| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Page No/Weblink | No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 26 2019 | Imo North: INEC Issues Certificate of Return to Uwajumogu | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has bowed to pressure and issued a Certificate of Return to Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Imo North senatorial district election. Uwajumogu was issued the certificate on Thursday, July 25 2019, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. Addressing newsmen shortly after collecting the certificate, he commended the judiciary for standing by what he described as the truth. Uwajumogu also commended INEC for obeying the court order, which directed that he should be issued the certificate and commended the people of his district for not taking laws into their hands during his trying times. He pledged to rededicate himself to serving Imo North better than he did in eighth Senate. | Imo North Senatorial District, Benjamin Uwajumogu, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/26/imo-north-inec-issues-certificate-of-return-to-uwajumogu/ | 22 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 26 2019 | Buhari: Next Four Years Will Drive Economic Growth, Enhance Efficiency | President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his administration would evolve policies that would foster economic growth, drive industrialisation and enhance efficiency. The President made the pledge on Thursday, July 25 2019, while delivering his closing remarks at the end of a two-day Presidential policy dialogue session, which was attended by Governors, policy experts, private sector actors and others, including the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed. The President stated that his administration in the next four years, would explore deliberations made at the meeting to develop policies aimed at stimulating significant investments that would industrialise the agriculture sector, facilitate private sector participation in infrastructure development, unlock growth potentials in the petroleum sector and improve ease of doing business in Nigeria. He added that his government will fix the power sector, address security challenges, launch consumer credit schemes to encourage citizens’ access to long-term mortgages and consumer credit. | President Muhammadu Buhari, Second Term | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/26/buhari-next-four-years-will-drive-economic-growth-enhance-efficiency/ | 22 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 26 2019 | Reps to Buhari: Appoint more women to offices | The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Barr. Imoh Williams, for allegedly assaulting an artisan he owed N75,000, according to a video which shows aides of the Chairman beating a half-dressed man with a belt and kicking him for daring to request that the Chairman pay up his debt. The State Governor, Udom Emmanuel had condemned the assault on the artisan by aides of the Council Chairman and directed that the State Assembly conduct full investigation into the matter. Accordingly, the State Assembly, during plenary on Thursday, July 26 2019, mandated the Vice Chairman of the Council, Mrs. Benita Ukpe, to take over the affairs of the council while investigation into the alleged assault continues. | Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Abak Local Government Area, Barr. Imoh Williams | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/a-ibom-assembly-suspends-lg-chair-over-assault.html | 22 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 26 2019 | Akwa Ibom Assembly suspends Local Goverment Chairman over assault | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promised to conduct credible, transparent, free and fair primaries for the Bayelsa and Kogi States’ Governorship elections. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a press statement on Thursday, July 25 2019 also advised the aspirants and would-be delegates to conduct themselves according to the party’s rules and regulations before, during and after the primaries. Ologbondiyan also stated that the party would adopt indirect primaries/delegate system for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship primaries. According to the Governorship timetable signed by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.), the Governorship primaries/State primary congresses for Bayelsa and Kogi States will hold on Tuesday, September 3 2019, while the publication of delegates list by the PDP National Working Committee has been slated for Friday, August 30 2019. | Bayelsa and Kogi States 2019 Governorship Election, PDP, Primaries | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/a-ibom-assembly-suspends-lg-chair-over-assault.html | 22 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Friday, July 26 2019 | PDP adopts indirect primaries for Kogi, Bayelsa polls | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promised to conduct credible, transparent, free and fair primaries for the Bayelsa and Kogi States’ Governorship elections. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a press statement on Thursday, July 25 2019 also advised the aspirants and would-be delegates to conduct themselves according to the party’s rules and regulations before, during and after the primaries. Ologbondiyan also stated that the party would adopt indirect primaries/delegate system for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship primaries. According to the Governorship timetable signed by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.), the Governorship primaries/State primary congresses for Bayelsa and Kogi States will hold on Tuesday, September 3 2019, while the publication of delegates list by the PDP National Working Committee has been slated for Friday, August 30 2019. | Bayelsa and Kogi States 2019 Governorship Election, PDP, Primaries | https://punchng.com/pdp-adopts-indirect-primaries-for-kogi-bayelsa-polls/ | 22 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Friday, July 26 2019 | NASS intervention hindering resolution of Edo crisis –APC Chair | Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua, has stated that the National Assembly does not have any reason to intervene in the crisis rocking the State House of Assembly. Ojezua who made the comment in a press statement on Thursday, July 25 2019, added that the intervention of the National Assembly in the State Assembly crisis was an impediment to the peaceful resolution of the crisis. The party Chairman further stated that since the matter had been taken to the court, the National Assembly ought to have waited for it to be determined there. He however underscored that the people of Edo State would protect their independence if there was the need to do so, stressing that the State was a federating unit of the country and should not be treated as a colony of the Federal Government. | Edo State House of Assembly Crisis, APC | https://punchng.com/nass-intervention-hindering-resolution-of-edo-crisis-apc-chair/ | 22 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 24 2019 | Kogi: Women group buys SDP form for Natasha Akpoti | A group in Kogi State under the aegis of Women Supporting Women (WSW), on Tuesday, July 23 2019, purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for Barr. Natasha Akpoti to contest for the upcoming November 16 Governorship election in the State under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP). Speaking on behalf of the group on why they purchased the form for Natasha, Hajia Ummihani Otokiti a member of the group, stated that the aspirant had shown competence and capacity to represent the good people of Kogi State. Presenting the forms to the aspirant, the SDP National Organising Secretary, Emeka Atuma stated that he had not seen women contributing money to buy Governorship forms for another woman. He further described Natasha Akpoti as fearless, strong and enigma of hope. Atuma stated that SDP was women friendly and encouraged women in politics. He revealed that the party decided to wave ten million naira from the cost of the nomination form for female aspirants, adding that they will only pay for the expression of interest form. He further stated that “We all want a prosperous Kogi State, where principles of Social Justice, equity, peace and unity where we will harness the opportunities and the strength of our diversity”. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, SDP Kogi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-women-group-buys-sdp-form-for-natasha-akpoti.html | 21 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 24 2019 | 2019 elections: INEC withdraws 87 certificates of return | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that it has withdrawn 87 Certificates of Return issued to some candidates that were declared winners during the 2019 General Elections, following court orders. This was contained in a statement made by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Tuesday, July 23 2019, following a protest on Monday by a Senator-elect, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, and his supporters at the INEC headquarters in Abuja decrying the withholding of his Certificate of Return by the Commission, despite a court order. Okoye stated that the commitment of the Commission is to the rule of law and due process and the growth of the democratic process and that despite the challenges of the party primary elections, INEC has cancelled, and withdrawn Certificates of Return based on the orders of different courts of law. He added that all court orders are subjected to the processes and procedures of the Commission after being served with the orders. | 2019 General Election Petitions, Imo North Senatorial District, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-inec-withdraws-87-certificates-of-return.html | 21 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 24 2019 | PDP panel begins probe of some of its memebers in the National Assembly | A panel set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to investigate why some of its members in the 9th National Assembly failed to abide by its directives in the election of Principal Officers in both chambers, has commenced its probe. Some PDP members in the Senate and House of Representatives were alleged to have compromised the party's interests, a development that made it easier for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to have its way in the leadership of the National Assembly. The 10-man panel led by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara met with some members of the National Assembly at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, July 23 2019 to unravel what transpired before and during the election of Principal Officers of the National Assembly. Addressing members of the committee and lawmakers during the meeting, Wabara stated that the committee would find out and recommend ways to checkmate such tendencies in the future and ensure that all members work together to defend the interest of the party at all times. | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-panel-begins-probe-of-erring-n-assembly-members.html | 21 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, July 24 2019 | Ministerial Screening: Senate Postpones Vacation by One Week, Suspends Its Rules | The Senate has postponed its annual vacation scheduled to commence on Friday, July 25 2019 to next week, to enable it screen the 43 names on the ministerial list submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, told reporters on Tuesday, July 23 2019, that the upper chamber decided to move its vacation by a week to allow it do a thorough job in the screening of the ministerial nominees. He stated that the Senate will also suspend its rules to allow the screening exercise to last till as late as 10pm from Wednesday, July 24 2019. Adeyeye added that the Senate will also sit on Friday and Monday which are usually not plenary days to enable it conclude the screening exercise before the end of the coming week. | President Muhammadu Buhari, Ministerial List, National Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/23/ministerial-screening-senate-postpones-vacation-by-one-week-suspends-its-rules/ | 21 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, July 24 2019 | US Imposes Visa Ban on People Suspected of Undermining Nigeria’s Democracy | The United States of America (USA) on Tuesday, July 23 2019, announced that it will officially impose visa restrictions on individuals or groups suspected of undermining democratic processes in Nigeria. The United States, in a statement by the State Department, explained that while its decision on this was not specifically targeted at the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari, it however was doing this as part of its support for the government’s stated commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights. In the statement, the US State Department reiterated that it had earlier stated that it would consider consequences, including visa restrictions for individuals responsible for undermining the Nigerian democratic process or for inciting election-related violence prior to the 2019 General elections. Furthermore, the statement read, “To that end, the Secretary of State is imposing visa restrictions on Nigerians believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria. These individuals have operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and undermined democratic principles and human rights”. | Post 2019 General Elections, United States of America | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/24/us-imposes-visa-ban-on-people-suspected-of-undermining-nigerias-democracy/ | 21 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | APC Loses Bid to Reclaim Zamfara Elective Positions | The Supreme Court on Monday, July 22 2019, turned down a request by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reverse its decision upholding the declaration that the party had no candidates in the 2019 general election in Zamfara State. The Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on May 24 2019, had set aside the election of all APC candidates in Zamfara State on the grounds that they were not qualified to have participated in the 2019 General election, holding that the party did not conduct primary elections in the State. However, not satisfied with the Supreme Court judgment, APC in a fresh application asked the court to review and set aside the order it made, that candidates of the party with the second highest votes should be declared winners the General elections in Zamfara State. But a five-man panel of the court, led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, struck out the application for being incompetent and lacking in merit. | Zamfara State, APC, Supreme Court | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/23/apc-loses-bid-to-reclaim-zamfara-elective-positions/ | 20 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | Court Stops National Assembly from Taking over Bauchi Assembly | As the National Assembly received a report from the committee it sent to Bauchi State to probe the leadership crisis rocking the Bauchi State House of Assembly since its inauguration last month, a High Court in the State on Monday, July 22 2019, issued an order of interim injunction ordering that the present Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman and Hon. Danlami Kawule, respectively, should continue leading the House of Assembly, pending the determination of the motion before it. Justice Muazu Abubakar who issued the order fixed October 3, 2019 for hearing of the motion and substantive application filed by the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and 11 other members of the State Assembly, while ordering parties to maintain status quo. | Bauchi State Assembly crisis | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/23/court-stops-national-assembly-from-taking-over-bauchi-assembly/ | 20 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | Leave Jonathan, Dickson out of your Campaigns, Bayelsa Goverment Warns Politicians | The Bayelsa State Government on Monday, July 22 2019, called on those it described as desperate politicians interested in the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to leave the State Governor, Seriake Dickson, and former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, out of their political campaigns in the State. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, in a statement made in Yenagoa, urged the Governorship aspirants of the PDP to focus their attention on unveiling their development agenda for the State, rather than deploying underhand tactics to create division between the Governor and the former President for political gains. Soriwei decried the situation where politicians seeking to contest the Governorship election sponsor parallel publications against the Governor and his team; and the former President and his team, with the intent to deepen disagreement and fault lines in the State. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/22/leave-jonathan-dickson-out-of-your-campaigns-bayelsa-govt-warns-politicians/ | 20 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | Paulker joins Bayelsa State Governorship race | A two-time Senator from Bayelsa State, Emmanuel Paulker, has joined the race for the November 16 Governorship election in the State with a pledge to diversify the economy. Sen. Paulker who obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National secretariat in Abuja, stated that he would make the State less dependent on federal allocation if given the mandate. He also promised to establish processing industries and create an enabling environment for Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive in the State. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Senator Emmanuel Paulker | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/paulker-joins-bayelsa-govship-race.html | 20 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | Plateau Bye-election to hold with 67,033 Registered Voters | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State has stated that voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will participate in next month’s Bye-election for Pengana State Constituency. The election scheduled for August 3 2019, followed the demise of Ezekiel Afon of the All Progressives Congress (APC,) who died hours after he won re-election to the House of Assembly for a second term. In a statement, INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Plateau State, Osaretin Imahiyereobo, stated that the election would hold in 60 polling units and 127 voting points in 7 Registration Areas. He noted that there is a total of 67,033 voters in the polling units but stressed that only those who had collected their PVCs would be allowed to participate in the election. | Plateau State Bye-Election, Pengana State Constituency | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/67033-to-participate-in-plateau-by-election.html | 20 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Tuesday, July 23 2019 | Imo North: Protests in INEC over Uwajumogu’s certificate of return | There was an uproar at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Monday, July 22 2019, as supporters of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu clashed with security agencies. Prior to the incident, a team of his supporters under the aegis of the Concerned Citizens had gone to INEC Office in Maitama, Abuja, to protest the refusal of the Commission to give him a Certificate of Return despite the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja. But on arrival at the INEC headquarters, Uwajumogu was prevented from entering the premises of the Commission, a situation which led to a face-off between his supporters and security operatives on duty. Speaking to newsmen, Uwajumogu stated, “I am here to demand for my Certificate of Return from INEC which I deserve. As you are aware, elections were conducted, INEC has refused to give me my Certifcate of Return. As law-abiding citizens, we approached the Federal High Court about three weeks ago, which gave judgment in our favour, demanding that INEC should give me my Certificate of Return. | Imo North Senatorial District, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu | https://punchng.com/imo-north-protests-in-inec-over-uwajumogus-certificate-of-return/ | 20 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 19 2019 | APC sacks North West Vice Chair | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, July 18 2019 upheld the sacking of the party’s North West Vice Chairman, Barr. Inuwa Abdulkadir. In a statement signed by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party upheld the disciplinary actions of Magajin Gari “A” Ward in Sokoto North Local Government Area of Sokoto State and the party’s State executive committee which dismissed Abdulkadir over alleged anti-party activities. The statement also revealed that the party's organs in Sokoto State had earlier expelled Inuwa Abdulkadir and passed on their recommendation to the NWC for ratification. The decision to uphold the actions of the Sokoto APC organs was taken at a meeting of the NWC held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Following the suspension of Abdulkadir, the NWC will forward the decision of the party in the State, to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for further actions, according to the statement. | All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto State | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-sacks-north-west-vice-chair.html | 13 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 19 2019 | Youths protest closure of Edo State of Assembly | Commercial activities were paralysed in Benin Metropolis, the Edo State capital on Thursday, July 19 2019, as a result of a protest by hundreds of youths over the proposed take over of the House of Assembly by the House of Representatives. Some of the protesters who spoke with newsmen stated that the people of the State were solidly behind Governor Obaseki and nothing could alter that because the State has been making progress under his leadership. They added that he should be allowed to continue his good works in the State. The Youth Leader of the All aprogressives Congress (APC) in the State stated thus: "We all stand with Obaseki, and the voice of the people is the voice of God". | Edo State House of Assembly Crisis, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/youths-protest-closure-of-assembly.html | 13 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 19 2019 | INEC boss, Zamfara REC produce poll documents | Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmud Yakubu has produced authentic State-by-State results of the February 23 Presidential election for the 36 States, following a subpoena issued by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Zamfara State also produced some documents as ordered, all of which were presented before the Tribunal on Thursday, July 18 2019. The documents were accompanied by a letter from the Secretary of the Commission, part of which stated as follows: "Know that the Commission had earlier produced, certified and made available to the petitioner over 40,000 documents relating to the 2019 Presidential election". The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Mohammed Garba, had ordered the INEC Chairman and Zamfara State REC to appear and produce some documents on Thursday, July 18 2019, after he found that the records of the court showed that a subpoena for the production of the documents was served and received by the INEC Chairman on July 15 and Zamfara REC on July 12 2019. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-boss-zamfara-rec-produce-poll-documents.html | 13 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 19 2019 | Oshiomhole: I’m Not Behind Takeover Bid of Edo Assembly | National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has denied allegations of sponsoring the takeover of the Edo State House of Assembly by the House of Representatives. Oshiomhole made the clarification through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Simon Ebegbulem, in reaction to the allegation made against him by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye. Part of the statement read thus: “The allegation is a figment of their imagination. Ordinarily, I will not want to be drawn into frivolous allegations. But, let me state that the allegation is untrue. As members of the National Assembly, it is their duty to intervene on issues such as the Gestapo manner the Edo State House of Assembly was inaugurated. This will not be the first time the National Assembly has so intervened, and I am sure the lawmakers also have provisions in their budget for carrying out such duties". Meanwhile, the Senate ad hoc committee investigating the crisis rocking the State Assembly met with the State lawmakers who are being backed by the national leadership of the APC, at the National Assembly on Thursday, July 18 2019 . | Edo State House of Assembly Crisis, APC, Oshiomhole | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/19/oshiomhole-im-not-behind-takeover-bid-of-edo-assembly/ | 13 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 19 2019 | Edo Assembly: PDP Cautions against Constitutional Crisis | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursrday, July 18 2019, cautioned the leadership of the House of Representatives to desist from actions, it described as violating the provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as altered), and capable of triggering a constitutional crisis in Edo State and the country at large. The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the order made by the House of Representatives, asking the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to shut down the Edo State House of Assembly is completely unconstitutional, provocative and has no place in a democratic dispensation. The party called on Nigerians to note that section 11 of the 1999 Constitution, upon which the House of Representatives anchored its decision, does not in any way empower the House of Representatives to shut down a functioning State legislature. | Edo State House of Assembly Crisis, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/19/edo-assembly-pdp-cautions-against-constitutional-crisis/ | 13 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 18 2019 | House of Representatives panel submits report on Bauchi Assembly, promises justice | The House of Representatives Committee set up to resolve the crisis in the Bauchi State House of Assembly has concluded its investigation and promised to ensure that justice is done with regard to complaints received from across the State. The 12-man Committee headed by Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, which began collation of complaints from aggrieved lawmakers and critical stakeholders on Monday, July 15 2019, has returned to Abuja to submit its report to the National Assembly. Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, July 17 2019 at the Bauchi State House of Assembly after a visit to the chamber, Adar stated that 28 memoranda and oral testimonies were received during the investigation. He further stated that the petitioners co-operated with the panel, as they answered all questions asked, adding that their co-operation would go a long way to assist the Committee in its report to the National Assembly. The Police Command in Bauchi State also testified before the panel. The Commissioner of Police (CP), Habu Sani Ahmadu and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mohammed Yakubu absolved the Command of any complicity in the crisis. | Bauchi State House of Assembly Crisis, House of Representatives | https://guardian.ng/politics/reps-panel-submits-report-on-bauchi-assembly-promises-justice/ | 12 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 18 2019 | House of Representatives order Obaseki to reconstitute Edo State Assembly | A seven-member adhoc Committee of the House of Representatives chaired by Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa)on Wednesday, July 17 2019 gave Governor Godwin Obaseki one week to issue a fresh proclamation to reconstitute the Edo State House of Assembly following the provision of section 105 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered). It directed that the date, time and venue of inauguration of the Assembly be published in a national daily or television station. The Committee was set up to intervene in the Edo State House of Assembly crisis.The Committee further declared as null and void all decisions taken by the seventh Assembly in the State, pending its “proper inauguration” by the Governor. It also advised members to dissolve their factions in the interest of peace and stability of the State. The Committee directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to shut the Assembly complex and provide adequate security to allay fears of intimidation and threat to lives alleged by a section of the members-elect. It further warned that it will take over activities of the House in line with section 11(4) of the Constitution if the Governor fails to heed its directive. | Edo State House of Assembly Crisis, APC | https://guardian.ng/politics/reps-order-obaseki-to-reconstitute-edo-assembly/ | 12 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 18 2019 | Ignore inciting, divisive leaders, APC urges Nigerians | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed concern over what it described as ‘reckless and provocative statements’ of some leaders and interests in the country. Referring to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa Onilu in a statement made on Wednesday, July 17 2019, urged Nigerians not to be persuaded by former President Obasanjo’s position on the country’s security situation. The statement noted that inciting comments were counterproductive and dangerous, especially in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria. The APC urged President Buhari’s administration, the National Assembly, religious, traditional leaders and all well-meaning Nigerians not to be distracted by divisive elements in the country. Insisting that Nigerians should feel free and safe to live and work anywhere in the country, Onilu charged security agencies to intensify ongoing efforts to rid the country of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other crimes. | All Progressives Congress (APC), | https://guardian.ng/politics/ignore-inciting-divisive-leaders-apc-urges-nigerians/ | 12 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, July 18 2019 | INEC Commissioner wants new body to handle party registration | A National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chairman, Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi has suggested that a separate organisation be responsible for the registration and monitoring of registered political parties in the country.He stated this while speaking on the challenges faced by the Commission during a roundtable programme organised by TEI themed, ‘Revisiting the Template for INEC’s Elections Operational and Logistics Plan: A Focus on the 2019 General Elections’. He stated that the tasks before INEC were enormous and therefore, “Registration of political parties should be a full-time job for another body. Also, prosecution of electoral offenders is a task for INEC which needs to be looked into”. Soyebi, who stated there had been an increase in the number of registered voters from 2015 to 2019, as well as the number of political parties, admitted that INEC needed to improve on its logistics preparations. He added that the cost of the elections was on the increase and the Commission was working hard to reduce it. | Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Political Party Registration | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-commissioner-wants-new-body-to-handle-party-registration.html | 12 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, July 18 2019 | Kogi guber: I’m not afraid of power brokers — Saraha | An estate developer, Alhaji Kabiru Saraha, and an aspirant for the November 16 Kogi Governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that he is not afraid of power brokers in the State. Saraha who obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, July 17 2019, pledged to turn the fortunes of the State for the better if given the mandate. According to him, Kogi state deserves a fresh start, away from the sad realities of the past four years which has left the people groaning in pain and penury under the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also stated that, "We have gone round the State to sell our vision to our people and they are behind our aspiration to make Kogi better. We have the mineral resources and human capital to take the State to new heights. Our plans are robust and they centre on human capacity building, agricultural revolution, tourism, job creation and poverty alleviation". | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Kogi, Kabiru Saraha | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-guber-im-not-afraid-of-power-brokers-saraha.html | 12 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 18 2019 | Atiku’s Election Petition: Tribunal Orders INEC Chairman to Appear Thursday | The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to appear before it by noon on Thursday, July 18 2019. It gave the order on Wednesday, JUly 17 2019, following an earlier subpoena issued and served on Yakubu and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Zamfara State. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate in the last general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who are the petitioners, had filed two applications on July 9 2019, seeking an order of the court to compel Yakubu to personally appear before the Tribunal and present certain documents listed by the petitioners. According to the Chairman of the Tribunal, the records of the court show that Yakubu was served on July 15 and the Zamfara REC on July 12, but both of them are yet to respond to the subpoena. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/18/atikus-election-petition-tribunal-orders-inec-chairman-to-appear-thursday/ | 12 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 18 2019 | Alleged Assault: Senate Extends Abbo’s Probe by One Week | The Senate on Wednesday, July 17 2019, granted one-week extension to its Ad-hoc Committee investigating Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) over alleged assault on a nursing mother in an adult toy shop in Abuja recently. Chairman of the seven-man ad-hoc Committee, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), had told the Senate at plenary that the victim, who was reportedly slapped by the lawmaker in a video that has gone viral, did not honour his invitation. According to him, all efforts to make both the assaulted lady and the shop owner to appear before the Committee did not succeed. Senator Egwu further revealed that Senator Abbo refused to make submissions before the Committee because the matter is subjudice. He added that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT command and the lawyers of the victims also refused to make submissions, citing the same reason. Egwu, therefore, requested that his panel investigations be stepped down pending the determination of the criminal case instituted against Abbo by the Police. The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan disagreed with Egwu, stressing that the panel could go ahead with its work notwithstanding the court case. According to him, what the Senate was investigating was the alleged misconduct of its member and not the criminal case against him which is already being handled by the Police. | Senator Elisha Abbo, Alleged Assault | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/18/alleged-assault-senate-extends-abbos-probe-by-one-week/ | 12 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | Bayelsa APC meeting deadlocked over mode of primaries | A meeting to decide the mode of primaries in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bayelsa State gubernatorial election almost ended in a stalemate as members disagreed over the Chairman, Jothan Amos’s attempt to impose direct primaries on the party. The meeting, which was convened on Tuesday, July 16 2019, to discuss the selection of the party’s candidate for the November 16 poll was attended by key stakeholders including former Governor Timipre Sylva and immediate past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri. Others in attendance include a former member of the President Buhari Campaign Council, Preye Aganaba and elected National Assembly members of the party. However, the meeting became rowdy when the State Chairman, Amos stated in his opening remarks that direct primaries would be adopted. Some members of the party insisted that Amos could not just summon a stakeholders’ meeting and announce a mode of primaries without consulting the State Working Committee. | Bayelsa State Governorship Election, APC | https://guardian.ng/news/bayelsa-apc-meeting-deadlocked-over-mode-of-primaries/ | 11 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | Reps to address grey areas in Electoral Act | The House Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa (APC, Kano), has said the 9th House will revisit the 2010 Electoral Act in order to address noticeable “grey areas” which affected the outcome of the 2019 General elections. Doguwa disclosed this on Tuesday, July 16 2019 in Abuja, when he received a delegation of the House of Representatives Press Corps. He expressed confidence that lawmakers in the 9th House were capable of achieving that goal, especially going by their track record and experiences. According to him, “I believe the 9th House is equal to that task given the calibre and capacity of the lawmakers, as well as the leadership acumen of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila". | 9th National Assembly, House of Representatives, Electoral Act | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-to-address-grey-areas-in-electoral-act-2.html | 11 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | INEC explains why Server was not used for 2019 poll | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identified infrastructural challenges as one of the factors against the use of electronic transmission in the conduct of the 2019 General elections. This was contained in a video of an interview of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu with Channels TV anchor, Seun Okinbaloye on February 6 2019, which was tendered before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal by counsel to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alex Izinyon (SAN). The two-minute clip which was played back during the cross examination of former PDP presidential campaign spokesman, Segun Sowunmi, showed Prof. Yakubu explaining that deploying technology for elections would take some time in Nigeria. He further stated that he held discussions with the National Communications Commission (NCC) and identified blind spots and satellite locations in Nigeria where the network bandwidth was not up to 2G or 3G for easy electronic transmission of results. However, when Izinyon pointed to the INEC boss and the Channels TV anchor in the video, Sowunmi said the pictures were blurred and he couldn’t confirm the individuals. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, INEC Server, Transmission of Results | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-explains-why-server-wasnt-used-for-2019-poll.html | 11 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | Atiku is Nigerian, not Cameroonian — Ex-Ambassador | A former Nigerian Ambassador to Romania, Ambassador Magdiel Samaki has told the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar was born a Nigerian. Ambassador Samaki who appeared as PDP witness at the Tribunal, explained that he knew Atiku and his mother, Aisha Kande, who hailed from Dutse in present day Jigawa State, adding that school records showed that Atiku was born on 25th November, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State. When the APC counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN) questioned him about the 1961 plebiscite which converted parts of Adamawa into part of Northern Nigeria, Ambassador Samaki insisted that the State had always been part of Northern Nigeria. In related evidence, another witness, Mohamed Kabir Hayatu, a retired Customs officer testified that he had contact with Atiku’s service record in the Nigerian Customs Service as a retired senior officer. Under cross examination by the defence lawyers: Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), Mike Igbokwe (SAN) and Akin Olujimi (SAN), Hayatu stated that Jada, where Atiku was born remained part of Northern Nigeria, adding that he confirmed same from his father. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-is-nigerian-not-cameroonian-ex-ambassador.html | 11 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | 91 parties want INEC to conduct LG elections | A coalition of 91 political parties under the aegis of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Tuesday (July 16 2019), advocated for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to start conducting local government elections as part of reforms in the electoral process. Chairman of IPAC and National Chairman of Progressive People’s Alliance, Chief Peter Ameh made the call in Abuja during the 10th anniversary of KOWA Party. Political parties argued that the conduct of local government elections by the State Independent Electoral Commissions have remained a threat to democracy because the process has allegedly been hijacked by State Governors. According to IPAC, the failure to conduct a free, fair and credible election by SIEC is the reason why multi-party democracy has not flourished in Nigeria. Ameh stated that despite the complaints against INEC, the Commission would do better in the conduct of LG elections in the country. | Local Government Elections, IPAC, Political Parties, INEC | https://punchng.com/91-parties-want-inec-to-conduct-lg-elections-indict-govs/ | 11 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, July 17 2019 | Alleged intimidation: Zamfara APC sets up security committee | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has set up a security committee to protect its members against intimidation and harassment by the State government. Briefing journalists shortly after its inauguration, the Committee’s Chairman, CP Abdullahi Tsafe (rtd.) stated that based on reports of intimidation, harassment and destruction of APC’s properties by members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, it became imperative for the party to stand up and defend its members. He added that, “We will not fold our arms to see our people being subjected to all forms of maltreatment simply because we lost power in the State”. Tsafe maintained that they had since visited all the security formations in the State with a view to intimating them of the negative attitude of PDP members for them to take action to remedy the situation before it got out of control. | All Progressives Congress (APC), Zamfara State | https://punchng.com/alleged-intimidation-zamfara-apc-sets-up-security-committee/ | 11 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 16 2019 | Kogi gov’ship: We’ll match APC’s violent tendencies — Ex-Gov Wada | A former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not fold its arms and watch the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any individual perpetrate violence in the November 16 governorship election, to “steal” the party’s mandate in the State. Wada, who obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms to run in the election, at the PDP National Secretariat on Monday, July 15 2019 in Abuja, told newsmen that PDP leaders would organise active people to come up with a clear response strategy to any violent tendency on the part of the ruling party. He stated that the 2015 Governorship election in which he lost re-election as Governor of the State was manipulated in favour of the current government. He further stated that, “We are not going to watch people steal an election from us this time around; we are going to fight for it. We are going to unite the people of our party” . | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Kogi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-govship-well-match-apcs-violent-tendencies-ex-gov-wada.html | 10 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 16 2019 | Bauchi Assembly resumes, approves Governor's 10 advisers | The Bauchi State House of Assembly resumed sitting on Monday, July 15 2019 after indefinite adjournment of its last plenary session. The session was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleman. In the course of its plenary, the Bauchi House of Assembly approved Governor Bala Mohammed’s request to appoint 10 Special Advisers. The Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Bakoji Bobbo who read the letter from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, seeking approval for appointment of the Special Advisers, noted that the State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed was calling on members of the Bauchi State 9th Assembly to be committed to enacting laws that will provide dividends of democracy to the citizens of the State. | Bauchi State House of Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bauchi-assembly-resumes-approves-govs-10-advisers.html | 10 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 16 2019 | Crisis: PDP National Secretariat Takes over Leadership of Party in Plateau | Following the leadership crisis rocking the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the national secretariat of the party has taken over the affairs of the party in the State. The national secretariat has constituted a committee to look into the leadership crisis and directed the party Chairman in the North Central zone, Mr. Theophilus Dakashan, to oversee the party in the State, pending the resolution of the crisis. In a letter addressed to Mr. Dakashan by the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, the national secretariat warned those laying claim to the party leadership in the State to desist from doing so until the committee concludes its assignment. Former Senate President, David Mark is expected to arrive in the State this week to meet with party stakeholders over the crisis. | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateu State | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/16/crisis-pdp-national-secretariat-takes-over-leadership-of-party-in-plateau/ | 10 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 16 2019 | Tribunal Admits Atiku’s Video Evidence in Petition against Buhari | The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, July 15 2019, dismissed objections by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), and admitted as exhibits 48 VCDs tendered by the petitioners -Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Counsel to Buhari, INEC and APC, in their submissions, had objected to the admissibility of the video evidence on the grounds that the documents were not front loaded and were not part of the documents agreed on, adding that the petitioners took them by surprise. The five-man panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, in admitting the documents, dismissed the objections raised by all the respondents on the grounds that the documents sought to be tendered were in line with the agreement reached by the parties and adopted by the Tribunal. Atiku and his party, the PDP, are alleging that the February 23 presidential poll was marred by widespread rigging, violence and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP, Buhari, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/16/tribunal-admits-atikus-video-evidence-in-petition-against-buhari/ | 10 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Tuesday, July 16 2019 | Women groups excited as Kogi gets female guber aspirant | There was palpable excitement and jubilation among some women groups at the national headquarters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, when Princess Iye Grace Adejoh, picked the party’s expression of interest form to contest the November 16 governorship poll in Kogi State. Princess Adejoh stated that women are good managers at home and in office, assuring that she would ensure that Kogi State regains its pride of place in the comity of States in Nigeria. While stating that she is in the race to rescue the children of Kogi from the indoctrination of thuggery and violence, Princess Adejoh noted that although PDP has been through challenges, it is currently witnessing a form of strange opposition in the State since 2015. The PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) speaking with Princess Adejoh stated that, “Your participation would make electioneering more interesting for women in Kogi, believing that they will all come out to support the party. Anywhere we can assist you without compromising the process, we will not be intimidated by men who are already in the race”. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Kogi | https://guardian.ng/politics/women-groups-excited-as-kogi-gets-female-guber-aspirant/ | 10 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 15 2019 | I’ll win primary whether direct or indirect — Prince Audu | A gubernatorial aspirant in Kogi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, has declared confidence in defeating the incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello, by winning the governorship ticket in the upcoming primary of the party in the State. According to Audu, “Whether the primary is direct or indirect, I’m not bothered by it. Although it’s good to listen to what the people and stakeholders want, especially since most are leaning towards direct primary, I advise the party to heed the advice given to them. Nonetheless, I do not feel threatened either; and I am sure that whichever one holds, I will win it. It is not a do or die affair”, Audu said. The son of the late Kogi State Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, also said he would carry on the legacy of his late political icon father. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC, Prince Audu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ill-win-primary-whether-direct-or-indirect-prince-audu.html | 9 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 15 2019 | Police dismisses report of attack on Atiku’s witnesses | Zamfara Police Command has denied reports of attack on witnesses of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the State. Counsel to Atiku had told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal at its last sitting on Friday, July 12 2019 that the witnesses were attacked on their way to Abuja from Zamfara. However, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Shehu, in a statement on Sunday in Gusau claimed that no such attack was recorded in the State. He stated that, "Based on the crime statistics available to the Command, there was no attack by bandits either on villages or on any person or group of persons traveling on any highway in the State,” he said. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP, Zamfara State, Nigeria Police | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-dismisses-report-of-attack-on-atikus-witnesses.html | 9 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 15 2019 | 2019 election petitions: Justice Bulkachuwa cancels vacations for judges | The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, has cancelled the 2019 annual vacation for Justices of the Court. Justice Bulkachuwa explained that the cancellation was to enable the appellate court attend to “the enormous petitions” in the 2019 General elections. A statement by the Media Officer of the Court of Appeal, Sa’adat Musa, on Sunday, July 14 2019 stated that this year’s annual vacations, from July to October, coincided with the period the appeals have to be determined. Therefore, Justices of the Court of Appeal have to forfeit their annual vacation to enable them entertain and determine all appeals arising from the various Election Petition Tribunals transmitted to the Court. The statement further noted that the President of the Court of Appeal had directed that a roster be drawn up for Justices with medical appointments or other pressing family issues to travel for not more than 15 days within the period, and in “such a manner that at any given time, there is a three member panel on ground in every division to hear and determine appeals”. | 2019 General Election Petitions, Court of Appeal | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-election-petitions-justice-bulkachuwa-cancels-vacations-for-judges.html | 9 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 15 2019 | Reps committee visits Bauchi over State Assembly crisis | The Adhoc Committee set up by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to wade into the Bauchi State House of Assembly leadership crisis has arrived the State. The 12-member committee is headed by Musa Sarkin Adar (Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency) and is tasked with the responsibility of investigating the circumstances that led to the emergence of two Speakers at the Bauchi State House of Assembly. The members of the committee arrived Bauchi on Sunday, July 14 2019 to meet with the lawmakers and other stakeholders, to find ways of resolving the leadership issues in the State's Legislature. A public hearing is expected to be conducted by the Committee in Bauchi on Tuesday, July 16 2019. | Bauchi State House of Assembly Crisis | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-committee-visits-bauchi-over-state-assembly-crisis.html | 9 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, July 15 2019 | INEC: We’re the weakest Electoral Body Worldwide | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once again, underscored that it lacks power to arrest and investigate electoral offenders under the legal instruments that established it. INEC Director on Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi speaking at the 11th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series held at MUSON Centre, Lagos on Saturday, July 13 2019 stated that the Commission is the weakest electoral body in the world. Osaze-Uzzi, one of the discussants at the lecture, explained that the powers of INEC under the 1999 Constitution and 2010 Electoral Act (as altered) was limited to the conduct of elections. He added that, “Even though INEC has the powers to conduct elections, it lacks the powers to sanction or disqualify erring candidates. Also, it lacks power to determine the number of political parties the country should have". | Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Electoral Offences | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/14/inec-were-the-weakest-electoral-body-worldwide/ | 9 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, July 15 2019 | Electoral offenders should be treated like terrorists – KOWA Party | The KOWA Party has said that any person who breaches the provisions of the Electoral Act and partakes in electoral violence should be treated like a terrorist.The party also demanded the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal, which should be charged with the prosecution of those it described as “electoral armed robbers” and other people involved in all forms of electoral malpractice. The Acting National Chairman of KOWA Party, Mark Adebayo stated this while speaking to the media in an interview. He further stated that, “Anybody involved in electoral violence should not be treated like an armed robber. He should be tried like a terrorist. Electoral offenders, in this case, include those who buy or sell votes, unleash armed thugs on voters, use their authority and political positions to misuse the security agencies for the purposes of intimidating voters. The list also includes those who use their positions and authority to suppress, repress and oppress their opponents". He added that those who engage in mass killing of innocent Nigerians, arson and other offecnes that affect Nigerians in the quest for elective positions should be punished by life imprisonment. | Electoral Offences, KOWA Party | https://punchng.com/electoral-offenders-should-be-treated-like-terrorists-kowa-party/ | 9 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 12 2019 | Atiku’s Witnesses: How APC Rigged Election in Kaduna, Borno | Witnesses called by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his petition against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari gave evidence on Thursday, July 11 2019 to support their allegations that the February 23 Presidential election was rigged in Kaduna and Borno States in favour of the incumbent. The witnesses alleged that agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) connived with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to falsify figures, mostly at the Local Government and State levels. They added that thugs of the APC connived with security agents and chased agents of the petitioners away, to allow Election officials to carry out the alleged manipulation of the results. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP, Buhari, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/12/atikus-witnesses-how-apc-rigged-election-in-kaduna-borno/ | 8 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 12 2019 | 60 Arrested as Shiites, Police Clash Again in Abuja | The Police on Thursday, July 12 2019, arrested no fewer than 60 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during another round of protest by the group over the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky since 2015. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manza stated that the 60 persons arrested would be charged to court after investigation.The FCT Police Command also disclosed that 38 (out of 40)members of the group, who had participated in a similar protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday July 9 2019, which degenerated into a clash between the Shiites and policemen, were arraigned on Thursday, July 11 2019, while two persons were released. | Shittes Protest, El-Zakzaky, Nigeria Police | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/12/60-arrested-as-shiites-police-clash-again-in-abuja/ | 8 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, July 12 2019 | Kogi APC guber aspirants disagree over method of primary election | The battle over the method of selecting who emerges the party's candidate in the November gubernatorial election has been raging in the State chapter of APC. Aggrieved party stalwarts have been calling on the NWC to reverse its stance on indirect primary, alleging that a factional State Chairman of the party, Haddy Ametuo, tricked the national leadership into embracing indirect primaries for the selection of the Governorship candidate. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Kogi APC | https://guardian.ng/politics/kogi-apc-guber-aspirants-disagree-over-method-of-primary-election/ | 8 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, July 12 2019 | Only tested, trusted will make my ministerial list — Buhari | In a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari stated that only individuals who are tested and capable of delivering on assigned mandates will make the ministerial list. At the meeting held at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday July 11 2019, Buhari also revealed that he was under intense pressure to constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC), adding that despite the pressure, only those with track record, honesty and credibility would be appointed. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, refuted media reports quoting him as saying that President Buhari would submit the ministerial list to the Senate this week. Clarifying the issue, he stated that he had told his collegues that the list "could" be received this week, denoting a conditional occurence. | President Muhammadu Buhari, Ministerial List, National Assembly | https://guardian.ng/news/only-tested-trusted-will-make-my-ministerial-list-buhari/ | 8 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 12 2019 | Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Governor, Chief of Staff join race for Bayelsa Governorship | Three key officials of the Bayelsa State government have expressed interest to contest for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run for the November 16 Governorship election in the State. They are the Deputy Governor of the State, John Jonah, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kemela Okara and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Talfor Ongolo. The three officials obtained their expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, July 11 2019. All of them in separate remarks stated that they were in the race to win the election and consolidate on the ‘Restoration Agenda’ of Governor Seriake Dickson. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/deputy-gov-ssg-cos-join-race-for-bayelsa-govship.html | 8 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 12 2019 | Kaduna Assembly rejects commissioner nominee for criticising El-Rufai | The Kaduna State House of Assembly has rejected the nomination of Aliyu Jaafaru Abubakar as Commissioner of Agriculture over his alleged criticism of the policies of Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Abubakar, who was nominated by El-Rufai, was rejected by the House of Assembly members during screening in the chambers. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, who presided over the session, said the rejection of Abubakar was as a result of his criticism of the present government on his social media handles since 2017. The Speaker of the Assembly stated that Abubakar had been criticising El-Rufai’s policies on education, especially on disengagement of unqualified teachers, adding that serving on the Governor's cabinet is a responsibility for those who are truly sincere, not for those who are inherently sarcastic. | Kaduna State House of Assembly, Governor El-Rufai | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kaduna-assembly-rejects-commissioner-nominee-for-criticising-el-rufai.html | 8 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 11 2019 | Kogi PDP stalwart warns against affirmative method for party congress | A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Kogi State, Mr. Alfa Fidelis, has condemned plans by the national leadership to adopt affirmation method in the election of the State Working Committee of the party in the State. Alfa, who is also a chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming PDP congress, warned against the use of undemocratic processes to conduct the congresses slated for today, July 11 and 19, 2019, stressing that the party should take advantage of the crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by organising inclusive congresses. Fidelis expressed dismay at recent developments in the party, regretting that “PDP is about to adopt an unpopular and undemocratic procedure to bring about an unpopular leadership for the party in the State.” | Kogi PDP, PDP Congress | https://guardian.ng/politics/kogi-pdp-stalwart-alerts-on-parallel-congresses-over-affirmative-method/ | 7 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 11 2019 | IPAC advocates constitutional amendment against defection | The National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) Chief Ameh Peter, has advocated amendment to the Nigerian Constitution to bar elected politicians from toying with their party’s mandates. He said elected leaders have become lords over their parties because of the defective law that enables them to defect without repercussion. Peter spoke against the backdrop of the recent crisis rocking the House of Representatives in its early days under the Speakership of Hon. Femi Gbajiabiamila. He stated that once an elected official dumps or becomes disloyal to the political party on whose platform he or she was elected into office, the individual should lose the position. He added that when that is done, internal party democracy would flourish and that almost all the political parties have suffered from such use-and-dump syndrome by politicians. | IPAC, Political Parties | https://guardian.ng/politics/ipac-advocates-constitutional-amendment-against-defection/ | 7 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, July 11 2019 | Reps to FG: Obey court orders on Zakzaky | Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 10 2019, asked the Federal Government to obey existing court orders on the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Zakzaky, to ensure amicable solution to lingering protests by the group. The lawmakers also condemned the invasion of the National Assembly complex by the Shiite group, which reportedly led to the loss of life and destruction of property. This followed a unanimous adoption of a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta). Whereas some lawmakers said there was need to address “the root cause” of the protests, which they identified as the continued detention of Zakzaky, others called for a holistic review of the nation’s security architecture. | House of Representatives, Shiites, El-Zakzaky | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-to-fg-obey-court-orders-on-zakzaky.html | 7 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 11 2019 | Wabara: Our Committee will pursue Peace to avoid Factionalisation of PDP | Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Fact-finding committee, which is conducting an investigation into the reason members of the party at the National Assembly voted against the party’s directives, stated that the committee will tow the path of peace to avoid the factionalisation of the party at the National Assembly. Wabara spoke after the committee was inaugurated by the National Vice Chairman of PDP, Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi. According to Wabara, "We will go there to ensure peace and whatever that has happened will not lead to factionalisation of the party in the National Assembly. We have men and women of proven integrity". | PDP Crisis, House of Representatives | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/11/wabara-our-committee-will-pursue-peace-to-avoid-factionalisation-of-pdp/ | 7 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 11 2019 | PDM Chairman Begs Tribunal to Remove Party from Petition against Buhari | The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Chief Frank Igwebuike, has asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to strike out the party from the petition challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari. In a fresh application brought by his counsel, Morrison Onunu, the National Chairman of PDM said the desire to withdraw from the petition was in the interest of the nation, and not for any other consideration. But, in a swift reaction, the party’s Presidential candidate in the February 23 election, Pastor Aminchi Habu, urged the Tribunal to ignore Igwebuike, who according to him, was acting on his own. Habu and the PDM are seeking nullification of the poll that produced President Buhari as winner of the election on grounds that they were excluded from contesting the poll. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PDM, Aminchi Habu | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/11/pdm-chairman-begs-tribunal-to-remove-party-from-petition-against-buhari/ | 7 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | APC pegs Kogi, Bayelsa Governorship forms at N22.5m | The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed N22.5 million for nomination and expression of interest forms for the November 16 Governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. The APC National Organising Secretary, Barr. Emma Ibediro announced this on Tuesday, July 9 2019, in Abuja, when he released the time-table and schedule of activities for the conduct of the party's primary elections. He further stated that the expression of interest form cost N2,500,000, while nomination form cost N20,000,000. female aspirants and physically challenged contenders would pay 50 per cent of the prescribed fees. The organizing Secretary stated that forms would be sold at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja between Wednesday, July 10, and Tuesday August 20, 2019 while aspirants would be screened on Thursday, August 22 2019 and given the opportunity to appeal the outcome of the exercise the following day. The party primaries in both States is scheduled to hold on August 29, 2019 and appeals on the outcome of the exercise is to be heard on Monday, 2nd September 2019. | Bayelsa and Kogi 2019 Governorship Elections, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-pegs-n22-5m-for-kogi-bayelsa-govship-forms.html | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | Atiku ‘won’ in Katsina State — Witness tells Tribunal | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Katsina State, Salisu Yusuf Maijigiri on Tuesday, July 9 2019 testified that his party won the February 23 Presidential election in the State. Maijigiri who was testifying at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal stated that the agents deployed across the 4,902 polling units in the State collated a total of 905,000 votes for the party, while the APC allegedly scored 872,000. Yusuf stated that the collated results did not tally with the figure announced by INEC, which indicated that APC scored 1,555,633 votes while PDP allegedly scored 160, 207. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-won-in-buharis-katsina-witness-tells-tribunal.html | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | Police, Shiites clash at National Assembly | Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were reported to have clashed with Policemen during a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 9 2019. The clash, which resulted in a number of Policemen and the Shiites members sustaining injuries, was as a result of an attempt by members of the group to break into the premises of the National Assembly in protest against the continued detention of their leader Ibrahim Zakzaky. The FCT Police Command reported that two Policemen were shot in the leg, while clubs and stones were used to inflict injuries on seven others. The Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah added that at least forty members of the IMN have been arrested. On the other hand, the Spokesman of the Academic Forum of the IMN, Abdullahi Musa insists that the Police fired live ammunition at protesting members of the group, killing two of them in the process and one Policeman. He added that it was inconceivable that an unarmed person would attack a fully armed security personnel as suggested in some quarters. | National Assembly, Shiites, El-Zakzky | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-shiites-clash-at-n-assembly.html | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | Assault: Abbo appears before Senate’s ad-hoc panel, clashes with Sen. Tinubu | On Tuesday, July 9 2019, there was a clash between Senator Elisha Cliff Abbo and some members of the ad-hoc panel constituted to probe him over allegations of assault against a woman at a shop in Abuja. The committee headed by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi) had invited Abbo to appear before it. However, Abbo told members of the panel that he would not speak in the presence of journalists and others, insisting that he could only speak with his colleagues at a closed session. He also added that the matter was subjudice. However, members of the panel stated that Senator Abbo could not dictate to them what they should do. This development led to verbal exchanges between him and some members of the panel, including Senator Oluremi Tinubu. When cautioned by Senator Tinubu, who told him that he could be suspended for his attitude, Senator Abbo responded by stating that he could not be threatened with suspension. The meeting went into a closed door session afterwards. | Sen. Elisha Abbo, Sen, Remi Tinubu, Senate | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/assault-abbo-appears-before-senates-ethics-ctte-clashes-with-tinubu.html | 6 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | PDP sets up panel to resolve Reps minority leadership crisis | The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Walid Jibrin, on Tuesday, July 9 2019, said the party’s BoT and its National Working Committee had waded into the crisis in the House of Representatives over the choice of the House’s minority leaders. Jibrin stated that the PDP BoT and NWC had constituted a committee to review the issue and submit its report within a week. According to him, “We have decided to wade into the crisis in the House of Representatives with regard to the minority leadership. To that effect, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, with Senator David Mark, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Adolphus Wabara as members and Honourable Austin Opara as the Secretary of the committee. | PDP, House of Representatives, Minority leadership crisis | https://punchng.com/pdp-sets-up-panel-to-resolve-reps-minority-leadership-crisis/ | 6 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, July 10 2019 | INEC meets VCs, says partnership with varsities must be sustained | The Independent National Electoral Commission has stated that its current partnership with the Universities must be sustained because it is pivotal for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. The Chairman of the Independent NAtional Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, stated this during the 2019 General election review and retreat with Collation and Returning Officers in Lagos on Tuesday, July 9 2019. According to the Chairman, "Election in Nigeria is heavily dependent on Universities. Your products in the National Youth Service Corps who are serving nationwide are the bulk of election duty staff at the polling unit level. I believe that the partnership with the Universities is critical, but like every human endeavour, there is room for improvement”. | 2019 General Election Review, INEC | https://punchng.com/inec-meets-vcs-says-partnership-with-varsities-must-be-sustained/ | 6 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Buhari opposes admission of his bio-data at Tribunal | President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, July 8 2019, objected to the admission of his Form CF001, which contained his personal data submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the February 23 Presidential election. His objection was announced at the resumed hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Buhari’s lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), while objecting to the admission of the form, said his reasons would be made public at the address stage. Atiku and his party had tendered the form with a view to establishing their petition against Buhari on his qualification for the last presidential election. Atiku's counsel also tendered the final result of the election signed by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood. This was admitted as exhibit. Also tendered and admitted as exhibits were documents containing the total number of voters in INEC’s register and the number of collected permanent voter cards for the election. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, President Buhari, Form CF001 | https://guardian.ng/news/buhari-opposes-admission-of-own-bio-data-at-tribunal/ | 5 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | INEC urges speedy action on amendment of electoral law | Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has urged the National Assembly to speed up action in amending the nation’s Electoral Act to avoid electoral misconduct at collation centres. Yakubu, who spoke at the 2019 General Elections Review Meeting with journalists in Lagos on Monday July 8 2019, lamented the attitude of some politicians during elections, describing the situation as worrisome. According to him, “If Returning Officers are being intimidated, harassed and molested to declare results, then perhaps in future, politicians will not bother to campaign at all. They will need a gun at the collation centres and force Returning Officers to announce results. We are asking the National Assembly to empower INEC by amending the Electoral Act, so that if intimidation happens, we can stop issuing certificates of return to whoever is found culpable.” | INEC, 2019 Election Review, Electoral Act | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-urges-speedy-action-on-amendment-of-electoral-law/ | 5 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Tribunal dismisses AAC’s suit against Wike | The Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by the African Action Congress (AAC) Governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, challenging the re-election of Nyesom Wike as Governor of Rivers State. Awara was the runner-up in the 2019 Rivers State Governorship election. He had filed a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Wike and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal, seeking to be declared the winner of the election. The three-man Tribunal panel, led by Justice K.A Orjiako, dismissed Awara’s petition over incompetence and deemed the petition abandoned on the ground of Paragraph 4 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, which outlines the contents of an Election Petition. Justice Orjiako explained that both the AAC and Awara failed to meet key procedural requirements as it concerns applying for pre-hearing information. | Rivers State Electtion Petition tribunal, AAC, Biokpomabo, PDP, Wike | https://guardian.ng/news/tribunal-dismisses-aacs-suit-against-wike/ | 5 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Upcoming Kogi, Bayelsa guber polls challenging, INEC confesses | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) admitted that the November 16,2019 Governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States would be challenging due to the history of political violence in the two States. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Information Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this during a programme in Abuja on Monday, July 8 2019. He said the electoral umpire would move its personnel into the two States early enough to meet with critical stakeholders towards achieving free, fair and credible polls. On the electoral reform process, Okoye said INEC would ensure the implementation of administrative recommendations and work with the National Assembly on the aspects that require legislative backing. | INEC, Bayelsa and Kogi 2019 Governorship elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/upcoming-kogi-bayelsa-guber-polls-challenging-inec-confesses/ | 5 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Sylva: I’ll return as Bayelsa Governor | Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State and a former Governor of the State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has urged the youth to stand with him to return as Governor in the upcoming Governorship election. Sylva, who governed Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012, said during his 55th birthday celebration, on Monday, July 8 2019 in Yenagoa, that he was coming to prepare the ground for young people to take over the helm of leadership in the State since he will serve for only one term. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Timipre Sylva, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sylva-ill-return-as-bayelsa-governor.html | 5 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Bayelsa SSG, Okara, joins Governorship race | The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Mr Kemela Okara, has declared his intention to run for the Governorship of the State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Okara, a lawyer and pastor, had twice served as Commissioner of Trade and Investment under the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson. He said the focus of his campaign is to achieve the measurable and enduring all-round transformation of the State in areas of job creation, industrialization, agriculture and security by building on the core accomplishments of the Dickson era. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Kemela Okara, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bayelsa-ssg-okara-joins-governorship-race.html | 5 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Kogi: 20 APC Governorship aspirants reject indirect primary | Twenty (20) Governorship aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State have opposed the use of indirect primary to elect the party’s gubernatorial candidate. Spokesman of the Forum of APC Governorship Aspirants and one of the contenders, Comrade Muhammed Ali, who read a letter addressed to the party’s National Chairman at its national secretariat in Abuja, said the National Working Committee (NWC) did not consult them before settling for indirect primary that required delegates to take decision on behalf of other party members. Comrade Ali said the adoption of indirect primary would have serious negative consequences for the fortunes of the party in Kogi State. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC Kogi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-20-apc-govship-aspirants-reject-indirect-primary.html | 5 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | 2019 report: Only 21 recommendations can be implemented internally — INEC Chair | Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that out of 69 recommendations on improving future electoral processes made by the European Union (EU), Commonwealth (CW), among others, only 21 can be implemented by administrative actions. International organisations including the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), the Commonwealth, the National Democratic Institute (NDI)/International Republican Institute (IRI) had made separate recommendations to INEC on how to correct the lapses of the 2019 elections. The INEC Chairman, however, said most of the recommendations were implementable only by the National Assembly amending the Electoral Act. He said only nine of EU’s recommendations can be implemented by INEC; out of Commonwealth’s twenty-four recommendations, only eight are implementable while only four of the NDI/IRI’s recommendations can be implemented by the Commission without legislative action. He said the Commission was committed to the immediate implementation of those recommendations which could be done without recourse to the National Assembly. Yakubu said: “We are committed to ensuring that some of the recommendations that we can implement by administrative actions will be implemented in the forthcoming Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections scheduled for November 16, 2019. | INEC, Election Observers' Recommendations | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-report-only-21-recommendations-can-be-implemented-internally-inec-chair.html | 5 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Election Results Transmitted to Server, INEC Ad-hoc Officers Tell Tribunal | Some witnesses in the hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari told the Tribunal panel that results from the Presidential poll were transmitted into a server belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Two of the six witnesses called by the petitioners said they served as ad-hoc staff of INEC and testified that results were transmitted electronically to the Commission’s server. One of them, Mr. Peter Obi, an Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) expert, said emphatically that election results were transmitted from polling units to INEC’s server. In his own testimony, a presiding officer during the February 23 Presidential election, Mr. Adejuyitan Olalekan, admitted transmitting election results to INEC server, saying that the INEC server is automatic and is embedded in the smart card reader. According to him, “I personally transmitted election results to INEC server through the code provided by INEC”. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, INEC Server, Transmission of Results | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/09/election-results-transmitted-to-server-inec-ad-hoc-officers-tell-tribunal/ | 5 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, July 9 2019 | Minority Parties Urge PDP to Lift Elumelu’s Suspension | Minority members of the House of Representatives have appealed to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reverse the suspension placed on their colleagues nominated to occupy minority leadership positions and those suspected to be their accomplices. The PDP National Working Committee (NWC), which had summoned Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and six others to appear before it, after some of them were announced as part of the minority leadership by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, had last week suspended them for allegedly undermining the party. However, spokesman of the minority parties, Hon. Legor Idagbo (PDP-Cross River), said at a press conference on Monday, July 8 2019, that the letter sent by the PDP leadership to the Speaker of the House, dated July 1, 2019, was belated and the decision to nominate the suspended persons into minority leadership positions was collectively reached by all minority parties. | National Assembly Leadership, House of Representatives, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/09/minority-parties-urge-pdp-to-lift-elumelus-suspension/ | 5 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, July 8 2019 | Court Restrains Bayelsa from Holding LG Polls | A High Court sitting in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja has restrained the Bayelsa State Government from going ahead with its plan to conduct Local Government elections in the State. Justice Venchak Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court gave the restraining order in a ruling on an ex-parte motion delivered on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. The Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), in its published and released guidelines had slated August 10, 2019 for the conduct of the Local Government elections in the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State. The plaintiffs/applicants asked the court for an order restraining the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) from holding the Local Government elections in the State, pending the hearing and determination of the suit challenging the holding of the election. The matter was however adjourned to October 9 2019 for hearing. | Bayelsa Statem Local Government Elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/08/court-restrains-bayelsa-from-holding-lg-polls/ | 4 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, July 8 2019 | Court Orders INEC to Issue Certificate of Return to Senator Uwajumogu | Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, being the lawful winner of the Imo North Senatorial district election. Uwajumogu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had approached the court for an order compelling INEC to issue him a certificate of return having been announced winner of the Senatorial District election by the Returning Officer. The Commission had refused to issue Uwajumogu with the certificate of return on the ground that the electoral process was marred by irregularities. INEC explained that its decision was based on the need to ensure fairness by investigating the alleged irregularities in the election before issuing certificate of return. In delivering his decision, Justice Taiwo stated that INEC has no power and right to deal with any question related to the declaration of a certificate of return after the Returning Officer has taken a decision. | Imo North Senatorial District, Benjamin Uwajumogu, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/08/court-orders-inec-to-issue-certificate-of-return-to-senator-uwajumogu/ | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 8 2019 | Kogi Gov’ship: APC settles for indirect primary | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted indirect primary for the forthcoming Kogi State Governorship primary. The APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Issa-Onilu, confirmed this in a statement issued on Saturday, July 7 2019. According to Issa-Onilu, the NWC approved indirect primary to elect the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Governorship election after a meeting where a formal request from the Kogi State executives and stakeholders in preference of indirect primary was considered and deliberated on. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC Kogi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-govship-apc-settles-for-indirect-primary.html | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 8 2019 | Ex-Gov Wada declares for Kogi Governorship | The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, has officially declared interest to contest in the November 16 Governorship election in the State. The former Governor who made the declaration while addressing State PDP executives in Lokoja, said his intention to seek for a comeback as Governor was in response to the sufferings of the people. Capt. Wada tasked the PDP State executives to see the forthcoming Governorship election as a defining moment and urged them to create a level-playing field that would allow for the emergence of a candidate that was passionate in actualising the dream of a better and enviable Kogi State. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Kogi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ex-gov-wada-declares-for-kogi-govship.html | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 8 2019 | Women decry continued closure of Bauchi Assembly | A coalition of women groups under the aegis of Women Coalition for Sustainable Peace and Viable Democratic Gains (WCSPVDG) in Bauchi State has urged members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly against prolonged closure of the Assembly due to crises. Leader of the group, Hajiya Addaji Mohammed, made the call while speaking at the end of a one-day meeting organised by the group to discuss issues affecting Bauchi State and the nation, which was held in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the State on Saturday, July 7 2019. She called on the lawmakers to proritise the interest of the State, do all they can to resolve their differences and support the Speaker of the Assembly, moving forward. | Bauchi State House of Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/women-decry-continued-closure-of-bauchi-assembly.html | 4 | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, July 8 2019 | Bayelsa PDP youths oppose APC returnees’ bid for Governorship ticket | Ahead of the Bayelsa State Governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Network (PDPYN) has said it will resist any attempt to give the party’s ticket to defectors, who recently returned to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDPYN Secretary General, James Oputin, in a statement issued on Sunday, July 7 2019, warned that any move by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership to hand the party over to politicians and aspirants who turned their back on the party during critical moments would spell doom for the party. Oputin called on the national leadership of the PDP to tread with caution on the sensitive issue of electing a candidate for the Governorship poll in the State in order not to endanger its chances of retaining political power. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://punchng.com/bayelsa-pdp-youths-oppose-apc-returnees-bid-for-gov-ticket/ | 4 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | Alaibe Picks Bayelsa PDP Governorship Nomination Forms | A former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe, on Thursday, July 4 2019, picked the nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enable him to vie for the party’s ticket to fly its flag in the November 16 Governorship election in Bayelsa State. Alaibe, who picked both the Governorship nomination and expression of interest forms at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, assured the people that he would address the fundamental issues responsible for youth restiveness and create an enabling environment for job creation. He said he would consolidate on the legacy of Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration and ensure that infrastructure, education, healthcare and security were given priorities. He promised accelerated economy, Small, Medium, Enterprises (SMEs), ecological remediation and blue ocean economy and sustainable economy without destruction of ecosystem. | Bayelsa State Governorship Election, Timi Alaibe, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/05/alaibe-picks-bayelsa-pdp-governorship-nomination-forms/ | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | INEC: Parties Must Kick-start Electoral Reforms | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, July 4 2019 charged political parties to drive the process of electoral reforms by conducting free, fair and transparent primaries. INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, stated this in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Roundtable on post 2019 general election review with the theme “Towards Electoral Reforms in Nigeria’’, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA). According to Haruna, when parties were able to conduct hitch-free primaries, it would rub off positively on the outcome of the general election. He added that political party primaries, is the beginning of the electoral reform, as parties are expected to conduct free and fair primaries. | Electoral Reform, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/05/inec-parties-must-kick-start-electoral-reforms/ | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | Atiku, PDP Tender Polling Units, Wards, LGs Results | The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his party on Thursday, July 4 2019, opened their case against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari with a charge to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to ensure that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done in the case. Some of the documents tendered at the tribunal by the petitioners are election results from polling units, Wards and Local Governments. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/05/atiku-pdp-tender-polling-units-wards-lgs-results/ | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | Supreme Court upholds Oyetola’s Election | The Supreme Court on Friday, July 5 2019 dismissed the appeal filed by Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke in the 2018 Osun Governorship election, against the election of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of the State. The apex court in a majority judgment of 5 to 2 upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which nullified the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on the grounds that the tribunal was not properly constituted in regards to numbers. The majority decision which was delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, agreed with the lower court that the absence of Justice Peter Obiorah from the proceedings of February 6, who delivered the lead judgment was fatal to the case of the appellants. The Supreme Court accordingly dismissed the appeal and affirmed the election of Oyetola as Governor of Osun State. | 2018 Osun State Governorship Election, Oyetola, Adeleke | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/05/supreme-court-upholds-oyetola-election/ | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees at war over House Minority Positions | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is enmeshed in a crisis over minority leadership positions in the House of Representatives. Already, the crisis has pitted the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) against the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, an advisory body regarded by the PDP constitution as the conscience of the party. While the NWC is insisting on its nominee, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, to fill the position of House Minority leader, the BoT has thrown its weight behind Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency of Delta State and others, who House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamiala, announced on Wednesday, July 3 2019 to fill the minority leadership positions. Reports show that the party’s NWC was not happy with the turn of events and has summoned Elumelu and six other members of the House of Representatives to a meeting today at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. | House of representatives, Minority Leadership, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/05/pdp-nwc-bot-at-war-over-house-minority-positions/ | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, July 5 2019 | INEC tasks stakeholders on Kogi, Bayelsa polls | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged all stakeholders to work towards successful conduct of the Nov. 16, governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa States. INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa, Malam Mohammed Haruna, made the call at a Stakeholders’ Round-table on 2019 General Elections organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) on Thursday, July 4 2019 in Abuja. Haruna said efforts must be made to ensure that the election is violence free and called for synergy among security agencies and other stakeholders towards ensuring a hitch free poll. He stated thus: “I want to urge for more collaboration in subsequent elections before, during and after the Nov. 16 Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship elections,” he said. | Bayelsa and Kogi 2019 Governorship Elections, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-tasks-stakeholders-on-kogi-bayelsa-polls.html | 3 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, July 5 2019 | Ihedioha restates plan to conduct council election within six months | Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has reiterated that there is no going back on the conduct of Council election within six months in the State. The Governor stated this during the swearing-in of the new Chairman and Commissioners of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), as well as Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers Government House in the State capital, Owerri on Thursday, July 4 2019. The Governor, who charged the election umpire, led by Julius Onyenaucheya, to among other things, begin work in earnest to ensure that the six months stipulated time-frame is actualised, also urged them to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on issues of registered voters and best election practices. He also stated that they must work to provide level-playing ground for all aspirants and political parties for the poll. | Imo State, Governor Ihedioha | https://guardian.ng/news/ihedioha-restates-plan-to-conduct-council-election-within-six-months/ | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 4 2019 | Buhari Rejects 17 Additional Bills, Assents Nine Others | President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected seventeen more bills out of the 318 bills passed by the 8th National Assembly. Buhari has however, assented to nine other bills passed by the 8th National Assembly. Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, who made this known to journalists on Wednesday, 3rd July 2019, explained that President Buhari decided not to communicate with the 9th Assembly on the rejection of those bills because the new lawmakers cannot take any decision on the rejected bills. He, however, promised to engage the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly on the rationale behind the rejection of the bills. | President Buhari, National Assembly, Bills | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/04/buhari-rejects-17-additional-bills-assents-nine-others/ | 2 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 4 2019 | Court Restrains APC, Police from disrupting Edo Assembly | The Federal High Court sitting in Benin City has restrained the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Edo State Command, from interfering or disrupting members of the Edo State House of Assembly in the performance of their constitutional duties. The order of Justice M. G. Umar granted in his ruling on an ex-parte motion filed on July 3 2019 by the applicants (the Clerk of Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai, and the Edo State Government) extends to APC spokesman, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, all defendants, their servants and agents. The court further granted an interim order restraining the defendants from disparaging the integrity of the House of Assembly or taking any steps that could breach the peace, order and good governance in the State pending the determination of the motion on notice. Justice Umar adjourned the case till October 9 2019 for further hearing. | Edo State House of Assembly, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/04/court-restrains-apc-police-from-disrupting-edo-assembly/ | 2 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 4 2019 | PDP Accuses Gbajabiamila of Attempt to Impose Minority Leadership | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, July 3 3019, rejected what it described as an attempt by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to impose leaders for the party in the House of Representatives. PDP said it had duly written to the Speaker, after consultation with other minority members in the House, notifying him of members that were selected for Minority leadership positions in the House of Representatives, in line with House of Representatives’ rules and parliamentary practice. Some lawmakers argued that the position of the PDP was not in line with the House Rule 8 Section 7, which states that it is only members that would pick its leaders and not the party. It was further gathered that there are nine opposition political parties in addition to the PDP. However, in a statement by the spokesman of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbkndiyan, the party alleged that the speaker attempted to smuggle in names other than those recognised and forwarded to him as the leaders of the Minority in the House of Representatives. | House of representatives, Minority Leadership, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/04/pdp-accuses-gbajabiamila-of-attempt-to-impose-minority-leadership/ | 2 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, July 4 2019 | Atiku Begins Petition against Buhari | The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his party will kick-start the trial process to prove their petition against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari today, Thursday, July 4 2019, following the adoption of the modalities and structure for the hearing of the petition reached by all parties in the petition on Monday, July 1 2019. Some of the grounds on which the petition is anchored include substantial non-compliance with electoral laws and intimidation of voters. Atiku and the PDP are seeking the nullification of the victory of President Buhari in the presidential poll, among other things. | Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/04/atiku-begins-petition-against-buhari-thursday/ | 2 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, July 4 2019 | Nigerians want Buhari to cancel, not suspend Ruga | Although President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, July 3 2019, doused tension by suspending the plan to settle Fulani herdsmen, Nigerians want more to be done. They want President Buhari to cancel Ruga in its entirety. The suspension was announced after a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and State Governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on the same day. The Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) committee on farmers/herders crisis and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, stated that the President suspended the Ruga programme because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan, which consists of development of ranches in any willing State of the Federation and other programmes. The suspension has, however, drawn criticism from some Nigerians who have maintained that the policy deserves outright cancellation. Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the programme. | President Buhari, Ruga Settlement | https://guardian.ng/news/nigerians-want-buhari-to-cancel-not-suspend-ruga/ | 2 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, July 1 2019 | INEC Deputy Director, another jailed for 12 years and 7 years, respectively over Diezani bribe | Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano zonal office, has secured the conviction of a Deputy Director of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Auwal Jibrin, and one Garba Ismaila, on a six-count charge of unlawful enrichment and gratification. Justice Yusuf Birnin-Kudu of the Jigawa State High Court sitting in Gumel sentenced the INEC official to 12 years imprisonment, while Ismaila received a sentence of seven years imprisonment. Their prosecution began after the Commission received intelligence report that they benefited from the $115,010,000 largesse of a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 Presidential election. During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered 20 exhibits to prove the case against them. Delivering judgement, Justice Birnin-Kudu held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt all the elements and facts of the case as contained in the charge and the testimonies of prosecution witnesses and exhibits tendered. The court added that the defence team failed to counter the prosecution’s evidence through its witnesses. | EFCC, INEC | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-deputy-director-another-jailed-19-years-over-diezani-bribe/ | 1 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, July 1 2019 | No amount of media campaign against Magu will stop Saraki’s prosecution – EFCC | The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says no amount of media campaign against its Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu will stop the prosecution of the former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki. EFCC Spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade made this known in a press statement made on Sunday, June 30 2019, in Abuja. According to Orilade, the attention of EFCC has been drawn to the false claim made by Saraki, who is facing investigation in Nigeria - “Magu begged me to help his confirmation by the Senate, Saraki tells CJ Kafarati” (according to a Punch Newspaper headline of Sunday, June 30, 2019). Orilade further stated that, “We wish to state without any contradiction that the ongoing investigation against the former Senate President and other Politically-exposed Persons (PeP) are on course, while Saraki and his co-travellers will surely have their day in court shortly". He stated that Saraki is trying to divert attention from the weighty allegations of financial fraud trailing his eight years stewardship in Kwara State and leadership of the Senate. . | EFCC, Bukola Saraki | https://guardian.ng/news/no-amount-of-media-campaign-against-magu-will-stop-sarakis-prosecution-efcc/ | 1 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, July 1 2019 | INEC strategising for better elections in 2023 — Barr. Festus Okoye | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) has said the purpose of its ongoing review of the 2019 elections is to determine areas requiring improvement for better outcomes in 2023. Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, who spoke to the press on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at the the Catholic Men Organization 2019 Fathers' Day Celebration held at St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral in Kaduna, stated that the review would enable the Commission determine areas requiring legislative action before the 2023 elections. He said that INEC would work with the National Assembly (NASS) to get good legislative framework that will lead to the conduct of better elections in 2023. He added that, “What we normally do after every election is to start preparing for the next election. We have finished what we call first state level review of the 2019 election, we have also done the review of the election with our electoral officers.“This week we are going to review the election with political parties, civil society organizations and other stakeholders". He further stated that INEC is reviewing the reports of local and international observers on the elections. | INEC, 2019 Election Review | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-strategising-for-better-elections-in-2023-okoye/ | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 1 2019 | Women, youths will be empowered —Gov. Ihedioha | Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has promised to implement programmes and policies that are youth and women friendly. Speaking at the 7th Professor Celestine Onwuliri Memorial Lecture held at Ahiara, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Ihedioha decried the level of youth unemployment and lack of women empowerment in the State. | Imo State, Youth Empowerment, Governor Ihedioha | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/women-youthsll-be-empowered-ihedioha.html | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 1 2019 | Okoko picks Bayelsa PDP Governorship form | Bayelsa State born businessman and philanthropist, Mr Keniebi Okoko, has formally obtained the PDP nomination form to contest in the November 16 Governorship election in the State, with the promise of attracting meaningful development for the people. Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa on Sunday, June 30 2019, Okoko said with his exposure as an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and the University of Port Harcourt, he will build on the educational feat achieved by Governor Seriake Dickson. According to him, having served his people through his private platform, ‘the Keniebi Okoko Foundation’ by bringing succour to them in terms of providing aids during perennial flooding, scholarships, and payment of hospital bills for the underprivileged, it was time to take it to the public realm, so that he could reach out to every Bayelsan. | 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship Election, PDP, Keniebi Okoko | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/okoko-picks-bayelsa-pdp-govship-form.html | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, July 1 2019 | El-Rufai set to announce new cabinet | His Excellency, Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State is set to submit to the Kaduna State House of Assembly the list of nominees that will form his cabinet. According to reports, the list will include young persons the Governor has been grooming for years. The Governor's 'mentees' will be posted to sensitive ministries and positions in the State after screening by the State Assembly. Only a handful of the commissioners are likely to be reconsidered, while there is apparently elevation of some officials to become full fledge commissioners from being heads of some agencies. | Governor El-Rufai, Kaduna State | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/el-rufai-set-to-announce-new-cabinet.html | 1 | |