| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No/Web link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 29th July 2022 | PDP Reps Back Senators On Buhari’s Sacking | "The threat by federal lawmakers to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over worsening insecurity thickened Thursday as minority caucus of the House of Representatives backed their colleagues in the senate. The PDP senators had on Wednesday agreed to a six-week ultimatum on the president to address the current spate of insecurity or get impeached. The lawmakers took the decision at a behind closed doors session which lasted two hours. The senators later stormed out of plenary chanting “Buhari must go” when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, blocked the move to debate the issue. Briefing reporters yesterday after another behind closed doors meeting of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, said they aligned with their colleagues in the senate to issue impeachment notice to the president if the security situation was not improved after six weeks. The lawmaker said if there was no significant improvement in the security situation after expiration of six week, they would move to gather signatures for Buhari’s impeachment. He said, “Nigeria is in a stand still. So, having looked at all these scenarios and the reason behind why our colleagues walked out in the senate, we are of the opinion that we will also join them. “They have given six to eight weeks for Mr President to address the insecurity that is, of course, affecting this nation, and I want to also join on behalf of my colleagues to also say that upon the expiration, we will proffer ways of ensuring that we gather all the signatures. I heard somebody this morning saying it is a laughable attempt to want do that. Perhaps, when the action starts the person will find out that it’s not a laughable action. It’s real and we will not stand to allow this nation collapse". | Muhammadu Buhari, Impeachment, Lawmakers, PDP Senators, PDP National Assembly Caucus, Ndudi Elumelu, House Minority Leader | Page 24 | 15 | |
| Daily Post Online | 29th July 2022 | Muslim-Muslim Ticket: New CAN President, Okoh states position | Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the new president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Thursday, said several Christians have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make them second-class citizens in Nigeria. Okoh said the fear was borne out of the recent happenings in the polity. According to him, “that is, the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.” In his acceptance speech in Abuja after the General Assembly of CAN validated his election, Okoh said: “We are coming in at the time that all of us in the Christian faith, believe that some section of political leaders are not sensitive to the diverse nature of our population when certain decisions are being made. Whatever happens, no matter how many times our sensibilities are insulted, we must resolve to make a positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation.” | New CAN President, Archibishop Daniel Okoh, muslim-muslim ticket, same faith ticket | https://bit.ly/3OKG1lj | 15 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 29th July 2022 | Kwara Declares Friday Work-Free For Voter Registration | Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has declared today work-free for civil servants in the state to enable them register for the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). The holiday comes as INEC closes the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on July 31. There have been last-minute rush across all the centres in the state as many people scramble to get registered. In a statement, the governor’s spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye, said, “His Excellency urges the people of Kwara State, especially the civil servants, to take full advantage of the holiday to perform their civic duty of registering to vote.” | Kwara State, Work-free day, CVR, PVC | Page 16 | 15 | |
| The Nation Online | 29th July 2022 | INEC can withhold voter register from state commission, by court | The Federal High Court in Abuja has held that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not obligated to give the Voter Register to Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) for elections, as this amounts to supporting an illegality. It noted that the elections are those under Edo State Local Government Electoral Law and Edo State Independent Electoral Commission Establishment Law 2017 (as amended in 2022). The court restrained INEC from handing over the voter register covering all local government councils in Edo State for the conduct of elections under both laws, but added a caveat that “it shall be in place until the inconsistency in Edo State Electoral Law is amended and falls in line with the Electoral Act 2022.” Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the order on July 27, 2022, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/423/2022 filed by six plaintiffs, who are members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State against seven defendants. “The reduction of the number of days for the purpose of election by the Edo State House of Assembly not being in tandem with the Electoral Act, 2022, is hereby declared null and void,” the judge added.The first to sixth plaintiffs are Irene Enike Sylvester, Ayoboh Aloaye Francis, Edogun Aiyeki Toyin, Ogioba Osabuohien Kelvin, Alekhoojeom Oikhuduisum Ekhai and Akharumeh F. Benjamin. The first to seventh defendants are INEC, Attorney-General of Edo State, EDSIEC, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Clerk of Edo State House of Assembly, PDP and PDP Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The court also declared that the Edo State Local Government Electoral Law and Edo State Independent Electoral Commission Establishment (Re-enactment) Law 2017 (as amended in 2022) are contrary to Section 7 of 1999 Constitution. | Edo State Voter Register, Court Suit, EDSIEC, Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, Electoral Act 2022, Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, Court restrain | https://bit.ly/3zFDxQQ | 15 | |
| Vanguard Online | 29th July 2022 | 2023: Atiku/Okowa Presidential bid threat to APC ― Okowa’s spokesman | Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said the presidential ticket of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar/Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was a big threat to the All Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election. Ifeajika, who stated this while reacting to a statement credited to Tinubu in which he reportedly said his running mate was better than the man chosen by PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, told the Presidential Candidate of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu to discuss issues and not individuals in the build-up to electioneering ahead of 2023 general elections. He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling party at the centre had given Christians a unique opportunity to cast their votes for the PDP, a development, he said, would give room for all Nigerians to be represented at the federal level. Ifeajika said Delta was home for all tribes because the Governor believed in the oneness of the country, and sued for peaceful co-existence in all parts of the country. He said the choice of who was the better vice presidential candidate of the major political parties and the party to vote for in the 2023 general elections remained with Nigerians and not for one individual to try to influence by speaking derogatorily about opponents. He said that Delta Gôvernor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was picked as running mate by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar due to his soaring political profile, his contributions to national development and his exceptional performance as governor in the last seven years. | Delta State, Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika | https://bit.ly/3Q25kjJ | 15 | |
| Punch Online | 29th July 2022 | Buhari’s ex-minister asks court to disqualify Tinubu, Atiku | The immediate past Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and a group, Incorporated Trustees of Rights for All International, have filed an originating summons before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order declaring Nwajiuba as the authentic Presidential candidate of the APC. The plaintiffs are also praying for the cancellation of the votes garnered by the Presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; and the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar. The first to sixth defendants in the case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/942/22 are: the APC, the PDP, Tinubu, Atiku, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission. Nwajiuba, who purchased the APC presidential form for N100m, but polled only one vote at the June 8 primary, accused Tinubu of bribing delegates with dollars. The plaintiffs also attached as evidence a video recording showing the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, lamenting that delegates to the APC primary sold their votes. The ex-minister also asked the court to determine if the composition of the delegates at the PDP primary contravened Section 33(1) and (5) (c) of the constitution of the party. The plaintiffs prayed the court to determine whether having regards to the clear unambiguous and express provisions and tenor of Sections 6(6) (A) (B) and (C) read alongside Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, the court has the inherent judicial powers to nullify, cancel and declare as illegal the Presidential primaries of the APC and the PDP. Nwajiuba asked the court to determine if all the votes cast in favour of Tinubu and Atiku at the special national convention of the APC and PDP are illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever on the grounds of corruption and selling of delegate votes and voter inducement. Lastly, the ex-minister prayed the court to decide if having regards to the express provisions of paragraphs 1 and 8 of the 5th schedule of the 1999 Constitution, the corrupt conducts of the “third defendant (Tinubu) and the 4th defendant (Atiku) in buying votes and corruptly inducing delegates with dollars and naira in various sums to secure their votes at the special national convention… disqualifies them from further seeking, contesting and holding the office of the President.” | Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Court suit, Court Suit to disqualify Tinubu and Atiku | https://bit.ly/3zCKOkp | 15 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 28th July 2022 | CVR: Voters In Last-Minute Rush 3 Days To Deadline | With three days to the deadline of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) ahead of the 2023 general elections, the majority of eligible voters in Abuja and other states in the country have been besieging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) centres in their respective locations to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), Daily Trust reports. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Daily Trust visited a number of centres in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari Area Council and Gwagwalada Area Council on Wednesday and observed a high turnout of eligible voters, most of whom are youths. Although it has been difficult to pin down any particular reason for the upsurge in youths’ participation, some of those who spoke to our reporter said it was a sign of political awakening and that the youth were determined to take back their country. In the same vein, our correspondents report that residents yesterday besieged the venues of the continuous voters’ registration centres in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Abakaliki and Calabar in a bid to obtain their voter’s cards. Our reporter who visited the INEC office in the Oredo area of Edo State observed that prospective voters besieged the office gate, waiting for registration. Some of the residents, who spoke on the development, decried the slow pace of the exercise. One of the residents, Simon Isaac said he had been coming to the registration centre for the last one week but was unable to register. Rosemary Osadebamwen who is hoping to vote for the first time in 2023, called on INEC to extend the exercise in order to accommodate more voters. In Akwa Ibom, a crowd of young Nigerians without PVCs clustered at the gate of the state headquarters of INEC in Uyo. Many of them who had been hanging around the gate since the early hours of the day expressed frustration at the haphazard registration process and in a bid to get registered, barricaded the entrance to the state office. At the INEC office along the busy Port Harcourt Road in Imo State, registrants caused gridlock as the crowd spilled over the compound. At various local governments’ headquarters, some candidates and community leaders mobilised vehicles to convey people from villages to the registration centres. In Owerri West, Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and adjoining local government areas, INEC officials had a hectic time controlling the surge from prospective voters. At the INEC headquarters, one of the officials told our correspondent that they are ready to work late to ensure that a sizable number of people were registered. In Katsina, Daily Trust observed that the exercise was moving in an orderly manner, though the main gate of the INEC local government office was locked. People were therefore kept outside, while names were being called from a list which was written on a first-come, first serve basis as early as 5am. In Kwara State, at many of the centres visited, it was discovered that there was a massive turnout in the quest to get registered and also collect PVCs. Daily Trust also observed that many of the political parties had deployed members to the centres to help coordinate the process. Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, hundreds of eligible voters stormed the Magajin Gari registration centre, near Kaduna North LG Secretariat to either register or collect their PVCs. This is as the state government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as public holidays to enable residents complete the voter registration and access their PVCs. | CVR, Continuous Voter Registration, PVC, INEC, Registration, Last minute registration | https://bit.ly/3S6WDqk | 14 | |
| The Guardian Online | 28th July 2022 | INEC recovers voter cards found in Bayelsa forest | Independent National Electoral Commission has received 320 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) found in a forest in Bayelsa State. Receiving the cards on behalf of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Okon Umobong, thanked NHFSS for returning them to the commission. Umobong said he would hand over the cards to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Alex Hart, stating that the commission would investigate the circumstances that led to the cards being found in a forest. Handing over the cards to Umobong, the Bayelsa Commandant of NHFSS, Moses Okanu, said the cards were found in an uncompleted building in a forest along Elebele-AIT Road. Okanu narrated that the hoodlums, on sighting the men of his command on routine operation combing the bushes, took to their heels and abandoned the cards. | INEC, Recovered PVCs, Bayelsa State, 320 PVCs in a forest, Bayelsa State REC, Okon Umobong, NHFSS | https://bit.ly/3OGKkOH | 14 | |
| Punch Online | 28th July 2022 | ADC presidential candidate unveils running mate | The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, on Wednesday, announced Ahmed Buhari as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election. Buhari was the presidential candidate of the Sustainable National Party of Nigeria in the 2019 election. While unveiling his running mate in Abuja, Kachikwu, CEO of Roots TV, slammed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for the state of insecurity in Nigeria, saying he has abandoned his duty. The ADC presidential candidate who called for President Buhari’s resignation described the All Progressives Congress-led regime as deceptive. “The ADC has come to rescue Nigeria, take it out of its present security and economic woes,” he assured Nigerians. Kachikwu promised that under ADC, the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would be a thing of the past. Speaking on security, he said to tackle the challenges in the country, he would recruit more personnel into the military. The ADC VP candidate explained that his acceptance to team up with Dumebi Kachikwu and the ADC was borne out of his desire to effect positive change in Nigeria. “Many presidential candidates and their running mates have only focused on talking about the Nigerian problem, we are all familiar with, while some have decided to publicly attack and assassinate the character of other candidates. It is solutions that will get us out of this mess that has been created out of negligence, laziness, self-centeredness, self-denial and arrogance. Dumebi and I have, together with well-meaning Nigerians, built a blueprint that has been designed to bring back the lost glory of our dear nation and put smiles on the faces of the Nigerian people,” he said. | ADC Vice Presidential Candidate, ADC Party, Ahmed Buhari | https://bit.ly/3ONWs0o | 14 | |
| Punch Online | 28th July 2022 | PDP woos APC presidential aspirant with gov ticket | The Peoples Democratic Party has made a bold move to woo former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Nicholas Felix, to join the PDP with the promise to ensure that he clinches the Edo State governorship ticket ahead of the 2024 election. The development is coming barely a month after the APC youngest aspirant raised the alarm that the party’s standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has shut him out of his campaign ahead of the 2023 general election. Felix, the youngest APC aspirant, had thrown his weight behind Vice President Yemi Osinbajo after he stepped down at the June 7 presidential primary. Before he withdrew from the presidential race, Felix described Osinbajo as the “best man for the job”, adding that he strongly believed that he could turn the country around positively. The aspirant admitted that there were, however, some soothing messages of hope and reassurances among the lot, particularly from the opposition PDP. When asked if the rumour making the round that he is planning to dump the ruling party for the PDP ahead of the governorship election in 2024, the politician confessed that he received an ‘offer’ from some party chieftains, who urged him to consider the idea of replacing incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki when he leaves office in two years. “But it is not something I am considering for now. I will definitely remain in APC,” he said. When contacted for reaction, Spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the development has not been brought to his notice. The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, also expressed reservations about the report. He said, “I don’t respond to rumours. Let the man who plans to defect confirm or debunk it.” However, Onanuga told our correspondent on Tuesday that his principal has begun consultation with relevant stakeholders and religious leaders. He said, “I am reassuring you again that the candidate is reaching out to everybody concerned.” | Nicholas Felix, Former APC Presidential Aspirant, Edo State Governorship Ticket, 2024 Governorship Election | https://bit.ly/3Jfnf4j | 14 | |
| This Day Live | 28th July 2022 | Jandor Defends Choice of Akindele as Running Mate | Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Olajide Adediran, has explained that, his choice of a Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state, saying he believed in her capacity. Adediran, who spoke yesterday on ARISE NEWS, said he believed in the abilities of the younger generation and the female gender to rule over the affairs of the Lagos State in order to bring fresh and workable ideas that would move the state forward. “I am 44 years old and Funke Akindele is also 44 years old and our youthful age is ideal to run a state like Lagos. Funke Akindele is qualified to be the Deputy Governor of Lagos State if elected. She is a woman, who is well-schooled and law graduate from the University of Lagos. “She has also done exceedingly well in her chosen career as a professional. She is currently an employer of labour, paying salaries to those in her employment and contributing towards the growth of the Nigerian economy,” Adediran said. Asked whether PDP was in support of the choice of his running mate, who was relatively new to the party, Adediran said, PDP as a party, had given its full consent to the ticket and assured the Lagos PDP members of increasing the votes of PDP to win the next election. “Funke Akindele and myself will use our popularity to win more people and more votes for Lagos State PDP in the general election and in the presidential election,” Adediran further said. He however, accused Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of increasing the state debt burden within few months, from the last quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, to N276 billion, bringing the total debt burden of the state to N780 billion in one year. He said Lagos State projected N60 billion for internally generated revenue (IGR) in the same year, but managed to generate N45 billion, yet, Lagos State does not have street lights, no good roads and has very poor basic infrastructure. “Lagos alone has over two million out-of-school children, and Lagos government, has approved over 5,000 out of 18,500 private schools in the state, yet, the state cannot enter into partnership with some private schools to absorb the growing number of out-of-school children. The current Lagos State government is careless about the education and welfare of the people and has not done anything meaningful for the state in the last three and a half years,” Adediran said. | Funke Akindele, PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, Olajide Adediran, 2023 Governorship Election, Lagos State, PDP | https://bit.ly/3OKNoZP | 14 | |
| Daily Post Online | 28th July 2022 | 2023: Kaduna APC constitutes reconciliation committee | The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a committee to reconcile aggrieved party members in the State ahead of the 2023 elections. The reconciliation committee was mandated to reach out to members who contested primaries for the 2023 elections but lost. The APC Zonal Publicity Secretary, North West, Malam Musa Mada disclosed this in a statement issued, Wednesday, in Abuja. The statement said: “The Kaduna State APC stakeholders, led by the Governor Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’i, comprising State Working Committee, Local Government Chairmen, elected representatives, Elders, members of the State Executive Council, have ordered for immediate constitution of a high powered State’s steering reconciliation committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to co-contestants of all the elective positions that did not win their primaries for the forthcoming 2023 general elections and other aggrieved party members in the State.” The statement also quoted the APC National Vice Chairman, North-West, Malam Salihu Lukman to have said that participants should be sincere in their contributions, saying the worst thing people could do in time like this was lying to themselves. The statement added: “As a result, stakeholders, therefore, decided to set up a committee of highly respected individuals among party men and women across senatorial districts of the State to form the Reconciliatory Committee at the State’s level". | Kaduna State, APC Reconciliation Committee, Kaduna State APC Stakeholders, Nasiru El-Rufai | https://bit.ly/3OUBdtT | 14 | |
| Daily Post Online | 28th July 2022 | Gov. Masari appeals to APC flagbearers to woo primary elections losers | Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has appealed to flagbearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace those who lost out in the primary elections. The governor made the appeal when he hosted a stakeholders’ meeting with the Northwest APC Consultative Committee, on Wednesday in Katsina. He emphasised that unity among party members had always been the gateway to victory at elections. The governor appreciated the leadership of the party in the State for constituting reconciliation committees to heal the wounds of losses at its primary elections. Masari urged chairmen of the 34 local government areas in the State to work towards the victory of the party at the 2023 general elections. APC’s National Vice-Chairman Northwest, Alhaji Salihu Muhammed, who was in attendance, said the meeting aimed at reconciliation, was a way to victory at the 2023 general elections. | Governor Aminu Masari, Katsina State, Appeal to woo primary elections loser | https://bit.ly/3vmByyq | 14 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | Tinubu Appoints Oshiomhole, El-Rufai Chair, DG Presidential Campaign | Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has appointed a former national chairman of the party and senatorial hopeful, Adams Oshiomhole, as chairman of his presidential campaign council. At the same time, the former Lagos State governor, has also appointed the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as the Director-General of the campaign council. According to Western Post, a publication believed to be owned by one of Tinubu’s men, a source close to the leadership of the party, hinted at the development, which is yet to be made official. The publication noted that, the recent visit of Oshiomhole, el-Rufai and the governors of Zamfara and Plateau States, Bello Matawalle and Simon Lalong, to Tinubu, was not unconnected to the appointments. The decision, it was further gathered, was taken after consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently outside the country on official functions and the party leadership. However, THISDAY findings revealed that, Tinubu, just like the case of his Muslim-Muslim preference for the presidential ticket, which has continued to create problems for the party, had since wanted Oshiomhole as campaign DG, but the idea was roundly rejected by the other members of the party, especially, the governors, who thought the former Edo State governor, was too disruptive a personality to lead the campaign. | Tinubu's Campaign Council, Adams Oshiomhole, Nasir El-Rufai, APC, Chairman of APC Presidential Campaign Council, DG of APC Campaign Council | Page 43 | 13 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | Lagos, Kano, Delta Lead as INEC Registers 11 Million New Voters | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that over 11 million new applicants have completed their voter registration. The Commission also maintained that there would be no extension after the July 31 deadline it had given to end the exercise. INEC also revealed that Lagos is presently leading in terms of the state with the number of completed registration with 508,936; followed by Kano with 500,207 and Delta with 481,929. According to data released by the Commission, the total number of persons who have completed their registration was 11,011,119 as of Monday, July 25. According to details released by the Commission, 3,391,940 started their registration online while 7,619,179 carried out their registration physically. It also disclosed that youths aged between 18 and 35 constitutes the highest number of completed registrations with a total of 7,828,570. He said, “The number of people who registered and whose registration have been invalidated is becoming alarming. A lot of people have registered in one or two registration centres. They will get nothing by doing so, whatever their intentions were, because at the end of the day, they will be declared as people without PVCs at all. Any double or triple registration is null and void, we will go through our machines after these exercise and clean our register so that we can come up with the list of people who genuinely are going to vote in 2023. So let me appeal to people that they should always tell our staff at registration centres exactly what they want to do – whether they have never registered before, they have lost their cards, it is defaced, or they want transfer from one place to another.’’ | CVR, INEC, PVC, July 31 Deadline, New Applicants, Continuous Voter Registration | Page 44 | 13 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | PDP: Suit challenging Tinubu, Obi’s running mates adjourned till August 12 | A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned till August 12, a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the propriety of the substitution of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidates. The affected are Kabiru Masari and Doyin Okupe. In the suit filed by Goddy Uche (SAN), on behalf of PDP, the party is claiming that the Electoral Act 2022 did not make provision for a “place holder” or temporary running mate. The plaintiff is also contending that the APC and LP presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu, and Peter Obi, could only qualify to contest the 2023 polls election with Masari and Okupe as running mates. It claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks the powers to accept the substitutions in the absence of both parties conducting fresh primaries to substitute Tinubu and Peter Obi. PDP averred that Masari and Okupe were not products of any primary, and as such, were not validly nominated. The claimant also stated that the electoral umpire could not validly make any other election timetable for the substitutions any day later than June 17, 2022. At yesterday’s proceeding, PDP, represented by Pius Damba Pius, informed Justice Donatus Okoronwo that it had filed a motion on notice seeking to join more parties in the suit. The counsel, who held brief for the SAN, further told the court that the motion on notice for joinder had been served on the parties on record. The claim of service was, however, disputed by the parties on record. | Courty Suit, Place holder, INEC, LP Place holder, APC Place holder, LP and APC Vice Presidential Candidates, Running Mates | Page 4 | 13 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | PVC: Fintiri declares Thursday, Friday work-free days | Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has declared Thursday and Friday this week as work-free days to give workers the opportunity to register for their Permanent Voter Card (PVC). The governor, while addressing the protesting members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Government House gate, said the only assurance for good leadership is their voting power. Fintiri, who was represented by the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Amos Edgar, said the two work-free days were for civil servants to get their PVCs and demonstrate their rights to choose their leaders through the ballot. According to him, the 2023 general election is close and will give Nigerians the opportunity to decide on those that will pilot the affairs of the country in the next four years. | Adamawa State, Work-free days, PVC, CVR, Continuous Voter Registration, 2023 General Election | Page 30 | 13 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | Credible Polls Crucial To Peace In W/Africa – Buhari | President Muhammadu Buhari has said free, transparent and credible elections are indispensable to peace and stability in West Africa. The president said this yesterday in his goodwill message to the government and people of Liberia as he joined other world leaders on the occasion of the 175th independence anniversary of the West African nation. Buhari, who spoke in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, called on leaders in West Africa to do all within their powers to ensure that elections were conducted in their countries in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency. He said this remained the only way the sub-region could be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional takeovers that reared their heads in three countries recently. According to him, democracy and good governance must take their roots in the African continent to sustain peace, stability and development, while leaders must redouble their effort to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy. | Credible Elections, West Africa, Monrovia, Liberia, 175th independence anniversary of the West African nation | Page 22 | 13 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 27th July 2022 | IPAC Raises Concern About Election In Kano | The Kano State chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has raised concern that if the purported plan to redeploy Kolo Yusuf as the new Commissioner of Police to the state materialises, the 2023 elections will be marred with irregularities in the state. The council raised the concern in a statement signed by 15 political parties and read by its Deputy Chairman in Kano, Isa Nuhu Danfulani, who is the Chairman of the state’s chapter of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). It alleged that the move to post Yusuf to Kano was part of a grand plan to scheme the electoral process in favour of the ruling APC. The council, therefore, urged police authorities to deploy a senior police officer with a track record of excellence, good character and discipline to Kano as CP. It expressed readiness to work with all security agencies for an enhanced security within the state and beyond. | IPAC, Inter Party Advisory Council, Kano State, Kano State Chapter of IPAC, Kolo Yusuf, Election Irregularities | Page 22 | 13 | |
| Punch Online | 27th July 2022 | Atiku: Honour your promise, APC chieftain tells Wike | A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, has called on Governor Nyesom Wike to honour the promise he made to Nigerians during the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primaries in Abuja to support whoever emerges. Eze, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, recalled that Wike had promised to support anyone who eventually emerges candidate of the PDP for the 2023 elections. According to him, Governor Wike had said so without duress to show his loyalty and commitment to the umbrella party to win the 2023 presidential election. He, against the backdrop of Wike’s recent threat to expose some recent happenings in the PDP, after the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s interview on a national television. Eze, an ally to the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said such threat does not hold water and only presented the Governor and his cohorts as mere busybodies, saying nothing under the sun was apparently new about the PDP and Atiku Abubakar. He said, “Is he (Wike) going to tell us that he never wasted Rivers State funds in the wild goose chase of the PDP Presidential ticket in which he was thoroughly defeated? Or is he going to tell us that he never mobilised to be appointed as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP? Or is Wike going to tell us that he never vowed to support whoever emerged as the PDP presidential flagbearer? In case he has forgotten, he should listen to the video containing his speech where he thundered and vowed that he would support, ‘to the fullest’, anybody who emerges PDP flagbearer. I have counseled Wike to pipe down and accept his fate as his past deeds and unwarranted and unguided utterances were the major factors that worked against him in not clinching the PDP presidential ticket or becoming the vice presidential candidate to the PDP presidential flagbearer.” | APC Chieftain, Chukwuemeka Eze, Nyesom Wike, Support for PDP Presidential Flagbearer | https://bit.ly/3J8mJoC | 13 | |
| Daily Post Online | 26th July 2022 | 2023: APC lacks capacity to win elections – Senator Abe | Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Monday, said the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, lacked the capacity to win the 2023 general elections in the State. Abe also disclosed that it was on this premise that he dumped the party. The former APC chieftain made these declarations in PortHarcourt, capital of the State, while featuring on a live television programme in the State. Abe, however, said Governor Wike would not solely determine who would succeed him in 2023 general elections but the majority of the people of the State. In his words, “If the President of Nigeria, who is more powerful than the governor cannot decide who will be the next President to succeed him, then the governor of Rivers State will not decide who will succeed him. That issue will be decided by the people of Rivers State. And let me also quote the governor himself, he has said on different occasions that he will allow the people of Rivers State to decide his successor and I know him as a man of his word"". “I believe that he will do everything possible to create an atmosphere in which those who are interested in succeeding him regardless of their political party will have a fair chance to contest”. Abe, who is believed to have joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to actualise his gubernatorial ambition also expressed the hope to be Wike’s successor in 2023. He said, “What chances do I have in the State? Very bright chances. I always win elections. I don’t lose elections in Rivers State. The contest is always tense because the contest of power is always tense but somebody must win. The important thing is that we should allow the people of Rivers State to decide. I am ready to abide by whatever the people of Rivers State will decide. I am ready to submit myself. | Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Rivers State, APC, Governorship Election | https://bit.ly/3RZT9pA | 12 | |
| Daily Post Online | 26th July 2022 | Real reason I didn’t tell Atiku before dumping PDP for LP – Peter Obi | Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given a reason he did not tell former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, before he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Atiku, last week said on Arise TV, said that Obi informed him of his decision to dump the PDP three days after he left the party. However, responding to Atiku’s comments, Obi admitted that the former VP was correct, adding that the reason he did not inform him was that he didn’t want people to talk him out of it. Obi also said that Atiku remained his respected elder brother. “Yes, it is true. Let me tell you, Vice President Atiku remains my respected elder brother. His comments were true. When I left the PDP, I didn’t tell him and other respected people in my life, including my family. There is a tell in your life which you considered appropriate because you do not want people to talk you out of it, and this I did in the best interest of my future and Nigeria. Recall that when I left PDP, I said I would rather do the right thing and fail than do the wrong thing and succeed. That is why respectively, after one or two days after I took that decision, I elucidated it in a written message to him, saying I had to go because of the circumstances I found myself in and what I think was appropriate to do. and I know, knowing him, he respected my decision.” | Defection, PDP to LP, Peter Obi | https://bit.ly/3BlRFjt | 12 | |
| Punch Online | 26th July 2022 | Amaechi, Tinubu’s allies disagree over vote-buying allegation | A former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Rotimi Amaechi, came under fire on Monday over his allegation that delegates who voted at the APC primary were bribed to influence the outcome of the convention. Amaechi had further claimed that many of those who were induced with money have since regretted their action. Reacting to his scathing remarks, some APC supporters and party chieftains berated the former governor of Rivers State, who they claimed was exhibiting traits of frustration after losing out to Tinubu. A number of Amaechi’s loyalists have also risen to his defence, stating that the ex-minister did not mention any name while making the conjecture. Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Shittu, said he found the utterances of Amaechi unbelievable. He said, “Who is regretting what? Can Amaechi isolate himself from those he claimed to have induced delegates for votes? He, just like other aspirants at the APC primaries, cannot point fingers at others without implicating themselves. “What does he mean by delegates are regretting they collected bribes for votes? Is he indirectly saying the governors who brought them collected bribes and expressing regret too? I wish to have an opportunity to square up with him on this kind of issues.” Amaechi’s outburst, just like few other noticeable ones, were obviously done out of frustration. I understand that when one loses an election, one is bound to hold grudges. You can’t rule that out. After all, we are human beings and Nigerians,” he added. The Ekiti State Coordinator of Tinubu Support Organisation, Gabriel Babalola, also took a swipe at Amaechi and wondered how a former minister believed he could win the battle for the APC presidential ticket without working hard for it. “Before any of them could wake up, Asiwaju had gone from state to state, from one traditional ruler to another asking for their support. How many traditional rulers did Amaechi visit before the convention? How many states did he visit? He must have spoken out of frustration,” Babalola said. | Rotimi Amaechi, Delegates, Alleged Bribe, APC | https://bit.ly/3OI8ZT2 | 12 | |
| Punch Online | 26th July 2022 | Jega, others seek trial of vote buyers | Prominent election stakeholders on Monday participated at a forum seeking significant reforms of the electoral process that recommended the criminalisation of vote buying and selling as well as delegate inducements with strict enforcement of penalties. They made the recommendation during the 6th technical session of Trusted Elections Fund held via Zoom with the theme, “Reflection on post-political party primaries electoral environment: Scenario planning.” According to them, such perpetrators should be prosecuted through the joint efforts of relevant agencies such as the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Independent National Electoral Commission. The participants also recommended enforcement of the Electoral Act 2022, regulations of INEC and guidelines to ensure fairness and equity. The discussant included a former chairman INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega; a former INEC National Commissioner, Amina Zakari; Electoral Forum Chairman, Prof. Bayo Olukoshi; INEC former National Commissioner, Prof. Anthonia Simbine; The PUNCH’s former Business Editor, Dr. Everest Amaefule and Okechukwu Ndeche. | Trial of Vote Buyers, Vote Buying, Electoral Act 2022 | https://bit.ly/3b7ZMpe | 12 | |
| Vanguard Online | 26th July 2022 | Presidential candidates must make restructuring plans public — Core Federalists | A group, The Core Federalists, CF, yesterday, said that none of the presidential candidates is giving the country’s restructuring the kind of attention it deserves in their campaigns. The group tasked all the candidates running for office in 2023 to assure Nigerians that the next president will restructure Nigeria in a way beneficial to all zones of the country. In a statement by Ambassador Humphrey Orjiako, Handel Okoli and Mr. Mark Adebayo, the group said restructuring the country will go a long way to ensuring equity, justice, peace and the elusive development in Nigeria. The statement reads: “As the 2023 general elections knock on our doors, the Core Federalists, as an organisation, has noticed, with serious concern, that the issue of restructuring Nigeria has not gotten the kind of attention it deserves in the conversations around the elections. We, in the CF, believe that there is no issue more important and urgent than restructuring in present day Nigeria, due to the fact that almost all the challenges the country is battling with – insecurity, underdevelopment, economic backwardness, massive corruption and inter-ethnic distrust, religious violence and allied crises – are not unconnected with the warped structure of the country that is not only unsustainable but also unworkable. We demand that each of the presidential candidates running for office in the 2023 presidential election make public their restructuring plans for Nigeria.” | The Core Federalists, Restructuring, Presidential Candidates | https://bit.ly/3zaY8uS | 12 | |
| This Day Live | 26th July 2022 | Ortom: Whatever Happened at PDP Primary is Past, Atiku Now My Candidate, I’m Behind Him | In a dramatic turnaround, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday, said whatever transpired at the May 28 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was elected candidate of the party, has become a thing of the past, because Atiku has become his candidate and now behind him. The Benue governor, who dismissed indications of crisis in the party, was of the view that as a strong institution, the PDP has a self-correcting mechanism and would resolve its challenges in due time. But there seemed to be anxiety in some of the key organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over comments made recently by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that he would soon speak on Atiku. Two members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), told THISDAY that they were worried, because any negative comments from Wike could jeopardise the momentum gained through the party’s governorship victory in Osun State. This, nonetheless, Atiku has continued to reach out to some of his old political associates in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to smoothen rough edges ahead of the next general election, in which he is standing as a presidential candidate. However, speaking at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP in Makurdi, Benue State, Ortom said, “I will not contradict Atiku on what he said. He is my candidate and I am behind him. “Whatever happened in the course of the primaries and the nomination of the presidential running mate is past and gone. PDP is a strong institution and family and we will always settle out matter in-house.” But a BoT member, who first spoke to THISDAY, said, “We are working on how to get some influential stakeholders and governors, who are close to Governor Wike on how to resolve the controversy generated over the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Atiku Abubakar running mate. We are planning to send some governors he has respect for, but his recent comment that he will speak soon on Atiku is worrisome to some of us because we don’t know which way his comments will be. The party is currently riding on the back of the governorship victory in Osun, but what he said on Sunday is worrisome and we are anxious of the implications, if his comments will further divide the party. We are talking and some of us are meeting to see how we can make good of the situation at hand.” | Samuel Ortom, Support for Atiku Abubakar, PDP BOT, Board of Trustees | https://bit.ly/3OzfiYT | 12 | |
| Punch Online | 26th July 2022 | Katsina NNPP asks INEC to disqualify Tinubu, Atiku | The Katsina State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party on Monday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to disqualify the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu. The state Chairman of the NNPP, Sani Litti, who made the call at a press conference in Katsina on Monday, alleged that the two parties’ presidential primaries were marred by financial crimes. He also called for the arrest of Tinubu and Atiku by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Services. Litti alleged that no fewer than 50,000 Nigerians had lost their lives to banditry from 2015 to date. He, therefore, called for the resignation of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.), because of what he described as insecurity in the country. The chairman also charged members of the National Assembly to commence the impeachment of the President if he refused to resign. He also called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger and Sokoto states due to security challenges. The NNPP also called for the arrest and prosecution of Atiku and Tinubu over what it said, transpired during the conventions where they were elected standard-bearers for their respective parties in the 2023 general elections. The NNPP declared,” We call on INEC to disqualify Atiku Abubakar,Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the presidential election in 2023 and also for the EFCC, the Police and DSS to arrest them and all other actors who participated in the convention. We believe that should any one of these two wins the election next year, the country will slide into deeper corruption and financial crimes because the process which produces them is rooted in corruption.” | Disqualification, Katsina State Chapter of NNPP, Sani Latti, Impeachment of the President, National Assembly | https://bit.ly/3PBUK3i | 12 | |
| This Day Live | 25th July 2022 | Ogun Declares Tuesday Work-free Day for PVC Registration | As the deadline for registration of voters for the 2023 general elections comes to a close this Sunday, Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun has declared Tuesday, 26th July, 2022 as a work-free day in the state. In a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the Governor said the, “one-day public holiday is to provide a window for all workers in the state, who have either lost their cards, not registered or who might need to travel to their wards, local government areas and constituencies to perfect their Permanent Voters Registration or transfer their cards, where necessary, to enable them participate in the next general elections.” “As an inclusive, participatory and accountable government, the role of PVCs to the citizens cannot be over-emphasised,” the statement added. The governor therefore urged all eligible adults to seize the opportunity of the holiday to go home to their different wards and constituencies to search for their Registered Voter Cards (PVCs), fill the claims and objections forms and transfer the PVCs where necessary, the statement concluded. | CVR, PVC, Work free day, Ogun State, PVC Collection, Continuous Voter Registration | https://bit.ly/3ooQwjA | 11 | |
| This Day Live | 25th July 2022 | Muslim-Muslim Ticket Won’t Take APC Anywhere, Says Cleric | A cleric with Unconditional Love of Christ, Rt. Rev. Olusola Akanbi, at the weekend, said Christian faithful in the country would not support the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next elections. He, however, said such move was against the unity, peace and progress of the nation. Speaking at the 2022 celebration of the 2nd Session of the 8th SYNOD of the Diocese of Offa, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Kwara State, Akanbi stated that, the recent development in the ruling APC would not lead the party anywhere in the political calculations of the next poll. At the event attended by the Kwara South senatorial candidate for 2023 poll, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, Akanbi said, “I want to call on the Christian faithful to mobilise for PVC collection to exercise their civic duty in the coming elections.” He said the collection of their permanent voters cards would also assist them to elect credible leaders that would foster peace and religious balance in the political space of the nation. The priest also called for tolerance and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, irrespective of religious and tribal differences. | Muslim-muslim presidential ticket, APC, 2023 General Election, PVC Advocacy, Olusola Akanbi, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim | https://bit.ly/3b7yW0w | 11 | |
| Punch online | 25th July 2022 | Tinubu, Shettima’ll move Nigeria forward, says group | A socio-political group, Agenda for Greater Nigeria, has said the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, will move the country forward and tackle its economic and security challenges. The group, in a statement signed by its President, Izacc Koleosho, and General Secretary, Gidado Kawu, in Lagos on Sunday, described the choice of Shettima as a well-thought-out one, adding that he laid a progressive foundation in Borno State as Tinubu did in Lagos State. The statement read, “That the APC presidential flag bearer picked Senator Kashim Shettima against all odds and after wide consultations show that Nigerians should watch out for well thought-out strategies to turn around the fortune of the country. It also shows that Tinubu is determined to move the nation forward and tackle the economic and security challenges. “As Asiwaju laid a solid and progressive foundation in Lagos which his successors are following to date, it is on record that Senator Shettima has also done similar things in Borno State which his successor, Professor Zulum is following to date. Even as Boko Haram wreaked much havoc in the state, Shettima was able to start many infrastructural projects that the current governor is building on just like Lagos"". “We also believe that Senator Shettima is a committed democrat and progressive. He was a member of the All Nigerians People’s Party, part of the blocs that formed the All Progressive Congress and has an unblemished record of performance and the capacity to break barriers in order to move Nigeria forward.” | APC Presidential and Vice presidential candidates, Agenda for Greater Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima | https://bit.ly/3b1pAn0 | 11 | |
| Punch online | 25th July 2022 | PDP challenges Tinubu again, APC says Asiwaju’ll floor Atiku | The All Progressives Congress and its allied groups on Sunday said the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would trounce his Peoples Democratic Party’s counterpart, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in any debate. But the Peoples Democratic Party restated its challenge to Tinubu that he should subject himself to an hour media interview to test if he would be mentally present to do so. APC chieftains including the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka; Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Bayo Shittu: the Coordinator, Tinubu Mandate Group, Pastor Olufemi Bakare; and the Director-General of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Sanwo-Olu Projects, Mr Emmanuel Amuwo, however, faulted the PDP, saying Tinubu would defeat Atiku in any debate. Commenting on the challenge, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Atiku could not defeat anybody in any debate, adding that he had nothing to offer. Morka disclosed that the APC presidential candidate was a very busy man who would prefer to rather attend to important matters associated with his campaign than listen to ‘’the rant of the opposition who has little or nothing to contribute positively.’’ This is even as Morka stated that Atiku was incapable of beating anybody. He said, “Atiku is simply bluffing and incapable of defeating anybody. He has nothing to discuss or offer Nigerians. I don’t think anybody is taking Atiku seriously. But beyond just the debate, I expect more of deliberations on policy engagements and conversations.” Also, the Tinubu Mandate Group, Ondo and Ekiti States chapter, said Atiku could not match his APC counterpart in any debate. The group said Tinubu had a lot of achievements to talk about, particularly, in the area of human development. | Debate, Bola Tinubu, Debate Challenge, Atiku Abubakar, 1 hr media interview | https://bit.ly/3OxWVDx | 11 | |
| Vanguard Online | 25th July 2022 | Delegates at APC presidential primary now regretting their decisions — Amaechi | Immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that some of the delegates, who voted at the special convention of the APC were now regretting their decisions. Amaechi, who also is a former governor of Rivers State, further pleaded with clerics to pray for the ordinary Nigerians to enable them elect a president that would solve the problems of country. Amaechi said some of the voters at the convention took money and made their decisions, adding that they were now regretting their decisions. He spoke in Port Harcourt, weekend, at the 60th birthday celebration of Apostle Eugene Ogu, General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangel Mission. Amaechi said: “Those who voted at the APC primaries, who are they? They are ordinary Nigerians. The small money they got solved their immediate problem, now they are saying they made a mistake, you are now hearing different things. If you are praying for us, pray for the leadership of the country, but also pray for ordinary Nigerians to be able to choose the right president to govern the country. Those Bishops you saw (at the unveiling of Shettima) may not be Bishops but they are Christians. Pray for the ordinary Nigerians. Please vote for APC, I am not joking. May God make you vote for the right candidate that will change Nigeria. Giving money is not the solution to Nigeria’s problem. The solution to Nigeria’s problem is that all of you must all rise"". “When I was giving contracts and money, they said Amaechi is not a good man and I left office now, what am I? A saint. When you marry two wives, you know that the first one is better. People are now saying when Amaechi was here insecurity was not like this bad. Remember, I was always in the bushes chasing those criminals. When you kidnap, I will come and look for you. I will call the security heads, we go into the bush together and we must recover the man. Now kidnapping is natural, as you are you expect to be kidnapped. Nobody cares.” | Rotimi Amaechi, Delegates, Regrets, Insecurity, Kidnapping | https://bit.ly/3vcIvC5 | 11 | |
| Vanguard Online | 25th July 2022 | Ogun NNPP to INEC: Olujobi Fayoyin is our guber candidate | The Ogun State Chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over an error in its list of governorship candidates in the state. NNPP on Sunday appealed to the commission to investigate the matter, noting that Hon. Olujobi Fayoyin was the candidate elected for the party. Oginni Olaposi Sunday, Ogun NNPP Chairman, in a letter addressed to INEC Chairman Mamood Yakubu, described the impostor as one who never participated in the primary election won by Fayoyin. ""The Ogun State Chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party was rudely shocked to discover that a strange name surfaced in replacement of Hon. Olujobi Fayoyin who participated in the Governorship Primary of Ogun State Chapter of New Nigeria People’s Party witnessed by INEC in the full glare of the Press and delegates from 236 wards of Ogun State. The Governorship Primary was conducted in a free and peaceful environment of the state Secretariat to produce Hon. Olujobi Ezekiel Fayoyin as the Governorship Candidate of the Party. Recognizing the fact that in the face of Law and by Electoral Act, an impostor who never show up on the day of primary talk less of participation cannot become Ogun State NNPP’S GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE. The appearance of the impostors name on the INEC list of Ogun State Gubernatorial Candidate is a FRAUD and Criminal act that must be investigated"". The era of executive lawlessness of imposition has gone forever in Nigeria’s political history therefore, we are calling on the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to use his good office to investigate the issues of errors and anomalies of usurper of the governorship candidacy of Ogun State and urgent remedy for the return of the authentic name of Hon Olujobi Ezekiel Fayoyin as the Ogun State Gubernatorial Candidate within a record time. We’re looking forward to the immediate correction of this error of impostor through the intervention of your good and highly exalted office". | Ogun State Chapter of NNPP, Error on Governorship Candidate, Ogun State | https://bit.ly/3POy4fS | 11 | |
| Daily Post Online | 25th July 2022 | Again, APC, Tinubu face fresh suit over Muslim-Muslim ticket | An Abuja-based lawyer, Osigwe Momoh has dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a Federal High Court in Abuja for fielding presidential and vice-president candidates of the party from the same religion. The lawyer in the suit, seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of the APC presidential candidate in the forthcoming coming elections for violation of the Nigeria Constitution. The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1188/2022 claimed that the decision to pick the Party’s presidential flagbearer and the running mate from the same religion violates the principle and the spirit of the Nigeria Constitution. The plaintiff, (Osigwe Momoh) in the originating summons argued that Political Parties must by virtue of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), have their presidential and vice presidential candidate from different sectional, (tribal and religious groups) of the nation. He therefore seeks a declaration that: “by virtue of Sections 14 (1) & (3), 15 and 224(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the defendants are bound by the principles of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and having the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the same religion is unconstitutional and null and void. “That all Political Parties must by virtue of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), have their presidential and vice presidential candidate from different sectional (tribal and religious groups) of the nation. “An order nullifying the candidacy of APC, Tinubu (1st And 2nd), same being unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of Sections 14 (1) & (3), 15 and 224 (a) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The human rights activist requested the Court to restrain the 3rd defendant (INEC) from publishing the candidate of the 1st defendant (APC) as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Defendants in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and INEC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectfully. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit. | Court Suit, 1999 Constitution, APC Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Bola Tinubu | https://bit.ly/3BfYFyc | 11 | |
| The Cable | 22nd July 2022 | I didn’t reject Wike — I only picked candidate I could work with | Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he did not pick Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, as his running mate because he wanted someone he could work with “amicably”. The former vice-president spoke in a chat with Arise TV. The PDP candidate had picked Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election, despite the party’s national working committee (NWC) endorsing Wike for the role. The choice had created a fissure within the party, with a group of aggrieved stakeholders insisting that Wike should be picked. Speaking on his choice of vice-presidential candidate, Atiku said he opted for Okowa instead of Wike because he wanted someone that could “deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country”. “Governor Wike was not rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But you must understand that it’s the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate — a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then also deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country,” Atiku said. ""Governor Wike is a brilliant politician. He’s courageous, tenacious. I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country. It’s not a question of rejection. Certainly, not. I think it’s too harsh a word to say that we rejected governor Wike. Certainly not.” | PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Interview | https://bit.ly/3RViEbC | 10 | |
| Daily Post Online | 22nd July 2022 | ‘Hired bishops’: Tinubu, Shettima under fire over alleged blasphemy | Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Thursday, described as blasphemous and treacherous, the alleged recruitment of fake ‘bishops’ to attend the unveiling of former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, as the running mate of All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. HURIWA said the action demonstrates the absolute lack of respect of the APC for the Christian faith. HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, said Nigeria would have been on fire had Christian-Christian candidates hired fake Imams to attend their political event. Recall that an unpleasant spectacle of funnily dressed allegedly hired ‘bishops’ were seen at the unveiling ceremony of Shettima at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. Footages of the alleged fake bishops dressed in cassocks who attended the event flooded the social media amid controversy surrounding the same faith ticket of the ruling party. One of the ‘bishops’, Joseph Odaudu had reportedly said the APC hired them from a motor park behind Eagle Square, promised to pay them N100,000 each, but paid them N40,000. HURIWA further described as lame, unacceptable and pungent excuse the explanation of the Tinubu Support Organisation that the hired persons were upcoming bishops. “Its failure to mention the names of the hired bishops and the denomination or churches they are from show the grand deception and shenanigan in the whole despicable episode staged by Tinubu and Shettima candidacy which in any event is a combination that divides Nigeria alongside religious lines. HURIWA warns the APC, Tinubu and Shettima against ridiculing the Christian faith after excluding Christians in their selection process. Whilst we preach religious tolerance, we frown upon any action that deride another’s faith to score political points. This is devilish and should be rejected by all men and good women of good conscience,” the group said. | HURIWA, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, Unveiling of APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Alleged fake Bishops | https://bit.ly/3RQzFDD | 10 | |
| Daily Post Online | 22nd July 2022 | 2023: presidency: 100m poor Nigerians make up my political structure – Peter Obi | Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, has revealed the number of Nigerians that make up his political structure. Obi disclosed that his political structure is made up of 100 million Nigerians living in poverty. The LP presidential candidate disclosed this after his meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. According to the former Anambra State governor, all underprivileged Nigerians were his supporters. “I have said it before when people talk about structure, that my structure is the 100 million Nigerians living in poverty. Those people who are finding it difficult to live. Nigerians are here today spending over 100% of their money on feeding, that is my structure. And above all, the most important structure is the Almighty God,” Obi said. Some political stakeholders and commentators have accused Obi of lacking real-life political structure. Commentators like Reno Omokri and Deji Adeyanju said Obi’s followers are only on social media and not in real-life. They noted that Obi’s lack of grassroot supporters would be his greatest undoing during the 2023 presidential election. | Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP, Labour Party Presidential Candidate | https://bit.ly/3B6SDQD | 10 | |
| This Day Live | 22nd July 2022 | Court Asks IG to Investigate Tinubu’s Perjury Allegation | Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, granted permission to a civil group, Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, to apply for an order of mandamus, compelling the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, to prosecute the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, over alleged perjury. The permission followed an ex-parte application argued by the group through its lawyer, Mr Ugo Nwofor. The group had petitioned the police over alleged act of perjury by the former governor of Lagos State but, since its letter was received by the defendants some weeks back, he has yet to carry out its duty of investigating and prosecuting reported crime as in the Tinubu case. The court, in a ruling, held that the ex-parte application was meritorious and subsequently granted it, fixing November 1, for hearing of the substantive suit. The main suit, dated and filed on July 4 by the group, has the Nigerian Police Force and the Inspector General of Police as 1st and 2nd respondents, respectfully. According to the NGO, the legal action against the police was necessitated by IGP’s refusal to take action on its petition against Tinubu over an offence it claimed the presidential candidate was indicted for by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999. The applicant in its petition to the IG, claimed that Tinubu lied on oath in his form CF 001 he submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship election in Lagos State in 1999. Applicant further claimed that, Tinubu “forged all the educational certificates he listed in his INEC Form CF 001, which he admitted he did not posses in annexure C. “For purpose of clarity, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the said INEC Form deposed to on oath that he attended Government College, Ibadan and University of Chicago, USA, when in actual fact he did not. On the strength of the above, we respectfully demand that you initiate the criminal proceedings of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu consequent upon the express findings of the Lagos State House of Assembly as captured above.” The order to investigate Tinubu is seen as a huge blow to the APC presidential candidate, who is facing several allegations of perjury, which meant he made false declaration under oath. He has also been accused of drug dealings in the US in the 90s for which he allegedly forfeited nearly half a million dollars to the US government. | Court Suit, Bola Tinubu, Allegations, Petition, Alleged forgery | https://bit.ly/3Pu44pU | 10 | |
| This Day Live | 22nd July 2022 | National Grid Collapse: Obi Knocks Buhari, APC | Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi yesterday berated the President Muhammadu Buhari- led administration over the collapse of the nation’s national grid for the sixth time in seven months. This was just as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has proposed a solution to the challenges in the country’s power sector. Obi in his verified social media handles described the failure in the power sector under the current administration as negative parameters that was not only benchmarks for governance failure, but a compelling catalyst for leadership change. He wrote: “Reports that the national power grid has collapsed for the sixth time in seven months is alarming. Once again, many Nigerians have been left to grope around in darkness without electricity. Such negative parameters are not only benchmarks for governance failure, but a compelling catalyst for leadership change.” He charged the federal government to live up to its statutory responsibilities to avert socio-economic incidents that induce extreme shock and stress on the nation’s population. In a nation where many go the bed hungry, and national bakers going on strike is indicative of the high-stress level in both the productive realm of our economy and quality of life. Also, for bread, one of the basic and affordable daily sustenance of the average Nigerian to become unavailable translates to a national crisis,” he added. | Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, Collapsed National Grid, National Crisis | https://bit.ly/3ot3VXD | 10 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 22nd July 2022 | INEC Cautions Youths Against Violence In 2023 | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned youths in the country against allowing themselves to be used for political violence in next year’s general elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State, Mallam Attahiru Garba Madami, made the appeal Thursday in Ilorin at a symposium tagged, “Youths and 2023 General Elections: Your Concern, My Concern”, held at the NUJ secretariat. He said the youths should channel their energies to the progress of the country and their future. Represented by the Deputy Director, Voter Education, Dr Adesina Tayo, Madami said, “It is common knowledge that youths are often used as thugs to perpetrate violence before, during and after elections, which is a concern to all and sundry.” Similarly, the Tangale Community Overseas (TCO) of Gombe State has asked youths to shun political thuggery in 2023. Lamela Umaru Lakorok, general secretary of the group, charged youths to maintain peace and order before, during and after the elections. | INEC, INEC REC for Kwara State, Attahiru Garba Madami, Shun Political Violence, Shun Poliltical Thuggery | https://bit.ly/3PqzwVS | 10 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 22nd July 2022 | Muslim-Muslim Ticket Made Me Reject Tinubu When He Wanted To Be My Running Mate – Atiku | Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said Muslim-Muslim ticket made him reject Asiwaju Bola Tinubu when he wanted to be his running mate in 2007. Atiku, who served as the deputy of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, said this in an interview with ARISE TV. In the interview with ARISE, Atiku said the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which is generating a controversy in the country at the moment, made him not to choose Tinubu. “The Muslim-Muslim ticket has always been my fundamental disagreement. Nigeria is a multiethnic and multi-religious nation and there should be a religious balance in our leadership,” he said. Tinubu, who will square off with Atiku in the 2023 Presidential election, chose Senator Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim as running mate and this has been generating controversy. When asked about his relationship with Tinubu, Atiku said, “I’m still a friend of him and being friends with him doesn’t mean we can’t have our political differences.” | Atiku Abubakar, Muslim-muslim Ticket, Interview, 2023 Presidential Election, Running mate | https://bit.ly/3okuRsP | 10 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | Buhari to Shettima: I’ll Hand Over to You and Your Boss in 2023, God-Willing | President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, at the State House, Abuja, told the Vice-Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, that he was confident he would hand over the leadership of the country to him and his principal, Bola Tinubu, in 2023, God-willing. Buhari, however, in spite of the growing concern over APC’s preference for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, expressed optimism that the party would win the February 2023 presidential election regardless. The president, who spoke while playing host to Shettima, after he was formally unveiled at the Yar’Adua Centre as Tinubu’s running mate, boasted that the APC would return to power next year. In the same breath, Tinubu, at Shettima’s unveiling yesterday reiterated that he was committed to his choice of a Muslim-Muslim preference, even as the former Borno State governor explained that his pick was in no way an imposition. At the same time, the Director, Media and Communication, Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO), Mr. Bayo Onanuga, for the umpteenth time, has reacted to the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC, saying it was far from religion and ethnicity considerations, but performance-enhancement based. However, responding to Shettima’s speech, Buhari, who was absent at Shetiima’s official unveiling as the APC leader, said, “I will respond to your speech, when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win,” adding that, he is very happy with the choice of the former governor of Borno State as Tinubu’s running mate. I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as governor and finished well. You have kept touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,” he said. Earlier, Shettima thanked the president for his empathy, support and positive role, leading to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate. | Muslim-muslim presidential ticket, APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu Campaign organisation | Page 1 & 10 | 9 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | Osun: PDP Savours Appeal Court Judgment on Adeleke | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said it received with delight, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the PDP Governorship Election Primary that produced Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the rightful candidate of the PDP for the July 16, 2022 Osun State governorship election. The Appeal Court judgement, which put to rest, all contestations regarding the validity of Adeleke’s candidacy came as further validation of the will and aspiration of the people of Osun State, which they expressed on Saturday, July 16. The party said, the judgment was a firm confirmation that the Osun State governorship primary was transparently conducted by the Senator Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) in strict compliance with the provisions of the PDP Constitution and Electoral Guidelines as provided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). According to a statement signed by the National Publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, “Our Party commends the Judiciary for its courage,” adding that, “the judgment has further restored the confidence of Nigerians on our judicial system and the processes of the PDP.”The PDP further congratulated the people of Osun State and charged all party stakeholders in the state to remain united behind Adeleke in his determination to institute a transparent, people-oriented and development-based government that would rebuild and revamp Osun from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC). | Osun State Governorship Election, Court of Appeal, Osun State Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke | Page 6 | 9 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | Akpabio, Lawan, Tambuwal risk two years imprisonment, says INEC chief | Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, and immediate past minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and other politicians, who obtained more than one nomination form, have committed an electoral offence and are liable to two years imprisonment under the Electoral Act, 2022. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, disclosed this while featuring on Channels TV, quoting Section 115 (D) of the Electoral Act, 2022. Igini said: “A person, who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.” Igini said by “constituency,” the electoral term refers to a separate election whether it is presidential, governorship, senatorial, the House of Representatives or that of state assembly. He said any candidate who runs afoul of this law is liable to be jailed for two years, and that Section 115 (3) even states that an attempt to obtain multiple forms is an offence. “Section 115 (D) of the 2022 Electoral Act stipulates that no person shall sign, obtain more than one form as a candidate for different elections. We are preventing them from being candidates for prison and they are calling our names everywhere,” the commissioner said.He insisted that INEC did not monitor the primaries that produced Akpabio as the senatorial candidate for Akwa-Ibom North-West. Akpabio had contested the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he withdrew from the race on June 7, and asked his supporters to back Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, who eventually emerged APC presidential candidate. Prior to the presidential primary on May 27, Udom Ekpoudom, a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, had won the primary election for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial ticket. A parallel primary election was conducted and won by Ekperikpe Ekpo. However, it was later cancelled over irregularities, while a rerun was conducted on June 8, with Akpabio declared as winner of the exercise. Lawan after losing the APC presidential ticket reportedly asked Bashir Machina, winner of the Yobe North Senatorial primary, to relinquish the ticket. This implies that the Senate president and Akpabio might have secretly obtained the nomination forms for the senatorial seat of their respective districts while also seeking a presidential ticket. By Igini’s submission, other politicians who might have violated the electoral act include Governors Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. | Electoral Offence, Electoral Act 2022, Akwa Ibom State REC, Mike Igini, Two years imprisonment | Page 8 | 9 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | Akwa Ibom North-East PDP senator, Bassey Akpan, defects to YPP | Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His resignation letter, dated July 18, 2022, was read at the commencement of plenary, yesterday, by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. Akpan, who chairs Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), informed the Upper Chamber of his decision to join the Young Progressives Party (YPP). He explained that his defection was against the backdrop of agitations among members of the party, who were dissatisfied with the absence of a level-playing field during the governorship primaries in the state. Bassey’s defection to the YPP brings the number of serving senators in the party to two. | Defection, Senate, PDP to YPP, Bassey Albert Akpan, Akwa Ibom North-east Senatorial District | Page 8 | 9 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | 2023: Nigerians Will Vote Competence Over Sentiments – Shettima | The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general poll, Senator Kashim Shettima has said Nigerians will vote competence over “primordial sentiments” during the upcoming general elections. He spoke Wednesday in Abuja, during his unveiling as running mate to the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, was picked after a series of meetings and horse-trading among critical stakeholders of the party. His emergence however generated ripples in the polity on account of him sharing the same religious faith with Tinubu, a Muslim from the South West. Christian organisations had kicked against the development and threatened not to vote for the party if it did not replace him with a Christian. But in his acceptance speech Wednesday, Shettima said his joint ticket with Tinubu represented hope and progress of the nation, promising to unite the country and provide purposeful leadership. “I’m not unaware of the difficult political arithmetic that produced this moment, especially the understanding of our great party’s stakeholders and supporters, across religions, regions and ethnicities. Their resolve to settle for this ticket is a testament to the faith they have in us. This ticket isn’t an imposition; it’s an outcome of democracy at its practical best, and based on the aggregation of the ideas and insights, of our great party’s stakeholders. If this were an unpopular option, as the cast of partisan provocateurs has attempted to paint, there wouldn’t have been the tones of goodwill messages, especially from distinguished Christians, from all over the country. This ticket is a Nigerian project, not a sectional agenda that the frightened camps have been struggling to sensationalize. I’m sincerely proud of the rational citizens, who view this, as nothing but a pragmatic permutation, to defeat our opponents at the polls, and based on acknowledgement and implementation of the candid perspectives of our Christian brothers and sisters in the APC, who, like us, are bound by the passion for us to retain power, in order to deepen the delivery of unifying and transformative governance, to Nigerians". | APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Muslim-muslim presidential ticket, Kashim Shettima, Acceptance Speech, APC | Page 5 | 9 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 21st July 2022 | Christian Community Shouldn’t Lose Sleep Over APC’s Muslim/Muslim Ticket – Faleke | A member of the House of Representatives and Leader of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Hon. James Faleke, has appealed to Christians in the country not to lose sleep over the emergence of two Muslims as presidential candidate and running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 poll. He spoke yesterday in Abuja, during a meeting organised by Tinubu Media Team to eulogise his role in Asiwaju’s victory at the party’s presidential primary election. Faleke said the sentiments by the Christian community is understandable, but that Nigerians must learn to move away from religious politics. He said, “What is important is that when we are seated here, we don’t bother as to Christians should sit here and Muslims should sit on the other side and when we board a plane we don’t bother to ask whether the pilot is a Muslim or Christian likewise when we go to markets; we don’t care from whom we are buying. “So what we are saying is we brought people of pedigree. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the pedigree and wire withal and had never discriminated against Christians or even a tribe. I am a living example; I am a Christian and I am representing him directly. When it comes to tribe, I am not from Lagos; I am from Kogi State; so he is the type of person we want.If you talk about religion, if Asiwaju has not Islamised his wife; we don’t see how he can Islamise Nigeria. His wife is not only a Christian; he even allowed the wife to grow to become a pastor. If there is no enabling environment for her in the home she won’t become a pastor. Those are the issues we should talk about. Asiwaju was the one who handed over the missionary school in Lagos to the owners when he came onboard, so you can imagine all those issues.” | Tinubu Support Group, James Faleke, Muslim-muslim presidential ticket | Page 16 | 9 | |
| Punch Online | 21st July 2022 | APC chieftain blames poverty, ignorance for vote-buying | A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State, Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, has blamed poverty and ignorance as the main reason vote buying thrives during elections in Nigeria. Okelekwe, a senatorial candidate of the APC for Anambra Central zone, spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party in the state. He lamented that because of poverty and ignorant, people do not consider the suffering they would go through in four years, rather will prefer to collect paltry sums to cast their votes. He said, “Vote-buying is now an issue in election process, but we know that it is a passing phase. Before now, it used to be ballot box snatching, but innovation in election process has phased that out. “Today, it is vote buying, and we know that too will pass away some day. Vote buying is made worse by poverty and ignorance. Someone will not consider the good education, good healthcare and many other dividends that come from good governance, but will rather insist on collecting money to vote.” Okelekwe lamented that vote buying was one of the reasons a party like APC with its over 450,000 members in Anambra could not poll enough votes to win the state. “I have analysed the membership of our party in the state and found that we have over 450,000 members, yet people have won governorship of this state with less than 200,000 votes. So why can we not poll our votes together and make a governor?” he added." | Vote buying, Anambra State, APC Chieftain, Kodilichukwu Okelekwe | https://bit.ly/3cydzFG | 9 | |
| Daily Post Online | 20th July 2022 | Our defeat in Osun a test, we will change tactics – APC chairman, Adamu | The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has claimed the party’s loss in the just-concluded Osun governorship election is a divine test from Almighty Allah. Adamu stated this during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday. According to him, the APC will now return to the drawing board “and change our tactics”. “This has shown that we have a big task ahead. We must see what we can do and change our tactics. We must look at ourselves, see if what we are doing in this political journey is right. What are those things that are not right? What needs to be corrected so that we get what will lead to success in our journey?” he said. Adamu added: “In politics like in other worldly affairs, one could win or lose. There’s nothing we can do. But we were defeated not because we are not good in politics, it was because of what happened between some party members close to the election.” | APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, Osun Governorship Election, Defeat | https://bit.ly/3BbLHl0 | 8 | |
| Punch Online | 20th July 2022 | Don’t tamper with election materials, Adeleke warns INEC | The Osun State Governor-Elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission against tampering with the materials used for the July 16 Osun State governorship poll in a bid to favour the All Progressives Congress. Adeleke, in a release signed by the chairman of his Media Management Team, Prince Diran Odeyemi, alleged that there were insinuations that the leadership of the APC was working on INEC to tamper with some electoral materials that would be used against his victory at the Election Petition Tribunal. The statement alleged that some APC leaders had been moving around local government offices of the Commission to liaise with the INEC officials who would tamper with some election materials kept in their custody. Adeleke called on the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to direct the commission’s officials in Osun to submit all electoral materials to the state headquarters. The statement read in part, “There is a rumour milling round the state that the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is romancing INEC to tamper with some electoral materials that could be used against the victory of the governor-elect in their alleged proposed brief at the Election Petition Tribunal. Some APC leaders have been moving around Local Government Offices of the Commission to liaise with the INEC officials to tamper with some of the Electoral Materials in their custody. Senator Adeleke called on the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to call his officials in Osun State to order so as to prevent them from perpetrating the dastardly act"". Responding, the Media Adviser to Osun APC chairman, Kola Olabisi, challenged Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party to prove their allegation against the APC. He said, “They said they have won the election, yet they are still afraid. That means they have skeletons in their wardrobe. They are just ranting. They should prove their allegation or stop ranting. They are afraid of their shadow.” | Osun state Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, Osun State Governorship Election, Tampering with election materials | https://bit.ly/3RN0WqM | 8 | |
| The Cable | 20th July 2022 | ‘Eligibility, polling unit locations’ — INEC in talks with NCoS on allowing inmates to vote | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, met with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for discussions on the modalities for allowing inmates to vote. Speaking at the meeting which held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said there are a lot of areas to be addressed before a decision can be taken on allowing inmates to vote. Also at the meeting was Haliru Nababa, controller-general of the NCoS, who was represented by Daniel Odaro, deputy controller-general in charge of operations. Yakubu listed issues such location of polling units, format for electoral campaigns, access to correctional facilities for election officials, the media and observers, among others, as concerns that need to be addressed. “Section 12(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 lists five qualifications for registering as a voter in Nigeria because you have to register as a voter, before the right to exercise that right as a voter is conferred,” he said. “That section of the electoral lists five qualifications — the prospective registrant must be a Nigerian citizen; he or she must be at least 18 years of age; he or she must originate, reside, or work in the local government or ward covered by the registration centre; the citizen must present himself/herself to the registration officer for registration as a voter; he/she must not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote. This is one area we need to discuss so that we know the categories of inmates that will exercise the right to vote. We, therefore, need to work things out carefully. We want transparency of the process, because everything that we do in the commission, particularly when it comes to the right of citizens to vote, must be done transparently. “So, will inmates vote outside or inside the prison? Are we going to set up polling units outside or inside the prisons? Since the majority of inmates are awaiting trial, we believe some of them are already registered voters. If they are registered voters, what they will do is to transfer their registration. Will they transfer their registration to the correctional centres for that reason? Will political parties be allowed to campaign inside the correctional centres? This is a matter that you need to advise the commission. Will observers and the media be allowed access to the correctional centres on election day, so that the process is really transparent? Will INEC officials be granted access to the correctional centre for voter education? These are matters that we need to discuss. Will elections hold in all 218 federal correctional centres currently holding inmates nationwide or there are some correctional centres where this process can start instead of all the 218? We understand that some correctional centres are not holding inmates at present. So, will the process be allowed to cover all the 218 centres? “So, these are some of the issues that we need to carefully discuss and resolve before a decision is taken. But in principle, the commission is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians are given the right to vote and be voted for — but in this particular case, the right to vote, which is exercisable under the law"". Meanwhile, the development comes amid a 2014 judgment by the federal high court sitting in Benin, Edo state, which affirmed prisoners’ right to vote during elections. | INEC and Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Prison, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Electoral Act 2022, Prisoner's Right to Vote | https://bit.ly/3OlVeZG | 8 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 20th July 2022 | 2023 Elections Will Be Best Ever In Nigeria’s History — Prof Yakubu | The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has said the 2023 general elections will be the best ever in the history of the country. He said this on Tuesday in Abuja when he received delegations of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and that of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Pro Mahmood said, “We assure you that we will continue to work not only hard, but even harder to deliver the 2023 general elections. As for the preparation for the 2023 general elections, I want to assure you that we promised Nigerians that Ekiti was going to be good and Ekiti was a good election. We promised that Osun was going to be better, Osun was a better election. We are promising that the 2023 general elections will be our best elections ever and we are committed to delivering the best elections ever.” Speaking earlier, the Secretary of State of Ohio, United States, and leader of the delegations, Mr Frank LaRose, commended INEC for its various efforts at improving on the conduct of elections in Nigeria. LaRose, who is also an election commissioner in Ohio, described his first visit to Nigeria as a great learning opportunity and urged INEC to keep improving on Nigeria’s electoral system. Reacting, an elder statesman and former presidential candidate, Chief Chekwas Okorie, told Daily Trust last night in a telephone chat that the commission would contend with the challenge of managing a large number of electorate in the election. He however, expressed optimism that the election would be largely successful because of the legal framework and use of technology which would enable Nigerians to monitor the votes online. | 2023 General Election, INEC, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, IRI, NDI, Best ever Election | https://bit.ly/3B1ISmE | 8 | |
| Punch Online | 20th July 2022 | Oyetola pencils 50 lawyers, APC, Adeleke trade words | Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola may engage no fewer than 50 lawyers, including senior advocates, to challenge the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, in last Saturday’s governorship election in the state. A member of the governor’s legal team, Kunle Adegoke, gave this indication in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday just as the PDP and the governor-elect warned the Independent National Electoral Commission against allowing the All Progressives Congress to tamper with election materials. The governor’s legal team has been sifting through the election results in preparation for taking serious legal action against the declaration of Adeleke as the governor-elect by the INEC. The electoral body had on Sunday declared Adeleke the winner of the governorship election in the state. The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes to beat the incumbent APC governor, who polled 375,027 votes and 13 other candidates in the keenly contested race. After his opponent was declared the winner, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismaila Omipidan, told his supporters to remain calm, noting that he would respond after studying the results. He stated, “Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has taken cognisance of the results of the governorship election in the state as announced by INEC on Sunday. He, however, noted that the party would be responding appropriately after studying the results and consulting with critical stakeholders of the party.” But a member of Oyetola’s legal team, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), told The PUNCH on Tuesday that they were still reviewing the results declared by INEC.He said, “We are still reviewing documents and the legal team is actually working. In an election of this nature, the documents will be so many; so it is important to look at them critically before we make a decision and that is exactly what we are working on right now. Dr Biodun Layonu (SAN), is the leader of the team. The legal team is not complete yet because there are so many others that will still come in". | Osun State Governor, Osun State Governorship Election, Gboyega Oyetola, Legal Team, Review of election result | https://bit.ly/3IT8iF1 | 8 | |
| Vanguard Online | 20th July 2022 | ‘It’s lack of respect for our Christian brothers, sisters’ — APC Muslim youths reject Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate | The All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim youths have rejected the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election. They want Tinubu to replace the former governor of Borno with a Christian political leader or cleric from the North without any delay to enhance the party’s fortunes ahead of the polls. Briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday evening, the leader of the group, Abdullahi Saleh, said they were vehement and total in the rejection of against a Muslim-Muslim ticket. According to him, while it must be stated that Asiwaju reserves the right to make decisions regarding his choice of running mate, such decisions must not be made against the collective sensibilities of the people. He said, “As concerned stakeholders of the APC in the 19 Northern States in the country, we find it worrisome that such a decision could be taken without recourse to its implication on the electoral chances of the party and the attendant uproar such a decision could bring about in the country. It is also worrisome that of all the country’s political parties, only the APC presented a Muslim-Muslim ticket. In our opinion, this is insensitive and a gross display of a lack of respect for our Christian brothers and sisters. This is on the heels that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Muslim from South West Nigeria, and picking another Muslim from the northern part of the country as his running mate is politically and morally indefensible. “We hold the firm conviction that such a move can boomerang with unpleasant consequences for the APC at the general elections, hence the need for the party’s leadership to make haste to correct this error of judgment,” he added. | APC Muslim Youths, APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu's running mate, Muslim-muslim Ticket | https://bit.ly/3RLrj0a | 8 | |
| Vanguard Online | 20th July 2022 | Peter Obi: Rejected stone has become chief corner stone —Ohanaeze | The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has paid glowing tribute on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in honour of his 61st birthday. Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, in a carefully crafted goodwill message, described Obi as “ a rejected stone that has finally become the chief corner stone”. Ohanaeze further described the former Governor of Anambra State as “an illustrious Igbo son without any dent.” | Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Peter Obi | https://bit.ly/3Pfx5p7 | 8 | |
| The Cable | 19th July 2022 | Osun guber: Some associates of Aregbesola worked with me, says Adeleke | Ademola Adeleke, governor-elect of Osun state, says some associates of Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, supported him during the governorship election. The governor-elect spoke in an interview aired by Channels Televison. Adeleke’s victory has stirred varied reactions, with some political analysts saying the feud between Aregbesola, a former Osun governor, and Oyetola contributed to the defeat of the APC. Speaking on the claim that Aregbesola supported the PDP, Adeleke said he did not work with the minister on his governorship bid. “I did not work with Aregbesola. I didn’t even talk to him, but all I know is his associates, for example, Kolapo Alimi, one of the lawyers that represented Oyetola at the tribunal,” he said. ""Then, anytime I saw him (Alimi) in court, because I’m a civilised person, I will go to them and greet them and say ‘how are you doing?’ It was later he apologised and said ‘he was thinking ‘why is senator Adeleke greeting me? We are trying to mess him up and he is still greeting me. But he later told me that while I was greeting him, I didn’t know that I was giving them poison. They knew that I won the election and they rigged me out and I was still greeting them. I believe that Aregbesola and Oyetola fell out. “He (Alimi) came to me and said he has watched me and that he wants to join our party and we accepted. But Aregbesola directly? No. But we know a lot of top APC that joined. These people have grown; they have their own minds to decide if they want to join me or not. They believed that I was the one to beat and they came to me. I won’t know whether Aregbesola gave them go-ahead or not, because I have not been talking to Aregbesola.” | Ademola Adeleke, Osun State Governorship Election, Osun State Governor Elect, Interview | https://bit.ly/3PzdvE4 | 7 | |
| Punch Online | 19th July 2022 | Adeleke’s camp worries over litigation, woos PDP faction | The camp of the Osun State governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, is worried over a suit filed by his rival in the Peoples Democratic Party’s primary, Prince Dotun Babayemi, at the Court of Appeal, Akure. Members of the group, in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday, admitted that the suit constituted danger to the PDP’s victory at the Osun State governorship election on Saturday, adding that the party had begun reconciliation with Babayemi. Members of Adeleke camp who spoke to The PUNCH included Osun acting PDP Chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele; the Director of Media, Osun State PDP, Oladele Oluwabamiji, and the Secretary of the PDP Legal Committee, Hashim Abioye. It was gathered that Adeleke’s camp was concerned that the external forces could exploit the case to truncate the party’s victory. The PDP in Osun State had on March 8 conducted two governorship primaries featuring Adeleke and Babayemi. While the primary which was held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, produced Adeleke, Babayemi was declared the winner at the primary held at the Children and Women Development Centre, Osogbo. Consequently, Babayemi headed for the Federal High Court in Osogbo seeking to be declared the valid governorship candidate of the PDP. But the court in a judgment by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel affirmed Adeleke as the validly elected governorship candidate of the Osun State PDP. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Babayemi filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Akure, challenging the judgment of the lower court and seeking to be declared as the PDP governorship candidate. The Director of Media of the Osun State PDP, Oluwabamiji, noted that all aggrieved party members constituted danger to the PDP victory, adding that no opportunity would be given to external forces to exploit the situation. Oluwabamiji said, “My take is that any member of our party that is aggrieved is constituting some kind of danger, not to mention court cases. Expressing confidence that Babayemi would yield to sound reasoning, the party chieftain said efforts are ongoing to pacify the factional governorship candidate. He stated, “Dotun Babayemi is a prince and I’m sure that the blue blood in him will speak to his veins. We need a bit of fresh air which the good people of Osun State have put in place via the verdict during the gubernatorial election. The Secretary of the PDP Legal Committee, Abioye, explained that the case came up for hearing on July 13 and that the Appellate Court has reserved judgment indefinitely on the matter. However, the Director General Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Sunday Bisi, in an interview with The PUNCH, denied the existence of a factional governorship candidate in the party. He said, “We do not have any factional candidates. INEC had published the names of candidates of every political party. There was nowhere in the publication that we had two governorship candidates.“So, it will be wrong and unlawful of you to say someone is factional; we do not have it again. There is one candidate and that is Ademola Adeleke. The party is one indivisible element. We do not have a faction in the PDP. For now, I know that PDP is one. And if anybody has approached any law court, let the court decide.” | Osun State PDP Faction, Osun State Governor elect, Court Suit, Osun State Governorship Election | https://bit.ly/3uTOawL | 7 | |
| Punch Online | 19th July 2022 | Oyo gets new deputy gov, Olaniyan faults impeachment | The Oyo State House of Assembly on Monday removed Mr Rauf Olaniyan as the deputy governor of the state. The lawmakers quickly approved the nomination of Adebayo Lawal as replacement. Shortly after the approval, the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, also inaugurated Lawal as Olaniyan’s successor. Olaniyan’s removal by the Peoples Democratic Party-dominated House followed the recommendations of the seven-man panel raised by the Chief Judge to probe the allegations of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and insubordination among others levelled against Olaniyan. Governor Seyi Makinde quickly nominated Lawal, a lawyer and the Chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation, as the new deputy governor. The nomination of Lawal, who had already been appointed by Makinde as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election, was quickly approved by the lawmakers. Meanwhile, the sacked deputy, Olaniyan, has faulted the Chief Judge of the state over the constitution of the seven-man panel which recommended his removal from office. In a statement on Monday by his lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Olaniyan said the panel set up to investigate the allegations raised against him was paid to do the lawmakers’ bidding. The statement read, “The investigation by the committee set up by the Chief Judge is a charade that cannot stand the test of time. “In the first instance, the Chief Judge, with respect, breached his oath of office by ignoring the service of notice of appeal and application for injunction pending appeal when he proceeded to constitute the investigation committee. This is against established law and practice. On the part of the panel, they were appointed and paid to do bodge and botched jobs, which must be contrary to good conscience"". “They served the Deputy Governor on Friday around 10.45am and asked him to appear at 11am. In our letter to inform them that His Excellency needed time to prepare for his defence, in their desperation to do the job for which they were paid, they rejected the letter, sat on Saturday, and completed their task the same day. Where is the fairness here? Members of the committee are supposed to be men above board. You have a Reverend Father, JP, Alhaji among them. This is clear evidence that we are not yet ripe for democratic practice.” | Oyo State, Oyo State House of Assembly, Impeachment, Rauf Olaniyan, Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal | https://bit.ly/3RJfqb1 | 7 | |
| Sun News Online | 19th July 2022 | 2023: Reject candidates with links to Boko Haram, drugs, corruption, CAN directs Christians | Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed all churches in Nigeria to advise their members not to vote any presidential candidates with links to hard drugs, Boko Haram or any violent religious groups. In a video clip seen by Daily Sun, senior pastor of Family Worship Center, Abuja, Pastor Sarah Omakwu, read out a circular which emanated from the Political and Strategy Committee of CAN and sent to all churches in Nigeria. In the circular titled: “2023 General Elections; Whom To Vote For,” CAN enumerated qualities that the presidential candidate must possess and the policies that should either be implemented or rejected. Among the qualities CAN said Christians should look out for in a candidate are honesty, truthfulness, respect for the rule of law, respect for religious and ethnic diversity, compassionate, disciplined and credible. The body said the candidate must not be a member of any cult, must not have any involvement with drugs, witchcraft, Boko Haram or any violent religious group. The candidate is required to have performed excellently in previous positions, must have good education sufficient to manage a complex society, effective management skills of human and natural resources". | CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria, Who to Vote for, Christians | https://bit.ly/3uYukAB | 7 | |
| Vanguard Online | 19th July 2022 | Presidential primaries: PDP not fair to Gov Wike —Democratic Ambassadors | A group, Democratic Ambassadors for Wike Nationwide (DAWN) has condemned in strong terms, the treatment allegedly meted on Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State during the Presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP). Chairman/Convener of the youth group,Ochekwu Morgan O, in a statement, said Governor Wike was not fairly treated by the PDP and other party stalwarts. Comrade Ochekwu alleged that the party internal democracy mechanism was faulty already, adding that the party still haven’t learnt its lessons. According to him, ” the party should see Wike as a blessing to its fold, someone who deserves to be pampered and treated with utmost sense of respect. If not for Wike’s resilience and sagacity, who knows what would have become of the PDP today.After the party conceded defeat to the APC in 2015, it was headed for oblivion but Wike in his ingenuity came to the rescue and has stayed firm with the party afterwards.” “H. E. Nyesom Wike has demonstrated that he is a real party man, one who can be trusted.At a time when most party members were grossly loosing faith, it was him ,Wike who stood by, showing total commitment both in terms of time and material resources.So it won’t be wrong to refer to Wike as the builder of the modern PDP.” While the group urged the party to do the needful, it said “this body holds nothing against the person of H. E. Sen. DR. Ifeanyi Okowa, neither are we saying he is not fit to be, we are only saying the process is faulty. Governor Wike was the clear choice and that should have been respected.It’s wrong to beat a child and yet ask he/she not to cry. Before us, it is never wrong for Wike to show his anger in whatever way or form he is doing at the moment and as his key followers and disciples, whatever decision he takes with the party and the forthcoming general election going forward, shall determine our stands.” | DAWN, Democratic Ambassadors for Wike Nationwide, Presidential primaries, PDP, Nyesom Wike | https://bit.ly/3PhxkAb | 7 | |
| Vanguard Online | 19th July 2022 | INEC still in talks with CBN over storage of election materials —Festus Okoye | The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it was still in talks with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over storage of election materials. INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, diisclosed this, yesterday, weeks after the chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said sensitive materials would no longer be stored in CBN, in the wake of plans by governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele, to contest the Presidency. Yakubu had said the electoral body never had any issue with the CBN since the partnership started, but noted that due to “current circumstances,” an alternative would be found. But speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, yesterday, Okoye said logistics measures taken in Ekiti and Osun governorship elections would not be sustainable for the general election. He said the commission employed the services of the Nigerian Air Force for the logistics of the electoral materials, adding that because of the huge amount of the ballot papers and other sensitive materials, the commission will have a “sit-down” with the CBN to draw out plans for the 2023 elections. He said: “You cannot use the Ekiti governorship election and Osun governorship election as a measure of what will happen in 2023. This is because, for instance, in the Ekiti governorship election, we had less than a million registered voters. In the Osun governorship election, we were shy of two million registered voters. These are stand alone elections. For the Ekiti election, we utilised the service of the Nigerian Air Force and they flew the materials into Akure airport. We did the same thing with the Osun election, and we moved the materials to our state offices. But for the 2023 general election, we are going to have over 95 million ballot papers printed for the presidential election. Over 95 million will be printed for the senatorial election; over 95 million papers will be printed for the House of Representatives election. Then it goes down"". “It’s going to be a huge logistics nightmare. What we intend to do going forward since there are issues with keeping our materials with CBN, we have not had enough opportunity to sit down with the Central Bank to review the entire issue surrounding our moving our material with the Nigerian Air Force.We are definitely going to do that. If at the end of the day, we are not satisfied with the arrangement, then we are going to look for a new logistics pathway of how to manage logistics during the 2023 elections. But no decision has been made". | INEC, CBN, Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, Storage of Election materials, 2023 General Election | https://bit.ly/3PGtYqe | 7 | |
| Daily Post Online | 19th July 2022 | 2023: Incorporate our interest or lose bloc votes – Herdsmen to Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, others | A Fulani socio-cultural group, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, (KACRAN), has tasked presidential candidates to fully incorporate livestock development in their policies and programs or risk losing their bloc votes in the forthcoming general elections. KACRAN’s National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello gave the charge in a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to DAILY POST in Damaturu. The Association observed with dismay that despite herders’ numerous contributions to the nation’s economic development and provision of nutritional food to Nigerians, they were also ignored when it came to policy and program formulations. “Most politicians, with the exception of very few States, are neither mindful nor concerned with the vital role played by the livestock sector towards creating millions of job opportunities for our youths and people whose livelihood fully depend on pastoral occupation. KACRAN noticed that it is only through the creation of the Federal Ministry of Animal resources that herders’ problems and daily pressing needs related to water points or animal feed during the dry period will be adequately taken care of. “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is fully charged with numerous responsibilities that cannot allow it to fully incorporate livestock development in its yearly or daily programs, hence necessitating our appeal for the creation of a special Ministry for Animal Resources.Most of the money given to the said Ministry is always spent on the development of arable farming to the detriments of Fisheries and livestock sectors”, Khalil said. The National President, who felicitated with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar; Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, the presidential candidates of APC, PDP, NNPP and LP, respectively for their emergence as candidates of their parties, also called on them to incorporate livestock development in their policies and programs during their campaign exercises. We want our politicians to note that we have millions of herders who have their PVCs at hand and are ready to cast them to candidates of their choice, more especially the ones who they noticed care about their interest and general survival. Bello warned politicians not to underestimate the powers of the herders when it comes to voting. “We KACRAN members always cast our votes en bloc, because we normally don’t want to divide our votes, but always put them based on the person or party we strongly believe will fully consider us in policy formulation and implementation”, he maintained. | KACRAN, Fulani Socio-cultural group, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, Bloc votes, Livestock development | https://bit.ly/3cs4xdi | 7 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | Adeleke in tears of joy, dedicates victory to suffering Osun masses | The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, savoured the sweet taste of victory after he was declared winner of the Osun State governorship election, polling 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboyega Oyetola, who scored 375,027. It was a tension-soaked race as the two leading candidates had also squared off in the 2018 governorship election, which was narrowly won by Oyetola, 255,505 to 255,023 votes, although in controversial circumstances. In 2018, Adeleke was leading Oyetola in the election with 353 votes before it was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which also ordered a re-run in seven polling units. After the supplementary votes, characterised by heavily militarised security personnel and armed thugs that disenfranchised many voters, Oyetola overtook Adeleke’s lead to finish the contest with a margin of 482 votes. The table, however, turned the other way on Saturday to deny Governor Oyetola a second term in office and serve as a relief for Adeleke, who see his victory as a vindication that he was the original winner of the 2018 election. Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and candidate of Labour Party (LP), Lasun Yussuf, scored 2,729 votes trailing behind Dr Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party, who scored 4,515 votes. Apparently overwhelmed with joy, Adeleke shed tears while lying at the feet of his business magnate brother, Deji. Present were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Bayelsa State governor, Duoye Diri; governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and PDP Vice Presidential Candidate and Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa. The victory came despite criticisms for flying all-faith ticket after the governor-elect picked a Christian as deputy governorship candidate, Kola Adewusi. In his reaction, PDP’s agent and member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, described the outcome as the wish of the people adding that “it is not about individual or any political party, it’s about the destiny of the state. Come November 27, 2022, we want to have a very smooth transition from APC to the PDP.” | PDP, Ademola Adeleke, Osun State, Osun Governorship Election, New Governor for Osun State | Page 6 | 6 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | Abdulsalami, Mark, Melaye others laud Osun election amid alleged vote buying | Former Head of State and Chairman, National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday, commended people of Osun State over peaceful conduct of Saturday’s governorship election. Although he noted that the poll was “not devoid of incidents, particularly the scourge that is vote trading,” he, nevertheless, commended the “efforts of all stakeholders who have tirelessly worked, either as ombudsmen or observers or participants to ensure that the elections were conducted according to the rules.” On his part, Senate Minority Leader and head of the PDP caucus in the Senate, Philips Aduda, charged Adeleke to use his goodwill, experience, expertise and capacity to ensure people-based and development-oriented programmes that would bring happiness and fulfilment, which, according to him, have eluded Osun State under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state. Dino Melaye, a senator who represented Kogi West in the 8th Senate and partly in the 9th, described the victory as a good omen that signposts better outing for the PDP in the 2023 general elections. Former Senate President, David Mark, described the victory as a gateway for the PDP to reclaim power in 2023. In a congratulatory message, he praised the people of Osun for remaining steadfast and believing in the capacity of Adeleke to deliver dividends of democracy to them, even as he hoped that the governor-elect would live up to expectation. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has been urged to ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons suspected to have violated electoral laws during the election. The call followed reports of vote buying and bribery in several polling units, particularly by the APC and PDP. In a letter to Yakubu, dated July 16, and signed by Deputy Director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the group said vote trading was witnessed in several polling units. | Chairman of National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Osun State, Osun State Governorship Election, vote buying, INEC, SERAP | Page 3 | 6 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | Buhari: Osun People Have Expressed Their Will Through Ballot, It Must Matter, Be Respected | President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, described the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as an expression of the will of the people through ballot, which must matter and be respected. The president, who congratulated Adeleke, as well as commended the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders, however, reiterated his commitment to a credible electoral system in the country. This is as congratulatory messages, have continued to come for Adeleke from different strata of the system, particularly, members of his political family, including person like the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman of the PDP, 7/17/22r. Iyorchia Ayu; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, among others. “With the election over, the president expressed conviction that the people of Osun have expressed their will through the ballot, and the will of the people must always matter and be respected in a democracy,” he said in a release by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina. Continuing, he noted further that the successful conduct of the election was a further testimony to the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders – the electoral body, security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the electorate – to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in the country. Buhari, therefore, reassured the nation that the commitment of his administration towards having credible elections remained unshaken. | Osun State, Osun State Governorship Election, Congratulatory messages, Muhammadu Buhari | Page 5 | 6 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | 2023: 2,000 More APC Youth, Women Defect to PDP in Kwara | About 2,000 youth and women in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State at the weekend publicly dumped the party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defectors, who were mainly from Osi community in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state stated that, they decided to dump their former party, APC based on the alleged non-performance since the party took over the mantle of leadership in the state. Last weekend, hundreds of the APC members in Isolo-opin ward in Ekiti council area of the state dumped the party for the PDP. Speaking at an outing in Osi town, leader of the defectors and one of the advocates of “O To Ge” movement during 2019 general election in the state, Mrs. Veronica Ayeni (Ire) said, “I used my time, resources and my energy to mobilise for Kwara APC in 2019 general election. Last weekend, hundreds of the APC members in Isolo-opin ward in Ekiti council area of the state dumped the party for the PDP. Speaking at an outing in Osi town, leader of the defectors and one of the advocates of “O To Ge” movement during 2019 general election in the state, Mrs. Veronica Ayeni (Ire) said, “I used my time, resources and my energy to mobilise for Kwara APC in 2019 general election. “This was done purposely, because of my children for them to secure jobs as employment and prompt empowerments remain the campaign watchword of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. More than three years now, nothing like dividends of democracy in my immediate family not to talk of my political followers. “I have worked with Saraki dynasty in the past, and I know what my community has benefited from Saraki family. 2023, we will deliver Osi for PDP,” she said, adding that, “APC is a political party with full of crises and deceit. | Kwara State APC, Kwara State, Decamp, APC to PDP | Page 14 | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | Prepare Handover Notes, Opposition Parties Tell Ogun, Lagos Govs | Opposition parties in Ogun State have asked Governor Dapo Abiodun to start preparing his handover notes, stressing that defeat awaits him like his Osun State counterpart. In a statement by its spokesman, Bankole Akinloye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it would mobilise its members and supporters to ensure Abiodun did not return for a second term. Akinloye, therefore, charged party members to renew their commitment towards winning the 2023 governorship election in the state. He said Ademola Adeleke’s victory remains a symbolic attestation to the fact that no amount of money is big enough to buy a determined mind. Also, the NNPP state Chairman, Oginni Olaposi, told Gov Abiodun to “as a matter of urgency start the writing of his handover notes, noting that the fall of an incumbent governor of APC was a bad omen for Abiodun, hence: “It’s the end of the road for APC election manipulations and Abracadabra.” Similarly, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to start preparing handover notes ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state. The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Hon Hakeem Amode, said this in a statement while defending the choice of Funke Akindele as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state. He said, “We would like to inform the APC that the table has turned, Lagos State and the good people living therein are tired of the few gathering at their lord’s table to determine the life and living standard of the people of the state. | Ogun State, Lagos State, 2023 Governorship Election | Page 12 | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 18th July 2022 | Like Osun, Nigerians Will Speak For PDP In 2023 – Ayu | The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has said the party’s victory in last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State is a sign of what will happen in the 2023 general polls. PDP’s candidate polled 403,371 votes to defeat APC’s Oyetola, who trailed behind with 375,027 votes. Senator Adeleke won in 17 local government areas against Oyetola’s 13 before he was returned elected by the Chief Returning Officer for INEC, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos. In a statement yesterday, Ayu said the election was a “referendum on the disastrous stewardship of the APC and proves conclusively that Nigerians want PDP back and indeed, PDP is coming.” The PDP helmsman commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for toeing the path of neutrality and ensuring that votes counted. “We call on all PDP members and all Nigerians to join the moving PDP train. Don’t be left behind. Our next destination is villa. With PDP, Nigeria shall rise again. Indeed, she is already rising. Osun people have spoken. The rest of Nigeria shall speak with a resounding voice on 25th February 2023". | PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Osun State Governorship Election, 2023 General Election | Page 13 | 6 | |
| The Cable | 18th July 2022 | Festus Okoye: INEC still in talks with CBN over storage of election materials | Festus Okoye, commissioner for information and voter education of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the commission is still in talks with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over storage of election materials. This statement comes weeks after Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the commission, said sensitive election materials would no longer be “routed” through the CBN. Yakubu had said the electoral body never had any issue with the CBN since the partnership started, but owing to “current circumstances”, an alternative would be found. However, speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Okoye said logistics measures taken in Ekiti and Osun governorship elections will not be sustainable for the general election. He said the commission employed the services of the Nigerian Air force for the logistics of the electoral materials, adding that because of the huge amount of the ballot papers and other sensitive materials, the commission will have a “sit-down” with the CBN to draw out plans for the 2023 elections. “You cannot use the Ekiti governorship election and Osun governorship election as a measure of what will happen in 2023. This is because for instance, in the Ekiti governorship election, we had less than a million registered voters. In the Osun governorship election, we were shy of two million registered voters. These are stand alone elections. For the Ekiti election, we utilised the service of the Nigerian Air force and they flew the materials into Akure airport. We did the same thing with the Osun election, and we moved the materials to our state offices. But for the 2023 general election, we are going to have over 95 million ballot papers printed for the presidential election. Over 95 million will be printed for the senatorial election; over 95 million papers will be printed for the house of representatives election. Then it goes down. It’s going to be a huge logistics nightmare. What we intend to do going forward since there are issues with keeping our materials with CBN, we have not had enough opportunity to sit down with the Central Bank to review the entire issue surrounding our moving our material with the Nigerian Air force. We are definitely going to do that. If at the end of the day, we are not satisfied with the arrangement then we are going to look for a new logistics pathway of how to manage logistics during the 2023 elections. But no decision has been made"". “When you have to move materials to 36 states of the federation and the capital territory, it’s a completely different ball game. What we did in Ekiti and Osun in terms of the general election will not be sustainable. We need to look for a complete logistics pathway of how to deal with this particular problem.” | INEC, Commissioner for information and voter education, Festus Okoye, Storage of Election Materials, CBN, 2023 General election | https://bit.ly/3zexu5K | 6 | |
| The Cable | 18th July 2022 | Oyo assembly impeaches deputy governor | The Oyo state house of assembly has removed Rauf Olaniyan, deputy governor to Seyi Makinde, from office. Olaniyan’s removal was quickly completed at the assembly’s plenary session on Monday after it adopted the report of a seven-man panel which was constituted by Munta Abimbola, chief judge of the state, to investigate allegations of misconduct against the deputy governor. Olaniyan has been battling his removal from office but last week, he lost the battle after the state high court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola dismissed the suit filed by the deputy governor to stop the house from removing him. In his ruling, Akintola said the impeachment move initiated by the lawmakers had not violated the constitution. The state chief judge on Friday constituted the seven-man panel to investigate allegations against Olaniyan. Last month, the deputy governor announced that he would be leaving the Peoples Democratic Party to join the All Progressives Congress. Amid rumours of Olaniyan’s removal, Makinde had on June 2 named Bayo Lawal, former attorney-general in the state and current chairman of the state housing corporation, as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election. The governor is also expected to name Lawal as Olaniyan’s replacement. | Impeachment, Oyo State, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, Oyo State House of Assembly | https://bit.ly/3uYmEOB | 6 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 8th July 2022 | 7 Days To INEC Deadline: N/West, N/East Intensify Push For APC VP Slot | Seven days to the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the withdrawal of a presidential candidate or his running mate, governors and other stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North West and North East have intensified the push to clinch the running mate slot. To meet INEC’s June 17, deadline for the submission of the nomination of presidential candidates and their running mates, the ruling party had submitted the names of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim Masari as the presidential candidate and running mate respectively. Masari, a National Welfare Officer of the APC during the Adams Oshiomhole era was nominated as a placeholder running mate pending the conclusion of consultations by stakeholders of the ruling party. In its timetable for the 2023 general elections, INEC has fixed July 15, 2022, as the last day for presidential and national assembly candidates to withdraw from the race in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022. Last week, governors of the party in the North West met and resolved that the region must fill the party’s vice presidential slot. The region, in a communiqué signed by its APC Zonal Vice Chairman, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, said the APC governors, governorship candidates and ministers from the states in the zone were part of the resolution that the ticket should be given to the region. On Monday, a group known as the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) recommended El-Rufai to Tinubu. A source close to El-Rufai said for the party to win the presidential election, the running mate must be picked from the North West. But a ranking federal lawmaker from the North East said among all the contenders, El-Rufai had the least national appeal and acceptability. Another source said the members of the camp of the defunct Congress for Progressive Congress (CPC) were also pushing for one of their members to be considered for the seat. Daily Trust reports that Tinubu left Nigeria in the early hours of Monday, June 27, to Paris shortly after meeting President Buhari as part of consultations ahead of the 2023 elections. Though it was not clear yesterday when Asiwaju will return to the country, more politicians are expected to visit him in Paris before he returns. He is expected back before the grand rally of the APC in Osun ahead of the July 16, governorship election. | INEC Deadline, APC VP Slot, 2023 General Elections, APC | Page 31 | 5 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 8th July 2022 | 2023: LP Unveils Baba-Ahmed As Obi’s Running Mate Today | The Labour Party (LP) will today unveil Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as running mate to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, has said. Baba-Ahmed, who is the Proprietor of Baze University, Abuja and Baba-Ahmed University Kano, was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until recently. The unveiling of the vice-presidential candidate was initially slated for Thursday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Abure, said the ceremony was postponed because Obi, who travelled to Maiduguri and was expected back in Abuja Thursday afternoon, had his flight cancelled. Abure announced that the unveiling of Obi’s running mate is rescheduled for today at the party’s headquarters, Abuja. | Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, LP VP Candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed | Page 32 | 5 | |
| Tribune Online | 8th July 2022 | Court Disqualifies PDP’s Delta Guber Candidate, Oborevwori | Justice Taiwo Taiwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, disqualified the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sherrif Oborevwori, from contesting the 2023 governorship election in Delta State. The Judge, in his judgement in the suit brought before the court by an aggrieved member of the party, Mr Olorogun Edevbie, held that the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Oborevwori lacked the legal competence to participate in the election. Plaintiff had among other issues, contended that the defendant was not validly nominated by his party and that the PDP violated both its constitution and the electoral guidelines, during its state congress that produced Oborevwori as its flagbearer for the forthcoming governorship election. He consequently prayed the court to restrain the party from forwarding Oborevwori’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to also restrain the electoral body from receiving or recognising him as the duly nominated candidate of the party for the election. In the suit which also had, the PDP and INEC as defendants, Plaintiff sought an order to restrain Oborevwori from parading or carrying himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state. Justice Taiwo held in his judgement that the suit was meritorious and accordingly granted the reliefs of the Plaintiff against Oborevwori. | Court Suit, PDP, Delta State PDP Governorship Candidate, Sherrif Oborevwori, 2023 Governorship Election, INEC | https://bit.ly/3AvGcxr | 5 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 8th July 2022 | Oyo PDP chides deputy governor over refusal to defend allegations | The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, yesterday, berated the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, over his refusal to clear his name of allegations of financial impropriety, abandonment of office, among others, levelled against him by the Assembly. According to a statement by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, the party said instead of clearing his name from the allegations, Olaniyan had resorted to approaching the court to restrain the lawmakers from performing their constitutional functions, saying such action violates every atom of the Yoruba ‘Omoluabi’ ethos. The party, however, praised the state House of Assembly over its directive to the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor, describing it as the right move in the right direction. It said the move by the Adebo Ogundoyin-led House of Assembly indicates that the legislative arm had risen in defence of democracy and performing its statutory legislative duty as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. The PDP maintained that as an educated individual who rose through the ranks until retirement while in the state civil service, Olaniyan should know better than the House of Assembly is constitutionally empowered and duty-bound in the interest of the general public to investigate any public office holder, institution or government parastatal when the need arises. The ruling party, therefore, described the act as a clear show of disrespect for the legislative arm of government, which the party said, was nothing short of an abuse of office. | Oyo State, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, Allegations, PDP | Page 24 | 5 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 8th July 2022 | Abia rep drags APC, INEC to court for wrongful substitution | Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Samuel Onuigbo, has dragged the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court for wrongful substitution. Also joined, as a defendant, is Emeka Atuma in the suit No FHC/UM/CS/113/2022 holden at the Federal High Court, Umuahia, which has also been listed as Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/963/2022 in the Abuja division of the court. In the suit Chief Emeka Obegolu filed on his behalf, Onuigbo prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the second defendant/respondent (INEC), either by themselves, agents, assigns, privies or anybody else acting on their instruction or behest from publishing or recognising the name of the third defendant/respondent (Atuma) as the candidate of the first defendant/respondent (APC) for Abia Central Senatorial District, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction. | Court Suit, Samuel Onuigbo, APC, INEC, Wrongful Substitution | Page 25 | 5 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 8th July 2022 | Osun: INEC Devolves Distribution of PVCs to Wards | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has devolved the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to registration areas/ wards. The INEC in a statement by its State Public Relations Officer, Seun Osimosun, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY in Osogbo yesterday said the devolution is to ensure smooth processes of distribution of the cards. The statement reads in part: “The INEC wishes to inform the general public, most especially, all eligible Voters who are duly registered but yet to collect their PVCs, that they now have another opportunity to collect their PVCs at the Registration Areas (Wards) from Thursday 7th July to Thursday 14th July, 2022 between the hours of 9am to 3pm daily. “Please note that this is the second time INEC is giving Voters in Osun State the opportunity to collect their PVCs at Registration Area/Ward for ease of collection and more importantly, to ensure that no eligible Voter is disenfranchised. Every Voter who wishes to collect PVC should come with the Registration Slip issued to him/her during the Registration Exercise in exchange for the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). No collection by proxy, please.” | INEC, Osun State, Osun State Governorship Election, PVC, Registration Areas/Wards | Page 44 | 5 | |
| Punch Online | 8th July 2022 | Ekiti: Why I’m challenging Oyebanji’s victory at tribunal – Oni | The candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, Thursday evening, filed a 1,095-page petition before the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal. Oni said he was challenging the election outcome at the tribunal in view of the fact that he allegedly defeated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyebanji, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC had said Oyebanji of the APC came first in the election having polled 187,057 votes against Oni of the SDP who scored 82,209 votes to come second among the 16 candidates that participated in the election. Oni, who spoke to journalists at the tribunal shortly after his legal team submitted the petition, said, “I’m here to submit my petition in accordance with the law and we are doing this to defend the sanctity of the system. I am challenging the election result because I believe that I won.” The SDP candidate had told The PUNCH last week that he could not congratulate Oyebanji because he did not believe the person declared governor-elect won the June I8 election. Oni’s lawyer, Obafemi Adewale, SAN, who said there was more to the election, said, “If my client had believed the governorship election was free, fair, and credible, he would not have challenged the outcome.” Adewale said that his client also believed that “the person declared by INEC as the winner did not win with lawful votes.” | SDP, Ekiti State SDP Governorship Candidate, INEC, Election Petition Tribunal | https://bit.ly/3uzrlOy | 5 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Peter Obi: I Will Remove Fuel Subsidy, Use Savings for Education, Health, Security | Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday faulted Nigeria’s fuel subsidy policy, describing it as a scam, just as he revealed his resolve to end the policy and channel the humongous amount of money it gulps to critical sectors like power, healthcare and education if elected president in 2023. The former Anambra State governor also said Nigeria’s economy is currently in a comatose state and needs a specialist like him to save its life. Obi, who said these while speaking on ‘The Morning Show,’ on Arise News Channel, said he was still consulting with political leaders to get a credible running mate as vice president for the party in the 2023 general election. Obi argued that labour had never been against phasing out the petrol subsidy regime. He said the amount of subsidy that had been spent in the past 12 years would have solved a lot of issues in education, health, and power. “If we have 20,000 megawatts of electricity today, I can assure you that we’d be growing at more than four per cent and would have added over $100 billion in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). There has been a lot of mismanagement of resources that would have changed the entire north. We are going to do it in such a way that it will be transparent. To avoid mistrust, when it (subsidy) is removed, what we are going to do with it should be made known. We must look at it critically. I am going to remove subsidy because I am going to use the resources to do something that will benefit the nation. If that can’t be achieved, then, I am not going to remove it’,” Obi said. He dispelled rumours that he had already picked Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a Kaduna-based politician as his running mate ahead of the 2023 general election. According to him, in the coming days, his vice president would be unveiled. He, however, said he would like to work with someone who is much younger, adding that he was building a formidable team which would save Nigeria. | Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, LP Presidential Candidate, Fuel Subsidy, Removal of fuel subsidy | Page 48 | 4 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Buhari: I’m Confident APC will Win July 16 Osun Guber Poll | President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed confidence that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would emerge victorious in the July 16 governorship election in Osun State. He, therefore, hailed the selfless service of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the state, to the people, which he said would earn him a second term in office. However, presenting the party’s flag to Oyetola at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, the president commended the performance of the governor for serving the people tirelessly in his first term in office, adding that he had confidence in the party winning the election, fairly and squarely in the coming week. “I wish you the best of luck”, the president said. Responding to the invitation to participate in the Grand Finale of the rallies, next week in Osogbo, Buhari said, “I hope I will make myself available to boost your morale.” But he gave assurances that the APC was committed to furthering the development journey of the state. | Osun State, Osun Governorship Election, July 16, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari | Page 51 | 4 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Court asked to stop APC, INEC from replacing Masari as Tinubu’s running mate | A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has been asked to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from replacing Alhaji Kabiru Masari, as the running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election. Two chieftains of the party, who were delegates in the just concluded APC National Convention, Zakari Maigari and Zubainatu Mohammed, approached the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting change of vice presidential candidate from APC. The plaintiffs joined APC, INEC, Tinubu and Masari as defendants. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ CS/1059/2022 and dated July 4, 2022, the plaintiffs want the court to determine whether having regard to the combined effect of sections 142(1) and sections 29(1), 31 and 33 of the Electoral Act, it is legally permissible for the fourth defendant to withdraw as the vice presidential candidate of the first defendant and the running mate of the third defendant so as to be substituted or replaced with another person. They also want the court to determine whether in view of the joint ticket provision in section 142(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the withdrawal of the fourth defendant as the candidate for the office of Vice President does not entail the automatic withdrawal of the third defendant as the candidate for the office of President for purpose of the 2023 general elections. | APC, APC Presidential Candidate and Running Mate, Placeholder, Electoral Act 2022, Court Suit, Joint Ticket | Page 2 | 4 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Oyo AP to conduct another governorship primary, says INEC | Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, yesterday, said the commission had received a letter from the Accord Party (AP) for fresh primaries to be conducted to enable the party present candidates for the 2023 general elections. Agboke, who stated this at a valedictory programme and media briefing held at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Oyo State office, said the party would be conducting the primaries owing to voluntary withdrawal of some certain individuals from the race. He, therefore, urged all security agencies and political class to join hands with the commission to tackle the challenges of vote-buying at the forthcoming 2023 general elections. | Oyo State, Oyo State REC, Retirement, Valedictory programme, AP, Accord Party, APC on Fresh primaries | Page 5 | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Peter Obi Is Presidential Candidate Of LP Faction – Ex-Deputy Chair | A former Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Calistus Uju Okafor, on Wednesday, said the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, is the presidential candidate of a faction of the party. Okafor said he had no hard feelings against Obi when he instituted a case against the party. Okafor is challenging the constitutionality of the Barrister Julius Abure-led national working committee of the party in court, which has nominated Peter Obi as its flagbearer. He maintained that the former governor was in the faction of the party whose leadership was allegedly not recognised by the LP’s constitution. He insisted that he remained the authentic national chairman of the party following the sacking of its late chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam. Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Okafor said he went to court on December 21, 2021, long before Obi joined the party on May 29, 2022. Reacting, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, described Peter Obi as LP’s duly-elected, constitutionally-recognised presidential candidate. | Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, Faction, LP Deputy National Chairman, Court | Page 11 | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th July 2022 | Taraba, Plateau APC Gov’ship Candidates Pick Running Mates | The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has picked Alhaji Iliyasu Kirim as his running mate. It was gathered that Kirim, who hails from Karim Lamido LGA of the Northern senatorial zone of the state, was picked after wide consultation by the party. Bwacha, who has been in the National Assembly since 2007, hails from the southern senatorial zone of the state. Campaign posters of Bwacha with Kirim adorned strategic locations in Jalingo, the state capital yesterday. Similarly, the candidate of the party in Plateau State, Nentawe Yalwada, has picked Pam Botmang, as his running mate in next year’s governorship election in the state. Mr Nentawe who announced this yesterday at the Kalwa House, in Jos South Local Government Area of the state, said he picked Botmang after rigorous consideration of the criteria to choose his running mate which, according to him, he (Botmang) had. Mr Botmang, who is the son of the former Governor of the State, Michael Botmang, is currently the state’s Commissioner for Works. | APC Governorship Candidates, Taraba State APC Governorship candidate and running mate, Plateau State APC Governorship and Running Mate | Page 10 | 4 | |
| Punch Online | 7th July 2022 | We’ll win Osun gov election, PDP boasts | The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed optimism about winning the July 16 governorship election in Osun State. The party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, made the declaration while receiving the report of reconciliation of the Osun State chapter of the party on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. He said, “The assignment was really one of the best we can say in terms of reconciliation. And in less than six to seven weeks the assignment was given, we have seen your handiwork. The moment you were inaugurated, you hit the road, it has yielded fruits greatly, and we are sure of victory. However, we want to enjoin you that part of your assignment is for Osun and Lagos States. I want you to take this opportunity just like in Osun to hit the ground in Lagos State because you have ample time to go to Lagos and repeat what you did in Osun State. This report will go a long way, not only in Osun State but also in other states.” The chairman of the reconciliation panel, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), while making the submission, stated that the factions have agreed to work together for the progress of the party, having been brought to a round table. | PDP, Osun State, Osun State Governorship Election, July 16, Reconciliation Panel | https://bit.ly/3RdY9qf | 4 | |
| The Nation Online | 6th July 2022 | INEC decries low rate of PVC collection in Lagos | The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, has described as worrisome the low rate of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) collection in Lagos State. Agbaje, who stated this during the Constituencies Stakeholders’ Meeting, 2022 in Lagos said only 6,382 PVCs out of the 34,242 received from the commission’s headquarters for the first and second quarters’ Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) had been collected by their owners. This, he said, represented just 18.6 per cent. The meeting was part of the ongoing engagement with critical stakeholders with a view to sensitising them on the imperatives of the PVCs ahead of the 2023 general election. He also added that a total of 1,091,157 of the old PVCs were still uncollected by their owners. He, therefore, urged stakeholders to continue to assist the commission in mobilising eligible citizens residing in Lagos State that were yet to collect theirs to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the ongoing collection at the INEC offices where they registered to collect their PVCs. He added that anyone without it cannot vote during any election. “No PVC, no voting,” he said. | INEC REC Lagos State, Lagos State, PVC, Uncollected PVC, 2023 General Election | https://bit.ly/3P8iYS8 | 3 | |
| The Nation Online | 6th July 2022 | Wike rejects one-on-one parley with Atiku over crisis | There is no end in sight to the festering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the choice of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate by the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Yesterday, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike ruled out the possibility of a one-on-one meeting with the presidential flagbearer. He said Atiku should engage his team for peace talks on the terms proposed to the party, particularly the resignation of the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. Although the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, had suggested that Atiku should lead a reconciliation team to Wike, who also contested for the presidential ticket at the primary, the governor indicated that he would rely on the advisory from his “Strategy Team”. It was learnt that emissaries have traced Wike to Turkey where he was on vacation while Atiku’s lobbyists were said to have offered Petroleum Minister’s portfolio to him, if Atiku is elected in next year’s election. Also yesterday, a BoT member, Waziri Adamu, suggested that Wike should be appointed as Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation. A source said Wike, who has returned from Turkey, has foreclosed a one-on-one meeting with Atiku, citing lack of faith in any personal agreement with the candidate, instead of reconciliation talks with Atiku by his team. The source said: “There is no likelihood of Wike having one-on-one private discussion with Atiku. Shortly after the primary, the governor had a side meeting with Atiku in Abuja and nothing was adhered to. “He was shocked that Atiku has not told Nigerians what transpired between him and Wike after the primary and how he arrived at Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a running mate. Since there was no full disclosure, Wike has directed that fresh talks with Atiku should be with his strategy team members, who will come up with an advisory for him.” Wike’s strategists include Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Samuel Ortom (Benue); ex-governors Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Donald Duke (Cross River), among others. | PDP Crisis, PDP VP Candidate, Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar | https://bit.ly/3aj2EiA | 3 | |
| Daily Post Online | 6th July 2022 | Osun 2022: Monarch, Ataoja Osogbo lays curses, warns politicians | Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba JImoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, has warned that he will take action against individuals whose desire is to disrupt the peace of Osogbo in the name of politics. Oba Oyetunji made this disclosure while addressing the campaign train of Ademola Adeleke, the Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate while on a visit to his palace on Tuesday in Osogbo. In a video obtained by DAILY POST, the monarch who was visibly angry over pockets of politically motivated attacks across Osogbo, threatened to lay curses on anybody fomenting trouble and planning to bring disruption to Osogbo during his time as monarch. The Ataoja also warned the chairman of Olorunda Local Government chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kazeem Oyewale, also known as Asiri Eniba, against orchestrating violence in the town. While warning that they should desist or face the wrath of the deities, he also threatened to lay curses on political thugs who are hired by politicians to attack members of other political parties ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election in the State. “I want to say it emphatically that anyone who disturbs the peace of Osogbo land won’t know peace. Anyone who wants to destroy this land won’t know peace". | Ataoja of Osogbo, Osun State, Osun Governorship Election, July 16, Curse | https://bit.ly/3amhXXF | 3 | |
| Daily Post Online | 6th July 2022 | IPOB: What I will do about agitation if elected President – Peter Obi | The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has revealed that if elected as president of the country in 2023, he would engage in dialogue with those agitating for secession. Speaking on Arise TV morning show on Wednesday, Obi said he had observed how issues of agitations were handled in other countries. According to him, the agitation was birthed by poor leadership in the country which, according to him, had been the issue with Nigeria over the years. Clearing the air on his reported support for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the former Anambra State governor said he had never been involved in any agitation. He said, “I have never been in any agitation. I had said that the agitation is because of leadership failure over the years. I will engage them in dialogue if elected into power”. | Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP, LP Presidential Candidate, Dialogue | https://bit.ly/3nJmS8a | 3 | |
| The Guardian Online | 6th July 2022 | Kwankwaso did not malign Igbo, says NNPP as Shettima’s VP chances ‘brighten’ | National Chairman of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, did not denigrate Igbo when he inaugurated the Gombe State chapter executive. He said Kwankwaso’s remarks were taken out of context, regretting that the attribution has generated ill feelings in some political circles, especially between the southeast region and NNPP. In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, Alkali said: “As a party desirous to change the situation of the country, we believe that no Nigerian of any geopolitical zone, tribe, ethnic nationality, or religious persuasion is least on the rung of the ladder.” He maintained that neither NNPP nor its presidential candidate would malign any zone or individual, since the party needs the votes of all electorates to govern Nigeria. The statement reads in part: “According to the report, Kwankwaso, while inaugurating the Gombe executive, was quoted as having said southeast (Igbo people) are good in business, but at the bottom of politics in Nigeria. NNPP wishes to categorically state that the statement was situated out of context, as the NNPP presidential candidate has always emphasised that Igbo were frontrunners in the fight for the nation’s struggle for independence, and had produced the first President of the country in the person of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of the Senate, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, former Vice President, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, four former Presidents of the Senate from 1999 till date, and other top political office holders.” | NNPP, NNPP National Chairman, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Igbo, Statement | https://bit.ly/3bNrIP7 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 6th July 2022 | We’re Working With EFCC To Stem Tide Of Vote-Buying — INEC | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stem the tide of vote-buying by politicians in the country. Speaking during a valedictory programme/media briefing yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr Mutiu Agboke, said vote-buying remains the major headache for INEC. He warned politicians to desist from the act in future elections, saying anyone arrested for buying votes during elections would be prosecuted. The REC assured that the commission would ensure transparent, credible, free and fair general elections in 2023 and appealed to security agencies and the political class to continue to join hands with it to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the country. Agboke said the commission has given the electorate in the state value for their votes by ensuring that their votes counted during elections in the state. He said though the people of the state initially doubted the commission’s sincerity in making their votes count, INEC’s credibility was enhanced in all ramifications. He, however, urged residents of the state to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), which he said are key to the participation of any voter in the upcoming election, adding that “the current voting system is such that without a PVC, no electorate shall be allowed to vote under any condition.” He said, “INEC has phased out the use of Smart Card Readers and Incident forms.” | INEC, EFCC, Oyo State, Valedictory Programme, Media Briefing, Vote Buying, PVC, Smart Card Readers, Oyo State REC, 2023 General Election | https://bit.ly/3utSAdk | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Online | 6th July 2022 | Many Injured, Properties Burnt As PDP, APC Members Clash In Kogi | No fewer than 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) all of them youths, in Ologba in Dekina LGA of Kogi State, have been injured after suspected thugs invaded the venue of their meeting and unleashed “terror” on them. A witness said guns, knives, horns and other weapons were freely used in the process with many properties, including houses, motorcycles and cars were burnt by the invading thugs. “There is serious tension in Dekina LGA. The thugs came to the PDP youth meeting venue at Ologba, burnt properties, vehicles and motorcycles,” said one Ajibili Eshu, a member of the PDP. Meanwhile, a socio-cultural group under the umbrella of Igala Vanguard has condemned the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward chairman of Iyale, Mr Shagari Ojiji, and Honourable Achile, APC councillor representing the Ward in Dekina LGA. The group’s spokesman, Mr Akpa Ocheni, called on law enforcement agencies to arrest the duo for allegedly leading a politically motivated attack on the opposition party, which resulted in massive destruction. “Igala Vanguard will not accept this politics of violence this time around and all hands will be on deck to ensure that the perpetrators of this barbaric act are brought to face the full wrath of the law,” he said. However, efforts to hear from the police spokesman, SP William Ovye Aya, failed as he did not answer his calls. | PDP - APC Clash, Kogi State, Dekina LGA, Igala Vanguard | https://bit.ly/3utTarw | 3 | |
| Punch Online | 5th July 2022 | Promoters of Muslim-Muslim ticket don’t wish Nigeria well – Cleric | A Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Shiekh Haliru Maraya, said the idea of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket won’t do Nigeria any good as it negates the principle of justice, fairness and equity which Islam stand for. Maraya, a former Special Adviser on Islamic Matters and Hajj Affairs stated in a statement titled, ‘Islamic View On Same-faith Presidential Ticket in Today’s Nigeria,’ in Kaduna on Monday. The cleric while kicking against the idea, said it was wrong to support a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket because Nigeria is secular state. He argued that the same faith presidential ticket was at variance with the spirit of justice, fairness and equity which the religion of Islam promote and defend. According to him, those promoting the idea of Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket do not wish Nigeria well as their action will further divide the country along religious fault lines. He said, “Nigeria is a multi-religious country of more than 200million people who are Muslims and non-Muslims. Hence, one can say that the country is owned by more than 200million citizens who are of diverse religious backgrounds. In order to be just to all the citizens of the country, and also to balance the apparent religious sentiments prevalent in the country, Nigeria’s politicians and its major political parties have avoided fielding same-faith presidential candidates since the present political dispensation from 1999. The combination of a Muslim and non-Muslim, in a presidential ticket, in Nigeria of today, also gives vent to the spirit of justice, fairness and equity as enshrined in the religion of Islam. Remember, the country is for the Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The religion of Islam orders the sincere administration of justice, on all, regardless of any distinction, be it religious, ethnic, geographical, tribal, inter alia. The religion enjoins its adherents to always stand for justice as a matter of principle, whether for Muslims or non-Muslims, even if justice should side against them"". “The Quran says: ‘and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just’. (Q5:8). As a Muslim, one is enjoined by the religion to only love for mankind, regardless of any social difference, what they love for themselves. I don’t think there is a Muslim who will support a Christian-Christian presidential ticket.” | Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric, Muslim-muslim Presidential Ticket, Shiekh Haliru Maraya | https://bit.ly/3P0xyen | 2 | |
| Punch Online | 5th July 2022 | 20 RECs retire in Aug as tenure ends | The tenure of no fewer than 20 state Resident Electoral Commissioners will start expiring with effect from Wednesday. Findings by The PUNCH indicate that many of the RECs would retire from the electoral body between July 6 and August as their five-year tenure winds down. The electoral commissioners were among the 27 officials appointed in 2017 by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). It was learnt that some of them had served their second term and are not eligible for re-appointment. A REC, who confirmed the development to one of our correspondents, however, said he did not know whether INEC has notified the Presidency about the vacancy. He said, “The 20 RECs were appointed by the President in 2017. I would be leaving INEC in August. I’m not sure if INEC had notified the Presidency so they can start shopping for nominees. I believe the president and his aides knew what to do.” Another resident electoral commissioner, who confirmed the development said, “Some RECs are leaving on Wednesday but I’m not one of them. Because there was a delay in our screening by the Senate, some of us would not be going now but four persons are also going in August.” The Senate is required under section 154 of the 1999 Constitution to screen those nominated to the positions of INEC National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners. Attempts to get a reaction from the Presidency were unsuccessful as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, could not be reached for comment. But a presidential aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said the President would write to the National Assembly “at the appropriate time.” The INEC National Electoral Commissioner for information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, confirmed the imminent vacancy in the commission. “Their tenures would expire between now and August. Their tenures expire differentially. If you call me back, I can give you the exact number that is going this week; I need to check my books,” he said on Sunday. | INEC REC, Retirement, 20 State RECs | https://bit.ly/3AvK2Xh | 2 | |
| Daily Post Online | 5th July 2022 | 2023: Kaduna APC guber candidate, Sani’s Muslim-Muslim ticket raises anxiety | Controversy is currently trailing the All Progressive Congress (APC), Kaduna Governorship candidate, Alhaji Uba Sani’s choice of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate for the 2023 election. DAILY POST recalls that Sani on Monday night, announced Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate, throwing up a Muslim/Muslim ticket. The development is a complete departure from political arrangement of Muslim/Christian ticket, which has been in practice in the State. Although, Governor Nasir El-rufai introduced the Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2021, after the death of his late deputy Bananas, many political observers in the State are not happy that Christians in the State have been sidelined. Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman in Kagarko LGA, Dr. Moses Wada said introducing Muslim-Muslim ticket in the State is to weaken Christianity in the State. “I have never seen a situation where there are Muslims, Christians in the State, and just because one religion has the upper hand, they decided to sideline the other religion. It’s not done in a democratic setting,” he said. On her own part, Mrs. Ruth Alibaba, former Director-General, PDP women wing in the 2015 election in Kaduna State said politics does not discriminate against religion, adding that everybody must be carried along. “A situation where one religion is sidelined, it means, there is an interior motive on the part of the ruling government,” she said According to her, “who will speak for Christians when the ugly things happen? Who will Christian elders run to in the Government House when their rights are violated?” Also speaking to DAILY POST on the sideline of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, an Imam, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa noted that everyone must be given an equal opportunity since Government is for the people and not for a section. | APC Kaduna Governorship Candidate, Muslim-muslim running mate, Kaduna State, Uba Sani | https://bit.ly/3yG8h3B | 2 | |
| Daily Post Online | 5th July 2022 | Drop Okowa, forget Igbo votes – Ohanaeze warns Atiku | The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been cautioned against any plan to drop Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate. There are speculations that Atiku is facing pressures from governors to drop Okowa and replace him with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike. Wike’s loyalists are also said to be making the same demand as the only way to make room for peace in the party. However, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, they said Atiku should drop Okowa to his own peril. The statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary, Comrade Obinna Achionye said any attempt to replace Okowa would backfire. The apex Igbo organization said the South-East would not accept to lose out completely in the scheme of things, having lost the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate of either the PDP or the All Progressives Congress, APC. “There is no need to repeat that we expected both the PDP and the APC to zone their presidential tickets to the South-East, but that did not happen. Though this has been overtaken by events, the only consolation we have is the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, considering that Okowa is a true Igbo son. Having said this, how could anyone wake up and think of replacing Okowa with Wike? As much as we know that Atiku reserves the right to choose whoever he wills as his running mate, we also have the right to vote according to our desire. And that desire is clear- that the PDP would not get one vote from Igbo land should they field Wike, because this is a man who disowned Ndigbo. He said he is not one of us and this is payback time, we also do not know him. Should the PDP make the mistake of pairing him with Atiku, the PDP will be roundly rejected during the presidential election,” the Ohanaeze youths warned. The OYC added that “with the new Electoral Act, those who constituted themselves into emperors are going to be disgraced during the polls. The time for bogus fake results is over, so nobody should be deceived.” | Ohaneze, VP Candidate for PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, Igbo | https://bit.ly/3yf4Hfr | 2 | |
| Vanguard Online | 5th July 2022 | APC, PDP buying, stockpiling voters’ cards — Accord | The Osun State Chapter of Accord has said it has uncovered plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to massively engage in vote-buying in the July 16 election. Besides, the party accused both parties of engaging in buying and stockpiling of voters cards. A statement by Stephen Owolabi, media aide to Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi who is the party’s governorship candidate, and made available to reporters, said these actions will plunge the state into serious crisis. “The recent arrest of agents of one of the political parties and INEC officials in Ijesaland over voters cards’ buying was as a pointer to our concern. Majority of the electorate are yet to get their voter’s cards despite seeing their names in the register and nobody, not even INEC has any information on when the cards will be ready for collection. Who knows maybe the cards have been bought over by these desperate politicians.” | Osun State, Osun Governorship Election, July 16, Accord Party, INEC, Buying and Stocking of Voters Cards, PVCs | https://bit.ly/3R8p8mZ | 2 | |
| This Day Live | 5th July 2022 | PVC:Kwara Stakeholders Want Public Holiday for Workers | The Governor of Kwara State, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has been urged to declare a public holiday to enable civil and public servants in the state to collect, replace or transfer their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and be able to vote for the electoral candidates of their choice during the next elections. A Chieftain of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kwara State, Mr. Abdul-Rahoof Bello-làbeLàbe said yesterday that the declaration of the public holiday for civil servants and other stakeholders to collect their PVCs would boost electoral success in the state. He said that, the opportunity would also assist the people to get their permanent voters cards to elect the leaders of their choice that would add more values to the society. | Kwara State, Public Holiday to Collect PVC, Civil and Public Servants, SDP Chieftain | https://bit.ly/3IfkEqA | 2 | |
| This Day Live | 5Th July 2022 | Machina Alerts INEC over Forged Withdrawal Letter in Lawan’s Favour | The winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Yobe North Senatorial District, Bashir Machina, has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about an alleged plan to forge his signature on a letter, stating that he has voluntarily withdrawn from the race to pave the way for Senate President Ahmad Lawan. The spokesperson for the Yobe North APC Senatorial Candidate Campaign Organisation, Husaini Mohammed Isah, raised the alarm in a statement made available to THISDAY in Abuja on Tuesday. Isah wondered why some leaders of the party would connive to forge a withdrawal letter purportedly emanating from Machina when the candidate had already written the APC National Working Committee restating that he is not willing to step down for anybody. Machina is currently struggling to reclaim his mandate from the APC national leadership. The party had, in the list of candidates sent to INEC, replaced Machina’s name with that of the Senate President, Lawan, who did not participate in the exercise. Part of the statement read: “Information available to Bashir Machina Campaign Organisation has it that some individuals have entered an unholy alliance with some compromised leaders to forge the withdrawal letter of Yobe North APC senatorial candidate, Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina, even after communicating formally to the party leadership affirming his stand not to step down for anybody. It is sad and indeed unfortunate that after all the cries and alarm raised by the Campaign Organisation exposing sinister plot to subvert the will of the people of Yobe North, some mischievous elements are hell-bent and determined to carry out their criminal offence. It has eventually come to light in this untidy business of forged withdrawal letter, that some compromised leaders have become slave to corruption and criminality in Nigeria"". ""Facts affirming our earlier accusation that some individuals were trying to forge the withdrawal letter of Bashir Machina have emerged, and as Campaign Organisation we want to make it abundantly clear that any withdrawal letter carrying the signature of our candidate is a forged document and does not emanate from him. We want to reiterate that Bashir Machina’s letter dated 13th June which was sent to the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, still stands and any attempt to forge his withdrawal letter would be treated as a pure criminal offence irrespective of the calibre of person(s) involved.” INEC had, in a certified true copy of its report last month, confirmed that Machina won the APC primary for the Yobe North Senatorial District held on May 28, 2022. The INEC’s report sighted by THISDAY in Abuja had indicated that Machina scored 289 votes out of 300 delegates that took part in the election. The development was meant to lay to rest, claims by the APC that the Senate President, Lawan, won the party’s ticket. | Winner of APC Yobe North Senatorial District, Bashir Machina, INEC, Forgery, Ahmad Lawan | https://bit.ly/3RbqyNr | 2 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 4th July 2022 | 2023: Coalition warns Tinubu on risk of losing Northern Christians | Muslim-Muslim ticket may worsen aggression against Christians, HURIWA tells APC flag bearer National Coalition for Democracy, Peace and Unity (NCDPU), following its summit in Kaduna, has rejected the idea of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, picking a Muslim as running mate. It warned that APC would lose the votes of Northern Christians if the flag bearer picks a Muslim. The coalition, which stated this in a communique, yesterday, resolved to work with only political parties and candidates that consider Nigeria’s diversity and regional interests. The communique, jointly signed by National Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Ringim, and Secretary, Comrade Peter Emmanuel, reads: “As concerned democrats, we are deeply worried about the potential threats and political crisis that would be created if the ruling party resolves to consider a Muslim-Muslim ticket during the forthcoming presidential election. The summit was informed by the palpable tension stirred up by regional agitations and the impending crisis the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket could cause. Thus, we are asking all political parties to strike a balance along religious and ethnic lines for united and peaceful co-existence.” Also, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, cautioned Tinubu, to stop contemplating fielding a Muslim as running mate in the forthcoming general elections. In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the scenario would heighten aggression by bandits and terrorists against Christians. | HURIWA, APC Presidential Candidate, APC, Muslim-muslim Ticket, Northern Christians, Communique | Page 4 | 1 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 4th July 2022 | Igbo not ready for presidency, says Kwankwaso | The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday, described Igbo nation as politically immature to win the presidency. Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, calculated the ongoing political permutations in the country and declared that the highest Igbo can hope for is vice president. Kwankwaso was in Gombe to inaugurate the NNPP state Secretariat on Bauchi road. Fielding questions from newsmen, the former senator and minister rated Igbo as politically naive, struggling at the nation’s political ladder.Responding to progress on the reported likely merger of his NNPP and the Labour Party (LP) fielding former governor of Anambra State as its candidate, Kwankwaso advised Igbo to learn the rope from Yoruba and the Hausa/Fulani. He said: “I like the Igbo people, they are good and enterprising, but in the game of politics, they’re at the bottom of the ladder and uncertain of their calculations. Look at it carefully, they had lost out with the PDP and APC completely. The only choice they have now is merger with NNPP, which I took to them. Believe me, this is an opportunity they have; it is going to be a disaster if they bungle it. Once that happens, they will, again, start to cry of marginalisation and shifting blames to the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani. South East must learn how to play politics. Look at South West; it is very strategic. Imagine Bola Tinubu at over 80 years. He is strategic to have agreed to wait for Buhari to go first. Really, we had talks with the LP for possible merger, but problems started with who is to be the flag bearer. The Igbo has not realised that their problem is politics that must be tackled politically.” | NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, LP, Igbos, Labour Party | Page 27 | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 4th July 2022 | Elections: NYSC Warns Corps Members Against Misconduct | Any corps member involved in any form of electoral offence must squarely face the wrath of the law as stipulated in the Electoral Act. NYSC spokesman, Eddy Megwa, in a statement yesterday, was reacting to the reported involvement of a corps member, Orji Desmond Nkenna, in an electoral malpractice in Osun State. Megwa, who noted that the case was under investigation, said if the corps member was found guilty, the law should be invoked accordingly. He said it was unfortunate for the corps member to “debase himself into such an atrocious act.” He said with the 2023 general elections around the corner, the NYSC would not relent in consolidating the long existing partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards ensuring a free, fair and credible election to the delight of all Nigerians and the world at large. “The NYSC, as a responsible youth-moulding organization, hereby dissociates itself from such unpatriotic act of the culprits. We also in NYSC condemn the act in totality. The involvement of corps members in previous elections in the country was borne out of their track record of impeccable performances in several previous national assignments and we are proud of them all that stick to the rules. All corps members, right from the orientation camps, are always sensitized by NYSC and INEC officials on their roles during elections, including the statutory sanctions if they violate the electoral laws.” | NYSC, Corps Members, INEC, Electoral Offence, Electoral Laws | Page 3 | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 4th July 2022 | Osun Gov’ship: Don’t Heat Up Polity, INEC Cautions Media Practitioners | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned media practitioners against heating up the polity ahead of the July 16, 2022, governorship election in Osun State. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, gave the charge at the weekend in Osogbo, the state capital, during a roundtable with journalists. Okoye said there was the need for objective reporting of events leading to the election and appealed to the journalists to always cross-check their facts before reporting in order not to heat up the polity. He also called on all media practitioners to step up the sensitisation of political parties and actors on the electoral law and the need for a violent-free process. Okoye said INEC was determined to a conduct free, fair and credible election in the state and urged all stakeholders to assist the commission in delivering on its mandate. | Osun State, Osun Governorship Election, INEC, Media Practitioners | Page 12 | 1 | |
| Daily Post Online | 4th July 2022 | Those asking Kwankwaso to be Peter Obi’s running mate are not politicians – Galadima | A member of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Buba Galadima has claimed that Nigerians clamouring for the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso to be the running mate of his (Kwankwaso) Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi are not politicians. Galadima made the claim on Monday while featuring on Arise Television’ Morning Show. According to him, the Kwankwasian movement has been in force for the past 32 years, while that of Peter Obi started just two months ago, stressing that there is no way the NNPP candidate can deputize Obi. He said, “Those who said Chief Peter Obi could not be Kwankwaso’s running mate are not politicians. They just started a movement two months ago while the Kwankwasian movement has been on ground for 32 years and the primary reason for the movement is for Kwankwaso to become President. No Nigerian has ever performed well while in office like Alhaji Kwankwaso. I understand that Peter Obi was the governor of Anambra State and he did his best but not like Kwankwaso.” He argued that Kwankwaso has more educational qualifications than any other presidential candidate of any political party. | NNPP, Buba Galadima, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi | https://bit.ly/3ui4c3d | 1 | |
| Punch Online | 4th July 2022 | PDP sets up panel to beg Wike | The loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, have listed conditions for the resolution of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party. Supporters of the governor, in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Sunday, said it was not late for the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to revisit the issue of his running mate by dropping the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he picked last month. As the crisis over Atiku’s running mate worsened, the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the party had set up a nine-member committee to beg Wike. Sequel to his victory at the PDP convention, where he beat Wike and other contenders to the presidential ticket, Atiku had nominated Okowa as his running mate, despite the recommendation of Wike by a 17-man committee set up by the party. Certain chieftains of the party, including the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, ex-Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang and others, had criticised the choice of Okowa as the party’s vice-presidential candidate. There were reports on Friday that Wike snubbed a former Minister of Police Affairs and ally of Atiku, Adamu Waziri, who attempted to initiate a peace talk with him in Turkey. The party, also on Sunday, raised another panel headed by Atiku, to pacify the aggrieved Governor and prevail on him not to leave the party. | Nyesom Wike, PDP, PDP Crisis, Nine-member Committee, Runnin Mate | https://bit.ly/3Iajxsm | 1 | |
| Vanguard Online | 4th July 2022 | VP slot: APC govs insist on colleague as ‘compensation’ | Strong indications emerged, that governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are insisting on a sitting colleague to be picked as vice presidential candidate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 election, following the role they played in his emergence as the flagbearer. Vanguard gathered that the governors are also pushing for Tinubu’s running mate to come from the North-East, particularly from Borno State, and that if on the other hand, it goes to the North-West, it should not be Katsina State. They were said to have contended that since Katsina produced late President Umaru Yar’Adua and incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, it shouldn’t be considered. It was also learned that another group in the Progressives Governors camp is pushing for the North-West geo-political zone to produce the vice presidential candidate, while looking in the direction of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, and Governor Atiku Abubakar of Kebbi State. However, the problem at the moment is that Tinubu is said to be insisting on Senator Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State. A source told Vanguard that the sitting governors want the APC presidential candidate to compensate them for the role they played before the convention where they killed the move by National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to have a consensus presidential candidate in person of the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, from Yobe State. According to a source, the stakeholders want the North-East, especially Borno State, to produce the vice president in 2023, against the backdrop of the fact that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State, North-East, did not get the APC presidential ticket. | APC Governors, 2023 Elections, APC VP Candidate | https://bit.ly/3yH9g3S | 1 |