| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Website Link/Page Number | No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | We Are Being Mobilised for Edo, Ondo Polls – Governors | The Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has stated that all governors under the forum and critical stakeholders would be fully mobilised to ensure that the party wins the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. Fielding questions from journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the governor stated that despite the recent set back suffered by the party, he was optimistic that it would win in the two States. With the constitution of a caretaker committee, he said the party was already on a mission to win the elections in the two States. | Edo and Ondo State governorship elections, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-are-being-mobilised-for-edo-ondo-polls-govs.html | 14 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | FG Lifts Ban on Interstate Travels, Opens Schools for Graduating Students | The Federal Government has approved the safe reopening of schools nationwide in phase two of the gradual easing of lockdown that has been extended for another four weeks. However, only graduating students in primary six, Junior Secondary School three (JSS 3) and Senior Secondary School three (SSS 3) will resume. It has also lifted the ban on interstate travels with effect from June 30, provided that such journeys are made outside the curfew hours of 10pm- 4am. The Federal Government has also approved resumption of domestic flight opeartions as soon as practicable. However, it stated that given the rising wave of COVID-19 infections, churches, mosques, open bars, night clubs, spars and gyms would remain closed while the 10 pm to 4 am curfew was retained. Speaking in Abuja on Monday, June 29 during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that the reopening of schools was meant to allow students in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations. | COVID-19, PTF | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/30/fg-lifts-ban-on-interstate-travels-opens-schools-for-graduating-students/ | 14 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | Taraba Governor Declares 3-Day Public Holiday For LG Polls | Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State has approved a 3-day public holiday from Monday, 29 June to Wednesday July 1, 2020 for the Local Government election scheduled for Wednesday, July 1. Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ishaku, Mallam Hassan Mijinyawa, stated that the public holiday was to enable civil servants in the State to travel to their respective Wards and vote during the Local Government elections. The governor, according to the statement, also urged people of the State to be orderly, law abiding and conduct themselves peacefully while discharging their civic responsibilities. Meanwhile, Chairman of the State electoral body, Dr. Phillips Duwe has stated that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the conduct of the election. | Taraba State, Local Government Elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/taraba-gov-declares-3-day-public-holiday-for-lg-polls.html | 14 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | Set Aside Order on Suspended Members, Kano Assembly asks Court | The leadership of the Kano State House of Assembly has asked a Federal High Court in the State to set aside an order it made to enforce a judgement that reinstated five lawmakers suspended by the house. The Assembly also prayed the court to set aside the Form 48 issued as a precursor to the issuing of Form 49, which will summon the Speaker and the Clerk of the House to come and show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt of court. The presiding judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, fixed July 6 for hearing of the case. The lawmakers, who were suspended in February, 2020 for allegedly opposing the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano, are Isyaku Ali Danja, Garba Ya’u Gwarmai, Labaran Abdul Madari, Mohammed Bello Butu-Butu and Salisu Ahmed Gwangwazo. Recall that on June 4, the court described the suspension of the lawmakers as null and void and therefore ordered their reinstatement. The House has been under lock for over two months following the lockdown imposed in the State as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby making it impossible for the reinstated lawmakers to resume. | Kano State House of Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/set-aside-order-on-suspended-members-kano-assembly-asks-court.html | 14 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | Buni: Change Is Inevitable in APC | Governor of Yobe State and Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Mai Mala Buni has stated that change is inevitable in the ruling party. Buni said this on Monday, June 29 at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja during the inauguration of the 13-member caretaker committee. According to him, what happened to the party in the last few months was not totally strange in a big political party such as the APC, as internal disagreements were common in all political parties. Buni, who noted that it was time for the committee to commence the process of true reconciliation among leaders and members of the party at all levels, expressed belief that the decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to constitute the committee would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the party. He urged all party members to heed to the appeal by President Muhammadu Buhari on his call to all aggrieved members, who had instituted various cases in the courts, to withdraw such cases in the interest of the party to achieve true reconciliation. | APC, Caretaker Committee | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buni-change-is-inevitable-in-apc.html | 14 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | INEC Vets Nominations for Edo Governorship Election | With the expiration of the June 29 deadline for parties to submit the details of their candidates nominated for the Edo State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to vet the nominations today, June 30. According to a source at the Commission, the portal would be opened to know the number of political parties that met the deadline. In addition, the candidates of political parties that did not invite the Commission to monitor their primaries would be disqualified. Confirming the closure of the deadline, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Festus Okoye, told journalists in Abuja that the Commission did not extend the June 29 deadline fixed for the exercise, which ended at 6 p.m on that day, as the portal was shut at the designated time. Okoye added that the details of nominations by the parties would be made public later. The commission had earlier stated that 15 political parties had notified it of their intentions to conduct primaries for the State election. | INEC, Edo State governorship election | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/30/inec-vets-nominations-for-edo-gov-election-today/ | 14 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | Presidency: Buhari Breached No Law Hosting APC NEC Meeting in State House | The presidency has taken issue with critics of President Muhammadu Buhari over the virtual meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that held on Thursday, June 25 in the State House, Abuja. It anchored the decision to use the Council Chambers of the State House for the political gathering on the fact that the meeting was virtual, and the venue had the facilities for social distancing. Iat also added that as a legal occupant of the seat of power, there is no law that specifies where Buhari must hold any meeting. But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the President’s explanation and urged him to accept his wrong. The NEC meeting was attended by APC bigwigs, including governors and National Assembly members. However, the decision to host the meeting at the venue drew criticisms from some Nigerians, who accused the President of taking advantage of his position to deploy national facilities for party affairs, a situation they viewed as an abuse of privilege. But in a riposte, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the criticism was borne out of lack of understanding. He added that no law specifies the type of meeting that should be held in the State House and which should not. According to him, the meeting was virtual and the council chambers was found suitable for it because the conference hall at the party secretariat was small and would not be conducive for social distancing in view of the necessity to observe COVID-19 regulations. He also stated that these were not normal times in view of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the country and hence, such decision to use the venue waspart of measures aimed at observing safety regulations. | APC, NEC, Presidency | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/29/presidency-buhari-breached-no-law-hosting-apc-nec-meeting-in-state-house/ | 13 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | APC, PDP, Others Race to Submit Candidates for Edo Governorship Election | The All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 13 other parties contesting the September governorship election in Edo State have busy putting finishing touches to the preparations of their lists of candidates for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, June 29. The political parties are also expected to submit the names of the running mates of their candidates for the election. Already, the electoral commission has ruled out extending the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their candidates. INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Information, Mr. Festus Okoye, on Sunday, June 28 told journalists that the deadline would not be extended. According to Okoye, “The deadline implies that all political parties must submit the names of their governorship candidates and their running mates. The deadline remains June 29. Once it is 6 p.m, the portal would be shut down. The commission would not extend the deadline.” When asked why only one day was set aside for submission of the names, Okoye stated thus: “That is the guideline because submission is done virtually; you don’t need to come to Abuja to submit.” | INEC, APC, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/29/apc-pdp-others-race-to-submit-candidates-for-edo-gov-election/ | 13 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | Governors, Lawmakers, Others Pay Last Respects to Ajimobi | Prominent Nigerians, including governors, federal and state lawmakers as well as captains of industry, thronged Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on June 28 for the burial of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who died on Thursday, June 25 in Lagos at the age of 70. However, the funereal atmosphere at the Ajimobi’s home was punctuated by his widow, Florence’s tirade against his successor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, whom she accused of playing politics with the former governor’s death. But in a swift response, the state government denied her accusations, saying the Makinde administration made the necessary concession to the family, within the ambit of the law, despite the fact the the family kept the administration in the dark right from the hospitalisation of the former governor and even after his death. The burial rites of the late Deputy National Chairman (South) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Sunday, June 28. Among the dignitaries at the funeral were Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan; Senator Teslim Folarin; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, as well as the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Dr. Adebayo Adelabu. Speaking on behalf of the governors, Fayemi, who chairs the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), described Ajimobi as a rallying-point pillar in APC. | Abiola Ajimobi | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/29/governors-lawmakers-others-pay-last-respects-to-ajimobi/ | 13 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | CBN Disburses N49bn COVID-19 Intervention Fund to 80,000 Beneficiaries | The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has so far disbursed N49 billion out of its N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility meant to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 on the economy. Giving details of the Targeted Credit Facility disbursement, CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, told journalists during a telephone interview on Sunday, June 28 that about 80,000 operators of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and families have benefitted from the intervention fund. He stated that the fund was expected to support the Federal Government’s measures to stimulate economic activities, as well as to help the economy avert a looming economic recession. “So far, out of the N50 billion targeted credit facility for households and small businesses, we have disbursed about N49 billion. We also have other intervention funds such as the N100 billion healthcare facility, whose disbursement is ongoing as well,” he added. The apex bank had earlier released guidelines for the disbursement of the special intervention fund. The NISRAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) served as the disbursing financial institution and the fund is meant for SMEs, households and enterprises that have verifiable evidence of livelihood and evidence of business activities adversely impacted by the pandemic. The guidelines for the fund had listed sectors eligible for the credit facility to include agric value chain, hospitality, health, airline service providers, manufacturing/value addition, trading, as well as any other income-generating activities as may be prescribed by the CBN. The scheme is being financed out of the CBN’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF). | CBN, COVID-19 Intervention Fund | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/29/cbn-disburses-n49bn-covid-19-intervention-fund-to-80000-beneficiaries/ | 13 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | Ize-Iyamu Dismisses Oshiomhole’s Allegations | The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has dismissed the allegations made against him by former National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, when he (Ize-Iyamu) was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016, saying the former labour leader did not mean the negative things he said about him. Ize-Iyamu explained that the APC leader was only trying to “de-market” him when he contested for governor on the platform of a different party — the PDP, then. In 2016 when he was campaigning for Godwin Obaseki, the APC candidate who has now defected to the PDP, Oshiomhole denounced Ize-Iyamu as someone who cannot be trusted with public funds. He stated that the then PDP candidate was hiding from the anti-graft agencies. In an interview, Ize-Iyamu explained that Oshiomhole was “playing politics” and the things he said about him was never from his heart. According to Ize-Iyamu, “He made those statements during the period I was on the other side and was contesting to be the State governor and he (Oshiomhole) was determined to prevent that. What do you expect? Were you expecting him to praise me at that time when he did not want me to be governor? So, when you look at the context in which he said those things, you will understand that he was just playing politics and he needed to de-market me so that his candidate would have an advantage. And after the election, that was the end of it. So, I do not think that we should dwell too much on what he said before the election." | Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Adam Oshiomhole | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/29/ize-iyamu-dismisses-oshiomholes-allegations/ | 13 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 29, 2020 | 2023: I Have No Presidential Ambition – Wike | Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he is not nursing the ambition of running for the office of the President of Nigeria. Governor Wike made the clarification on Sunday, June 28 in a television program in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The governor said the speculations were causing distractions. According to Wike, “Right now, I am focusing on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State. Recall that in 2018 and 2019 when I was supporting my friend Aminu Waziri Tambulwal, it was speculated in the media that I was going to run with him. That was my first tenure and I had not even completed it and they wanted me to give that away. To clear every speculation, let me state that I am not going to run for the office of the President of Nigeria for now. I am concentrating on developing Rivers State. I am not a party to anybody saying that the problems in PDP is about 2023." | Nyesom Wike, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2023-i-have-no-presidential-ambition-wike.html | 13 |
| DailyTrust Online | Friday, June 26, 2020 | YPP Gets 8 New NEC Members | The Young Progressives Party (YPP), on Thursday, June 25, ratified the nominations of eight new officials to fill vacant positions in its National Executive Committee (NEC). Speaking to newsmen at the 19th NEC meeting of the party, the National Chairman, Comrade Bishop Amakiri, commended the commitment of the Federal Government to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but raised concern on the rising cases of rape and the virus in the country. He stated that if the trend continued, it portended grave danger; beyond what corruption, insecurity and mis-governance may have caused the nation in the last two decades. | YPP, National Working Committee | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ypp-gets-8-new-nec-members.html | 12 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, June 26, 2020 | FG Speaks on Attack on Nigerian Embassy in Indonesia by Protesters | The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has described the attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia as disgraceful. The minister on Thursday, June 25 stated that efforts were being made to bring the suspects to book. Onyeama in the described the attack as, “Absolutely deplorable and disgraceful criminal behaviour by Nigerian hooligans who without justification attacked the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia today." He added that, "Every effort will be made to identify them and see they are severely punished. Totally unacceptable behaviour.” In video clips that surfaced online, perpetrators were citizens of Nigeria who were protesting the alleged discriminatory practices and infringement on their fundamental human rights by Indonesian immigration officials. The placard-carrying protesters were heard chanting in the video, “Nigeria is not helping us in this country. We don’t have an Embassy. We no go ‘gree.” Some of the protesters were seen vandalising a white bus in the premises of the Embassy building while others broke the windows and doors of the building. | Nigerian Embassy, Indonesia | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/26/fg-describes-attack-on-nigerian-embassy-in-indonesia-by-protesters-as-disgraceful/ | 12 |
| DailyTrust Online | Friday, June 26, 2020 | APC Writes INEC Over Ondo Primary, NWC Dissolution | The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Committee has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to introduce its team and invite the commission to monitor Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State scheduled for July 20, 2020. In the first letter dated June 25, and addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the committee informed the commission of the dissolution of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the composition of a national caretaker committee. In the second letter dated June 25 titled ‘Notice Of Conduct of Primaries’, the caretaker committee invited the commission to monitor its coming primary election in Ondo State. The letter jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of the committee read: “Please be informed that we have scheduled to hold our Party’s Primary Election in respect of Ondo State Governorship Election on 20th July 2020. Kindly arrange the monitoring of the exercise accordingly." | APC, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-writes-inec-over-ondo-primary-nwc-dissolution.html | 12 |
| DailyTrust Online | Friday, June 26, 2020 | Court Affirms Ize- Iyamu’s APC Membership | A Benin High Court has affirmed that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 19 Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is a registered member of the party. Deputy chairman of the party in Edo State, Kenneth Asekomhe, and three others, Benjamin Oghumu, Matthew Ogbebor and Unweni Nosa, had filed the suit, challenging the decision of the APC granting a waiver to Ize-Iyamu, to make him eligible to contest the APC primary election. The plaintiff had prayed the court to restrain APC from recognising Ize-Iyamu as an aspirant of the party in its governorship primary election. In his ruling, Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje, stated that Ize-Iyamu did not require a waiver to contest. According to him, the membership of a party is an internal affair of the political party and that rendered it non-justiciable before the court. | APC, Edo State governorship election, Ize-Iyamu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-affirms-ize-iyamus-apc-membership.html | 12 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, June 26, 2020 | President, Governors, Tinubu, PDP Mourn Ajimobi | Tributes poured in on Thursday, June 25 for former Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who passed on earlier in the day at the age of 70. Until his death, he was the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and picked as the party’s acting national chairman in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s ratification of the suspension of the incumbent, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole. Ajimobi passed away the same day the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC), which he headed, albeit through the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-south), Chief Hilliard Eta, while he was receiving treatment in a Lagos hospital for COVID-19. President Muhammadu Buhari, State governors and a top chieftain of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, expressed shock over the death of Ajimobi, whom they described as a man of integrity. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also condoled with the Ajimobis, the Oyo State Government and the nation. | Senator Abiola Ajimobi | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/26/president-governors-tinubu-pdp-mourn-ajimobi/ | 12 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, June 25, 2020 | Edo Governorship: Obaseki, others Battle for PDP Ticket Today | Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and two others will today battle for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 19 election. Obaseki, who was disqualified by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had promtly joined the PDP. The party fixed its governorship primary election for Thursday, June 25 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin. Three other persons who purchased the nomination forms for the primary election are; Kenneth Imasuagbon, Hon. Ogbeide Ihama and Gideon Ikhine. However, Ikhine on Monday, June 22 stepped down for Obaseki, making the contest to be between Obaseki, Ihama and Imasuagbon. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also told Daily trust last night in a telephone chat that, “Nothing will stop the primary from holding.” | Edo State Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-govship-obaseki-others-battle-for-pdp-ticket-today.html | 11 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 25, 2020 | Ondo Assembly Denies Plot to Remove Deputy Governor | The Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday, June 24 denied the allegation that its members were induced to remove the Deputy Governor of the State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi. Ajayi has however raised alarm over the withdrawal of his police escort allegedly on the order of the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bolaji Salami. The Deputy Governor had also alleged that the State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu had wanted to remove him from office, by bribing the lawmakers to begin the process. Reacting to the allegations, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Gbenga Omole, described them as falsehood. According to Omole, “This allegation smacks of naivety on the part of the deputy governor and intended to cast aspersions on the noble image of members and drag the integrity of the House in the mud. It is on this premise that we, the honourable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly state unequivocally that this is nothing but a blatant lie and politics taken too far, least expected of the calibre of the Deputy Governor of the Sunshine State. But we are not surprised because he is a drowning man and he will hold on to anything to survive." | Ondo State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/25/ondo-assembly-denies-plot-to-remove-deputy-gov/ | 11 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 25, 2020 | More Trouble for APC NEC as Governors, NWC, State Chairmen May Boycott | Loyalists of the suspended National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, seem to have drawn a battle line with President Muhammadu Buhari over his endorsement of a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) convened by the purportedly suspended member of the party, Victor Giadom and slated for June 25 at the State House, Abuja. Despite the endorsement of the NEC meeting by Buhari, the National Secretary of APC, Mr. Waziri Bulama, has described the NEC meeting as illegal. Oshiomhole loyalists, comprising no fewer than nine governors, about 15 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and chairmen of the party in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have vowed to boycott the meeting. The NEC meeting was convened by the court-installed acting National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, whom many members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members have insisted lacks the power to proclaim such a gathering because he has been suspended from the party and is no longer a NWC member. | APC, NEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/25/more-trouble-for-apc-nec-as-govs-nwc-state-chairmen-may-boycott/ | 11 |
| Punch Newspaper | Thursday, June 25, 2020 | FG Sets Stringent Conditions for School Re-opening | The stringent conditions for the reopening of schools contained in the guidelines submitted to the National Assembly by the Federal Ministry of Education, may force some schools to close down their operations. The document, obtained by journalists is titled, “Guidelines for schools and learning facilities reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closure.” According to the document, each school is required to create temporary isolation space and fully equipped clinics before reopening. They are also to establish a referral system, including protocols and procedures to check if learners, teachers, administrators and other education personnel become unwell while in school. Apart from that, the Federal Government in the document, mandated any State wishing to reopen schools to hold adequate consultations with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the parents. The guidelines also require school proprietors to construct additional structures and employ more teachers to ensure that they accommodate their pupils by adhering to the two-metre spacing system in classrooms. Proprietors of schools have also been asked to seek grants to procure soap and buckets, ensure regular safe water supply, ensure constant supply of learning and instructional materials and pay salaries on time. The Federal Ministry of Education has presented to the National Assembly, a detailed proposal on its plan to reopen schools across the country. | COVID-19, Re-opening Schools | https://punchng.com/fg-sets-stringent-conditions-for-school-reopening/ | 11 |
| Vanguard Newspaper | Thursday, June 25, 2020 | Ghana to Reconstruct Building in Nigerian High Commission | Ghana’s Foreign Affairs minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has stated that the country will reconstruct the building demolished inside the Nigerian High Commission compound in Accra. Armed men reportedly stormed the compound last week and destroyed buildings under construction. Two people have been arrested over the incident. Botchwey explained that the government will restore the building to its original state as soon as possible. She added that the High Commission will be issued with a title deed for the land. She added that Ghana was committed to ensuring the safety of members of the diplomatic corps, and that the Ghanaian government was engaging Nigeria to calm tension between the two countries. | Ghana, Nigerian High Commission | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/ghana-to-reconstruct-building-in-nigerian-embassy/ | 11 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | Edo 2020: Court Bars Obaseki from Participating in PDP Primaries | A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice E.A. Obile, has barred Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship primaries scheduled for June 25. PDP governorship aspirant, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, has challenged Obaseki’s eligibility to participate in the governorship primaries and vowed not to step down for him. Ogbeide-Ihama argued that Obaseki did not purchase PDP form or undergo screening within the stipulated time-frame. The suit had Prince Uche Secndus, Emmanuel Ogidi, Kingsley Chindah , James Manager, Barrister Ajibola Muraina, PDP, INEC and Godwin Obaseki as defendants, and was adjourned to Wednesday, June 24, 2020. | Obaseki, PDP, Primaries | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-2020-court-bars-obaseki-from-participating-in-pdp-primaries.html | 10 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | PDP blames Nigeria’s Embassy Demolition in Ghana on ‘Poor Diplomatic Engagement’ | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, June 22, stated that the demolition of buildings within the premises of Nigeria’s High Commission by unknown persons in Accra, Ghana, “is a huge contempt which the Buhari presidency could have stopped through engagements at the highest level of diplomatic relations.” It argued that the “shameful event has further exposed the extent to which incompetence has destroyed the respect and honour other nations had for our country.” The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the “embarrassing situation in Ghana, has again, highlighted the poor rating of the Buhari presidency by other nations, exposed its lack of capacity to exude our nation’s pride, as well as its failure to meaningfully engage other world leaders on diplomatic issues.” To the main opposition party, “this situation has further explained why attacks on Nigerians and Nigerian interests in foreign lands had escalated under the Buhari administration, with Nigerians being harassed and killed in various parts of the world by assailants, who take advantage of the incompetence and weaknesses of the current government in Nigeria.” PDP consequently implored the Presidnet Buhari to “wake up both to his domestic and international responsibilities, and save our nation from further embarrassing situations across the globe.” | President Buhari, PDP, Nigerian High Commission, Ghana | https://guardian.ng/news/pdp-blames-nigerias-embassy-demolition-in-ghana-on-poor-diplomatic-engagement/ | 10 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | No State is Coronavirus-free, NCDC Insists | Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Monday, June 22 stated that no State was coronavirus-free. He argued that “we live in a context where viruses spread, and can only start talking about any State or community being disease-free when we have an effective tool to fight that disease, and that is when we have a vaccine.” This comes as the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 stated that the declaration of Nigeria as polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) was indicative that the most populous black nation could overcome the novel coronavirus and other infectious ailments. Speaking during the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja, Ihekweazu insisted that “we cannot isolate ourselves from the rest of the country”, stressing that “even New Zealand that is an island started having new cases after a period of not having any.” He asserted: “Right now, no State is COVID-19 free. That is why we have to keep testing people. That is why prevention is better than cure. If you cannot prevent, you detect. That is why we need to scale up our lab testing.” | COVID-19, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu | https://guardian.ng/news/no-state-is-coronavirus-free-ncdc-insists/ | 10 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | Concerned APC Members Protest, Call for Dissolution of NWC | Concerned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, June 22 stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, demanding the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. Its convener, Okpokwu Ogenyi, while addressing journalists in Abuja on behalf of the protesters, stated that the successes of the party in the 2015 general election were being bastardised on a daily basis by those saddled with the responsibility of managing the party’s administration. Ogenyi added that the present NWC has caused the party to lose seven States to the opposition, adding that APC had 24 governors before the present NWC, but now has only 18 governors. | APC, NWC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/22/concerned-apc-members-protest-call-for-dissolution-of-nwc/ | 10 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | Rivers APC Suspends Party Acting Chairman | The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took another dimension on Monday, June 22, when 28 out of the 38 statutory members of the party suspended Igo Aguma as the acting State Chairman of the party. A High Court in Port Harcourt had, a couple of weeks ago, declared Aguma as the acting Chairman of the party, a development that did not go down well with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s faction of the party. The 28 statutory members of the party, in a press briefing in Port Harcourt, announced Sokonte Davis, a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, while Hon Sampson Egop has been approved as the Secretary of the Committee. | Rivers State, APC | < ahref="https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rivers-apc-suspends-party-acting-chairman.html">https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rivers-apc-suspends-party-acting-chairman.html | 10 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | Ondo Deputy Governor dumps APC, Picks PDP Membership Card | Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, on Sunday, June 21 resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It was reported that Ajayi resigned from the party at Ward 2, Apoi in Eseodo Local Government of Ondo State. The Ondo Deputy Governor immediately picked a membership card of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his ward following his resignation. It is speculated that nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly would join him to officially defect to the PDP on Monday June 22. Ajayi has been having political feud with his principal, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, for months and he was prevented from leaving the Government House premises in Akure on Saturday (June 20) night by the Police. However, Governor Akeredolu stated that allegations that he was responsible for the action taken by the Police against his Deputy were false. | Ondo State governorship election, Deputy Govenor, APC, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ondo-deputy-governor-dumps-apc-picks-pdp-membership-card.html | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | APC Holds Primary Today, Edo Govt Vows to Enforce Ban on Gathering | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has stated that its direct primary election will hold today, June 22 despite the ban on mass gathering by the Edo State Government. The party explained that it did not need the permission of the State government to hold its preferred mode of primary election. Recall that Gov. Obaseki had on May 28, signed a gazette stipulating that only indirect primary could be held by political parties in the State and in only one location in Benin. A chieftain in the David Imuse led-faction of the APC in the State (Adams Oshiomhole’s camp), Henry Idahagbon, stated that the party was fully prepared for the governorship primary. According to him, “Whatever gazette the governor has signed, he has breached it because we have seen him with over 500 persons within the week. And if the governor can breach the law, you don’t expect others to respect it.” The other faction of the party led by Aslem Ojezua claimed that it was not aware that the APC was holding its primary election in the State. Daily Trust reports that Ojezua is of the camp of Obaseki in APC, and although Obaseki has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ojezua has remained in the APC. | Edo State governorship election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-holds-primary-today-edo-govt-vows-to-enforce-ban-on-gathering.html | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | Non-performing Service Chiefs Can Go — Senate President | Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Sunday, June 21 stated that any security chief found falling short of expectations should be shown the way out if he refuses to go. Lawan, who briefed State House reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, added that the National Assembly was ready to receive supplementary budget to tackle the security challenge, including the recruitment of more personnel in various security agencies in the country. According to Lawan, resources must be provided to empower the security agencies to fight Boko Haram in the North East; banditry and other security challenges across the country. Lawan, who explained that the security situation in the country, especially in the northern part of the country required that more resources be given to the security agencies, added that the heads of these agencies especially the service chiefs, must sit up and address the issues within a specified timeline. He stated thus: “If after we provide some support and someone is found short of expectations, he should be shown the way out if he refuses to go. Because the lives of Nigerians are so precious and therefore must be more important than any other considerations or sentiments." | Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Insecurity | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/non-performing-service-chiefs-can-go-senate-president.html | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | Police Attacks Won’t Stop Mass Exodus to our Party, PDP tells APC, IGP | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Police to stop fighting a "lost battle", as they cannot stop the mass defection of APC members to its fold across the country. Condemning the Police attack on the Ondo Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, the PDP in a statement on Sunday, June 22 by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to caution his men against dabbling into partisan politics. The deputy governor who has been experiencing irreconcilable differences with his boss, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and was said to be perfecting plans to dump the ruling APC for the leading opposition, PDP. However, Police officers led by the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami, reportedly stopped him from moving out of his official quarters at the government house on Saturday, June 20. | Ondo State, PDP, Nigeria Police | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-attacks-wont-stop-mass-exodus-to-our-party-pdp-tells-apc-igp.html | 9 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | PDP Aspirants Resist Pressure to Step down for Edo Governor | It would seem that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is having a tough time in trying to get Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to emerge unopposed in its primary election in the State.THISDAY gathered that despite sustained pressure on other contenders for the party’s governorship ticket for the September 19 election, they have refused to budge. The three governorship aspirants, Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama and Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, have so far rebuffed pressures from leaders of the party for them to step down for Obaseki, who formally defected to the party along with his deputy, Hon. Philip Shuaibu. Before Obaseki’s defection, the PDP had screened and cleared the three aspirants for the primary, which was supposed to have been concluded by June 20. However, Obaseki’s defection, after a series of negotiations with the party leadership, turned out to be a game changer, which prompted the party to delay the primary by three days. | Edo State governorship election, PDP, Godwin Obaseki | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/22/pdp-aspirants-resist-pressure-to-step-down-for-edo-governor/ | 9 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 22, 2020 | Rivers APC Suspends Giadom | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has suspended Hon. Victor Giadom, for acts of gross infractions of the party’s constitution. A statement issued by Livingstone Wechie, Media Adviser to the APC Rivers State Acting Chairman, Hon. Igo Aguma, revealed that the Fact Finding Committee of the Party recommended that Giadom be suspended from the party and all party activities for his numerous infractions of the party constitution, which have brought the party irredeemable disrepute. In addition, Giadom is required to apologise to the party for his suspension to be lifted. | APC, Victor Giadom | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/21/rivers-apc-suspends-giadom/ | 9 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Buhari Directs Four Ministers to Develop New Template Against Insecurity | President Muhammadu Buhari has directed four ministers in charge of security to evolve new strategies aimed at containing the security challenges confronting the country. The President on Tuesday, June 17, dispatched security chiefs, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, to Katsina State, rocked by a wave of protests over the insecurity in the State, to find lasting solutions to the deteriorating security challenges bedeviling the State and North-west in general. Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs, Interior and Information and National Orientation met in Abuja to begin work on the presidential assignment. The worsening security situation in the country has of recent attracted attention from both political, religious and community leaders who have called on both the Federal and State governments to urgently address the activities of criminal cartels. | President Buhari, Insecurity | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/18/buhari-directs-four-ministers-to-develop-new-template-against-insecurity/ | 8 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Obaseki Perfects Defection Plans as APC Crisis Worsens | Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been putting finishing touches to his plans to pursue his re-election bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obaseki, who resigned his membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, June 16, hours before the Court of Appeal affirmed the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, held a series of meetings with his PDP colleagues and the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. APC leaders were also busy trying to subdue the raging crisis in the party in the aftermath of Oshiomhole’s suspension as the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, laid claims to the leadership of the party. Giadom, who was later suspended, broke ranks with some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), who later picked one of Oshiomhole’s zonal deputies, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to hold the fort for the embattled chairman. Giadom anchored his claim to the party’s chairmanship on a March 2020 order of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. PDP governors reportedly held a virtual conference with their Edo State counterpart ahead of his joining the party any time from now. the virtual conference was chaired by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State. | APC, Godwin Obaseki, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/18/obaseki-perfects-defection-plans-as-apc-crisis-worsens/ | 8 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | FG, States, LGs Share N547.3bn for May 2020 | The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Wednesday, June 17, shared N547.309 billion among the three tiers of government as allocation for May. A statement by the Director (Press) in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hassan Dodo, stated that from the shared amount, which included Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain and Excess Bank Charges recovered, the Federal government received N219.799 billon; States received N152.436 billion and Local Government councils got N114.095 billion, while the oil producing States received N37.021 billion as 13 per cent derivation. The statement showed that revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), import duty and VAT recorded increases while Companies Income Tax (CIT), oil royalty and excise duty declined. | Allocation, Federal Government, State Governments, Local Governments | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/18/fg-states-lgs-share-n547-3bn-for-may-2/ | 8 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | PDP Bashes FG Over Debt Profile, Economy | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Muhammadu Buhari-led government over alleged attempts to conceal officially documented data on debts and the alarming state of the nation’s economy. The party in a statement on Wednesday, June 17 by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan stated that the nation’s economy has been mismanaged arising from excessive borrowings by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The statement read thus: “It is reprehensible that the Federal government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, would deny that its first quarter 2020 financial report stated that Federal government’s retained revenue stood at N950.56 billion, while the total debt services was N943.12 billion. In his denial, the minister forgot that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy document from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning which showed the figures was already in the public domain. It will be unpardonable, if after eight years, all that Nigerians will remember the Buhari administration for is a basketful of morsels of lies, huge debts, humongous corruption, escalated bloodletting, hunger, starvation and awful living conditions that were unknown to Nigerians in our national history.” In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, June 17, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the scenarios painted by a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the country’s debt profile as “nothing but scaremongering anchored on a false premise“. He explained that while the FG welcomes constructive criticism, such must be based on verifiable facts rather than conjectures and innuendos. | PDP, Debt Profile | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-bashes-fg-over-debt-profile-economy. | 8 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Bayelsa Governorship: Varsity Affirms Deputy Governor's Certificate | An official of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RUST), Port Harcourt has told the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja that the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo graduated from the institution in 1996/1997 academic session. The school official, Fyne Le Amanyie testified on June 17 that although Ewhrudjakpo graduated in 1996/1997 session, the graduation ceremony took place in 1998. The witness who was led in evidence by counsel to Ewhirudjakpo, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), stated that he has been a staff of the institution for over 30 years. On the controversy surrounding the deputy governor’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption Certificate, Amanyie stated that this surname was misspelt, explaining that instead of Ewhrudjakpo, the name was misspelt as Ewhrudjakpa. The Liberation Movement (LM) party's governorship candidate, Vijah Opuama is challenging Ewhrudjakpo’s qualification to stand in the November 16, 2019, governorship election in the State. | Bayelsa 2019 governorship election, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bayelsa-govship-varsity-affirms-deputy-govs-certificate.html | 8 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Obaseki’s PDP Membership Card Ready — Edo Chair | The Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Azegbemi has stated that the party membership card of Governor Godwin Obaseki was ready. This is contrary to Obaseki’s post on his twitter handle on June 17 that, “I have not moved to a new platform yet to seek re-election.” Azegbemi in an exclusive phone chat disclosed to Daily Trust that Obaseki who resigned from APC on Tuesday, June 16, will join PDP any time he returns from Abuja. He explained that, “At the moment, Obaseki is in Abuja but when he returns to Benin, his card is ready and he has already registered with our party in his ward. We are ready to welcome Governor Obaseki and we are excited he is joining our party.” Obaseki’s spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, stated that he could not confirm the claim because the governor has not made any pronouncement in that regard. | Godwin Obaseki, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/obasekis-pdp-membership-card-ready-edo-chair.html | 8 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | FG Pays N9bn Insurance Premium for Health Workers | The Federal government has paid a total of N9 billion to fourteen insurance companies as group life insurance premium for health workers that are engaged in the fight against the spread COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. This was confirmed on Wednesday, June 17 by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who stated that the Federal government considered the contribution of health workers in the current effort to contain the pandemic very critical and is ready to provide for their welfare. Ngige stated thus: “The Federal government has paid N9 billion to 14 insurance companies for group life insurance for all health workers in the federal public health institutions and there is also a top-up for some categories of the health professionals.” The Federal government also stated that it has paid N4 billion to health workers in the Federal Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres in the country, as part of the implementation of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding it entered into with unions in the health sector. | Federal Government, Health Workers, COVID-19, Insurance | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/18/fg-pays-n9bn-insurance-premium-for-health-workers/ | 8 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Sacked Zamfara LG Bosses Sue Governor, Vow To Reclaim Seats | Six Council Chairmen in Zamfara State, who were sacked by Governor Muhammad Matawalle, have instituted legal proceedings against the governor, challenging their removal from office. Matawalle recently removed all the 14 Council Chairmen, but later reappointed eight who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PDP has been holding sway in Zamfara State since May 29, 2019. Chairmen of Gusau, Mafara, Bakura, Maradun, Gumi and Shinkafi Local Governmnet Areas, who stayed back in the APC, were those not recalled. One of the affected chairmen, Alhaji Babangida Abdullahi, who disclosed their intention to seek redress in court, told journalists in Abuja that their removal from office was illegal and unconstitutional. Abdullahi, who was the chairman of Gusau before his removal, lamented that the resolution of the House of Assembly, which the governor relied on to remove them from office, was most undemocratic. He stated that they were accused of mismanagement of funds, yet the State Assembly neither probed them nor even invited them for questioning, but decided to take laws into their hands. According to him, “The whole thing is about our refusal to dump the APC for the PDP. The State Assembly, which is wholly PDP, chose to victimise us. We were 14 council chairmen and the whole drama took place in less than 12 hours. We were sacked and caretaker committees were announced and inaugurated in less than 12 hours." | Zamfara State, Local Government, PDP, APC | https://guardian.ng/politics/sacked-zamfara-lg-bosses-sue-governor-vow-to-reclaim-seats/ | 8 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 18, 2020 | INEC Rules Out Extension of Deadline on Primaries for Edo Election | Amidst squabbles by political parties over the election of their gubernatorial candidates for the September 22 governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, June 17, warned it will not extend the deadline within which all political parties must hold their primaries. It also warned that 6p.m. on June 29 remains the deadline for all political parties participating in the Edo State governorship election to submit the names of their candidates. INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the warning during a meeting with security chiefs to adopt the security code of conduct for all security personnel covering the governorship election. He stated thus: “All political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election are reminded that they must conclude their primaries for the nomination of candidates in the next 10 days. The deadline is Saturday, June 27, 2020. I must stress that the date is firm and fixed. There will be no extension of the deadline. While the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates will be the sole responsibility of political parties, our officials will monitor the primaries as required by law. | INEC, Edo State governorship election | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/18/inec-rules-out-extension-of-deadline-on-primaries-for-edo-election/ | 8 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | FG Declares N1.689b as Public Support Donations For COVID-19 | Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has declared that the public sector raised N1.689b for the months of April and May 2020 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. It stated that the money had been kept in designated banks, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, explained that the amount represented donations and support from the government and development partners for April and May. It will be recalled that the CBN had last month declared N27.160b donations from the private sector coalition in efforts to pool resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. | COVID-19 Donations, CBN | https://guardian.ng/news/fg-declares-n1-689b-as-public-support-donations-for-covid-19/ | 7 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | No Automatic Ticket for Obaseki in PDP – Wike | Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has stated that he will not guarantee automatic ticket for the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, in his planned defection to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike who spoke at a media parley at the Government House, Port Harcourt, stated that he would be happy to receive Obaseki in PDP. Wike, however, added that he would not guarantee an automatic ticket for Obaseki ‘because Edo people would decide.’ He explained that: “Edo PDP has a role to play. There is nothing like endorsement. But I must tell you that I am not happy the way he was disqualified by the All Progressives Congress (APC); because it will affect his integrity.” Wike berated the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), stating that it had become a toothless bulldog because it had lost focus in its role of defending the rule of law in the country. According to him, the forum used to be non-partisan and a powerful voice on national issues but since the APC took over the leadership of the body in 2015, governors had turned to beggars. | Nyesom Wike, Godwin Obaseki, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-automatic-ticket-for-obaseki-in-pdp-wike.html | 7 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | We Won’t Lose If Obaseki Leaves – Oshiomhole | A last-minute meeting summoned to discuss the fate of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has failed to save the embattled governor as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, June 15 stated that it would go ahead with the June 22, 2020 governorship primary election. The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, fielded questions from State House reporters after a meeting with the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. The participants are believed to have discussed the fallout of the disqualification of incumbent Governor Obaseki from participating in the State governorship primary election. Oshiomhole, who said the APC had followed all necessary guidelines and standard practice required ahead of the primary, expressed optimism that the process would be “free, fair, and transparent” and produce a candidate that would unify the party. Asked whether the party would not suffer defeat in Edo State just as it happened in Benue State, where Governor Samuel Ortom left the APC to contest on the PDP platform and won, Oshiomhole answered that: “Tthere’s no evidence that being a sitting governor guarantees you victory, it all depends on the local sentiments in the State." | Oshiomhole, APC, Obaseki | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-wont-lose-if-obaseki-leaves-oshiomhole.html | 7 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | Don’t Re-Open Schools, Other Public Places Yet, FG Warns States | The Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 has warned States against re-opening of schools and other places where people can gather in large numbers, as it is not yet safe to do so. This is just as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) explained that the lockdown was eased to save lives. Chairman of PTF/Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who gave the warning on Monday, June 15 in Abuja, revealed that the taskforce received reports that some States were contemplating the re-opening of schools, television viewing centres, sports stadia and other public places. He stated thus: “The PTF re-emphasises that it is not yet safe to do so and that utmost caution should be exercised. The PTF guidelines should still be complied with while considering decisions of this nature.” Mustapha disclosed that in the course of monitoring compliance across the nation, the PTF observed an escalation in the level of non-compliance to keep physical distance, wear masks in public places, sanitation and hygiene, especially in markets, motor parks and some places of worship. He added that the PTF has already issued guidelines for mode of operations at places of worship, urging States to embark on community testing. | COVID-19, PTF | https://guardian.ng/news/dont-re-open-schools-other-public-places-yet-fg-warns-states/ | 7 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | Sanusi Has Case To Answer, Ganduje Insists | Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has insisted that dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has not been let off the hook for the alleged N2.2 billion land fraud. He stated that the recent ruling of a Federal High Court in Kano cleared all legal obstacles for the State’s anti-graft commission to try Sanusi over his involvement in the alleged racketeering of government property. Fielding questions from newsmen on Monay, June 15, during an interaction at the Government House to mark Democracy Day, Ganduje insisted that the 14th Emir still had a case to answer. The governor further disclosed that Sanusi was deposed because of his resistance to accommodate additional four emirates constituted to spread development across other domains. | Abdullahi Ganduje, Muhammadu Sanusi | https://guardian.ng/news/sanusi-has-case-to-answer-ganduje-insists/ | 7 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 15, 2020 | Edo Governorship: PDP NEC to Meet Over Obaseki | Crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged moves by the party’s national leadership to grant waiver and governorship ticket to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State ahead of the September 19, 2020 election in the State. Governor Obaseki was disqualified by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the party’s primary poll. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan confirmed via telephone interview that Obaseki was set to defect to the PDP. According to him, “The PDP is in talks with Obaseki and he is in talks with the PDP. Contacts are on between the PDP and Obaseki. But the PDP is a party of processes. So whatever the processes required, the party will abide by it. Our doors are open to all Nigerians. We will not stop Nigerians from joining us, as far as they can abide by our rules.” | Edo State Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-govship-pdp-nec-to-meet-over-obaseki.html | 6 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, June 15, 2020 | Banditry: PDP, APC Bicker Over Calls for Masari’s Resignation | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State are bickering over calls for the resignation of the State Governor, Aminu Masari over festering banditry in the State. Masari was quoted from two recent interviews as admitting his failure to end banditry in the State. The state Chairman of PDP, Salisu Majigiri, in an interview, stated that Masari’s statement was a clear vindication of the party’s earlier stand that the APC in Katsina had retarded the development pace laid by the PDP since 1999. However, when contacted, the Zonal Vice Chairman of the APC, Bala Musawa, stated that the PDP was only being mischievous and playing to the gallery as the governor’s statements were only portraying an honest opinion of a true leader and democrat who wanted the best for his people. Musawa explained that the agreement entered into with the bandits was based on honest arrangement entirely endorsed by scholars and elite of the State. On the pace of development, Musawa said it was unfair to compare 16 years of the PDP and five years of the APC in Katsina, noting that, “The APC also came in when resources have dwindled, and look at how this pandemic has equally slowed us down.” | Katsina State, APC, PDP, Banditry | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/banditry-pdp-apc-bicker-over-calls-for-masaris-resignation.html | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 15, 2020 | Buhari Orders Probe into State House Shooting | President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered investigation into the June 10 shooting in the State House by his wife’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), vowing that the law must take its course. Reacting to the incident, the Presidency, in a statement on Sunday, June 14 by the presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, stated that the President acknowledged concerns generated by the development, adding that he is not by any means in harm’s way. Usman Shugaba, ADC to the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, had fired two shots in the precincts of the State House on Thursday (June 10) night, while attempting to apprehend the President’s private secretary and nephew, Sabiu Yusuf, in his house. The ADC had led some of his colleagues along with the first lady and three of her children to Yusuf’s house after a heated argument, following the President’s wife’s insistence that he should self-quarantine after returning from a trip to Lagos, the epicentre of COVID-19 in the country. She had said Yusuf’s refusal to self-quarantine after returning from a trip during the interstate lockdown, puts the first family in danger of COVID-19 infection. | President Muhammadu Buhari, State House | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/15/buhari-orders-probe-into-state-house-shooting/ | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 15, 2020 | Presidency, Northern Elders Trade Accusations over Insecurity | The Presidency and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Sunday, June 14 engaged in a war of words over the worsening insecurity in the north. Earlier, the NEF had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of failure to tackle the deplorable security situation in the north. It said both the President and Governors of the affected States have lost control. But the Presidency dismissed the allegations, describing NEF and its Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, irritants without credible membership. The President’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said that Abdullahi is only synonymous with NEF and vice-versa, describing the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, as a General without troops. Adesina further stated that, “President Buhari steadily and steadfastly focuses on the task of retooling Nigeria, and discerning Nigerians know the true state of the nation. They don’t need a paper tiger to tell them anything.” The NEF, in a statement issued in Kaduna, by Abdullahi, had stated that the security situation was getting worse by the day as people were being maimed and killed by bandits. | Insecurity, Presidency, Northern Elders Forum | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/15/presidency-northern-elders-trade-accusations-over-insecurity/ | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 15, 2020 | Tambuwal Receives Post COVID-19 Development Strategy, Says Sokoto on Path of Sustainable Growth | Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Saturday, June 13, received a blueprint on ‘Sustainable Growth and Development Strategies for Sokoto State in a Post Covid-19 Era’ from Usman Danfodio University Sokoto. A statement by the governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello, revealed that Tambuwal-led Sokoto government was working on all fronts to ensure the development of the State in all sectors of human endeavor. He explained that his administration had been working on the establishment of new irrigation schemes, general agricultural development, economic growth and harnessing of arts and culture resources. According to him, agricultural development, with a view to improving economic growth in the state, is one of the priorities of his administration. Governor Tambuwal also maintained that the State government in its effort to improve business activities, will establish a new industrial layout in order to provide enabling environment for business communities. Another business opportunity established in the state, according to the governor, was the Sokoto State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency, SOSMEDA, so as to provide soft loans to small and medium entrepreneurs in the State. The State, he said, has also established a Micro Finance Bank to assist businessmen with capital in order to boost their businesses. He assured that his administration would continue to partner with the university in all the areas of State development. Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Professor Lawal Suleman Bilbis, stated that the gesture of documenting a blueprint was as a result of the economic setback occasioned by outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Post COVID-19 Development Plan | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/15/tambuwal-receives-post-covid-19-devt-strategy-says-sokoto-on-path-of-sustainable-growth/ | 6 |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | Executive Order 10: Bauchi Governor inaugurates Implementation Committee | Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed onTuesday, June 9, inaugurated a 21-member committee for the implementation of the Executive Order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari for financial autonomy for States legislature and the judiciary. The governor appealed to members of the committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sabiu Baba, to look at the implication and implementation framework for the proposed autonomy for the two arms of government. He stated that the terms of reference of the committee include to study issues of autonomy, principles and guidelines as provided by the Federal Government, identifying key challenges for effective collaboration for implementation and advising the state government on implementation modalities for Executive Order 10. | Bauchi State, Executive Order 10 | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/executive-order-10-bauchi-gov-inaugurates-implementation-committee.html | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | APC, Others Must Obey Law on Conduct of Primaries – Edo Deputy Governor | The Edo State Government has reiterated that all political parties in the State must obey the regulations spelt out in its gazette aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the conduct of primary elections. The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, stated this on Tuesday, June 8 while receiving his Bayelsa State counterpart, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who is in the State in preparation for the PDP primaries. It will be recalled that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) adopted by the direct mode for the conduct of its primaries. Governor Godwin Obaseki has insisted that indirect mode be adopted for the exercise. Shaibu reiterated that any political party that disobeys the law would not hold its primary election in the State, as the gazette must be respected. While commending the PDP for following the guidelines, he urged all other political parties to follow suit as the regulations would help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edo people safe. | Edo State, Political Party Primaries | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-others-must-obey-our-law-on-conduct-of-primaries-edo-deputy-gov.html | 5 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | Senate Steps Down N10.509tr Revised 2020 Budget | The Senate on Tuesday, June 9, stated that inefficiency on the part of the executive arm of government threatened the quick passage of the N10.509 trillion revised budget draft sent to the National Assembly two weeks ago.It expressed disappointment on the failure of the Presidency to include a N186 billion health allocation in the budget. It therefore stepped down further consideration of the budget bill, insisting that the right thing must be done. Senate President Ahmad Lawan was displeased that the executive arm of government ignored part of the budget meant to take care of health emergencies occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. | Senate, Revised 2020 National Budget | https://guardian.ng/news/senate-steps-down-n10-509tr-revised-2020-budget/ | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | Disquiet in Lagos APC as Tinubu Dissolves ‘All Political Groups’ | There is disquiet in Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the State’s political leader and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on June 9, dissolved all political groups and factions of the party in the State. The decision was reached at the end of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) meeting held same day at the State House, Marina. The GAC is the highest decision making political body within the party in the State, made up of Tinubu as the leader; the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other political leaders in the State. Former Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Babatunde Fashola reportedly attended the meeting where it was resolved that all groups, within the party, including MG and Justice Forum (JF) should be dissolved. | APC, Lagos Chapter, Bola Tinubu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/disquiet-in-lagos-apc-as-tinubu-dissolves-all-political-groups.html | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | Ndume Advocates Part-time Work for Civil Servants, Lawmakers | The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has advocated part-time work for certain categories of public servants, including members of the National Assembly. Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, June 10 on his earlier statement calling for a slash in workers’ salaries, the lawmaker explained that he was quoted out of context. He, however, suggested that while certain categories of public servants, including lawmakers, can be turned to part-time workers, jobs of medical personnel should not be segmented into that category, as well as other essential service providers like security personnel. According to Ndume, “The government should identify public officers that can work part-time and reduce their salaries. For example, even we in the National Assembly, for the period of this pandemic, I strongly advocate that the work of the legislature and other people should be made part-time and therefore, pay them on a part-time basis to reduce the cost.” He added that, “The running cost of the government must be reduced by a certain percentage that is significant so as to create jobs for the unemployed.” | Senator Ali Ndume | a href="https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ndume-wants-part-time-work-for-civil-servants-lawmakers.html">https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ndume-wants-part-time-work-for-civil-servants-lawmakers.html | 5 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 8, 2020 | APC Rules Out Indirect Primary in Edo State | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has foreclosed the adoption of indirect primaries as a way of selecting its candidate for the September governorship election in the State. APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, told journalists that the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to use direct primary for the primary, scheduled for June 22, remains inviolable. Issa-Onilu spoke against the backdrop of the deepening controversy generated by the party’s decision to adopt direct primaries toselect its flag-bearer in the forthcoming governorship election. Six aspirants, from two factions of the party are in the race for APC’s governorship ticket. While the governor, whose camp is opposed to direct primary, is the sole aspirant from his faction of the party, the others belong to the faction loyal to APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole. The state government in a gazette signed by the governor on May 28 and published on Friday, May 29 outlawed political gatherings that could aid the conduct of direct primary in the State. The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, was quoted as saying that the gazzette was in line with the directive of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that States should manage the COVID-19 pandemic through measures unique to them. But a former Deputy National Auditor of the party under the Chief Bisi Akande-led National Interim Management Committee, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, has stated that the party lacks an up-to-date register of members for direct party, adding that the last time the register was updated was in 2017. Issa-Onilu, in an interview with THISDAY, stated that it was too late to change the rules for the primary. | APC, Edo governorship Election | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/08/apc-rules-out-indirect-primary-in-edo-state/ | 4 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, June 8, 2020 | Presidency: Security Checks Delaying Confirmation of Appeal Court President | The Presidency on Sunday, June 7, explained the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to forward to the Senate for confirmation, the nomination of Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem as President of the Court of Appeal. Justice Dongbam-Mensem, who had been recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to succeed Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa who retired in March 2020, is presently occupying the position in an interim capacity. However, amid the rising gale of criticisms that have trailed the delay in forwarding Justice Dongbam-Mensem’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation, the Presidency attributed the situation to non-completion of her screening by security agencies. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, while responding to an inquiry on the rationale behind the delay, denied claims that Buhari has refused to send the judge’s name to the Senate because she is not a Muslim and does not hail from the core North. Shehu who stated that Buhari is not a rubber-stamp President and would not be stampeded to carrying out his constitutional duties, added that the statutory time for Justice Dongbam-Mensem to act as the appellate c | Court of Appeal, Presidency | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/08/presidency-security-checks-delaying-confirmation-of-acourt-president/ | 4 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, June 8, 2020 | Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Tests Positive For COVID-19 | Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has tested positive for COVID-19, making him the fourth governor to test positive for the virus. The State Commissioner of information, John Okiyi Kalu, confirmed the governor's status in a statement on Monday, June 8, after the governor submitted samples twice for the test. According to Kalu, "Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the State Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020, the result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative." He added that, "On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC) laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive." He stated that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.” | Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, COVID-19 | https://guardian.ng/news/abia-governor-okezie-ikpeazu-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ | 4 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, June 8, 2020 | Stakeholders Insist on NDDC Audit, Probe of Niger Delta Committees | Stakeholders, including the Niger Delta Forum for Equity and Justice, Niger Delta Activists' Group and Excellent Leadership Foundation, and the Niger Delta Enterprise Initiative (NDEI), have insisted on the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and investigation of the committees on Niger Delta Affairs in the two chambers of the National Assembly. They accused some federal lawmakers of plotting to truncate the inventory ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the “current moves by the National Assembly to institute multiple probes of the commission” were distractions that could prove to be counter-productive to the ongoing efforts to sanitise the agency. The National Assembly leadership has, however, assured the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC of its resolve to expose any lawmaker found to have benefitted from the alleged contracts of the commission. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs Committee, Peter Nwaoboshi, had equally alleged that the panel’s insistence on investigating the commission was why the “IMC members embarked on open media attack against leaders of the National Assembly.” Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had also dismissed the claims as mere blackmail. Furthermore, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has denied asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.The NDEI, which spoke through its President, Kerley George, stated that the call became necessary in the face of the allegation of contract racketeering in the NDDC levelled against members of both committees of the federal legislature. | NDDC, National Assembly | https://guardian.ng/news/stakeholders-insist-on-nddc-audit-probe-of-niger-delta-committees/ | 4 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, June 8, 2020 | Amid FG’s Rejection, Ganduje Sets Up RUGA Settlement In Kano | Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has launched the Kano State Rural Grazing Area (RUGA), the first cattle herders’ settlement in the country, where nomads are to be accommodated for expansive grazing of their flock. The governor inaugurated the first phase of 25 housing units out of the projected 200, situated on 4,413 hectares of land at Dansoshiya Forest in Kiru council area of the State. In June 2019, the RUGA policy threw up a lot of controversies, threatening Nigeria’s nationhood. The suspicions, interpretations and sentiments the proposed programme generated led to its suspension in all the 36 States of the Federation by the Federal Government. | Kano State, RUGA | tps://guardian.ng/news/amid-fgs-rejection-ganduje-sets-up-ruga-settlement-in-kano/ | 4 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, June 5, 2020 | Edo Primaries Will be Transparent, APC Assures Obaseki | The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, June 4, assured Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, of its impartiality in the upcoming governorship election primaries. The party gave assurances of transparency and fairness to all aspirants in the primary election scheduled for June 22. The assurance came against the backdrop of Wednesday’s call by Obaseki for APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to recuse himself from the process of picking the party’s governorship candidate. The governor had advocated for this on the ground that Oshiomole has personal interests, as no fewer than four persons from the APC national chairman’s camp of the party in the state, including a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, are gunning for the party’s ticket to stop Obaseki’s second term bid. Obaseki feared that Oshiomhole, his predecessor, might not be fair to him, having openly supported Ize-Iyamu to emerge as the APC governorship candidate. APC also stated that it has a register of all its members nationwide and would comply with the recent directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to submit the Edo State version, ahead of the primary. | Edo State Governorship Election, APC | 3 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Friday, June 5, 2020 | Senate Begins Critical Self-Assessment After Legislative Year | The Senate leadership has commenced serious ‘stock-taking’ and assessment of its performance and failures in the past year. It was learnt that the exercise, among others, is aimed at identifying the key issues and challenges the upper chamber faced during the current legislative session, to determine how well such issues had been addressed. It was also learnt that the all 90 committees of the Senate had received strict directives to prepare comprehensive reports of their activities during the session, to identify progress made, failures recorded and come up with suggestions on possible areas of improvement. It will be recalled that the 9th National Assembly was inaugurated on the June 11, 2019. | 9th Senate | 3 | |
| DailyTrust Online | Friday, June 5, 2020 | Supporters Intensify Campaign for Dickson’s Senatorial Ambition | Supporters of the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, have intensified campaign for his senatorial ambition. Dickson is one of those reportedly nursing the ambition to contest in the forthcoming bye-election in Bayelsa West Senatorial District. His supporters have since started campaign and public endorsement notwithstanding the health situation in the country occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19. Several groups, including Ekeremor Local Government Ward 10, Ijaw leaders and stakeholders and Sagbama Local Government Area stakeholders have endorsed Dickson as their preferred candidate for the seat. Some prominent Ijaw leaders, including Asari Dokubo, and chieftains of both the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC), have not been left out in the endorsement galore for Dickson. The endorsement by the pan-Ijaw socio-political groups is said to have cut across party divides. | Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa West Senatorial District | 3 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Friday, June 5, 2020 | Senate Probes N1.8trn Intervention Fund | The Senate is probing over N1.8 trillion Federal Government interventions in the Power Sector since privatisation of the sector from 2012 to date. Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Sen. Gabriel Suswam made this known at a meeting with members of the Committee on Thursday, June 4 in Abuja. The meeting was on the Power Sector Recovery Plan and the Impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The chairman, who stated that the three-day hearing would begin next week, recalled that there was a motion on before the Senate, following which the committee was mandated to investigate the power sector comprehensively, especially as it relates to interventions. Suswam stated that the Committee would investigate all interventions in the sector since its privatisation till date with a view to ascertaining the adequacy of such interventions and their desired impact. | Senate, Power Sector | 3 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 4, 2020 | Obaseki Tells Oshiomhole to Recuse Self from Edo APC Primaries | The altercation between Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, over the party’s governorship primary election in the State still lingers, as the governor on Wednesday, June 3, pointedly asked his predecessor to recuse himself from the June 22 exercise. The governor, after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, also described as absurd an insinuation that he had purchased another governorship form from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a fallback should he fail to get the APC ticket to run for a re-election. Obaseki and Oshiomhole have been at loggerheads for about one year, a crisis that has snowballed into the factionalisation of the State chapter of the party, and threatening APC’s chances at retaining the State in the September 19 governorship election. To stop Obaseki’s second term bid on the APC platform, the Oshiomhole faction drafted a PDP defector and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to run against him as the consensus aspirant of the group. However, the consensus arrangement that produced Ize-Iyamu has fallen through as four more aspirants from the Oshiomhole faction bought the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms to run against the governor who is the sole aspirant in his camp. As at June 3, which was the deadline for the submission of expression of interest and nomination forms to the party, six governorship aspirants returned their documents to determine their eligibility for the party’s governorship primary slated for June 22. | Edo State Governorship Election, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/04/obaseki-talks-tough-tells-oshiomhole-to-recuse-self-from-edo-apc-pry/ | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 4, 2020 | Orji Kalu Regains Freedom | A former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu and Senate Chief Whip regained his freedom from Kuje Custodial Centre on Wednesday, June 3. This was consequent to an order of a Federal High Court in Lagos. The Nigeria Correctional Service spokesman, DCC Austin Njoku, who confirmed the development, stated that the senator was released at 5:05 pm. He stated thus: “Ex-governor Orji Kalu was released from custody at exactly 5:05 pm on Wednesday. He was discharged after we received the court warrant on his release.” Kalu was sentenced to 12 years imprionsmnet on December 5, 2019, after he was convicted of N7.1 billion fraud. | Orji Uzor Kalu | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/04/orji-kalu-regains-freedom/ | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 4, 2020 | Court Reinstates Four Suspended Kano Lawmakers | A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has quashed the suspension of five lawmakers by the Kano State House of Assembly and declared their suspension null and void. The plaintiffs in an originating summons urged the court to declare their suspension a violation of Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which stipulated and guaranteed their tenure in office. The suspended lawmakers also argued that their suspension was a contravention of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. However, the Speaker of Kano Assembly urged the court to dismiss the request made to it by the plaintiffs. Justice Lewis, in the judgment, held that the suspension of the lawmakers was a deprivation of their rights to participate freely in the affairs of the State. The court also directed the Assembly and its Speaker to pay the withheld entitlements of the suspended lawmakers forthwith. | Kano State House of Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/04/court-reinstates-four-suspended-kano-lawmakers/ | 2 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, June 4, 2020 | Edo, Ondo Governorship: INEC Rules Out Branded Face Mask, Electronic Result Transmission | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out use of branded face masks at election venues and electronic transmission of results in the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo. The commission has stated that, “Wearing of face masks at Polling Units and all election locations is mandatory and urged individual to make provision for their face masks. INEC at its virtual quarterly consultative meeting with the media on Wednesday, June 3, reiterated that no laws backed electronic transmission of results from both elections. NAtional Commissioner, Okey Ibeanu speaking at the meeting, stated that, “The commission had suspended the continuous registration of voters at least for now due to COVID-19 and would collapse some collation centres into one, as well as collapsing the registration area centres (RACs). The commission announced its revised guidelines for the conduct of elections at the meeting. It previously held virtual meetings with leaders of 18 registered political parties and civil-society groups ahead of the governorship elections slated for September 19 in Edo and October 10 in Ondo. The commission further requested voters to ensure that they go away with their used protective materials like face masks and hand gloves, urging them not to litter it at the polling units. The commission also reminded voters that cell phones or any other device that can take pictures are still not allowed in the voting cubicles and that it would not tolerate assault of any election official, as culprits may be prosecuted for doing so. | INEC, Edo and Ondo governorship elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-ondo-govship-inec-rules-out-branded-face-mask-electronic-results.html | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, June 4, 2020 | FG Laments Ravaging Effect of COVID-19 on Revenues | The Federal Government has lamented the effect of COVID-19 on all sources of Nigeria’s revenues. Answering questions from State House correspondents after Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, June 3, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated the disease had adversely affected global economy with $1 trillion lost in the aviation industry alone. According to him, with the lockdown of Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for several weeks and crude oil being sold at $18 per barrel, Nigeria’s losses are monumental. He reminded Nigerians that the adverse effects of the pandemic have affected the world and not only Nigeria. Mohammed added that, " When the budget was passed in December last year, we all celebrated that the budget was passed for the first time in a good time to allow us to plan. We were very hopeful that this year, we will be able to achieve a lot. I remember that the benchmark for crude oil was $57 but from nowhere, today we have COVID-19, which has brought every economy in the world to its knees. Nigeria cannot be an exception." | Federal Government, Revenue, COVID-19 | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/04/fg-laments-ravaging-effect-of-covid-19-on-revenues/ | 2 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday June 1 , 2020 | PTF advises Buhari on reopening of schools, Religious Centres as COVID-19 cases top 10,000 | The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has stated that it has made appropriate recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari on reopening of schools, religious centres and “some certain businesses not opened hitherto” as the country’s coronavirus cases top 10,000. Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this to journalists on Sunday, May 31 after submitting the fourth interim report of the panel to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He stated that the PTF had made appropriate recommendations to Buhari on reopening of schools, religious centres and certain businesses. He added that, “In the framework, the States are sub-national; they have their own responsibilities too, so it is in the exercise of those responsibilities that they had meetings with religious bodies and agreed on the guidelines and protocols on how they open up." | PTF, COVID-19, Achools, Religious centres | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ptf-advises-buhari-on-reopening-of-schools-religious-centres-as-covid-19-cases-top-10000.html | 1 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday June 1 , 2020 | Tinubu Meets APC Govs, Promises Fair Primaries in Edo, Ondo | The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, May 31, met with eight governors of the party over the impending governorship primaries for Edo and Ondo States, promising to prevail on the party’s national leadership to ensure a fair process. The governors, who represented their colleagues on the party’s platform were the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Senator Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Alhaji Sani Bello (Niger), Muhammad Abubakar (Jigawa), Mr. Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Mr. Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and their host, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Speaking on the agreement of party members to grant the incumbent governors in the two States, the right of first refusal, Tinubu was said to have responded that once other party members indicate interest in contesting primaries, the democratic thing to do in the circumstances would be to allow the primaries to hold. He reportedly told them it would be difficult to hold down the ambition of other party faithfuls, advising them to come to terms with the possibility of intra-party contests in the two States. Other issued discussed include the mode of primaries with the governors supporting the indirect process. Tinubu was said to have reminded them to recognise the constitutional right of the National Working Committee (NWC) to organise the primaries while expressing his preference for direct primaries. | APC, Edo and Ondo governorship elections, Primaries | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/01/tinubu-meets-apc-govs-promises-fair-primaries-in-edo-ondo/ | 1 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday June 1 , 2020 | PDP wins all 23 Chairmanship Seats in Benue LG Election | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has won all the 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship seats in the State's Local Government elections conducted at the weekend by the State Independent Electoral Commission. The election was held in the 23 local government areas and the 276 wards in the State. In an election that witnessed very low turnout with five political parties in contest, the PDP was declared winner by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BESIEC) Chairman, Mr. Tersoo Loko. According to Loko, the PDP also won all the councillorship seats in the 276 council wards of the State. He described the exercise as “the freest, most credible and most transparent of its kind ever held in the State.” According to the BESIEC chairman, the election did not witness any incidents of ballot snatching or any other forms of violence associated with previous elections in the State. Loko disclosed that the five parties that participated in the elections exhibited conducted themselves in an ordely manner during and after the elections. According to him, for the first time in the history of Local Government elections in the State, the commission did not witness any snatching of ballot boxes, killings, gunshot or destruction of other electoral materials in the polling units across the local government areas. Many analysts are of the view that the PDP won the election as a result of the last minute withdrawal of the All Progressive Congress (APC, which cited unfair treatment by the electoral body as the reason for pulling out of the race. | Benue State, Local Government Elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/01/pdp-wins-all-23-chairmanship-seats-in-benue-lg-election/ | 1 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday June 1 , 2020 | PDP wins Council Polls in Cross River | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the 2020 Local Government election in the 18 councils and 196 electoral wards of Cross River State. The election held on May 30 in all Local Government Areas of the State (LGAs), and was contested by the All Progressive Congress (APC); Labour Party (LP); Young Progressive Party (YPP; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the PDP. Dr Mike Ushie, Chairman, Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) stated that results were not generated, contrary to allegations surrounding the election. He added that, "All the results we announced today came from the field. The issuance of certificate of return will take place on June 2, unless otherwise announced.” The Chairman, who thanked journalists for their patience, stated that results from some of the LGAs arrived late due to the terrain of those areas. | Cross River State, Local Government Elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/pdp-wins-council-polls-in-cross-river-result-pending-in-eight/ | 1 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday June 1 , 2020 | No going back on Financial Autonomy for State Legislature, Judiciary – Presidency | The Presidency has stated that there is no going back on its decision to implement the newly signed Executive Order 10 which grants financial autonomy to two other arms of government – State legislature and judiciary, across the 36 States. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs and Secretary of the Presidential Committee on implementation of the Executive Order 10, Senator Ita Enang, reiterated this position in Abuja at a press briefing. State governors were reported to have insisted on constitutional provisions in meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on the issue, stating that the order is not necessary. But Enang maintained that the order cannot be halted. He stated that the chairman of the committee, Abubakar Malami, and other members of the committee are working round the clock to ensure its implementation. | Financial Autonomy, State Legislature and Judiciary, Presidency | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-going-back-on-financial-autonomy-for-state-legislature-judiciary-presidency.html | 1 |