| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 16th December 2019 | Crisis hits Ogun APC over Governor's Commissioner—nominees | The 18-man ommissioner-nominees’ list sent to Ogun State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation by Governor Dapo Abiodun has generated rancour within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State. The list sent to the legislature on Thursday, 12th December 2019, nearly seven months after Abiodun assumed office, has raised issues over the alleged sidelining of some political blocs in the appointment. Some APC chieftains loyal to former Governor, Olusegun Osoba rejected the nominees’ list, stating that it does not represent Abiodun’s proclamation that “he will run all inclusive government in Ogun State”. They therefore called on the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to prevail on Abiodun to “do the needful and correct the imbalance perceived so far in Ogun State”. | Ogun State, Coomissioner-nominees | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/crisis-hits-ogun-apc-over-govs-commissioner-nominees.html | 3 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 16th December 2019 | Yari: APC still a party to beat in Zamfara | A former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar has stated that the APC still remains a formidable party to beat despite losing power in the State. Yari, who addressed APC members and supporters from the 14 local government areas (LGAs) of the State shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting of the party in his home town of Talata Mafara, stated that APC is not a pressure group but a strong political party. According to him, APC in the State had moved to resolve the crisis among party members. The former Governor also urged the party supporters in the State to remain calm and law abiding citizens, adding that the party would continue to provide good leadership to ensure peace and unity within its ranks. According to the party chairman in the State, the meeting was organised by the State secretariat of the party to show solidarity with the former Governor as the APC leader in the State.
| APC, Zamafara State, Abul'aziz Yari | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/yari-apc-still-a-party-to-beat-in-zamfara.html | 3 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 16th December 2019 | INEC: APC cannot Replace Akpabio for Akwa Ibom Re-run | The All Progressives Congress (APC) may not field a candidate for the January 25, 2020 senatorial rerun in Akwa Ibom State, ordered by the Court of Appeal. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that it would not allow the party to replace its candidate, Senator Godswill Akpabio for the supplementary election. Senator Akpabio withdrew from the supplementary election scheduled to hold in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District. The Court of Appeal, while giving judgment in a petition by Akpabio, challenging the declaration of Senator Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election in the Senatorial district, had voided the election of the PDP candidate, and ordered a supplementary election in the local government. However, Akpabio, in a letter to the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, had notified the party of his withdrawal from the election, due to his current ministerial duties, and urged the party to find a replacement and send the name to INEC for approval. However, INEC has stated that the ruling party would not be allowed to replace the Minister as the deadline for substitution of a candidate for any election had lapsed. | Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district, Godswill Akpabio, APC, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/16/inec-apc-cant-replace-akpabio-for-akwa-ibom-rerun/ | 3 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 16th December 2019 | Opposition to Senate’s Constituency Projects Bill mounts | The Senate has come under criticism over its consideration of a bill to reserve 20 per cent of the Federal Government’s budget to fund constituency projects. The bill, being sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah, from Anambra State, at the drew backlashes from notable soclo-cultural groups such as Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere and Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC). The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, described the constituency projects being executed by Federal Government on behalf of National Assembly members as a drain on the nation’s economy. Reacting to the proposal to allocate 20 per cent of annual budget for constituency projects, Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, kicked against the plan, stating that, “the so-called constituency projects have been drain pipes in service of our prebendal politics”. | Senate, Constituency projects | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/16/opposition-to-senates-constituency-projects-bill-mounts/ | 3 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 16th December 2019 | Presidency reviews approved 2020 Budget | The presidency has set up a committee to scrutinise the 2020 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly, charging it to look critically into the differentials between the figure submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari and waht is contained in the version approved by the legislature, and advise the President on assent. The National Assembly had on 5th December 2019 passed N10.59 trillion, N264 billion more than the N10.33 trillion estimates submitted for 2020 by the President in October 2019. This differential, is expected to be thoroughly scrutinised by the committee, before presidential assent. The budget was transmitted to the President for assent on Thursday, 12th December 2019. Although there is pressure on the President to give assent because of the administration’s desire to return to the January-to-December fiscal calendar, Buhari is said to be insistent on ensuring that his core financial objectives are not distorted by the fresh insertions. | 2020 National Budget | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/16/presidency-reviews-approved-2020-budget/ | 3 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, 16th December 2019 | My promise to deliver Legacy Projects on course –Lalong | Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has expressed delight that his administration’s promise to deliver legacy projects to the people was being actualised. The Governor stated this on Saturday, 14th December 2019, after inspecting the Lamingo Pilot Primary School in Jos North Local Government Area, which has the capacity to accommodate 500 pupils. He stated that the school, which is one of the legacy projects initiated by his administration, was meant to provide quality education for children of the poor who could not afford private schools. He further stated thus: “We have vowed that we cannot fail to make quality education available to the children of the poor and under-privileged because our administration believes in taking care of everyone, particularly the weak and vulnerable. He added that upon completion, the standard of education and condition of learning will be high, to the extent that it will be prefered to private schools. The Governor, who also inspected a 200-bed hospital in the Barki Ladi Council Area of the State stated that the facility, when completed, will meet the health needs of people of the local government and its environs, as it is expected to meet world standards and be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. | Governor Lalong, Plateau State | https://punchng.com/my-promise-to-deliver-legacy-projects-on-course-lalong/ | 3 |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 | How I will pilot affairs of Taraba Assembly — New Speaker | On Monday, 2nd December 2019, the Taraba State House of Assembly elected Mr. Joseph Kunini and Hamman-Adama Abdulahi as the new Speaker and deputy Speaker of the Assembly. The election followed the resignation of the former Speaker, Mr. Peter Abel Diah and his deputy, Muhammad Gwampo. The election of the two presiding officers was conducted at an emergency sitting of the Assembly during. Kunini was nominated by Mr. Bonzana Kizito, representing Zing State constituency and he was seconded by Mr Ammed Jedua of Gembu State constituency. He was elected by 16 of the 24 members present at the sitting. In his remarks, Kunini pledged to be just and equitable in carrying out his functions. He stated thus: “This is a house of justice and equity. Taraba should be greater than any individual and we must work hard to take the State to greater heights. I will work to champion this". He promised that the house would work as a team and partner with the executive to make the State a greater place. He addes that: “I will run an open door parliament where even the minority will have a say".
| State House of Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-ill-pilot-affairs-of-taraba-assembly-new-speaker.html | 2 |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 | PDP to INEC: Lead campaign to amend Electoral Act, legalise electronic voting | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set an agenda for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on electoral reforms in the country. Addressing a delegation of INEC officials who visited the PDP National Secretariat, on Monay, 2nd December 2019, in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, asked INEC to initiate the Electoral Act amendment that would legalise electronic voting and remove the influence of the military on election day. Secondus stated that the election legal framework should also address the issues of collation of results and punishment for electoral offenders. According to Secondus, “We in PDP expect INEC to be at the forefront of the process to have legal frame work for the conduct of free, fair and credible election. Such legal framework should address the issue of security, electronic voting, collation of results and punishment for electoral offenders. The survival and sustenance of our democracy rest squarely on the integrity of the electoral Commission which will derive from the character and the impartiality of its operatives". Responding on behalf of the delegation, INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Musa Husunu, promised to report the concerns of the party to the Commission, for appropriate action. | INEC, PDP, Electoral Reforms | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-to-inec-lead-campaign-to-amend-electoral-act-legalise-electronic-voting.html | 2 |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 | Returning Officer disappears with Niger Local Government Poll results | According to the State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), the Returning Officer for Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) in the Niger State Council elections that held on Saturday, 30th November 2019, is missing. The results for Mashegu and Tafa LGAs were not among the local government results announced by the Commission on Sunday, 1st December 2019. Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Aminu Bala, had told newsmen that the results for the two LGAs was being awaited. However, on Monday, 2nd December 2019, the Chairman stated that the whereabouts of the Returning Officer who is supposed to be the custodian of the results has been unknown since the poll was concluded on Saturday. He added that the Commission has lodged a formal complaint with the police to help locate the missing officer. | Niger State Local Government Elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/returning-officer-disappears-with-niger-lg-poll-results.html | 2 |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 | AD candidate heads to Supreme Court, seeks cancellation of Sanwo-Olu’s victory | The governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the 2019 Lagos State gubernatorial election, Chief Owolabi Salis, has described the decisions of the governorship election petitions tribunal and Court of Appeal dismissing his petition against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s election as “corruption of justice.” He has therefore approached the Supreme Court seeking the nullification of the victory of Sanwo-Olu in the March 9, 2019 governorship election, insisting that the Governor was not elected by majority of lawful votes. The election petition tribunal had dismissed Salis’ petition for lacking in merit, while his appeal filed at the appellate court was also decided against him. Dissatisfied by both verdicts, the AD candidate approached the Supreme Court in suit number seeking nullification of Sanwo-Olu’s election on various grounds. He alleged that the election was marred by many irregularities, vote buying and politicking, adding that the results were doctored to reflect zero votes for AD in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government of Lagos State. He also alleged that the Governor was not elected by majority of valid votes, in addition to a claim that the voter’s card used by Governor Sanwo-Olu to vote during the election was cloned. Salis claimed that he discovered this when he called for Sanwo-Olu’s forms at INEC and the fact was proven and documented. | Lagos State Governorship Election petition, Owolabi Salis, Alliance for Democarcy | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ad-candidate-heads-to-supreme-court-seeks-cancellation-of-sanwo-olus-victory.html | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Taraba Assembly Speaker Resigns | The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter Diah has resigned his position. Diah, who announced his resignation in a short message to journalists in the State on Sunday, 1st December 2019, explained that he resigned on personal grounds. His resignation is the climax of a battle of wits between the State Governor, Darius Ishaku and the leadership of the State assembly. An attempt to impeach Diah last Friday, 29th November 2019 was botched as only nine out of the 24- member assembly were reported to have supported the move, while 15 stood on the side of the former Speaker. Until his resignation, Diah was the Vice Chairman of the Speakers' Forum of Nigeria and has been a member of the State Assembly since 2003. | Taraba State House of Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/02/taraba-assembly-speaker-resigns/ | 1 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Appeal Court Victory: Bauchi Governor extends hand of fellowship to APC | Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has extended a hand of fellowship to his political opponents, calling on them to join his administration to re-build the State, following a Court of Appeal decision which upheld his election as Governor. According to the Governor, the court decision has further challenged his administration to spread its tentacles of leadership that will unite the State regardless of tribe, gender, creed or political affiliation. Mohammed, however, appealed to all politicians in the State, to sheath their swords and work with him for the common good of the citizenry. | Court of Appeal, Bauchi State Governorship Election Petition | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/02/appeal-court-victory-bauchi-gov-extends-hand-of-fellowship-to-apc/ | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Smart Adeyemi wins Kogi West senatorial seat, as Dino Melaye loses out | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Kogi West senatorial seat after supplementary elections on Saturday, 30th November 2019. INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Olaide Lawal announced that Adeyemi polled a total of 88,373 votes to defeat his main challenger, PDP’s Senator Dino Melaye who polled 62,133 votes. Adeyemi was leading with 20,570 votes from the November 16 senatorial re-run election before the poll was declared inconclusive following the margin of lead principle. It will be recalled that INEC’s decision to conduct a re-run election in the senatorial district was in line with the order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by Senator Melaye, challenging the nullification of his February 23 victory by the election tribunal.The supplementary election was held in 53 polling units across the seven Local Government Areas in the Kogi West senatorial district.
| Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, Dino Melaye, PDP, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/smart-adeyemi-wins-kogi-west-senatorial-seat-as-dino-melaye-loses-out.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Lawal retains House of Representative seat in Ajaokuta re-run election | The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Idirisu Lawal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency re-run election held on Saturday, 30th November 2019. According to the result announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Rabiu Balarabe, Lawal polled 13,738 votes to defeat the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aloysius Okino who scored 9,176 votes. The Court of Appeal in October 2019, had ordered a re-run election in 22 polling units in Ajaokuta Federal constituency, following an appeal filed by PDP’s candidate Aloysius Okino. Before the re-run, Lawal had 9,040 votes while Okino had 9,035 votes. After the rerun polls, APC polled 4,698 votes while PDP scored 141 votes.
| Ajaokuta Federal Ocnstituency, Kogi State, Idirisu Lawal | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lawal-retains-reps-seat-in-ajaokuta-rerun-election.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Niger Local Government poll: APC wins 22 councils, PDP 1 | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared 22 out of 25 councils in the Local Government election conducted across Niger State on Saturday, 30th November 2019. The main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the lection in Gbako Local Government Area. Among the local governments won by the APC were Bida, Agaie, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun, Kontagora, Rafi, Magama, Shiroro and Munya. Others were Suleja, Borgu, Gurara, Mariga, Mokwa, Paikoro, Wushishi, Chanchaga, Agwara, Edati, Rijau and Bosso. According to the results released by the State Independent National Electoral Commission (NSIEC), the outcome of Mashegu and Tafa Local Government Areas were still being awaited. Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Aminu Baba, while announcing the results, however, stated that the exercise was inconclusive in some wards in Shiroro, Bida, Chanchaga and Rafi Local Government Areas. Among the wards, he explained, were Tudun Wada North and Bangajiya in Chanchaga and Shiroro councils respectively. Others include Ceniyan, Bariki, Umaru Majigi II and Wadata wards in Bida local government and Kakuri ward in Rafi council, respectively. | Niger State Local Government Elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/niger-lgs-poll-apc-wins-22-councils-pdp-1.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 2nd December 2019 | Political coups replacing military coups in Africa – Goodluck Jonathan | Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, 30th November 2019 stated that African politicians were systematically replacing military coups with political coups. Speaking at Okada, Edo State after being conferred with an honourary doctorate degree of Science at the 17th convocation ceremony of the Igbinedion University, Jonathan stated that, “The way African politics is going, we are replacing military coups with civilian coups and that cannot sustain the continent". He pleaded with politicians to stop destroying lives and properties in pursuit of political offices. He decried the attack and killing of a woman in Kogi State following elections in the State, stating that, "Something is fundamentally wrong with our political system". He noted that what makes one in life is not the temporary position a person gains through politics but the application of his creative ability and God-given talent.
| Goodluck Jonathan | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/political-coups-replacing-military-coups-in-africa-jonathan.html | 1 |
