| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No./Weblink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | Tinubu returns NEDC board members, mgt replaced by Buhari | President Bola Tinubu has sought confirmation of Senate for appointment of members of the governing board and Executive Management of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), which was rejected by his predecessor. The board had served out its first term, but President Muhammadu Buhari refused to renew their tenure. However, Sa’diya Farouk Umar, former Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management, appointed a different board, with the son of Abu Hashidu, late Gombe governor, as Managing Director, but the senate refused to confirm the board. However, they were flown to the commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, in a chartered flight to report for duty. In his letter, Tinubu asked the Senate to confirm the board in accordance with Section 5(b) of the North East Development Commission Establishment 2017 Act. If his request is granted, General Paul Tarfa (rtd), Buhari ‘s course mate, will get another term as board Chair, with Mohammed Alkali, the former MD, will also get a second term. | Bola Tinubu, Board, Management, NEDC | Page 6 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | More knocks for FG over petrol price increase | Condemnation has continued to trail the recent petrol price increase from N540 to N617 per litre. President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, yesterday said that Nigerians were being deceived on the issue of petrol pricing. Ajaero, who spoke on Channels TV programme: Politics Today, said the masses were being punished unnecessarily. “It seems we have entered a reign where Nigerians are being punished unnecessarily and where lies are coming up everywhere. “If you have a single market where everybody must change dollars at N800/$1, you removed the market where people were changing dollars at N450 to import, it means the very moment that dollar value increases to even N900/N1000, you will tell us that you imported it at current value. “Despite the fact that the products you have now are not the ones that were imported under N800/$. Clearly, the government is toying with Nigerians. What is happening is not economics, but a reign of impunity,” he said. The Peoples Democratic Party described the latest increase in petrol price as provocative and an invitation to crisis across the country. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP in a statement, said the current price regime was an exhibition of “extreme insensitivity and callousness towards Nigerians”, alleging that the government wanted to extort the people who were already suffering. “Our party insists that the N617 per litre of fuel is excessive, unacceptable and cannot be justified under any guise”, says Ologunagba. | Labour, Fuel Price Increase, PDP | Page 25 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | Ganduje tipped as APC national chair | A former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has been tipped as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Trust reliably gathered last night. Ganduje, 73, was yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and three governors who are members of the APC. Barring any last-minute changes, the former governor will be named as interim national chairman of the ruling party, pending the conduct of the convention of the party later in the year. It was gathered that President Tinubu had on his return from the African Union (AU) meeting in Kenya on Monday, indicated interest in making Ganduje the party chairman. A source said, “It was on Monday that the issue of making Ganduje the chairman of the party started when the chairman of the PGF, Hope Uzodinma, met with him in Abuja. Uzodinma told the former Kano State governor of the president’s intention to make him the party’s chairman.” He further said the issue was finalised yesterday when the president met Ganduje together with the three governors. | APC National Chairmanship, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Ganduje, Hope Uzodinma | Page 4 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | At student leaders summit, youths urged to uphold, preserve African culture | As university students across Africa and the United Kingdom converged at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for the third Umoja African student leaders network summit, the young scholars have been charged to uphold the uniqueness of African culture amidst technological advancement. The summit, which marked the commencement of a week-long celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, featured speakers from UNILAG; Stellenbosch University, University of Free State, Wits University and the University of Cape Town from South Africa. The UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, stressed the need for youth inclusion and collaboration to actualise the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 – Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. “We are glad to add new universities to this leadership network, 75 per cent of Africa’s population are youths. They are the hope we have to achieve the Africa we want,” Ogunsola stated. | African Students Union, AU Agende 2062, Folashade Ogunsola, UNILAG | Page 23 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | Ogun tribunal rejects pleas for re-examination of witness over statements | The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, yesterday, rejected the pleas of counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gordy Uche (SAN), seeking re-examination of his witness after certain inconsistencies were discovered in her statements. The party had called a witness, Mrs. Shittu Omobolanle from Makun in Sagamu, to appear before the panel and testify in its favour based on her experience during the gubernatorial poll of March 18, 2023. Shittu, in her statement, gave her polling unit number as 27-20-14-020, whereas her voter’s card indicates 27-20-14-004 as her PU number. Counsel to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kehinde Ogunwunmiju (SAN), pointed out the discrepancy during the cross-examination when he asked her to read out the numbers on the two documents. Subsequently, the petitioners’ counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), attempted to get her to explain the reasons behind the inconsistencies. The tribunal, in its ruling, agreed that the matter at hand was unambiguous and therefore disallowed the prayer for re-examination as pleaded by the PDP. | Ogun State, Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, APC, PDP | Page 7 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | Falana, PDP slam FG, NNPCL over fuel price hike | Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has slammed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the fresh fuel price hike, adding that it lacked constitutional powers to fix the prices of petrol. This is just as the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and operatives of independent marketers in the country in reaction to the hike in price of petrol. In a statement released in his capacity as the chairman of the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana said the prices of petrol should be fixed by market forces, adding that “the increase of the pump price of petrol by NNPCL is an affront to the rule of law on the ground that it is illegal in every material in particular.” | Femi Falana, Fuel Price Hike, NNPCL | Pages 6 | |
| Thisday Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | APC May Have Settled for Ganduje as New National Chair | Save for unforeseen circumstances or last minute change of permutations, the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), guided by President Bola Tinubu, may settle for former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, as its substantive national chairman. Although the preferred candidate for the office of national secretary was not clear yet, a former governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, was said to have been pencilled in for the position. Though, Oyetola was believed not to be particularly keen because of his ambition to return to office as governor of Osun State. Those were some of the highpoints of the meetings held yesterday by Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some APC governors. Yesterday, also, APC governors, under the umbrella of Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), expressed support for the resignation of former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, saying, however, they both served the party well. Tinubu and Shettima had met with President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and some governors yesterday on the state of play. Curiously, Ganduje was at the meeting. Initially, his presence could not be explained. But Ganduje’s presence at the meeting was not unconnected with the leadership succession in the party, according to THISDAY’s source. “He is the chosen one to replace Adamu,” the source told THISDAY. “It was not an easy decision for the president, as some governors had to persuade him to accept Ganduje, who they argued had demonstrated loyalty to the president well before the primary and during the campaign,” the source added. | APC, National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje | Pages 1& 10 | |
| Thisday Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | Palliatives: Tinubu, Shettima Meet Senate President, Governors | President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kasshim Shettima yesterday met with President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and some state governors as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on the population. The meeting was part of the President’s continued consultation with key players on how to get the economy on sound footing. The meeting held in the office of the President at the State House, Abuja, was attended by some state governors including those of Imo (Senator Hope Uzodinma), Kwara (AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq), Lagos (Babajide Sanwo-Olu), Ogun (Prince Dapo Abiodun) and former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Shettima, joined by Niger State governor, Umar Bago and the three governors moved to the Vice President’s wing of the State House for further discussions. Speaking to newsmen on the essence of the meeting, Presidential Adviser on special duties, communications and strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, said the meeting with the president also looked at how to finalise arrangement on the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal. Addressing journalists, Uzodinma stressed that the current hardship occasioned by the price on petroleum products, food and cost of living was being addressed. According to him, the sub-national governments are working with the federal government and today there would be a National Economic Council to finalise the details. | Subsidy Removal, Fuel Price Hike, Bola Tinubu, Palliative, States | Pages 1& 10 | |
| Thisday Newspaper | 20th July 2023 | To Avert Zamfara Scenario, Sule Seeks Military’s Help over Lithium Discovery | Following the discovery of Lithium mineral deposits in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule, yesterday, sought the assistance of the military high command to avert the reign of terrorists in the state. Large deposits of lithium, an essential component for building batteries for electric cars, laptops and mobile devices were recently discovered in Nasarawa State. The price of lithium has risen from $6,000 per tonne in 2020 to $78,000 per tonne in 2022, and it was expected to be the most valuable mineral on earth by 2040. Additionally, Nigeria’s lithium is high-grade. Zamfara is swarming with terrorists and armed bandits following gold deposits in the state. Speaking during a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj Gen Christopher Musa, Sule said, “with the discovery of lithium deposits in Nasarawa State, there is the need to avoid the Zamfara experience by being proactive on security challenges the discovery will pose.” In his remarks, the defence chief called for the emplacement of “all necessary regulatory control on mining activities in state to forestall security breaches. There is need to be proactive to maintain continuous peace in Nasarawa State.” | Nasarawa State, Lithium Mineral, Abdullahi Sule, Zamfara State, Bandit, Christopher Musa | Page 36 | |
| Thisday Live | 19th July 2023 | Tribunal: School Principal Testifies against Kebbi Dep Gov, Tenders 15 Documents | There was a mild drama yesterday at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, as the principal of Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto, said the Kebbi State Deputy Governor was never their student. The Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar, claimed that he graduated from the Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto, in 1979, but the principal of the school disowned the Deputy Governor by tendering 15 documents before the tribunal. The principal, Muhammed Zayyanu Umar, while being cross-examined by counsel to the Governor and Deputy Governor, insisted that there was no record in the school to support the testimonial allegedly given to him from the college “because his name was not in the list of the 1979 graduands of Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto.” The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Maj-General Aminu Bande (rtd), is challenging the victory of the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Nasiru Idris, and his Deputy, Umar Abubakar, in the last general election in Kebbi State. The principal is the first subpoenaed witness to be cross-examined by the respondent counsel after the tribunal admitted the 15 documents he presented to it. A director in Sokoto State Ministry of Education, Abdulsamad Hamzat Yisa, who was also subpoenaed to testify at the tribunal, said the ministry had set up a committee to investigate the principal but they found that the principal was right. | Kebi State, Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Sultan Abubakar College, Umar Abubakar | https://tinyurl.com/3a5uwbm7 | |
| CableNG | 19th July 2023 | Tinubu had no conversation with CJN on presidential poll rerun, says APC | The All Progressives Congress (APC) says President Bola Tinubu never had a telephone conversation with Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), over a possible rerun of the presidential election. Jackson Ude, a Twitter user, had claimed that the president spoke with the CJN over possible outcome of the presidential election petition. Ude alleged that the CJN told Tinubu to prepare for a rerun election. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Felix Morka, spokesperson of the APC, said “falsehoods” like Ude’s claims are capable of undermining the judiciary. “President Tinubu and our party won the last presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC,” Morka said. The ruling party added that it is “confident” that Nigerians are “smart” and discerning enough to disregard unsubstantiated claims. | Presidential Election, Tribunal, Bola Tinubu, CJN | https://tinyurl.com/4wffhdu4 | |
| CableNG | 19th July 2023 | ‘Nigerians are being punished unnecessarily’ — NLC reacts to petrol price hike | The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, says Nigerians are being deceived on the issue of petrol pricing. Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels TV programme, Ajaero said the masses are being punished unnecessarily. According to Ajaero, the President Bola Tinubu administration is toying with Nigerians, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is only being clever by half. “NNPCL cannot import and say the commodity is imported by marketers, that is not true. It seems we have entered a reign where Nigerians are being punished unnecessarily and where lies are coming up everywhere,” he said. | Fuel Price Increase, Labour, FG | https://tinyurl.com/2yhteebu | |
| CableNG | 19th July 2023 | FG to sanction trade associations hiking food prices excessively | The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it will take action against members of trade associations who engage in indiscriminate hikes in the prices of basic food items. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, spoke on Tuesday at a forum organised by the commission to discuss fair food prices. The forum was themed, ‘Fair food prices in Nigeria: A high-level forum for better competition’. Irukera said the federal government would ensure there is no room for anti-competitive practices and irrational hikes in food prices. According to Irukera, “associations that come together to determine at what price beans should be sold, associations that come together to decide that nobody in a particular market should take yam, beans or rice from any other person except their members, we will proceed against them.” | Food Inflation, Federal Competition Agency, Babatunde Irukera | https://tinyurl.com/ytw2bd2s | |
| The CableNG | 12th July 2023 | FG arraigns PDP’s Adebutu for alleged vote buying in Ogun | The federal government, on Monday, arraigned Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun in the 2023 elections, at the Ogun State High Court alongside nine others over alleged vote buying. This arraignment is coming on the heels of petition written to the Inspector-General of Police by Yemi Sanusi, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. In the suit filed by the Office of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Adebutu and the other defendants are being prosecuted on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, bribery and two undue influence which violates sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act 2022. | Ladi Adebutu, Yemi Sanusi, Vote buying, Ogun State | https://tinyurl.com/mtu2mueu | |
| Thisday Live | 12th July 2023 | Tinubu: Festering Reprisal Attacks in Plateau, Benue Depressing, Avoidable | President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, described the reprisal attacks in the wake of recent communal clashes in Plateau and Benue states as depressing, needless, and avoidable. Tinubu directed the security agencies to bring to book the perpetrators of the killings in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and parts of Benue State, insisting that the suspects must face the full weight of the law. While reaffirming his government’s strong determination to stamp out violent crimes and all forms of criminality everywhere in Nigeria, Tinubu said the cycle of violence must be dismantled in the country. Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, said he found very depressing the festering reprisal attacks, and needless and avoidable bloodletting among communities in Plateau and Benue states. He charged the governments of Plateau and Benue states and emergency response agencies to provide support and immediate relief to victims, who had been displaced as a result of the conflicts. The President’s pronouncements came as the House of Representatives mandated the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (IGP), and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the recent killings in Plateau State and ensure culprits were brought to book. The House also mandated the military taskforce in the area, Operation Safe Heaven, to identify and evacuate all cells of bandits within the state. | Insecurity, Plateau, Benue, Bola Tinubu | https://tinyurl.com/5n7cbhn8 | |
| Thisday Live | 12th July 2023 | Abdullahi Adamu: I Supported Lawan, But Won Election for Tinubu | The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday said he deserved some commendation despite working for Senator Ahmad Lawan in the run-up to the party’s presidential primaries, he (Adamu) presided over the victory of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Arise Television, Adamu stated that the rumoured differences between himself and the president were unfounded, pointing out that before the emergence of Tinubu he had the right to support whoever he wanted. He stated that he was also misrepresented about his position on the recently elected principal officers of the national assembly, saying that what the APC had issues with was the manner the communication was handled by the lawmakers. “I think that’s a soft selling point for you media people. It is true that at the time that I made a presentation to the National Working Committee (NWC), the name of Senator Ahmed Lawan was thrown up. That was before the convention. So many things took place between then and the actual date of the convention and you saw what culminated in the convention unanimously. A day after the convention, I took the entire working committee to his (Tinubu’s) house in Asokoro and assured him of our support and said we will stand shoulder to shoulder with him and ensure that the mandate was sold properly to the people of Nigeria. We won the election. Instead of being praised, we are vilified,” he said. | Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Bola Tinubu | https://tinyurl.com/52z9xe8j | |
| The Guardian | 12th July 2023 | Lagos Assembly seeks constitution review to accommodate state police | Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution to allow state police, with the view to curb security challenges bedevilling the country. The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who spoke at the first plenary, said to combat insecurity in the country, the current constitution needed to be amended to give legal backing to state police. “There is need for the National Assembly, to commence amendment of the Constitution to give room for ‘each’ state to establish its own police to address challenges of insecurity,” he said. | Lagos State House of Assembly, State Police | https://tinyurl.com/yc5yybb7 | |
| Thisday Newspaper | 7th July 2023 | Diphtheria Outbreak: NCDC Rolls Out Fresh Measures to Prevent Epidemic in Nigeria | The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), following the reported cases of Diphtheria in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, said it has rolled out measures to check it’s spread. The centre said it was aware of the death in June 2023, of a four-year-old with diphtheria in the FCT. A statement signed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, stated that the Centre has activated the diphtheria Incident Management System (IMS) in the FCT to coordinate outbreak response activities. He said the Centre since December 2022, reported multiple diphtheria outbreaks in different states across the country. “As of June 30th, 2023, there have been 798 confirmed diphtheria cases from 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in eight States including the FCT. “Most of the cases (782) were recorded in Kano. Other States with cases are Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, Cross River, Kaduna, and Osun. “The majority (71.7 percent) of the 798 confirmed cases occurred among children aged 2 – 14 years. So far, a total of 80 deaths have been recorded among all confirmed cases (case fatality rate of 10.0),” the statement added. | Diphtheria Outbreak, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Ifedayo Adetifa, Kano, FCT, Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, Cross River, Kaduna, Osun | Page 5 | |
| Thisday Newspaper | 7th July 2023 | Presidency Dismisses Ministerial List Bandied Around | The Presidency has dismissed all names being touted as possible members of the yet to be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC). There had been recent media reports speculating on who may have been penciled down for ministerial appointments, citing alleged intense lobbying by interested Nigerians. Addressing newsmen at the State House, Abuja on the issue on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, said there is no truth in what has been put in public space about those being pencilled down for ministerial appointment. According to him, the President is within the stipulated 60 days period by the Constitution to submit the list of ministerial list, adding that it’s only Mr. President that knows who and who should make his cabinet. Alake emphasised that the responsibility of appointing ministers rests solely on the president who will do so when he chooses. The Presidency also said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is reaping from the crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) adding that President Tinubu is operating an open door policy that has endeared him to people within and outside the country. According to him, “Wike’s case is self explanatory. It was the tempestuous nature of the PDP internal political wrangling that caused Wike’s issue and you are all aware of that. So that one has no issues with Wike’s thing, it’s an internal affairs of the PDP. However if as a political party your enemy is fighting itself, you reap whatever gain from it without lifting a finger, that’s what happened. | Ministerial List, APC, PDP, Nyesom Wike | Page 33 | |
| Thisday Live | 7th July 2023 | Senate Probes Buhari’s Airport Concession, Advocates Stakeholders’ Involvement | The Senate on Thursday commenced investigation into the concession of federal airports by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. The red chamber condemned the process adopted and declared that the exercise was not done in the interest of the public. It therefore demanded a comprehensive review of the exercise, which was carried out at the twilight of the Buhari administration. The Senate took the decision following deliberations on a motion titled ‘Urgent Need to Reverse the Concessioning of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano’, sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) The lawmakers urged President Bola Tinubu to review the entire exercise and give a level playing field to all stakeholders. Senators in their various contributions to the debate described the concession as a reflection of executive recklessness. They were unanimous in their condemnation of the entire exercise and insisted that the Buhari administration did not do due diligence in the concession deal. The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, said: “Some of government agencies and officials that did the concession took advantage of Buhari’s passiveness at that time.” Equally, the Senator representing Niger East, Sani Musa, noted that concession has become an international best practice. He, however, said those who carried out the exercise threw global process of concession into the gutters. | The Senate, Review, Concession, Federal Airports, Muhammadu Buhari, Bola TInubu | https://tinyurl.com/m7yfyze3 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 7th July 2023 | Kano anti-graft agency invites Ganduje for questioning | Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has invited former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for interrogation over the controversial dollar video. Confirming the invitation, yesterday, Chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, said Ganduje was issued notice to appear before it within seven days. “We have an arrangement with forensic experts to analyse the video, and we will do everything possible to investigate the matter and any other corruption matter in Kano. “Subsequent to our pledge to follow due process in investigating the allegation, the commission expects the former governor to appear before it next week to clear his name. I have signed a letter to invite him for questioning at the commission next week because this is what the law says. We will give him ample opportunity to defend himself,” said the agency’s boss. | Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Investigation | Page 28 | |
| Daily Trust | 7th July 2023 | Adeleke finally appoints commissioners | Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has finally appointed commissioners more than eight months after taking office. Adeleke, who took oath of office on November 27, 2022, has been running the government without a cabinet, a move that has made the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) criticise him. According to the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the delay was due to the legal tussle over the 2022 Governorship election. | Ademola Adeleke, Appointment of Commissioners, Osun State | https://tinyurl.com/2vs8dn98 | |
| Daily Trust | 7th July 2023 | Zamfara Governor trims Ministries from 28 to 16 | Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has signed an Executive Order restructuring the state government ministries from 28 to 16. According to Sulaiman Bala Idris, the governor’s spokesman, who confirmed this in a statement, the measure is to cut wastage in government and eliminate duplication of functions. He said the governor signed the Executive Order on Thursday at the Council Chambers of the Government House, Gusau. The newly approved ministries are those of Agriculture; Budget and Planning; Science and Technology; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance; Health; and Commerce; Trade and Industry; Information and Culture; Justice; Housing and Urban Development; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Religious Affairs; Women Affairs and Social Development; Works and Infrastructure; Youth and Sport; Internal Security and Home Affairs. | Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, Cost of Governance | https://tinyurl.com/vkj6ndr7 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 5th July 2023 | Presidential Tribunal: Tinubu tenders US varsity, visa documents | The Presidential Election Petition Court has admitted as exhibits President Bola Tinubu’s documents of attendance at the Chicago State University, the United States. The court presided by Justice Haruna Tsammani also admitted the admission letter from the institution from Tinubu who opened his defence against the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Tinubu also tendered through his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), his USA visa and Nigerian Immigration Service documents facilitating his several visits to the country between 2011 and 2021. He further tendered as an exhibit a USA embassy letter dated April 4, 2003 which responded to an inquiry over his criminal status in the USA. | Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, Bola Tinubu | Page 16 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 5th July 2023 | N/Assembly: Crack in APC as Adamu rejects Bamidele, Ndume, other principal officers | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the National Assembly’s majority leadership positions announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Akpabio and Abbas, while announcing the emergence of new principal officers during Tuesday’s plenary, said all members of the APC in the National Assembly endorsed the selection of the principal officers from the ruling party. But the national chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) was not aware of the emergence of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly. Speaking during a meeting with governors who are members of the party at the APC national secretariat yesterday in Abuja, Adamu said the party has not officially communicated with the presiding officers. He said, “I am just hearing a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives. The national headquarters of the party, the NWC, has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of officers. And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing, which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is made is not from this secretariat.” | National Assembly Leadership, APC, Abdullahi Adamu | Page 4 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 5th July 2023 | Why FG should allow Niger Delta control their Resources — Diri | Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, urged the federal government to allow the people of Niger Delta to control their God-given resources and pay tax to the federal government as it is done elsewhere. Speaking during the 15th memorial celebration of Chief Melford Okilo, late former governor of old Rivers State on Tuesday, Diri described the late politician as a nationalist who moulded him politically. He said he followed the footsteps of Okilo, got involved in Ijaw activism and was exposed to the injustices he always complained about and sought to change. Diri while recounting the ideals of Okilo, called on President Bola Tinubu to restructure Nigeria to address some of the injustices which he (Tinubu) also suffered. | NIger Delta, Resource Control, Douye Diri, Bola Tinubu, Melford Okilo | https://tinyurl.com/2pt4zx2f | |
| Daily Trust Online | 5th July 2023 | Plateau gov’ship tribunal: INEC, police submit voter register, election results | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Plateau State Police Command have presented voter register and election results of a select polling units in the governorship election in the state to the Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Jos. The chairman of the tribunal, Irele Ifeneh, had last week Monday during the commencement of hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, against the state governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), ordered the INEC and police to bring to the court the said documents within one week. The order by the court followed the inability of both the police and INEC to present the required documents as contained in the subpoena issued to them. At the resumption of hearing, both INEC and the police complied with the directive of the tribunal and submitted all documents as requested by the petitioners. | Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, INEC, Police, Caleb Mutfwang, Nentawe Yilwatda | https://tinyurl.com/2ybvf67r | |
| Leadership Online | 5th July 2023 | Court Affirms Senator Goje’s Expulsion From APC | A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by Senator Danjuma Goje challenging his dismissal from the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Kashere ward executive committee of the party. Senator Goje was suspended and subsequently dismissed in April this year for his refusal to participate in party activities at all levels. Following his suspension and expulsion, Senator Goje approached the court to challenge the decision of the party. In its judgment, the court stated that Senator Goje was aware of the allegations against him as there is newspaper publication availing him with the charges and the opportunity to defend himself on a certain date, time and venue. The court therefore dismissed the matter for lack of merit. | Danjuma Goje, Gombe State APC, Expulsion, Court | https://tinyurl.com/mrad6fhr | |
| Thisday Live | 5th July 2023 | Let Abiodun Examine Your Documents, INEC, Tribunal Tell Adebutu | The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on the complaints emanating from March 18, 2023 governorship election, yesterday asked the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Hon Ladipo Adebutu, to allow the legal team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to scrutinise documents that they want to tender to the tribunal before tendering them. The tribunal’s directive followed an attempt by the petitioners’ legal team to present over 8,000 documents to the panel to prosecute its case. The Chairman of the three-man panel, Hon Justice Hamidu Kunaza, gave the directive following objections by the respondent counsel as the petitioner attempted to tender the documents as evidence for the prosecution of their case. Ruling on the arguments, the Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice H.N. Kunaza, agreed with the respondents’ counsel. The tribunal said: “We cannot force them to accept documents they have not seen. All of you should look at the documents.” The tribunal’s chairman, therefore, granted the parties two days to thoroughly scrutinise the documents, and adjourned the case to July 6 for the continuation of the hearing. | Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Ladipo Adebutu, Dapo Abiodun | https://tinyurl.com/bdem24pw | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 5th July 2023 | Tinubu, Adamu’s ‘cold war’ worsens as Akpabio, Abbas appoint principal officers | The selection of principal officers of the National Assembly, yesterday, blew open the cold war between President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, as he was blanked out in the decision on how offices were zoned by the lawmakers. While Adamu distanced the ruling party from the selection of principal officers of the National Assembly, APC governors on the other hand, endorsed the appointments and described the new officers as “prominent members of the party.” Sources close to the Presidency told The Guardian that President Tinubu was privy to the zoning and appointments of the principal officers but expressed concerns at the statement by Adamu that the party was not aware of how the decisions were made. The source said: “I can confirm to you that President Tinubu was consulted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, about the appointments before the Sallah holiday. However, I am surprised that the national chairman of the party is claiming ignorance of it. I am sure the matter will be sorted out. It is an internal matter.” | APC, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Adamu, NASS Leadership | Page 6 | |
| Punch Online | 3rd July 2023 | Food crisis looming over banditry in North, says Bafarawa | A former governor of Sokoto State and member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, on Sunday, raised concern over banditry in the North-West and the North-East, expressing fear that it might precipitate food shortage crisis. According to him, the new administration of President Bola Tinubu should consider food security as one of its priorities. Bafarawa also warned that if stringent measures were not taken to curb insecurity, the North would face severe educational backwardness. The ex-governor said these in an interview with Punch Newspaper on Sunday, 2nd July 2023. | Food Security, North, Attahiru Bafarawa | https://tinyurl.com/9ax6fc8f | |
| Punch Online | 3rd July 2023 | Niger govt dissolves state electoral commission | Niger State Governor, Umar Bago has dissolved the State Independent Electoral Commission. This is contained in a statement issued by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman in Minna on Sunday. The dissolution, he said, was with effect from May 29. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Niger State House of Assembly had on September 27, 2022, sacked the Chairman of NSIEC, Alhaji Baba Aminu over alleged misconduct. | Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Umar Bago, Dissolution | https://tinyurl.com/ysdnamu5 | |
| Punch Online | 3rd July 2023 | Presidential tribunal adjourns INEC’s defence to July 4 | The Presidential Petition Election Court has adjourned to Tuesday, July 4, the hearing of the defence filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The court on June 23 fixed Monday, July 3 for respondents to open their case in defence of the petition filed by aggrieved parties challenging the outcome of the February 25 election wherein Bola Tinubu emerged as the president. During Monday’s proceedings, counsel for INEC, A.B Mahmoud, SAN, informed the court that the commission had billed three witnesses to give their testimony in aid of their defence. However, he said that the witness who was scheduled to testify was unavoidably absent from the court. He thereafter sought that the matter be moved to the next day. | Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, INEC | https://tinyurl.com/2bjm66t2 | |
| The Vangaurd | 3rd July 2023 | Ifeanyi Ubah moves to end Monday sit-at-home in his constituency | Senator Ifeanyi Ubah representing Anambra South Senatorial District at the National Assembly has moved to end Monday sit-at-home in his constituency soon, saying the illegal exercise has caused much damages and plains to Ndigbo. He spoke while addressing over 2000 vigilante operatives from the four quarters of Nnewi, comprising Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewi-Ichi, at the Ifeanyi Ubah International stadium, Nnewi, where he inaugurated security gadgets procured to ensure adequate security for the entire Nnewi community and environ. Senator Ubah said the vigilante would move into action to protect the people and their businesses to enable them to move out and do their businesses freely on Mondays. He directed them to commence work today. While beefing up security, Ubah said he is also working hard to see that Nnamdi Kanu is freed from detention. | Ifeanyi Ubah, IPOB, SIt-at-home | https://tinyurl.com/5c444t3k | |
| The Vanguard | 3rd July 2023 | Battle for leadership of c’ttees, ministerial list’s screening top agenda as Senate resumes tomorrow | As senators resume tomorrow, the fight for those to become the principal officers for both the majority and minority parties would now be taken to the National Assembly. Though the issue of who become the principal officers is purely a party affair, recent developments have shown both internal and external influence in the matter, just as what played out in the case of House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP wrote to the then speaker, Femi Gbajiabiamila, submitting the name of Chinda Kingsley, but the speaker tricked the PDP and announced Ndudi Elumelu as the minority leader. In the Senate, the principal office positions for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are the majority leader; chief whip; deputy leader; and deputy whip, while the opposition parties have the minority leader; minority whip; deputy minority leader and deputy minority whip. | NASS Leadership, Ministerial Nomination | https://tinyurl.com/mssbwmkh | |