Chidoka, INEC, KIEBC | https://bit.ly/3w5Esrx | |
| Daily Trust Online | 12th August 2022 | PDP Reps Aspirants Pledge 20m Votes For Atiku | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives Aspirants’ Forum has pledged to deliver 20 million votes for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the 2023 elections. The forum is comprised of over 1,000 House of Representatives aspirants, who participated in the party’s primaries across the country. A statement by the forum’s National Chairman, Mohammed Danjuma, said the victory of the presidential candidate of PDP is victory for Nigerians and Nigeria. “We are also confident that such victory is the only way to salvage the country from shackles of misrule by the current administration and to safeguard our economy from the hand of APC and its cronies,” the statement said. | PDP House of Representatives Aspirants' Forum, 20 million votes for Atiku Abubakar | Page 32 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 12th August 2022 | Fresh Crisis In Lagos LP As Salvador Rejects Primary | There is uneasy calm in the Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) following the emergence of a former senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 polls. Rhodes-Vivour polled 111 votes to beat his only opponent, Hon Moshood Adegoke Salvador, who scored 102 votes in an exercise which saw a total of 216 delegates voting. Daily Trust reports that the primary, slated for Monday, was postponed over allegations of compromise to the delegates’ list raised by Salvador. Salvador had on Monday called for the cancellation of the exercise, saying he had lost confidence in the electoral committee. The Deputy National Chairman of LP, Alhaji Lamidi Apanpa, who declared the result, said with the outcome, the winner, Rhodes- Vivour, would fly the flag of the party as its governorship candidate in the 2023 elections. Reacting to his victory, Rhodes-Vivour expressed joy over the outcome, which he described as the freest and fairest exercise. But Salvador rejected the result, alleging over-voting by members of the state executive. He said, “You can remember that I paid for the form on the 5th of July, 2022, and I was given the INEC nomination form as a candidate. “They came, raised my hand and declared me candidature and all of you were there. Now we planned affirmation for Monday and they said somebody paid on Friday and asked us to bring 100 delegates each, not even going through the constitutional process of delegates’ formation. I reject it in totality. Somebody that came 72 hours ago as against the person that has been prepared before for affirmation, we have done everything. We went to INEC. Is this the way we want to change Nigeria? I just appeal to these people not to spoil Obi’s work.” | Lagos State Chapter of LP, Gbadebo Vivour, Moshood Salvador, INEC | Page 32 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 12th August 2022 | Obi: PDP, APC Borrowed Over $500bn in 20 Years | Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of recklessly borrowing and spending over $500 billion in the last 20 years. This was just as he maintained that Nigeria’s total annual export revenue was less than $30 billion. Obi also admitted that though some of his statistics might be wrong sometimes, it was not enough to discredit existing facts and figures he presents to Nigerians. Obi said this yesterday at the first summit of the Obi-Datti support groups and the Labour Party at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. He said: “We have been practicing democracy in the past 23 years. Next year, it would be 24 years. Within this period, governments at all levels in Nigeria have borrowed over N225 trillion. Let me use just N200 trillion because some were borrowed when money was in $100, $150, $190, $200. So since is about N600 now, I use an average of N400. That means, that if you divide N200 trillion with N400, it would give you approximately $500 billion. He said currently, Nigeria has only 43 million people in its work force of which over one hundred million of others are unemployed. Most of these unemployed persons he said fall within the youth demographic. “If we have taken 20 per cent of the money we borrowed in the last 20 years and shared it to 20 million entrepreneurs in $5000, it would be 100 million jobs and there won’t be unemployment in Nigeria. And we are using only 20 per cent of the money. “Five per cent of it would have been $25 billion and $25 billion would have increased our power generation, transmission and distribution from 4000 megawatt to at least 20,000 megawatt. “The list is endless. We are not campaigning yet; we will tell the story when we start campaigning. I am just telling how bad things are. “When I said we are not a producing nation, they argued. They even said the figures were wrong,” said Obi who cited how his statement about the country’s exports revenue was misquoted. “Late last month, I made a statement, which you see them using every day; when I said that Nigeria’s total export is less than $30 billion, you see where they were writing that it is wrong. ""It is not wrong,” he insisted, adding, “Go to the National Bureau of Statistics, last year, total export of Nigeria was N18.9 trillion. As at the date I made that statement, dollar was selling for about N650 to a dollar. Go and divide N650 to a dollar with N18.9 trillion, it will give you about $29 billion. Go and verify it. “I am not saying I am right or wrong here. Wherever I am wrong statistically, I have apologised. But I am saying, in all my statement, in everything I have said, if you put all of them together, I would have gotten 90 per cent of that statistics right. If you score 90 per cent, why are they looking for 10 per cent? asked Obi. | Peter Obi, Reckless Borrowing and Spending, $500 billion | Page 44 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 12th August 2022 | We Will Adopt Doctrine of Necessity in Resolving Leadership Crisis, Says PDP | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it would adopt doctrine of necessity in resolving issues surrounding the call by some members of the party for its National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu to step down. According to the party, the crisis would be resolved in such a way that there would be no winner or loser. In an exclusive interview with THISDAY yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, pointed out that there was a time the late President Umaru Yar’adua and Dr. Ahmadu Ali were at the helms of affairs of the party during elections and it was managed to the benefits of the part. According to the National Publicity Secretary, “following the circumstances of the exist of Audu Ogbeh, he was replaced with Dr. Ahmadu Ali who is from the north central zone and within the same time, late Umaru Yar’adua from northwest emerged as the presidential candidate and later president. Yet, Ahmadu Ali was still the National Chairman. Both of them are from the northwest and north central. The party handled it, but thereafter, the former National Secretary, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor became the National Chairman after the election. This shows how organic, the PDP is, even to the welfare of the party.” Ologunagba stressed that PDP was like Nigeria, explaining that just like doctrine of necessity was introduced when late President Yar adua had health challenge and at a time when everyone thought the country would collapse due to power struggle. He said, ” I assure you that the same principles of doctrine of necessity will apply.” He explained that with the elections around the corner, it would be too delicate to effect leadership change. The spokesman of the PDP stressed: “We will adopt the doctrine of necessity where there would be no winners and no losers, but all will be at the benefit of the party at the moment end of the day “We will manage this situation to the extent that the constitution works for the party and the people also working for the party. “We will err on the part of caution because the PDP is organic and a family. There are ongoing consultations and reconciliation and very soon than expected we will come out with the members and leadership of the campaign committee,” the PDP spokesman said. | Doctrine of Necessity, PDP, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba | Page 42 | |
| Tribune Online | 12th August 2022 | Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Catholics Knock Lalong Over Comment On Pope, Demand Apology | Some members of the Roman Catholic Church, on Thursday, condemned Governor Simon Lalong’s reference to the Pope in the defence of his acceptance to serve as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 election. Recall that despite the stand of the Christian Association of Nigeria on the same-faith presidential ticket, the Plateau governor had backed the idea of the Muslim-Muslim ticket after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja. He stated that, as a Catholic with the highest Papal award of Knight of Saint Gregory, the Pope has not told him what he is doing is wrong. Upset by Lalong’s comment, the Catholic faithful, berated him for dragging the Holy Father into the country’s murky politics and the unsavoury rhetorics of the 2023 election. They also called for his immediate suspension from the Church for alleged blasphemy. Addressing journalists in Abuja, under the aegis of Concerned Catholics in Nigeria, the religious body insisted that Governor Lalong must tender an unreserved apology for the global embarrassment his ‘unguarded’ remarks caused the Pope and the entire Church. The President of the group, Dr Ben Amodu, vowed that the Catholic Community in Nigeria would ensure that the governor was made atonement for his publicly “blasphemous statement” about the Pope and the Church. Amodu said: “We are alarmed that Governor Simon Bako Lalong would elect to throw caution into the wind by dragging the revered Catholic Church into local politics in Nigeria for whatever it is worth. “The reference to the Pope in his statement for accepting to serve as the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council was made in poor taste and a puerile attempt to drag the Catholic Church into a matter that has no bearing with the Pope. “It remains a shame that politicians would stop at nothing to win elections, even to the detriment of selling their birthrights for a plate of porridge, as in the case of Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who, after accepting to serve as the DG of the Presidential Campaign Council, elected to justify his actions using the name of the Pope. We find it hard to believe that Governor Lalong would find it morally convenient to drag the Pope and the entire catholic community into the APC politics of the Muslim-Muslim Ticket". | Concerned Catholics in Nigeria, Governor Simon Lalong, Muslim-muslim ticket, Pope | https://bit.ly/3PiDcYX | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 12th August 2022 | Igbo group rallies support for Tinubu in Kano, Damaturu | Omaluegwuoku Progressives Initiative (OPI) has rallied Ndigbo in Kano State and neighbouring Yobe to cast their votes for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. The group, led by Mrs. Ginika Tor, during a town hall meeting, yesterday, urged Ndigbo resident in the two states to shun ethnic and religious sentiments in choosing whom to vote for as President in 2023. Tor stated that ‘Igbo Kwenu 4 Asiwaju’ was borne out of her passion to bring South Easterners on board the Asiwaju presidential project and galvanise their interest in massively voting the Asiwaju/Shettima ticket and ensure that the Igbo do not make the mistake of voting wrongly this time around. The Federal Character Commissioner remarked that if Ndigbo, who are members of APC, are not personally convinced about the ticket up to this point in time, they would not be able to vigorously campaign for the APC presidential candidate. The Igbo Kwenu 4 Asiwaju train had covered Enugu (South East), Lagos (South West) and Calabar (South South) before heading North. | OPI, Omaluegwuoku Progressives Initiative, Ndigbo in Kano and Yobe States, Ginika Tor | Page 29 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 12th August 2022 | Millions of oppressed, dehumanised Nigerians are LP’s structure, says Obi | The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, has mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party ((PDP), describing their political structure as ‘stomach infrastructure’, which has brought more hardship to millions of Nigerians in the last two decades. He spoke during an address at the Labour Party Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) Summit, held at International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. He said: “The current structures of both the PDP and the APC are the stomach infrastructure that have brought us nothing but misery. Their understanding of structure is sharing of Nigeria’s patrimony to vested interests and influence peddlers. That is against what Peter Obi represents; that is against what Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed represents; and it is indeed, against the vision of the Labour Party.” He urged supporters to remind the opposition that Nigeria’s democracy must survive because of the nation’s structure. That is: the critical mass dehumanised and disenfranchised by ruling oligarchs. He said the structure is the 100 million poor Nigerians, who will come out on election day to fight for their future. He explained: “It is the 33 per cent unemployed Nigerians, who already know who kept them unemployed. Our structure is, indeed, the parents of 18.5 million out-of-school-children in Nigeria, who will strive to ensure that such affliction does not visit them a second time. Our structure is everyone seated in this hall today. Yes, we have structure. And we are ready to move mountains to save Nigeria.” Obi noted: “Since I entered the presidential race, my mantra has been consistent and in tandem with the Labour Party’s vision, which mainly seeks to ensure economic transformation through job-led growth. Therefore, my decision to join the Labour Party was not by coincidence or happenstance; it was indeed a thought-through decision, given the ideological convergence.” | Peter Obi, LP, Labour Party Structure, Labour Party Coalition for Peter Obi Summit, CPO, Structure | Page 3 | |
| The Cable | 11th August 2022 | Peter Obi: FG should restrict borrowing to 5% of previous year’s revenue | Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says the federal government should restrict borrowings to a statutory 5 percent of the previous year’s revenue. Obi disclosed this on Thursday on his verified Twitter page, warning that Nigeria must limit borrowing for consumption. In 2020, the federal government exceeded 3 percent fiscal borrowing threshold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fiscal responsibility law provides a limit of 3 percent debt threshold for sustainability — but the president can “exceed the ceiling if there is a clear and present threat to national security or sovereignty of Nigeria”. The presidential candidate also warned that most states that received fiscal bailouts did not invest them properly. As a matter of urgency, Nigeria must stop borrowing for consumption, but only borrow to invest in regenerative development projects and other productive ventures,” he said. “It’s ironic that states that received fiscal bailouts did not repay the loans and are still borrowing beyond their revenue earnings. Also, it has become imperative to restrict federal borrowings to the statutory 5 percent of the previous year’s revenue.” In 2021, Obi advised the federal government to invest the funds being borrowed in profitable ventures to enhance the nation’s socioeconomic development. According to him, debt is not bad when rightly applied and used for investment that will improve the economy, but that borrowing for consumption is bad. Obi said more people would be thrown into poverty if the government fails to invest in those things that would improve the economy. TheCable had reported that the cost of servicing debt surpassed the federal government’s retained revenue by N310 billion in the first four months of 2022. According to the report, the federal government’s total revenue for the period was N1.63 trillion, while debt service gulped N1.94 trillion. | Peter Obi, LP Presidential Candidate, Restriction on Borrowing, Limit Borrowing for Consumption, Debt | https://bit.ly/3Ae2Jyh | |
| Punch Online | 11th August 2022 | 2023: Wrong choice will consume Nigeria, says Obasanjo | Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday urged Nigerians to make the right choice during the 2023 general elections. He warned that making the wrong choice in the election may consume the nation. Obasanjo spoke as the special guest of honour at the Wilson Badejo Foundation’s 15th annual lecture with the theme, ‘Overcoming the twin challenge of poverty and insecurity in Nigeria’ held in Lagos. The former President expressed the hope that if the right choice was made in 2023, the nation may witness progress.“It is either we make the right choice in 2023 because if we make the right choice, we would get there. However, if we do not make the right choice in 2023, things would consume us and we pray against that one. We must make the right choice in 2023,” Obasanjo said. He had earlier said that Nigeria has not taken its rightful position because of poverty and insecurity. He said, “Nigeria is not where it is supposed to be today. If anyone says it is ok where we are at the moment, then the person’s head needs to be examined. | Olusegun Obasanjo, 2023 General Election, Making the right choice | https://bit.ly/3dnF5pQ | |
| Tribune Online | 11th August 2022 | 2023: CAN, NSCIA Sign Peace Pact, Demand Free, Democratic Election | The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has signed a peace pact with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to de-escalate religious tensions and ensure a peaceful and secure atmosphere in the nation ahead of the 2023 elections. The peace accord was signed at the International Religious Freedom Summit 2022 organised by the Global Peace Foundation and 70 international human rights and religious freedom organisations in Washington D.C. The Sultan of Sokoto was represented by Prof. Yusuf Usman, while CAN was represented by its immediate past President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle. In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Ayokunle said the leadership of the umbrella Muslim and Christian organisations pledged to continue to work together, avoid violence, embrace dialogue and remain committed to building resilient communities that are free from fear. He added that the two religious bodies also promised to embrace a vision of common humanity and speak publicly of hope for Nigeria’s peaceful and bright future. | NSCIA, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Peace Pact ahead of the 2023 General Election | https://bit.ly/3bQclWn | |
| The Nation Online | 11th August 2022 | PDP crisis: Why Ayu must quit now, by ex-party chair | Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Abubakar Baraje yesterday justified the call for Dr. Iyorcha Ayu’s resignation as national chairman. Baraje said the agitation for Ayu’s resignation was not “out of place.” He said: “We have a tradition of zoning our party offices. It is not a new thing to us that if the presidential candidate comes from the North, the chairman comes from the South.” Baraje, who cited a similar scenario in 2008, said the then national chairman, Ahmadu Ali, had to go after the elections had been conducted and won. Ayu has come under fire recently as the call for his resignation intensified. Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has been vocal on the call. Also, Southwest PDP leaders, including former Deputy National Chairman Chief Bode George, have joined the push for Ayu’s resignation to foster fairness and equity in the party. George, a former military governor of Ondo State told reporters in Lagos that the founding fathers of PDP never envisaged a time when the national chairman and presidential candidate will come from one bloc zone. George said Ayu should honour his promise to resign if the presidential candidate is picked from the North. However, the opposition party has restated confidence in the national chairman. Its Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said in Abuja there was no need for Ayu to resign. | Abubakar Baraje, Iyorcha Ayu, Calls for Resignation, PDP, PDP Crisis | https://bit.ly/3bHIvDK | |
| Daily Trust Online | 11th August 2022 | Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Pope Not Against My Tinubu’s Campaign DG Offer – Lalong | The Director-General (DG) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, has said that the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, was not opposed to him serving as Director General of APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Lalong said he remains a staunch Catholic despite his decision to accept to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket campaign of the APC. The governor had been attacked by many groups opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Some even “disowned” him on the grounds that he ought to have joined the league of those calling for a Muslim-Christian ticket in APC. But Lalong said on Wednesday that he was unperturbed. He stated this while fielding questions from State House reporters after a closed-door with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Tinubu had since picked a former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Lalong said that as a born, baptised and confirmed Catholic, who has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him that it was wrong for him to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential campaign team. He said; “As a Catholic, everything we do, we send the advice to the Pope. The Pope has not told me that what I am doing is bad to accept the director general (offer). As a Catholic, we take that direction."" Lalong said the Plateau State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos to welcome him after his appointment as the APC presidential campaign DG. He, therefore, said that he was not sure where those who claimed to be Christians but opposed his appointment as against their faith were coming from. Recall that three Christian groups in Plateau State had disowned Lalong for accepting his nomination as APC campaign DG. | DG of APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Governor Simon Lalong | https://bit.ly/3QkauYU | |
| Daily Post Online | 11th August 2022 | 2023: APC has ruined Nigeria, we’re treating cancer by wrapping bandages on it – Ex-minister, Abdullahi | Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, has insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruined Nigeria. Abdullahi said Nigerians are treating cancer by wrapping bandages on it under the APC government, adding that the 2023 general elections offer Nigerians another historic opportunity to make the country work again. He said this while featuring at the 33rd edition of the ‘Media Parliament’ of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday. According to Abdullahi, “The APC government has brought this nation to its knees. All the things we thought could not happen had happened in the last seven years. There’s no way we can exonerate APC from the problems of this country. “APC has ruined this country. 2023 presents a historic opportunity to make Nigeria work again. Every Nigerian lives in fear today because of the problems of insecurity and poverty. The poorest of the poor are 90 million in Nigeria today. We carry on as if all is well. We’re treating cancer with wrapping bandages on it.” | Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC | https://bit.ly/3PiUSUl | |
| Daily Post Online | 11th August 2022 | 2023: Middle Belt group urges Shettima to step aside as APC presidential running mate | The Middle-Belt Congress (MBC), has opined that in order to save the All Progressive Congress (APC) from what it called “impending electoral misfortune” in 2023 general elections, Senator Kashim Shettima should resign as the running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Mr. Bilal Abdullahi, the Middle-Belt Congress leader, while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, explained that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC, came with its attendant political baggage. He declared that if the APC, as a party, is desirous of making any meaningful impact in the 2023 presidential elections, the party should retrace its steps in the composition of its presidential ticket. The group further explained that it believed that the self-confession of love towards the Christian community by Senator Kashim Shettima might be a ruse, adding that his actions of late do not indicate that of a religious tolerant individual. The MBC stated that it was morally unjustifiable for Senator Kashim Shettima to hold onto the vice presidential slot of the APC, saying that such action had heated the polity in ways too numerous to mention in the country. | Middle Belt Congress, MBC, APC, Muslim-Muslim Presidential Ticket, Kashim Shettima, Running Mate | https://bit.ly/3vYV7x8 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 10th August 2022 | Atiku, Wike’s Dispute Stalls Composition Of PDP Campaign Council | The inability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve the ongoing crisis between its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has stalled the appointment of a director general and other campaign council members to lead the PDP presidential campaign. The development has left many party faithful and stakeholders agitated as to the implication on the campaign and subsequent outcome of the elections as efforts to resolve the crisis were yet to see the light of day. Last week, the presidential candidate announced Senator Dino Melaye and Barrister Daniel Bwala as spokespersons of the campaign even though the chairman, the director general and other structures were yet to be announced. The piecemeal announcement was seen as an effort to show Nigerians, especially those agitated that something was being done on that front. Meanwhile, Daily Trust reliably gathered that the thinking of the stakeholders is for the DG of the campaign to be from the South, especially the South West following agitations that many of the key positions in the party are already in the firm grip of the North. One of the names being mentioned is Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde. But Makinde cannot be appointed as DG to Atiku’s campaign without the buy in of Wike since the Rivers and Oyo State governors are in the same camp in the party, a development that has stalled the process. Another name being mentioned is Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, but apart from Tambuwal being from the North, sources said he was among those that suggested the nomination of Wike as a vice presidential candidate to assuage his defeat at the primary and was not happy that he was overlooked for the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa. Even though Atiku and Wike met in Abuja and agreed to put up a committee to iron out their differences, the list of conditions is said to be a stumbling block on the path to peace. Among the conditions, Daily Trust understands, were the resignation of the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu for a southern member to take over, the itemisation of what appointments his camp will get if the PDP wins the presidency and a written agreement to show that the parties will stick to the terms of the agreement if he (Atiku) is successful in 2023. A source close to Wike told Daily Trust that their camp was not after any position in the campaign council as he reiterated their non-aligned posture for the campaign. | PDP Campaign Council. Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, PDP Crisis, Aminu Tambuwal, PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu | Page 26 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 10th August 2022 | Kenyan Presidential Poll: Ballot Counting Begins As Voting Ends | Voting has officially closed in Kenya’s general elections as outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to hand over power to a new leader. The polls were officially opened from 6am to end 5pm, but extended in places where voting started late due to logistical delays and identification kit failure. The country’s population is 53 million, with more than 22 million registered voters. The country’s electoral body (IEBC) is yet to announce the total turnout, but before polls closed, just over 56 percent of the 22 million registered voters had cast their votes, according to Aljazeera. The counting of ballots started after the election closed with the collation of the presidential votes a priority. Later, it would be sent to the constituency-wide tallying centre which tracks the results from all reporting polling stations, and the winner will be announce within one week. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, the election will go into a run-off for the first time in Kenyan history. A report by the BBC said that the veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga, was mobbed by supporters when he went to vote in Kibra, one of his strongholds in the capital, Nairobi. He did not speak to the press, but his wife, Ida Odinga, said he was “upbeat about the election”. The election is a race between four candidates, but the forerunners are the veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga 77 and the incumbent Deputy President William Ruto 55. | Kenya, Kenya Presidential Election, Kenya General Election | Page 24 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 10th August 2022 | INEC: Lawan, Akpabio Not Recognised as Senatorial Candidates | For the umpteenth time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday denied accepting and publishing the names of the former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as senatorial candidates. In a statement by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman Voter Education, Festus Okoye, the electoral body said, “For the records, the commission has not recognised any of the two personalities as a senatorial candidate. For the records, the commission has not recognised any of the two personalities as a Senatorial candidate.” Okoye used the opportunity to call for responsible reporting, decrying the “unwarranted attack on the Commission and its officials over a matter than can be easily fact-checked.” He debunked claims making the rounds online that INEC purportedly “doctored, backdated and certified documents” to favour Akpabio and Lawan. “For clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal. This is clearly indicated on the title of the form, which was received on June 17 2022 when the portal closed,” Okoye explained. “What follows is the publication of the personal particulars of nominated candidates, which was done a week later. The forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the commission.”According to him, INEC’s decision triggered legal action, which “are still ongoing. It, therefore, defies logic and common sense to go around and submit doctored documents purportedly recognising the duo as candidates when the matter is clearly sub-judice”, he added. “As part of the ongoing case in Court, a law firm requested the commission for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Form EC9 submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, which we are duty bound to oblige them under the law.” He further disclosed that the form was certified on July 15. | INEC, Godswill Akpabio, Ahmad Lawan, Festus Okoye, Form EC9 | Page 8 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 10th August 2022 | Atiku Support Group Urges Voters to Elect President That Will Address Their Challenges | A group under the aegis of The Atiku Youth Wing has urged eligible voters, especially the youths to be actively involved in the 2023 general elections by electing a president that would address their concerns. The group in support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, made the call in Abuja yesterday, at a press conference titled, “the wings of the unifier,” addressed by its National Team Leader, Kalgo Ibrahim. Ibrahim appealed to all Nigerians, “facing the heat of the current challenges, to rise to the occasion in electing credible leader for the sake of the country.” Expressing confidence in Atiku’s experience to fix Nigeria, Ibrahim said the welfare and well-being of Nigeria youths remained paramount in the PDP programme and Atiku when elected. These according to Ibrahim include proper placement of youths and women on well-deserved positions in the national leadership ranks, as clearly established in PDP manifesto being the passion of Abubakar He assured Nigerians youths that Atiku’s promise of allocating 40 per cent of political appointment to the youth and women would not be an empty promise on the paper. “We acknowledge that many are wounded and marginalised youths of Nigeria, but your tears and troubles will be wiped away by the absolute commitment and creative concerns as manifested in the youth friendly PDP manifesto. This will be done taking into consideration the now incessant and prolonged industrial action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. We want to accordingly, assure our brothers and sisters that with the victory of Atiku Abubakar at the polls come 2023 general elections, there will be a complete reversal of this perennial cases of strike. | Atiku Support Group, Atiku Youth Wing, PDP | Page 36 | |
| The Nation Online | 10th August 2022 | Five front-runners emerge in race to succeed Masari | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published a list of 13 political parties and their candidates for next year’s governorship election in Katsina State. Abdullahi Ibrahim, the INEC’s Head of Department, Elections and Political Party Monitoring (EPM), who made the above disclosure to newsmen in Katsina, said 13 names of the governorship candidates and their deputies, were pasted at the Katsina State INEC’s headquarters. He said: “The political parties include the Accord Party, the African Action Congress, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the African Democratic Party (ADP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Others include the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), the Boot Party (BP), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Also included in the list are the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The INEC boss added that six political parties are not fielding candidates for the election. They are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Action Alliance (AA), the National Rescue Party (NRM), the Young Progressive Party (YPP) and the All Peoples’ Party (APP). The battle to succeed Governor Aminu Bello Masari has heightened, following the conduct of primaries and the emergence of flag bearers. Of the 13 governorship candidates and their political parties that are on the ballot in next year’s election, only five of them can be considered serious contenders. They are Dr Umar Dikko Radda of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lado Yakubu Darmake of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Nura Khalil of the New Nigerian Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Imrana Jino of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) and Ibrahim Zakkari of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). There have been a lot of alignments and re-alignments within the polity in recent times. | INEC, List of Political Parties and Governorship Candidates in Katsina State, Katsina State, EPM, Abdullahi ibrahim, Governorship Candidates, SDP, NNPP, SDP, ZLP, ADC, APM, PDP, APC, AA, NRM, YPP, LP, PRP, BP | https://bit.ly/3BTqz3o | |
| The Nation Online | 10th August 2022 | I can sway Rivers voters, Wike boasts | The governor, whose supporters accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of showing apathy to genuine reconciliation, said his performance as a governor was enough to sway the electorate in favour of any candidate of his choice. He described some politicians, who misconstrued his earlier statement that he was in charge of the state, as “misguided elements.” The governor spoke at the inauguration of the dualised Ogbunuabali -Eastern Bypass Road in Port Harcourt. The tape cutting was performed by former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko. Wike, who described himself as a man with a heart for service, argued that performance in office was not a function of a political party but the mindset of an individual. Wike said he was not in the class of leaders who cite “economic hardship as an excuse not to render leadership and service to their people.” His words: “Because some people went to school late, they don’t understand when somebody says he am in charge of this state. I never said I am in charge of votes in this state. But I know I can talk to my people and my people will listen to me. Some people say I have only one vote, I agree. I can’t vote two times. I will only vote once. But because of the services I have rendered to the people of this state, the state will listen to me. Leadership is not about party. Leadership is about individual. Political party is only a vehicle to actualise an ambition and to tell your people that you have capacity. I have this quality for rendering services to the people. If you take me away today from PDP or YPP (Young Peoples Party) or any other party, I will still perform. So, it is not because I’m in PDP that I’m performing. It is because I have that passion for my people. It is because I have the commitment to serve my people.” | Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, PDP | https://bit.ly/3QguFqC | |
| Punch Online | 10th August 2022 | 2023: PRP seeks Bauchi gov, ex-Air Chief’s disqualification | Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; a former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, and others have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful nomination for the 2023 general elections. The plaintiffs has asked the court to stop the governor, ex-Chief of Air Staff and Senator Haliru Jika from participating in the 2023 governorship election in the state on the grounds of alleged double nominations from their respective political parties. The request forms part of the reliefs being sought in three separate suits filed by the Peoples Redemption Party, through its lawyer, Chris Udeoyibo. Copies of the court documents were obtained by journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, although the suits were yet to be assigned for hearing. In the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1302/2022; FHC/ABJ/CS/1303/2022 and FHC/ABJ/CS/1304/2022, the plaintiff claims that Mohammed; Abubakar’s running mate, Shehu Musa and Jika (New Nigeria Peoples Party’s candidate) violated the Electoral Act by allegedly engaging in double nomination. In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1302, with Mohammed, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Peoples Democratic Party as defendants, the plaintiff wants the court to void the candidacy of the former Federal Capital Territory Minister, who is the governorship candidate of the PDP and the incumbent governor of Bauchi State in the 2023 election. The PRP is contending that having participated as a candidate in the May 28, 2022 presidential primary of the PDP and later as a candidate in the PDP’s governorship primary in Bauchi State on June 4, 2022, Mohammed is in violation of Section 177(c) of the constitution as well as Sections 84(13) and 115(d) of the Electoral Act 2022. The party wants the court to, among others, restrain INEC from recognising Mohammed as a candidate of the PDP in the next general elections and to bar him from further parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the governorship election.In a supporting affidavit, the PRP governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Ahmed Farouk, stated that having participated in both primaries, during which he signed two nomination papers or result forms in respect of two different constituencies at the same time in breach of Section 177(c) of the Constitution as well as sections 84(13) and 115(d) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC should be restrained from allowing Mohammed and his party participate in the next governorship election in the state. Farouk added that no law allows a candidate, including Mohammed, to sign two nomination papers or results forms for both presidential and governorship primaries, which are two constituencies, at the same time and in the same election period in the 2023 general elections. | Bauchi State Governor, Sadique Abubakar, Court Suit, Electoral Act 2022, Double Nomination | https://bit.ly/3doeJV3 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 9th August 2022 | 22.1m Kenyans To Elect New President Today | No fewer than 22.1 million registered voters are heading to the poll to elect Kenya’s fifth president today. The electorate will equally vote for county governors, parliament representatives and other positions. All polling stations will open between 6am and 5pm and each voter will be required to have an identification card or passport to be used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials for verification. Also, 55,100 KIEMS kits distributed across the country will be used to electronically identify voter’s facial image and fingerprints as well as civil data to commence casting their votes. Four candidates are jostling to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta who exhausted his two terms as limited by the constitution.Forerunners in the election are the veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, 77 and the deputy president, William Ruto, 55. Analysts observe that the race is close and could go to a runoff for the first time in the country. Official results will be announced within a week of the vote. To win outright, a candidate needs more than 50 per cent of all votes and at least 25 per cent of the votes in more than half of Kenya’s 47 counties. However, a runoff election would be conducted within 30 days if none of the candidates wins outright. | Kenyan Elections, Kenya, IEBC | https://bit.ly/3zHXBAV | |
| Tribune Online | 9th August 2022 | Internal Crisis Forces PDP To Postpone NEC | Amid the crisis in the party propelled by the selection of its vice-presidential running mate, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its National Executive Committee (NEC) earlier scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. In a terse statement issued by its National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, on Monday, the party did not give reasons for deferment of the quarterly meeting of the highest decision-making body of the main opposition party except to say it was for unforeseen circumstances. The statement read: “This is to inform all members of the PDP National Caucus and National Executive Committee that the meetings of the two bodies earlier scheduled for Wednesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 11, 2022, respectively, have been postponed. The postponement is due to unforeseen circumstances. A new date will be announced in due course. All inconveniences are deeply regretted.” However, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that the postponement is to give the party enough time to attempt to resolve the crisis arising from the vice-presidential candidate nomination, which has essentially split it into North and South caucuses. Findings show that there are fears in the party that if it goes ahead with the meeting without first assuaging the feelings of some disgruntled members, it may suffer a boycott. Members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had boycotted the meeting of the board last week because the party was yet to address his grievances. The postponed NEC meeting was expected to review the state of the party as it bids to put behind the rift its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Wike that has also prevented it from constituting it 2023 presidential campaign committee. The meeting would have also enabled it to examine the state of the nation with a view of apprising Nigerians of the damage it believes the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has done to the country in the last seven years. | PDP NEC Meeting | https://bit.ly/3JGba8A | |
| Nation Online | 9th August 2022 | Yoruba elders to Tinubu: your victory in 2023 certain | Yoruba elders yesterday threw their weight behind the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They said the former Lagos State governor is eminently qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s election, assuring that he will make a difference as a leader. To the elders, Tinubu has the pedigree and antecedent, having served credibly as a senator in the Third Republic and two-term governor of the Centre of Excellence. The elders, under the aegis of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said Tinubu’s efforts at stabilising democracy in Nigeria were enough to earn him victory in 2023. The council stated this in a communiqué after its quarterly meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The communiqué was signed by its Chairman, Mr Francis Akinikawe; Secretary, Chief Clement Fadipe; National Treasurer, Aremu Akindele and National Welfare Officer, Mrs Funmi Jabaru. To the elders, Tinubu has the pedigree and antecedent, having served credibly as a senator in the Third Republic and two-term governor of the Centre of Excellence. The elders, under the aegis of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said Tinubu’s efforts at stabilising democracy in Nigeria were enough to earn him victory in 2023. | Yoruba Council of Elders, Bola Tinubu, YCE | https://bit.ly/3zGuoq0 | |
| Punch Online | 9th August 2022 | Peace talks suffer, Wike descends on Atiku’s men | There were indications on Monday that the reconciliation talks between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, had suffered a major setback as Wike again threatened to disappoint those underestimating his state. Speaking at the inauguration of the Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterlines junction) Flyover, the Rivers governor explained that the dynamics of contemporary politics had made it unwise to just gift votes away without the assurance of derivable benefit for the people. The governor, in a veiled reference to Atiku and the PDP national leadership, said nobody could take Rivers’ votes for granted. A former lawmaker, Senator Lee Maeba, berated the governor for portraying himself as a superhuman being. Maeba, in an interview with The PUNCH, said his problem with Wike was because of his closeness to Atiku. Last week, the governor sacked the Governing Council of the Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola in Port Harcourt led by Maeba. Things have not been rosy between Wike and Atiku following the former Vice-President’s decision to nominate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate. Wike and his associates were reported to have demanded the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for him to work for Atiku. However, some leaders in the party dismissed Wike’s demand. On Monday, Wike stated, “If you say Rivers State does not matter, Rivers State will tell you that you don’t also matter at the appropriate time. If you don’t like us, we will not like you. If you like us, we will like you. Nobody will use our votes for nothing. Our votes will matter and Rivers State must benefit from anybody that we are going to support. “Politics now is no longer just voting for somebody; it is about what you will do for the people of Rivers State,” Wike stated. He pointed to how difficult it would be for any conspirators to upset the voting pattern of Rivers State. Wike reiterated that those who looted the treasury of the state would not be supported to become governor of Rivers State. | Nyesom Wike, Rivers State, Atiku Abubakar, PDP Crisis | https://bit.ly/3bNhxdA | |
| Daily Post Online | 9th August 2022 | 2023: Tinubu is Nigeria’s only solution – Oluwo | The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has described Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Presidential Congress (APC) as the solution to Nigeria’s challenges. He also described Tinubu as a unifier whose conducts have been instrumental to the sustenance of one Nigeria. In a statement signed by Alli Ibraheem, his Chief Press Secretary, Oba Akanbi noted that as a detribalised Nigerian, Tinubu turned Lagos State into a template for other States to copy from. According to him, “Tinubu is a detribalized Nigerian. His milestones in turning Lagos State to a cynosure of all eyes is a credit to his image. Entrust Nigeria in his hand and go to sleep. You will see wonder when you wake up.” While asking those that condemn the APC presidential candidate to assess his mental assets, Oluwo added that governance had nothing to do with age. Most of those castigating Tinubu have personal issues. Many are saying he is arrogant because he tells the truth. People may think he is arrogant because he tells the truth. Anybody who tells the truth is adjudged to be arrogant. People say I’m arrogant too. It is because I love and cherish the truth. Give him Nigeria to rule and go and sleep. He will do wonder before you wake up,” he said. | Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, | https://bit.ly/3QypLW2 | |
| This Day Live | 9th August 2022 | Osun PDP Reassures Members of Inclusive Govt | Osun State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reassured its teeming supporters that no segment of the party would be excluded from participation in the government to be formed by Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the state’s governor-elect. In a statement made available to THISDAY and signed by the State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, the party reiterated the assurance of the party and the governor-elect to ensure that party men and women who toiled day and night to secure victory for the party are duly rewarded. According to the party chief, neither the governor-elect nor the party leadership has shared positions and offices ahead of the change of government, repeating his earlier address at the party’s recent stakeholders’ meeting that the incoming administration will integrate all interests and caucuses within the party. Adekunle posited that the recently constituted committee has been further harmonised just as the party election review committee has commenced operations to further harvest the views and aspirations of the party for better performance in future elections. He said: “I want to assure our teeming party members that no appointment has been made. No decision has been taken to exclude anybody or caucus. The governor-elect is committed to rewarding all committed party members. The party is also on ground to ensure that the right thing is done before and during the ascendance of the new administration. He, therefore, urged party members to continue aggressive party membership drive across the local governments and further intensify their wards and units ward meetings, adding that “we have to continue to work to ensure that all our candidates for various positions win at the forthcoming general elections. He specifically emphasised the need to maintain party discipline at all time while praying for the success of the incoming administration. | Osun State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, Inclusive Governance | https://bit.ly/3SEnquc | |
| Leadership Online | 9th August 2022 | 2023: Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, Others To Speak On Issues Confronting Nigeria | The presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and others, have been invited to speak at the 2022 International Youth Day Celebrations of the Leaders of Today Global Youth Forum. The event, which will also witness a Voter Awareness Walk, will take place on August 12, 2022 at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Center in Kado Distric of Abuja. Founder and national president of the group, Amb. Arthur Ugochukwu, in a statement sent to LEADERSHIP said the summit will afford participants a rare opportunity to interact with the presidential candidates ahead of Nigeria’s general elections next year. He added that the objective of the conference will be to explore critical issues in the agitation for more inclusive youth policies vis-a-vis youth inclusiveness in both decision and policy making and also create the structure and system for youths to participate and thrive regardless of the sector they choose to play in politics, in governance, in technology and creativity. Over 100,000 youths are also expected to hook up and participate in the Conference for more inclusiveness virtually. | 2022 International Youth Day Celebrations of the Leaders of Today Global Youth Forum, 2023 Presidential Candidates | https://bit.ly/3A8RXcu | |
| The Guardian Online | 8th August 2022 | Okowa assures no zone will be cheated in PDP administration | Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said he is on the party’s presidential ticket because “it’s God’s will.” He said the PDP rescue mission for Nigeria is a divine project and assured that no geo-political zone in the country would be cheated by PDP-run Federal Government. Okowa gave the assurance while addressing PDP stakeholders in Anambra at the Constituency Office of Senator Uche Ekwunife in Awka. He said the presidential election in February 2023, would be won by the PDP “because of things that I know, see and a whole lot of things going on. “Looking at what I am seeing this afternoon, I am worried because both All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP) are in trouble. I must thank men and women here for standing strong for the PDP. The party in Anambra will come out alive and will remain strong. I can assure you that actions are being taken to ensure that we do the right thing in Anambra. Nobody will right-off Anambra when you have people like these at the party. I know there is a presidential candidate from Anambra, but I know Anambra and Ndigbo will play a major role in the next political dispensation as no zone will be left out and no zone will be cheated because we have equal opportunities for all. By God’s grace we will win that election by a landslide because if God had not endorsed it, He would not have allowed me to be on the ticket,” he said. | Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP Vice Presidential Candidate | https://bit.ly/3dgCCxG | |
| The Nation Online | 8th August 2022 | Wike’s camp slams Atiku over divide-and-rule in PDP | The gulf between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike deepened at the weekend. The governor’s camp alleged that the former vice president was playing “a divide and rule” in the opposition party. The governor’s supporters alleged that Atiku has started by-passing Wike and reaching out to other prominent Rivers PDP chieftains in a bid to isolate the governor ahead of next year’s polls. To check the contacts being established by the presidential candidate, the governor has tightened his grip on the Rivers chapter. lso, Wike has not extended invitation to PDP national leaders for the commissioning of projects across the state this week, despite inviting All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders for the ceremonies. Yesterday, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi paid a visit to Wike in Port Harcourt for a partisan discussion. The discussion focused on 2023 and the need for political leaders in the South to unite despite their party affiliations and ensure power shift to the South, it was learnt. Party sources said the visits to Wike by APC governors have unsettled the PDP national leadership. Efforts to get Atiku’s reaction were futile. A text message to his media aide, Paul Ibe, was not replied. However, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, said efforts were being made to resolve the Atiku/Wike rift. There were indications that the bad blood created by the PDP national leadership and Atiku during the process that led to the emergence of Atiku’s running mate, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, was far from over. Sources said Atiku’s utterances and body language that he could win the next election without Wike and Rivers are infuriating to the governor’s camp. According to sources, there were signs that Atiku was making efforts to divide the Rivers PDP by bypassing Wike to establish contacts with other party leaders in the state. It was alleged that the flagbearer has been secretly meeting some Rivers PDP leaders, including former Senator Lee Meeba, former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Austin Opara and former Governor Celestine Omehia. | PDP Crisis, Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Rivers PDP Leaders | https://bit.ly/3vOPmC5 | |
| Daily Post Online | 8th August 2022 | Election rigging claim: Invite Amosun for questioning- Group urges police | A group, Centre for Good Governance (CGG), has asked the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to invite the senator representing Ogun Central in the National Assembly, Ibikunle Amosun, for questioning over his claim that the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State that brought in Governor Dapo Abiodun as the fifth democratically elected governor of the State was allegedly rigged in his (Abiodun’s) favour and that the riggers had apologised to him (Amosun). Amosun, the immediate past governor of Ogun State, had made the allegations while receiving an award in Abeokuta, the State capital, last Friday. In a statement issued in Abuja, and signed by its organising Secretary, Comrade Akeem Olanrewaju, CGG said that the declarations made by the ex-governor and serving senator were weighty and could not be swept under the carpet, urging the police to invite him to prove the veracity or otherwise of his claims. The statement said that Amosun made his explosive claims knowing full well as a federal lawmaker that election rigging is a felony, and that the quest for the validation of the election in question went as far as the Supreme Court, which declared that the incumbent governor won fair and square. It added that the apex court’s position aligned with those of local and international observers that monitored the election, all of whom said that it conformed to laid-down rules and reflected the choice of voters. It, therefore, charged the Ogun Central senator to tell Nigerians the facts in his possession which INEC, the apex court and local and international observers did not have. | Centre for Good Governance, CGG, Ibikunle Amosun, 2019 Ogun State Governorship Election, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Alleged Riggin. | https://bit.ly/3devMZf | |
| Daily Post Online | 8th August 2022 | Obidients are noise makers, less than 0.25 percent’ – Senator Nnamani fires back | Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, representing Enugu East Senatorial District has described supporters of Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi as noise makers who do not tolerate others. The former Enugu State governor claimed that Obi’s supporters, who are known as Obidients, are less than 0.25 percent of the entire 200 million Nigerians. DAILY POST reports that Senator Nnamani, who is seeking a return to the National Assembly, had earlier vowed that Labour Party would not be allowed to win any political office in Enugu State, saying “bye bye for Obidient”. His stand received lots of backlash, with many of his followers on both Facebook and Tweeter attacking him. In a fresh post on his verified Facebook page, the lawmaker stated that his followers belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and that they cannot labour for another party to inherit. According to him, if the ‘Obidient Movement’ is for only Peter Obi, it should not have spread to other positions, including governorship and Assembly seats. He wrote, “There is no Obidient PARTY! The name is LABOUR Party. A political party with candidates in all offices, including governorship. Our party and platform is different and that is PDP. FACT If we blur the distinction and foolishly vote Obidient that is Labour Party for President? For the minority ELITES it is easy to reverse 2 weeks later! For the majority over 98percent that is major “confuse “as they say on the Streets” Confuse Yamaru” as Umu Asadu will put it! Remember these advocates are Noisy, Loud, Intolerant, Proselytizers, Condescending but less than 0.25percent of our 200 million population. That is a generous guess of those propagandists controlling the NARRATIVE. Only a narrative. If Obidient is Peter Obi only why field candidates in other offices? Why do we establish foundation and beach head for Labour Party? In battle do you give invaders your beach head to Land (please forgive my war analogy, for want of more graphic example) and now seek to drive them away? ebeanoFAM answer my question. The answer is blowing in the wind”. | Chimaroke Nnamani, Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP, Obidient | https://bit.ly/3vN4eAO | |
| Daily Trust Online | 8th August 2022 | Vote Politicians With National Interest, CSO Urges Nigerians | A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Connected Development (CODE), has urged Nigerians to vote politicians with national interest and capacity to solve the socio-economic, political and multi-sectoral challenges facing the country. The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CODE, Mr Hamzat Lawal, made the call at the weekend during a media parley in Abuja. The parley was part of activities for the organisation to showcase its intervention tools deployed to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria and Kenya, as well as its security sector early warning system and citizens’ engagement strategies. He said, “There are fears that Nigeria may not get the best in the 2023 elections, but we are confident that the elections would hold as scheduled. The people should prioritise national interest in their choice. | CSO, Connected Development, CODE, Voter Awareness, Hamzat Lawal | https://bit.ly/3BOtsCA | |
| Daily Trust Online | 8th August 2022 | Atiku To Meet 1,615 APC Defectors In Adamawa | The Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received 1,615 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Toungo LGA. The defectors were received by the state’s PDP Chairman, Barrister Tahir Shehu, at a ceremony in Toungo at the weekend. Speaking through their representatives, Mustapha Albashir, Alhaji Gana and Mallam Yahya Abubakar, the defectors cited rising insecurity and economic difficulties under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as reasons for their action. Abubakar said, “One of the reasons over 1,615 of us decided to come here today, even though we are more than 6,000 joining the PDP, is because after seven years we cannot reckon with any tangible thing the party has achieved under Buhari more than worsening insecurity, stagnation and poverty.” While receiving the defectors, Shehu said the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had asked that he would like to shake hands with the 1,615 new members who had demonstrated courage in protesting against bad governance. | Adamawa State, Adamawa State Chapter of PDP, Defection, APC to PDP | https://bit.ly/3zEqP3M | |
| Leadership Online | 8th August 2022 | Atiku, Wike Reconciliation Will Not Fail, Says Prof Gana | Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said that the reconciliation between the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, will not fail. According to Prof. Gana, a firm process for the reconciliation between the duo has started, adding that they will ensure it did not fail. Speaking at an event organised by GreenFlames Film Production to mobilise Nigerians to vote peacefully in the 2023 general elections at the weekend in Abuja, Gana said there was hope Nigeria will get it better, adding that the PDP stands for unity. “We have started a conciliation process between some members of our party. The process started this week and today (Saturday) it will continue. I am in the forefront of the reconciliation. We believed that this reconciliation will not fail because we need to deliver Nigeria from misgovernance,” Prof. Gana said. Even though he didn’t mention names of Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, LEADERSHIP earlier reported that about a meeting between Atiku and Wike at the Abuja residence of Prof. Jerry Gana. On the upcoming general elections, Prof. Gana, who called on all Nigerians to ensure they participate in the process, added that God will deliver Nigeria mysteriously. | Prof. Jerry Gana, PDP Crisis, Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Reconciliation | https://bit.ly/3Q6arzL | |
| This Day Newspaper | 5th August 2022 | Adamu: APC’s All Muslim Ticket Positive Development | The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday rose in stout defence of its all Muslim presidential ticket saying it signposts positive development for Nigeria. This was just as the party also announced the Governor of Plateau state and Chairman of Northern Governors (NGF), Simon Lalong and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo as the Director General and Acting Spokesman of Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation respectively. Speaking with newsmen after a close-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, described the party’s same faith ticket as a “positive development” for the country’s politics. Adamu, who was flanked at the briefing by APC presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and Governor Lalong, stressed that the dust raised by the same faith ticket would be settled before the February, 2023 presidential poll. Tinubu’s choice of running mate in July, this year had attracted criticisms across the country especially from the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Several groups, religious and civil society organisations had argued that floating a Muslim-Muslim ticket does not reflect the country’s religious diversity. However, commenting on the issue yesterday, the APC Chairman said despite the concerns raised, there were those who see a same-faith ticket as a positive development for the country’s politics. “Yes, we have been hearing concerns being expressed. In the APC, we believe very strongly, that no matter what description, no matter what faith you will associate with any one of our candidates, we are first and foremost Nigerians. There is no doubt in the fact that we have people who stock trade on some of these religious issues. Just like you have people expressing fears, or concerns about a Muslim-Muslim ticket, there are Christians that welcome it as a positive development, in Nigerian politics. They are Nigerians,” he added. Adamu also assured that the party recognised the concerns, saying the party would, “put them to rest” before the election which is seven months away. He said: “We are extremely sensitive to some of these sensitivities of fellow Nigerians or fellow members of our party. But the fact of the matter is, one issue does not determine a candidate or determine victory. “The party has taken a very careful deep look at the Nigerian situation and the political space. And we believe very strongly that notwithstanding the expression that we’re hearing, we will be working on amicable solutions to the sentiment and we’re very sure by the grace of God we’ll put them to rest before the elections.” | APC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, Muslim-muslim ticket, 2023 Presidential Election | Page 1 & 5 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 5th August 2022 | At Last, Atiku, Wike Meet, Move to Resolve Their Differences | Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the embittered Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike yesterday met in Abuja, in a move aimed at resolving the differences in the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 general elections. A reliable source told THISDAY that the meeting took place at the residence of Prof. Jerry Gana at Asokoro. Also, Atiku yesterday stated that restructuring was the solution to Nigeria’s multifarious problems, embracing a time-honoured panacea that successive governments have chosen to ignore, and throwing down the gauntlet to a political class plagued by a corrupt tendency to exploit societal disequilibrium. As part of preparations for his 2023 election campaign, Atiku yesterday appointed Senator Dino Melaye and Dr. Daniel Bwala as his spokespersons. A reliable source told THISDAY that the meeting between Atiku and Wike took place at the residence of Professor Jerry Gana at Asokoro. The meeting was first brokered by members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), who met Atiku at his Asokoro residence. THISDAY gathered that Atiku, after the meeting with the BoT members, contacted Gana, also a BoT member, who acts as a liaison between the PDP presidential candidate and Wike. With the time agreed for the meeting, Wike flew into Abuja and proceeded straight to the residence of Gana, where the meeting took place. Wike had since returned to Port Harcourt after the meeting. But the source did not give details of the meeting. The source simply said, “The ice has been broken. They (Atiku and Wike) have commenced talks and in a few days time, the details of their meeting would be made public. Wike is expected to brief members of his campaign group.” | Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, Peace meeting, Jerry Gana, Internal party Crisis | Page 1 & 5 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 5th August 2022 | Osun 2022: Oyetola, APC Head To Election Tribunal | The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it has concluded arrangements to challenge the results of the state’s July 16 governorship election at the election petition tribunal. APC chairman in the state, Gboyega Famodun, disclosed this at a press conference held at the party secretariat in Osogbo, yesterday. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC. Famodun said the counsels to the party and that of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola have told them that “We have a strong case and we believe we will win at the court.” Meanwhile, the Osun State Chapter of PDP described APC’s move as “a wasteful voyage and an exercise in futility.” A statement by the PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle, said APC’s decision to approach the tribunal was “anti-people and a challenge of God’s will”. “PDP is not afraid of any election petition as the Legal Team of the PDP are always ready to defend whatever petition the APC is bringing, reiterating that the petition would be dead on arrival anytime it comes,” it said. | Osun State, Osun State Governorship Election, Osun State APC Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, Election Petition Tribunal | Page 25 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 5th August 2022 | Ekiti 2022: Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Oyebanji’s Nomination At APC Primaries | A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has dismissed a suit filed by a governorship aspirant in the 27 January All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, Kayode Ojo, challenging the nomination of the Governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji. The court upheld the preliminary objection of the counsel to Oyebanji, Mr. Kabir Akingbolu, that the writ of summons and statement of claims of Ojo was defective. In a judgment delivered by the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, yesterday, the court dismissed Ojo’s case and agreed with Oyebanji’s counsel that the discrepancies in the originating processes had rendered the case academic. Justice Kuewumi held that the names of counsel on the plaintiff’s originating summons and statement and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stamp ran contrary, which is against the law, rendering the suit defective and incompetent. While the name on the NBA stamp of one of the lawyers of Mr Ojo read “Moroof Bolanle,” the one that appeared on the list of lawyers submitted for the case read “Olayinka Bolanle.” According to the judge, further scrutiny of the plaintiff’s writ of summons and statement of claim revealed two different signatures, which rendered the suit invalid. | Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Governorship Election, Kayode Ojo | Page 25 | |
| Punch Online | 5th August 2022 | Wike’s men seek PDP restructuring, say party pro-North | Loyalists of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike have called for the restructuring of the Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership to accommodate more southerners, saying the party as presently constituted is pro-North. The governor’s camp complained that the structure of the party was skewed in favour of northerners, stressing that any proposed reconciliation between the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Wike must address this contentious issue. Wike’s loyalists stated this in separate interviews with The PUNCH as Atiku met with the governor in Abuja on Thursday. Regardless of the meeting, the members of Wike’s camp are insisting on the restructuring of the PDP leadership, stating that the northerners cannot occupy the positions of the Board of Trustees, chairman, the national chairman and governors’ forum chairman. A PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, said as party loyalists, they would support any genuine decision by the party to ensure peace in the fold. Nwuke, who represented Etche-Omuma constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly said, “We are party loyalists. It stands to reason that as party men, good party men, we will support any move, any decision, any aspiration made by the party or its leadership to ensure that peace reigns in our midst.” To lay the foundation for peace in the PDP, the former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, however, said there must be harmony, respect and understanding. “So, if Atiku is sincere and wants unity within the party, peace will return. If he believes he has all it takes to go it alone, if he believes that those who are genuinely aggrieved should be left by the wayside, then we will sit by and watch the masquerader play. “ | Calls to Restructure PDP, Nyesom Wike, Ogbonna Nwuke | https://bit.ly/3zBchlb | |
| Nation Online | 5th August 2022 | 2023: PDP can win without Wike, Atiku tells party’s BoT | The dust over the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the choice of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has not settled. Although Atiku and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike met yesterday in Abuja at the instance of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Senator Walid Jibrin, a source said it did not lead to a truce. The meeting was hosted by former Information and Culture Minister Prof. Jerry Gana at his residence. At a meeting with BoT members on Wednesday, Atiku boasted that PDP can win next year’s election without many votes from Rivers State. He said there was no cause for alarm if Wike did not want to fall in line with him. Exuding confidence, Atiku recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, who did not win Rivers State, relied on votes from Lagos, Kano and other strategic states to win the 2019 presidential poll. He also said PDP ran into crisis because Wike allegedly monetised the presidential primary. Wike, who was privy to what transpired at the BOT meeting, was said to have complained about Atiku’s recent comment about him. A source said: “Wike joined issues with Atiku over his recent comments or pronouncements at the second meeting. “He asked Atiku some questions: ”Did I tell you I want to be the next Minister of Petroleum Resources? ”Have I not been a minister before? ”Do you control Lagos and Kano, like President Muhammadu Buhari, if you don’t need Rivers? ”Have I asked for anything to support you?” Atiku responded with “no” to most of the questions. “Throughout the meeting, Wike was busy with posers to clear some impressions from Atiku’s camp in public space. Obviously, he was uncomfortable with some comments attributed to Atiku and some of his strategists. But the presidential candidate of the PDP was calm in managing the situation.” | Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, PDP Internal Party Crisis, BOT Meeting, Walid Jubrin | https://bit.ly/3cX9paG | |
| Daily Post Online | 5th August 2022 | Akwa Ibom 2023: Bassey Akpan emerges YPP governorship candidate | The Young Progressives Party, YPP, has elected the member representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan as its governorship candidate. This was barely one week after the former guber candidate of the party, Pastor Andy Nyenime officially withdrew from the race, which led to a fresh primary, in line with the 2022 Electoral Act guidelines as amended and monitored by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State. Adopting option A4, delegates across the 31 Local Government areas of the State queued behind Senator Akpan and affirmed his candidature. At the end of a peaceful exercise, the National Secretary of YPP, Barr Vidiyeno Bamaiyi, announced OBA as the winner of the contest and decorated him with the Party’s regalia for candidates, and gave him a Certificate of Return. In his acceptance speech, an elated Senator Akpan promised not to disappoint his family, teeming supporters, the party and the entire State as the YPP gubernatorial candidate. | YPP, Young Progressives Party, YPP Governorship Candidate,Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Pastor Andy Nyenime | https://bit.ly/3JwzkSK | |
| Guardian Newspaper | 4th August 2022 | PDP crisis: BoT sets up panel to resolve Atiku, Wike feud | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) rose from a meeting yesterday and resolved to set up a committee to resolve the post- primaries crises rocking the party. The BoT members, it was gathered, also raised concerns over the situation in which the North continues to occupy top leadership positions in the party at the expense of the South, insisting it won’t promote peace in the party. This happened as some BoT members loyal to the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, stayed away from the meeting. Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, former deputy leader of the Senate, Abdul Ningi, disclosed that the peace committee comprises all members of the BoT. He said the committee had begun its work by immediately visiting the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He said: “We have set up this committee to interface between warring factions, particularly the acrimony that is taking place between the presidential candidate and Wike. Every BoT member is a member of the committee. I cannot tell you the grievances and the time frame.” On calls for the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu to step down, Ningi said: “We have not even discussed any issue of anybody stepping down. We discussed what we discussed, and what we discussed was what I told you.” Meanwhile, calls for the removal of Ayu took another dimension, as ‘Ayu must go’ protesters, yesterday, stormed the party’s national secretariat. The protesters claimed that Ayu lacks the capacity to lead PDP to victory in 2023 because of the way he had allegedly mismanaged its affairs in Delta State. There have been conflicting court orders regarding the candidate of the PDP in the state. | PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, PDP Crisis, Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, Iyorchia Ayu | Page 2 | |
| Guardian Newspaper | 4th August 2022 | INEC restates neutrality as 2023 general elections approach | Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has reiterated the agency’s neutrality as the 2023 general elections approach, stating that it had no preferred candidate or political party. He made the submission yesterday at the fourth Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture on “Electoral Act 2022: Imperatives for Political Parties and the 2023 General Elections.” The programme was organised in honour of erstwhile Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), the late Prof. Abubakar Momoh, who died on May 29, 2017. Yakubu assured Nigerians that their votes would co determine outcomes of next year’s general elections and future polls in the country, adding that INEC would apply the laws without fear of favour for free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent elections. The INEC boss stressed the need for stakeholders, especially political parties, to note the major features introduced by the 2022 Electoral Act and possible implications of the changes on the upcoming polls. According to Yakubu, the changes include conduct of early party primaries, technological advancements, INEC’s power to review decisions of returning officers (ROs) and over-voting. He observed that the imperatives contained in the electoral law were ingredients for party building, stabilisation of electoral rules and democratic consolidation. | INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, 2023 General Elections | Page 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 4th August 2022 | Why I Picked Female Running Mate – Fintiri | Adamawa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2023 election, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has said that his decision to pick a female running mate was part of a strategy to win re-election. Fintiri left his deputy, Chief Crowther Seth, a seasoned politician, for a female academic, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta ostensibly in response to the emergence of a female governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Binani defeated five strong men, including the immediate past governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow; the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Abdulrazaq Namdas; a former lawmaker, Wafari Theman and a businessman, Umaru Mustapha to clinch the APC ticket. She has picked a former lawmaker, Mr. Titsi Ganama as her running mate. Speaking at the official unveiling of Professor Farauta yesterday at the Government House in Yola, Governor Fintiri said the choice of a female running mate was strategic for the PDP in the coming election. “The choice of Professor Farauta, the Vice Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Mubi, is a painstaking and strategic one for our party and our state. She comes to the ticket with a rich pedigree and vast knowledge, experience and expertise that can add tremendous value to the campaign and administration of the state if subsequently elected,” he said. | Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintri, PDP, APC, Aishatu Binani, Female Running Mate | Page 30 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 4th August 2022 | No Threat Will Stop 2023 Elections – FG | The federal government has assured Nigerians that no threat will stop the conduct of the 2023 general elections. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance yesterday while fielding questions from State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the government would do everything possible to not only ensure that elections were conducted next year but also secure the country. Mohammed restated that the government had provided security agencies with everything required to end the reign of terror. Reacting to a question on the concern raised by some civil society organisations that the worsening insecurity in the country might affect the 2023 election, he said: “Yes, it is true that some groups have been worried and concerned whether, given the state of insecurity in the country, there can’t be elections. I can assure you there will be elections because the federal government will do everything possible, not just to make sure there is election, but to secure the country.” | 2023 General Election, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, FEC, Situation Room | Page 30 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 4th August 2022 | Ayu Must Go Protesters Storm PDP Headquarters, Say He’s a Mole in Party | A group of protesters, yesterday, stormed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and called on the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to step down as leader of the party. This is as the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has met over the rift between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. But members of the PDP BoT believed to be loyal to Wike, however, stayed out of the meeting. A group, known as Concerned Deltans for Good Governance, stormed the PDP Wadata office over the lingering crisis in Delta State. Led by Chris Anthony, the group said, “We expect the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the watch of Ayu to comply with the judgement that has been passed by justice Taiwo Taiwo on the 7th. “They are playing games with the judgement. The party is supposed to forward the name of the winner of that election based on the court order to INEC but they have deliberately refused to do that because they are working in connivance with the Delta State governor, Okowa as an individual. “They have refused to comply with the court order. Funny enough, INEC officially wrote to the PDP through their legal adviser that they have received a judgement of this nature and that they (INEC) will do the needful by complying and they also expect the PDP to do same but the PDP, up till his moment, has deliberately decided to abandon what the court said. “We are all shouting: ‘we want to lead Nigeria’, if you cannot organise your house properly, how do you expect to address the Nigerian problem. If you simply cannot address the minor problem in Delta, then, how do Nigerians trust the PDP to tackle the challenges facing the Nigerian nation in a larger scale. We are calling on the leadership of the PDP to do the needful; obey the court order, recognise David… as the governorship candidate of the PDP as the court has so declared. “The implication of the action of the PDP on the Delta issue is that they are trying to throw away the fortunes of the PDP in Delta. Everybody knows that the PDP in Delta State is the majority party and there is no other political party in Delta State apart from the PDP. But with the action of the national chairman of party, we are beginning to be convinced of what people have been saying that, Ayu is a mole in the PDP to throw Delta State PDP to the opposition. We see Ayu as a mole in the PDP. He is playing the script of the APC just to actualise the emergence of APC governor in Delta. He lacks the capacity to lead the PDP and so he should honourably resign. He has demonstrated gross incompetence in handling the affairs of the party. He should resign. Ayu should resign. He does not have the capacity to manage the affairs of the PDP,” he stated. | PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, PDP Crisis, Iyorchia Ayu, Concerned Deltans for Good Governance | Page 50 | |
| Vanguard Online | 4th August 2022 | Tinubu will present his manifesto at the right time — Campaign DG, Oshiomhole | The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu campaign organisation, Adams Oshiomhole, has said the fact that Tinubu has not spoken about his plans for Nigeria is not an indication of weakness. The campaign DG, who spoke during an interview on ‘The Morning Show’ of Arise TV, noted that the fact that Tinubu has not spoken does not mean he does not have a position. Oshiomhole stated that Tinubu is considering the proper time to speak on his plans. He said: “Sometimes in communication, you choose your proper timing. That is not a weakness. There is no particular benefit in rushing out what you want to do. Those who have rushed out what they want to do, how much have they done? So many of them (presidential candidates) get away with intriguing questions put across to them. They have not sufficiently addressed the how,” he said. | DG of APC Presidential Candidate, Adams Oshiomole, Plans for Nigeria | https://bit.ly/3QidDrP | |
| Vanguard Online | 4th August 2022 | Peter Obi: I will come after Obi-dients if they come after me, says Oshiomole | The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu campaign organisation, Adams Oshiomole said he will come after supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party should they come after him. Oshiomole made this assertion while speaking in an interview on The Morning Show of Arise News on Wednesday. The former APC national chairman had argued that most of the presidential candidates, who had spoken have not sufficiently, in most cases, addressed how they are going to address the issues that Nigeria is confronted with as a nation. Oshiomole singled Obi out, saying the Labour Party candidate got away with intriguing several intriguing questions put across to him. He said, “Obi was asked how, and he said, “It’s a secret.” When told that supporters of Obi will come after him if he criticises their candidate, Oshiomole swiftly replied, “I will come after them.” He noted that there is no particular benefit in rushing out what you want to do, saying, “Those who have rushed out what they want to how much have they done expatiating on how they are going to do it.” Meanwhile, Oshiomole said time will tell if the Obi-dients were really obedient in the political process of Nigeria. | DG of APC Presidential Candidate, Adams Oshiomole, Peter Obi, Obidients, Interview | https://bit.ly/3vGAmWJ | |
| Guardian Online | 3rd August 2022 | Cross River LP factional chairman threatens legal action over alleged impersonation | Factional Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Cross River State, Mr. Godwin Amoikwen, has threatened to sue the factional leader, Ogar Osim, for alleged impersonation, forgery and perjury. This is coming on the heels of disagreements over the authentic candidates to represent the party in the forthcoming 2023 general elections from the state. Embroiled in a factional war since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) kicked off activities for the 2023 general elections, Amoikwen and Osim had been at loggerheads over who is the authentic state chairman of the party. Amoikwen, who is currently the Political Commission Chairman and former Secretary of the party, alleged that Osim was parading himself as the state chairman, insisting that based on the principle of succession, he succeeded the former Chairman, Mr. Joseph Inde, who left for a higher calling. According to him, in 2020, he was appointed by the former State Chairman of Organised Labour to act in interim capacity, pending the conduct of congresses. Amoikwen alleged that Osim fraudulently used placeholders on the list submitted to INEC with the motive of selling party tickets to the highest bidders during the windows for substitution of candidates. He said: “I am monitoring Osim closely and will have him jailed for impersonation, forgery and perjury at the appropriate time.” On the rejection of the list of candidates produced by Organised Labour, he explained: “After receiving Osim into the party and provided him the necessary materials to help him work, we wanted to harmonise our structures being that winning elections requires unity of purpose; we invited him for series of meetings, which he declined. He gave us one flimsy excuse or the other. Seeing that he was not forthcoming, and deadline for the notification of INEC for the conduct of primaries was close, we were compelled to invite INEC and other relevant stakeholders to witness primary elections to be conducted by us. We had successful primaries, which produced verifiable candidates. We learnt that he later gathered nine persons at his office in Ambo and conducted a charade of a primary that produced over 40 candidates who are his placeholders.” When contacted to react on the alleged threat, Osim simply said the party is on a peace talk. He noted that soon, every misunderstanding would be resolved. | LP, Labour Party, 2023 General Election, Godwin Amoikwen, Ogar Osim, Placeholder, INEC | https://bit.ly/3Q1v7cj | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 3rd August 2022 | Vote only candidates who support LG autonomy, NULGE boss tells workers | The President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ambali Olatunji, has urged his members to vote only leaders who support local council autonomy. Olatunji stated this, yesterday, at the 7th State Quadrennial Inauguration of the newly elected executive committee members to run the affairs of NULGE in Kogi State. The NULGE president, who praised Kogi government for the passage of the LG Autonomy Bill, said only leaders ready to fix local council administration, which he said remains the fulcrum of nationhood, should be elected to public office. According to him, Nigeria, which is on the brink of collapse, is no longer the country the citizens dreamt of. The drift, he explained, is as a result of bad leadership. His words: “The last four years under the present administration shows that the country has no one in charge, drifting with nobody in control. This is not the Muhammadu Buhari Nigerians voted.” He lamented that the security situation in the country, disclosing that the Federal Capital Territory is now vulnerable to insurgents. Calling on the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor to immediately resign from office, he described the exchange rate as a shame due to the alleged ineptitude of the financial managers. | NULGE, Ambali Olatunji, Local Council Autonomy, Local Government Autonomy | Page 29 | |
| This Day Live | 3rd August 2022 | Shettima: We’ll Be Equitable, Just, Inclusive If Elected | The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured Nigerians that if elected, the Bola Tinubu administration would be inclusive, just, and fair to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribal, religious, or political affiliation. A statement quoted Shettima to have said, “We need to build a new nation because the hope of the black man is on Nigeria. The onus is on us to secure the future of our children yet unborn. I want to assure Nigerians that we are going to be just and fair to all Nigerians. We are going to be all-inclusive because no society can strive on injustice. Ours will be all-encompassing, all-embracing government. We will build a country of our dreams, where people are judged by their character, irrespective of their political affiliations, religious persuasions, sectional or tribal ground.” The former Borno State governor commended the South-west geopolitical zone for being a bastion of religious tolerance and generosity, where people are judged by the content of their character, competence, and ability. He called on other parts of the country to emulate such qualities for peaceful coexistence and development. | APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima, Bola Tinubu Administration | https://bit.ly/3OVhjie | |
| This Day Newspaper | 3rd August 2022 | Insecurity: Act Now or Resign, Situation Room Tells Buhari | The Nigerian Civil Society coalition, the Situation Room has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently take decisive measures to arrest the deteriorating insecurity in the country or consider quitting his office. The organisation demanded that the entire security architecture of the country should be rejigged by Buhari to combat the worrisome expansion of insecurity in the country, adding the the Service Chiefs should be removed, and new people appointed with a clear mandate to deliver at a particular time or be equally removed. It said that the security situation had taken a new dimension with the threat of attacks on the high office of the president and schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the Convener of the Situation Room, Ene Obi said it was apparent that insecurity had lingered because there had been no seriousness in tasking the security agencies to deliver and the political will do so. “President Muhammadu Buhari should wake up to his responsibilities of steering the affairs of the nation in the areas of security and economic restoration which will rebuild the confidence of citizens by reassuring Nigerians of his ability to govern Nigeria or should honourably resign if the challenges are overwhelming,” she said. On the last jail break at Kuje Medium Security Correctional Facility, she said Nigerians expected that Buhari should order a thorough investigation into the incident and those responsible for guarding the Prison be relieved of their duties, starting from the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. Obi also urged the National Assembly to intensify their oversight function on the Executive beyond the threat of impeaching the president. Obi who was flanked by other Co-conveners of the Situation Room, James Ugochukwu and Asma’u Joda said the state of insecurity in the country had, “deteriorated so much that most parts of the country are now being threatened by non-state armed men with various nomenclature like Bandits, Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Kidnappers and Unknown Gunmen. According to reports, ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgents having occupied some territories in the north-east of the country are now encroaching into Abuja and the rest of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Bandits continuous raid on villages fuelled with kidnapping of helpless villagers in the north-western states of Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi, have continued unchallenged. The Situation Room also expressed displeasure over the long closure of public universities. Obi said the organisation found it disappointing that despite the two weeks’ ultimatum given to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu by President Buhari, to resolve the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in universities, the government had failed to reach a resolution. She further assessed the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) saying that despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s assurances of a seamless process, it has left many willing Nigerians disenfranchised from the 2023 polls. | Situation Room, Calls for Resignation, Insecurity, Education, Economy, CVR, Call for CVR Extension | Page 42 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 3rd August 2022 | I’ll Win Rivers Gov’ship — SDP’s Magnus Abe | The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has said that he will win the 2023 election because the people want change. He said this in Abuja when he led members of his campaign team on a courtesy visit to the National Chairman of the SDP, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam. Abe recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and picked the SDP gubernatorial ticket. He said, “The party has several options, but in your wisdom, you choose me. I want to assure you that we will win the election in Rivers State. The BVAS machine has opened the opportunity where the governor, driver and the trader have one vote each.” | Rivers State SDP Governorship Candidate, Senator Magnus Abe | Page 31 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 3rd August 2022 | Lalong Tipped As Tinubu’s Campaign DG | Barring any last-minute change, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State would be announced as the director general of the presidential campaign organisation of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Daily Trust gathered that Lalong, a Christian, has been pencilled down as the DG following an uproar over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC. Recall that the top hierarchy of the APC had settled for Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State as the DG, while a former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, was chosen as the chairman of the campaign council. However, it was gathered that after a meeting between Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in Lagos, it was agreed that Lalong should be announced as the DG in order to pacify the Christian community and woo aggrieved Northern Christians. A source privy to the meeting said, “Yes, Gov Lalong is the DG. The APC is united and we are committed to saving the country from those who want to divide us on religious lines.” El-Rufai, who briefed reporters after the meeting, confirmed that a decision had been taken on the DG, while other positions in the campaign council were still being discussed. He said, “A decision has been taken on the director general, but other positions in the campaign council are still being discussed. The president and the national chairman and the National Working Committee (NWC) will be briefed before a formal announcement.” He further said the governors were in Lagos to report on the assignment given to them by Tinubu and his running mate to begin broad consultation and develop a structure for the presidential campaign council. Other governors who attended the meeting are Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).The National Secretary of APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Adams Oshiomohole and Alhaji Kabiru Masari also attended the meeting. | Simon Lalong, DG of Bola Tinubu's Campaign Organisation | Page 31 | |
| This Day Live | 3rd August 2022 | Labour Party Unveils 24-man Caretaker Committee in Lagos | The Labour Party (LP) has unveiled its newly constituted 24-member Caretaker Executive Committee for Lagos State, to run the affairs of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. The new executive committee led by Mr. Olukayode Salako, was unveiled at a news conference in Ikeja yesterday. Salako, who presented a letter of appointment of the committee signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Mr. Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Ibrahim respectively, said that the committee had the mandate to reposition the party for winning elections. He said the committee became imperative following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone appointed state executives, as well as the recent expansion in the party nationwide ahead of 2023. “This is the brand new LP executive committee in Lagos state. It is constitutionally, legally and lawfully constituted by the national executive body. I have here a letter to that effect duly signed by the national chairman and secretary of our party. There is no faction of LP in Lagos state. It doesn’t exist and it has never existed and it will never exist,” he said. He said the National Executive Council of LP had written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the newly constituted state executives of the party in Lagos state. Salako said the committee was appointed just like the outgone committee headed by Prince Ifagbami Awamaridi, and it would serve for a period of three months. | Lagost State LP Caretaker Executive Committee, Labour Party, Olukayode Salako, Lagos State | https://bit.ly/3Q98PFq | |
| The Cable | 1st August 2022 | Peter Obi: God blessed Nigeria with everything — except good leadership | Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says God blessed Nigeria with everything except good leadership. Speaking during an online session hosted by the Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) on Sunday, the presidential candidate said the country is currently experiencing the cumulative effect of bad leadership. “What is happening in Nigeria now is that nobody knows where we are going and when you don’t know where you are going, every road will lead you there. If you turn left it is right, if you turn right it is left and that is where we are,” he said. “So we want to stop that. We want to know the destination to this journey and know that we are on the road to that destination so that people can start having hope in a country called Nigeria in a country that is the best and has everything to be proud of. God gave us good weather, fertile land, everything. The only thing he didn’t give us is good leadership over the years. All we are going through today is a cumulative effect of leadership failures over the years where people have chosen not to serve this country faithfully. Otherwise, we won’t be going through what we are going through. We can’t even feed ourselves. I can turn this ship around so that we know where we are going. We are not going to solve it overnight but we can start by being on the right track.” | Peter Obi, LP Presidential Candidate, Online Session, Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) | https://bit.ly/3QbfQWc | |
| Punch Online | 1st August 2022 | Voter registration: Stranded applicants lament, seek extension, INEC adamant | Nigerians, who could not register in the continuous voter registration, which ended on Sunday, have expressed frustration over the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend the exercise. The stranded applicants in interviews with The PUNCH thumbed down the decision of the commission to stop the CVR, describing it as a way to disenfranchise them. In preparation for the 2023 general elections, INEC began the nationwide registration in June 2021 to enable Nigerians who had just attained the voting age and others to register. The electoral body planned to terminate the CVR on June 30,2022, but a civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project on June 5 filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking an extension of the exercise beyond that date. Consequently, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon on June 20 granted an order of interim injunction stopping INEC from stopping the registration exercise. In compliance with the order, the electoral body extended the exercise till July 31. Despite the extension, however, hundreds of applicants have continued to besiege registration centres nationwide in a bid to register before the deadline. But findings by The PUNCH indicated that thousands of Nigerians in Niger, Kano, Lagos, Katsina, Benue, Ogun and Enugu as well as the Federal Capital Territory could not participate in the exercise before it ended on Sunday. In Niger State, hundreds of people were seen milling about at the INEC registration centre near the Eastern byepass, Minna, waiting to be attended to by officials. Some of them complained that they had been at the centre since 5am. At 5.07pm on Sunday, over a hundred persons were seen at the state INEC headquarters on David Mark road, waiting to be registered. They told our correspondent in Niger that the INEC staff said they had ended the exercise. Omotola Ayeni said, “They refused to register us; they said they had closed and we have been here since 6am.’’ A Minna resident, Sarah Samson said she had been visiting the registration centre for about two days and still was not registered. She accused the electoral officials of unethical conduct, saying, ‘’There are so many irregularities; ‘man know man’ (nepotism) is being practiced here.“ In Kano, over 100 prospective applicants were seen struggling to register at the INEC sub-centre located behind Nomansland Police Station. An applicant, Emeka Okongwu stated, “I have been coming to register for four times but could not register because of the crowd. I don’t know why INEC did not provide machines for the exercise, especially here in the South East. “In the North the machines were provided but here the commission provided few machines and manpower. If I don’t register by the end of today and the exercise is not extended, I may go to court to seek redress.” An INEC worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was no way they could register all the people who turned out for the exercise.He noted, ‘’We requested for more machines for registration but only four machines were provided. For more than two months, there is not a single day we finished registering people that turned out to register. We always have left-over. We register about 1,000 people every day with the four machines. It is not within our powers to extend the registration.’’ The situation was not different in Plateau State where scores of Nigerians complained about their frustration with the exercise. | PVC, CVR, Calls for CVR Extension, Last Minute CVR | https://bit.ly/3zpaQGq | |
| Nation Online | 1st August 2022 | 2023: We will back power shift to South, says PANDEF | The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) yesterday reiterated its support for power shift to the South in 2023 general election. The group lamented that the neglect of zoning by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in bad faith.According to PANDEF, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is better than the main opposition party because it has met its demand and those of other Southern stakeholders that power should rotate to the South.PANDEF asserted that while the same faith ticket of the APC was of a concern, it was still preferable to the PDP ticket that violated its constitution on zoning and power rotation. But, a former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, said religion should not be a factor in politics. PANDEF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ken Robinson, said the group may back the APC for respecting the cardinal demands and that of South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on power rotation. While noting that religion had a role to play in politics, he said the forum would evaluate some political realities before reaching a final decision. He said: “For us, our personal view is that we have the APC and PDP. The PDP established zoning. Instead of respecting zoning, PDP gave its presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar from the North. APC respected the demands for zoning and gave its ticket to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from Southwest. That satisfied the desire for equity and fairness. “Unfortunately, the APC picked a candidate from the Northeast as a running mate and that has thrown up issues with same faith ticket. Which is the lesser evil? The disregard for established principle for power rotation or a Muslim/Muslim ticket. That is the dilemma before us. Some talk about a third option. For us power rotation should come first. There are two Southern candidates in the presidential election and we are having conversations and I think that we will stick with power rotation. Discussions are ongoing. Realities have to be evaluated. We will not do things for the sake of doing it, but we will do things that are realistic.” | PANDEF, 2023 General Elections, Zoning, Muslim-muslim ticket, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, SMBLF,South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum. PDP, APC | https://bit.ly/3cJVuEP | |
| Premium Times | 1st August 2022 | Wike meets PDP governors, others | The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday met with some governors of his party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – and a few other members. The meeting held behind closed doors at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja. Although the details of the meeting, which lasted hours, remains unclear, it might be connected to the internal crisis in the PDP. The governor, who recently returned from a foreign trip, had accused the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of lying against him. He had also described some of their party’s chieftains as ‘attack dogs’ of Atiku. His comment was a reaction to his defeat at the party’s presidential primary and the failure of Atiku – who won the election – to pick him as the running mate. PREMIUM TIMES reported how an aggrieved Mr Wike refused to congratulate the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, after he emerged the vice-presidential candidate. The governor also reportedly ignored efforts made by Atiku and his team to see him – a move Mr Wike described as untrue. He, however, said Atiku did not send anyone to speak to him. Present at Sunday’s meeting were Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. Some former governors present were Donald Duke of Cross River State, Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, and Jonah Jang of Plateau State. Mr Wike’s meeting with the governors occurred barely 24 hours after he met with former Secretary General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. The duo, though members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are currently angry at the party and its leadership for choosing to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. They have vowed to use their “PVCs and prayers” to resist the move by the APC. Their meeting with the Rivers State governor comes amid speculations that he (Wike) has oined the APC. Mr Wike has, however, denied the speculations of his defection. | Nyesom Wike, Closed Door Meeting, PDP Internal Crisis, Meeting | https://bit.ly/3bolLZ9 | |
| This Day Live | 1st August 2022 | Umahi Defeats Brother, Others to Emerge Winner of Ebonyi South Senatorial Primary | Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has emerged the winner of Ebonyi South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Umahi got 250 votes to defeat his younger brother, Austin Umahi, who scored 10 votes. However, there was confusion as the governor’s brother, Austin, who had earlier withdrawn from the race after emerging as the candidate for the senatorial, made a U-turn and contested against the governor Governor Umahi’s emergence was sequel to a judgement of a Federal High Court in Abakaliki that a fresh primary election should be conducted. Umahi also defeats four others to emerge the APC senatorial candidate Others who stood for the senatorial primary election in the district included Princess Ann Ago-Eze, who scored zero votes; Nwakaego Chukwu, who scored five votes, while Mrs. Ibiam Margaret scored three votes. Announcing the result of the election, which took place at the Afikpo North Local Government Area headquarters, the Chairman of the electoral panel, Prof Adebayo Kehinde, declared the Ebonyi State governor winner of the election. Kehinde said: “I do hereby declare that Mr. David Nweze Umahi, having scored the highest votes, is hereby the winner of the primary election for Ebonyi South senatorial zone.” In his acceptance, speech, Governor Umahi commended the electoral panel for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the primaries. He also commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, and assured them that the APC will emerge victorious at the forthcoming general election in 2023. Also, the state Chairman of the party, Stanley Emegha, said there was nothing bad if the governor’s brother has changed his mind after withdrawal to contest for the position. | David Umahi, Ebonyi State, Ebonyi South Senatorial Candidate, Fresh Primary Election | https://bit.ly/3Bws9rO | |
| This Day Live | 1st August 2022 | INEC: PVCs Will Be Ready October, November | With voters registration exercise ending yesterday nationwide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) for persons captured in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) would be ready between October and November. The commission, has however, urged Nigerians that their PVCs remained their actual meal tickets and should be handled with care. INEC National Commissioner, Information and Publicity, Festus Okoye, disclosed this while monitoring the concluding segment of the ongoing CVR in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday. Okoye, who doubles as the National Commissioner supervising Abia, Anambra and Benue, reaffirmed that the exercise ended yesterday, saying INEC had to bring it to a close, to enable the commission cross check data collated. “This will enable our system operators to eliminate double and multiple registrations before we produce the PVCs for distribution. The law equally requires that we should display the register in the 774 Local Government Areas and 8,809 registration areas for claims and objections. And we have to print the PVCs, truck them to all the local government areas across the country for collection,” he said. Okoye stated that it would be useless for people to register and fail to receive their PVCs, adding that without the cards, nobody would vote. He said for those who registered between January and June, their cards would be ready in October, while those who registered from July 1 to July 31 would collect in November. | PVC, CVR, Suspension of CVR, INEC, Festus Okoye, PVC Collection in October and November | https://bit.ly/3oKFogY | |
| Daily Post Online | 1st August 2022 | Group demands Shettima’s arrest, prosecution over alleged double nominations | A Civil Society group, Center for Reform and Public Advocacy has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), demanding the arrest and prosecution of the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima over alleged double nominations for the 2023 general election. Shettima, who is to pair with former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next year presidential election on APC platform, was alleged to have been nominated twice by APC for two different constituencies at the same time in gross breach of the Electoral Act 2022. According to the petition, Shettima signed both the INEC form EC9 on oath as the APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general elections and at the same time went ahead to sign another INEC form EC9 as Vice Presidential candidate of the APC, an action believed to have contravened the law. The signing of two nomination forms by Shetima for two different constituencies is said to have specifically breached section 115(d) and (k) of the Electoral Act 2022 and attracts two years imprisonment by court upon conviction. The grouse of the group is that Shettima on oath willingly engaged in double nominations contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022, and ought to be arrested and put on trial by the police as required by law. | Center for Reform and Public Advcacy , IGP, Senator Kashim Shettima, Double Nomination, Electoral Act 2022, Court Suit, Petition | https://bit.ly/3vvK8uO | |