| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Weblink/Page No. | |
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| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | 2023: Lawan Assures Of Speedy Passage Of Electoral Reform Bills | Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday, September 29 assured of speedy passage of electoral reform and Constitutional amendment bills. Lawan stated this in his opening remarks at the resumption of Senate plenary. According to him, the amendment was to enhance free, fair, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria, assuring that the Red Chamber will ensure speedy work on the constitution review exercise. He stated thus: “Our 1999 Constitution as amended needs to be reviewed from time to time to improve the quality of governance and ensure stability in our polity. The Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution has already invited memoranda from citizens and organisations alike. The Senate will ensure speedy work on the review exercise." Lawan’s statement came 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it had commenced the process that would lead the country to automated voting or electronic voting system. INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that the Commission had invited manufacturers of electronic voting machines around the world to demonstrate how the machines work, preparatory to full migration from manual to electronic voting in the country. | Electoral Reform, Senate President Ahmad Lawan | https://dailytrust.com/2023-lawan-assures-of-speedy-passage-of-electoral-reform-bills | 15 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | Gbajabiamila Directs Re-gazetting of Water Resources Bill for House Reconsideration | After a rowdy session over the controversial Water Resources Bill at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Septmeber 29, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has directed that the bill be published in the House gazette for reconsideration. The bill has continued to generate a lot of ripples in the country since its reintroduction with some sections of the country alleging that the bill was part of a grand plot to seize their water resources and take over their land for use as RUGA settlements, even though the Federal Government has insisted that those opposing the bill were ill-informed. However, Gbajabiamila’s directive at the resumption of plenary followed a point of order raised by Hon. Mzondu Bem, who stated that he was deprived of his legislative privilege of sighting the gazetted copy of the bill, and as such could not participate in the consideration of the report by the Committee of the Whole, which also deprived him his rights and privilege of representation to his people. The lawmaker, who represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in Benue State, cited Order 6, Rule 1 (1), 2 and 3, under Matters of Privilege to back his argument, insisting that it was in an effort to eliminate the “element of surprise” that the House in its wisdom included in its Standing Rule that every Bill must be published in its gazette or clean copies be circulated. Bem insisted that he was misled by the use of Order (12) Rule 18 of House Standing Orders, stressing that it was an issue of law and procedure, while adding that the onus of interpretation lies with Gbajabiamila. He noted that while the bill was labeled as Bill 2020, it was not considered as Bill 2020. The lawmaker, relying on Order 7 Rule 8 moved that the House should rescind/expunge its decision of July 23, 2020, which adopted the bill to have been read the third time from the records of the House since the decision did not meet the laid down procedures and conditions of the House. | Water Resources Bill, House of Representatives | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/30/gbajabiamila-directs-re-gazetting-of-water-bill-for-house-reconsideration/ | 15 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | INEC Ondo: Edo Election Puts Us under Pressure in Ondo | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, September 29 stated that the successes recorded in the recently conducted Edo State governorship election has put the Commission under more pressure as preparations continue for the October 10 poll in Ondo State. The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Ondo State, Ms. Rosemary Adeniyi, stated this at the opening of the Workshop for Training of Community Voter Education Providers, organised by the European Centre for Election Support (ECES) in conjunction with INEC. Adeniyi, who was presented by her deputy, Mr. Babalola Lebile, stated that the importance of voter education cannot be overemphasised, describing the exercise as crucial to election. Speaking at the event, the ECES Senior Project Officer, Mr Sylvester Somo, stated that voter education is a major solution to reduce apathy. Somo told participants who were drawn from the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State, that their mission, was to assist INEC in the task of educating voters on what they should do and not do during election. | Ondo State governorship election, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/30/inec-edo-election-puts-us-under-pressure-in-ondo/ | 15 |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | Jegede Accuses Thugs of Disrupting Campaign | The Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation on Tuesday, September 29 alleged that the campaign team of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Eyitayo Jegede, was attacked by suspected political thugs at Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of the State. The PDP campaign team alleged that the attack was a handiwork of youths suspected to be thugs loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement titled, ‘Attack on the PDP team in Ipele Owo,’ the organisation stated that, “Our campaign team was again attacked by members of the APC in Ipele who had blocked access to the palace of the king and the maternal home of the PDP candidate, in a bid to deny him access to both places earlier scheduled to be visited by Mr Eyitayo Jegede. Prior to our entry into Ipele, touts and miscreants belonging to the APC had unleashed terror on our members. These miscreants were dispersed by a joint team of police and NSCDC officers. We would like to warn the APC and its outgoing government to know very clearly that no single individual has the monopoly of violence. While we are very cautious about the broad implication of promoting violence in this election, we however would not be intimated in our pursuit of victory in the polls.” In response, the spokesman of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Richard Olatunde, stated that it was rather the PDP that unleashed terror on innocent citizens. He also alleged that billboards belonging to Akeredolu at Emure Junction on the way to Akoko South West Local Government were destroyed. | Ondo State governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede | https://punchng.com/jegede-accuses-thugs-of-disrupting-campaign/ | 15 |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | Minister Seeks Constitutional Backing For 35% Affirmative Action | The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has on behalf of Nigerian women demanded that the 35 per cent affirmative action in favour of the female gender be taken into consideration in the current effort by the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution. Specifically, the Minister stated that the Constitution should have a provision which will make it mandatory for all political parties to ensure that “35 per cent quota should be used for candidates' selection.” Tellen stated this in a keynote presented on her behalf by her Special Assistant, Jummai Adonijie, during the opening ceremony of national review conference with the theme, ‘25 years since Beijing: Accelerating commitments in Nigeria,’ organised by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, with support from Ford Foundation, in Abuja, on Tuesday, September 29. Tallen stated that, “The recent call by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, which again commenced the process of further alteration to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is perhaps the climax of such efforts by Nigerian women to add their voice to the entire process. In response to the recent call, Nigerian Women, young and old, women with disabilities and representatives of professional women groups and the National Council of Women Societies have under the aegis of my ministry, made their submission, hoping that all the issues raised will be addressed. We demand Affirmative Action measures to be incorporated into the new constitution. There is a need for the reform of the Constitution that will make it clear that each (political) party must adopt the quota system and the issue of reserving seats for women.” | 35% Affirmative Action, Pauline Tallen | https://punchng.com/minister-seeks-constitutional-backing-for-35-affirmative-action/ | 15 |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, September 30, 2020 | PDP NWC Ratifies Sacking of Osun State Chairman | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, September 29 ratified the sacking of the party’s Osun State Chairman, Adesoji Adaggunodo, who was removed from office following a vote of no confidence passed on him by the State executive. This was contained in a statement titled “PDP NWC Ratifies Removal of Osun State Chairman, Directs Deputy to Take Charge,” signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja. Ologobondiyan stated thus: “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has ratified the removal from office of the Osun State Chairman of our party, Hon. Adesoji Adagunodo, following the validation of a vote of no confidence passed on him by the State executive. The decision of the NWC is consequent upon the report of the Sub-Committee set up by the NWC which investigated and validated the allegations, as well as the Vote of no Confidence passed against Hon. Adagunodo by the State executive, in line section 59 (2) (4) of the PDP Constitution. Consequently, the NWC has directed the Deputy hairman, Sunday Akanfe, to take charge of the affairs of the Osun State chapter pending the emergence of a substantive State Chairman in keeping with the dictates of the PDP Constitution." | Osun State, PDP | https://punchng.com/pdp-nwc-ratifies-sacking-of-osun-state-chairman/ | 15 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 29, 2020 | Buhari to Present 2021 Appropriation Bill to National Assembly Next Week - Lawan | President Muhamnadu Buhari will present the 2021 budget estimate to the National Assembly next week, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has disclosed. Lawan, who spoke at the resumption of Senate plenary after a two-month long vacation, told his colleagues that he is aware that President Muhammadu Buhari will lay the 2021 Appropriation Bill before the two chambers of the National Assembly next week. He stated that the budget proposal will be subjected to scrutiny by relevant committees of the upper legislative chamber from October to November, during which heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will be expected to defend their estimates. According to him, the Appropriation Bill is expected to be passed in the early week of December “so that it can be transmitted to the President for his assent before the end of 2020”. | 2021 Appropriation Bill, National Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/29/buhari-to-present-2021-appropriation-bill-to-nassembly-next-week-says-lawan/ | 14 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 29, 2020 | Tribunal Sacks APC Lawmaker in Kwara | The House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday, September 28, sacked the lawmaker representing Patigi in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Adam of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegations of fraud and irregularities in his name. Consequently, the tribunal also declared Hon. Mohammed Yahaya of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the bye-election that was held in March 2020 for the Patigi constituency. The PDP’s candidate had approached the court on the basis that Adam deposed to false information in the EC9 form he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The judgment, which was delivered by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Aminat Adamu Aliyu, stated that Adam’s name on the EC9 form is different from the one on his primary school certificate, declaration of age, voters’ card and in the letter forwarded to the INEC on January 15, 2019. The Counsel to the PDP’s Candidate, Mr. Ibn Mahmud, expressed satisfaction over the judgment stating that it has reflected the true position of the law. The ruling was based on the difference between ‘Adam’ and ‘Adama’ on the certificate of the APC’s candidate. Meanwhile, the State Chapter of the PDP has congratulated the party’s flag bearer in the last House of Assembly Bye-elections in Patigi State Constituency for his victory at the elections petition tribunal. | Kwara State, Patigi State Constituency, APC, PDP, Election Tribunal | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/29/tribunal-sacks-apc-lawmaker-in-kwara-2/ | 14 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 29, 2020 | 36 State Governors Institute Legal Action Against FG Over Judicial Funding | Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, has on behalf of the Attornys-General of all 36 States, instituted legal action against the Attorney-General of the Federation at the Supreme Court, challenging the provisions of the Presidential Executive Order No. 00-10 of 2020 compelling the State Attorneys-General to fund the High Court and other courts in their various States. The Order which was signed by President Buhari on May 22, 2020, is now being challenged as being in violation of Sections 6, 80, 81, 120 and 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 9as amended). Reliefs sought by the 36 Plaintiffs include: A declaration that by virtue of Sections 6 and 81(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Defendant is constitutionally obligated and charged with the responsibility for funding all capital and recurrent expenditure of the High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of the States, being courts created by Section 6 of the Constitution; a declaration that the Presidential Order No. 00-10 of May 22, 2020 compelling the 36 States to fund their own court, is unconstitutional; an order compelling the Defendant to fund all capital and recurrent expenditure of the High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of each State; an order compelling the Defendant to refund to the Plaintiffs, all sums expended by them on capital and recurrent expenditure on courts in their various States from January 31, 2020 until the date of delivery of the judgement by the Supreme Court, among others. The Plaintiffs invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to seek a resolution of the dispute and determine the respective constitutional rights, duties, responsibilities and obligations of the parties under the Constitution. The Plaintiffs therefore, called on the Apex Court to interpret the constitutional provisions on the funding of capital and recurrent expenditure for the Judiciary. | Federal Government, State Governments, Judiciary, Funding | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/29/36-state-a-gs-drag-agf-to-supreme-court-over-judicial-funding/ | 14 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 28, 2020 | Ondo Governorship: Akeredolu, Jegede, Ajayi Lock Horns | Ahead of the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, the three frontline contenders – incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Eyitayo Jegede, and Agboola Ajayi have launched their respective political campaigns. Akeredolu is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Jegede and Agboola are the flag bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), respectively. In the past three consecutive Saturdays, the three parties officially launched their campaigns. First was the APC which flagged off its campaign at the Akure Stadium, where the candidate of the party and incumbent Governor Akeredolu solicited the support of the people of the State for a second term. After Akeredolu was PDP candidate, Jegede who had his own campaign flagged-off at the MKO Democracy Park, Akure. ZLP candidate and the incumbent deputy governor, Ajayi, launched his campaign at Ore on Saturday, September 26 after being allegedly frustrated from using MKO Democracy Park. After the flag-off, the three parties have resumed serious campaigns in all the three senatorial districts of the State. To avoid violence, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Salami Amidu Bolaji, stated that the Police had mapped out programmes to ensure parties held their campaigns at different senatorial districts. But despite this arrangement, there have been incidents of attacks that affected all the parties (APC, PDP and ZLP), sparking allegations and counter-allegations. | Ondo State governorship Election, APC, PDP, ZLP | https://dailytrust.com/ondo-govship-akeredolu-jegede-ajayi-lock-horns | 13 |
| Vanguard Newspaper | Monday, September 28, 2020 | Foreign Affairs Minister Calls For Peace In Enugu APC | Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has called for a peaceful resolution of the infighting in the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Onyeama made the call while addressing party faithfuls during a meeting on Sunday, September 27 in Enugu. He stated that he was worried that the infighting had divided the party into factions. According to news reports, some chieftains of the party had earlier called for the dissolution of the State Executive Council of the party. The Minister stated that it was worrisome that for the past five years, chieftains of the party in the State have been working at cross purposes and pitted against one another. He added that such circumstance had affected the fortunes of the APC in the State. Onyeama also stated that he advised a factional chairman of the party, Mr Ben Nwoye, to call the meeting in order to rub minds with the party faithfuls on how to move the party forward. The Minister, however, stated that he was startled to learn that Nwoye was allegedly holding a parallel meeting. Onyeama explained that it was better for party members to put whatever differences they had behind and harmonise the APC. According to him, “The National Working Committee of the party has been dissolved. “It is better for us to find solutions to our problem instead of the NEC to impose a solution on us.’’ | Enugu State, APC | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/buharis-minister-calls-for-peace-in-enugu-apc/ | 13 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 28, 2020 | Labour Suspends Nationwide Strike | Leaders of the organised labour on Monday, September 28, succumbed to pressure from the Federal Government and suspended the planned nationwide strike over the increase in petrol price and electricity tariffs. The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had earlier directed their members to remain at home from Monday, September 28 until their demands were met. However, following hours of negotiations during a meeting at the Presidential Villa Banquet Hall in Abuja which started on Sunday, September 27, officials of the organised labour called off the strike and asked their members to go to work. Reading the communiqué after the meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige said the parties agreed to set up a technical committee comprising ministries, departments, agencies, NLC and TUC, which will work for a duration of 2 weeks effective from Monday. According to him, the committee will “examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost-reflective tariff as a result of the conflicting information from the fields which appeared different from the data presented to justify the new policy by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) metering deployment, challenges, timeline for massive roll – out.” He added that, “All parties agreed on the urgency for increasing the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the over dependency on importation of petroleum products to ensure energy security, reduce cost of finished products, increase employment and business opportunities for Nigerians." | NLC, TUC, Nationwide strike | https://dailytrust.com/fuel-price-electricity-tariff-labour-succumbs-to-pressure-shelves-nationwide-strike | 13 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, September 28, 2020 | Attack on Zulum’s Convoy Claims Four Soldiers, 10 Policemen, Four Civilians | The Defence Headquarters, on Sunday, September 27, stated that four soldiers, 10 policemen and four civilians were killed in the weekend’s attack by the Boko Haram sect on the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State. Coordinator of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement clarified that an entourage of Borno State Civilians Relocation Committee was ambushed by the terrorists at Barwati village, adding that the assault was “successfully repelled by the gallant troops.” “Sadly, a total of 18 lives, including four soldiers, 10 policemen and four civilians were lost during the sad incident,” he said. According to him, “Troops on hot pursuit of the insurgents successfully recovered three vehicles. Two of them belonged to the Nigeria Police Force and were earlier carted away by the terrorists during the attack. Similarly, one BHT gun truck was also captured.” He explained that the casualties followed the explosion from the multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted on the road by the terrorists. Enenche added that the military has deployed bomb and IED disposal teams to scan the routes and prevent future occurrence. | Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum | https://guardian.ng/news/attack-on-zulums-convoy-claims-four-soldiers-10-policemen-four-civilians/ | 13 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 28, 2020 | Buhari Submits PIB to National Assembly, Scraps NNPC, PPPRA in New Bill | The President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted the much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill 2020 to the National Assembly and has proposed the creation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited). The bill, which was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, September 27 also proposes the scrapping of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). The bill also proposes the establishment of an agency known as the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission which will be responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of upstream petroleum operations. The new bill technically scraps the PPPRA with the creation of the new agencies that will now carry out the PPPRA’s functions. In President Buhari's first term , the 8th National Assembly split the bill into four parts – the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill and Petroleum Host Community Bill — in a bid to fast-track its passage into law. The PIGB was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in May 2017 and January 2018, respectively. | Petroleum Industry Bill 2020, National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari | https://punchng.com/buhari-submits-pib-to-national-assembly-scraps-nnpc-pppra-in-new-bill/ | 13 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 24, 2020 | Ondo 2020: PDP Writes Buhari On Campaign Violence | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has written a letter to President Mohammadu Buhari on the high level of violence going on in the State as the parties campaign towards the October 10 governorship election. The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, stated that they fingered All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs as the culprits. The statement read thus: “Over the past few weeks, we have noticed to our consternation, the culpability of the security chiefs in Ondo State in the mayhem perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Ondo State during the ongoing campaign season. Anywhere Akeredolu goes to campaign, about five or six buses loaded with political thugs, wielding guns accompany him. Only on Tuesday, September 22, these thugs unleashed violence on the people during Akeredolu’s campaign in Idanre. The story has been the same anywhere he goes, be it Akure or Ondo town. Given Your Excellency’s professed commitment to free and fair polls in the wake of the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, we urge you to halt the onslaught on the opposition and people of Ondo State by Governor Akeredolu and his army of political thugs." The APC, reacting to the PDP’s letter, said its attention had been drawn to the “uncoordinated blackmail and tissue of lies” by the PDP, creating the impression that the ruling party promotes thuggery. The APC claimed that it had no reason whatsoever to engage in, or encourage thuggery. In a statement by the party's spokesman, Alex Kalejaiye, APC stated that it does not need violence to win the election. | Ondo State governorship election, APC, PDP | https://dailytrust.com/ondo-2020-pdp-writes-buhari-on-campaign-violence | 12 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 24, 2020 | Ondo ZLP, APC Trade Words Over Attack On Campaign Secretariat | Suspected political thugs allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been accused of carrying out an attack at the campaign office of the deputy governor of Ondo State and candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi on Tuesday, September 22. This was made public by the Director-General of the Agbo/Gboye Campaign Organization, Dr Kola Ademujimi. He stated that the attacks on the campaign offices of the candidate had become worrisome. In a swift reaction, however, APC stated that ZLP was merely looking for attention. Mr Olabode Richard, the spokesman for the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization, stated that ZLP was crying to attract attention. According to him, “As you can see, there is nobody that is talking about them in the State. Their political popularity has refused to grow. It’s a rejected party with no political structure." | Ondo State governorship Election, APC, ZLP | https://dailytrust.com/ondo-zlp-apc-trade-words-over-attack-on-campaign-secretariat | 12 |
| Punch Newspaper | Thursday, September 24, 2020 | We’re Adequately Prepared for Ondo Poll, Says INEC | The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday, expressed the Commission’s readiness to ensure that the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for October 10 is free, fair and credible. Yakubu stated this while speaking with journalists during his official visit to the Ondo State INEC headquarters in Akure. According to the INEC Chairman, “We are ready for the election. The same preparation we made for Edo is the same we will make for Ondo. For the purpose of this visit is for us to see practically what the State office has done. We also need to engage some of the stakeholders. For instance, we are meeting with the council of traditional rulers, and then thereafter the security agencies. We will meet with our staff; we have requested that all our staff in the 18 Local Sovernments to come to Akure on Friday. We will use the opportunity to see the level of preparation. We are coming back in a week for stakeholders’ meeting and the signing of the peace accord. But this visit is essentially to meet our own officials to see the level of preparation.” On the over 5,000 card readers that were destroyed by fire, Yakubu stated that all the card readers would be replaced for the October election. He stated thus: “We have already recovered, we have recovered by getting some card readers from Oyo State. They have been delivered to Ondo State. They have been charged and configured and ready for the October 10 governorship election. | Ondo State governorship election, INEC | https://punchng.com/were-adequately-prepared-for-ondo-poll-says-inec/ | 12 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, September 24, 2020 | Akwa Ibom Adopts Staggered Schedules for Students As Schools Reopen Monday | The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced staggered schedules for schools, with students being in their classrooms for three days in a week. According to the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, COVID-19 Management Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, secondary schools will reopen on September 28, while primary schools will resume on Monday, October 5, 2020. The Federal Government shut down all schools in the country in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Ekuwem stated that while Junior Secondary School (JSS) students attend school between 8 am and 2 pm from Monday to Wednesday, their Senior Secondary School (SSS) counterparts would be in school from Thursday to Saturday. The SSG said the move is aimed at preventing overcrowding in classrooms to prevent students from contracting coronavirus. He states that, “Primary six students resumed classes on September 21, while primary one to five students are to resume on October 5 and end on November 14. SSS 1 students will resume on September 28 and proceed on holiday from November 6 to 15. All schools will resume for the first term 2020/2021 academic year on November 16 and end on January 30. The second term will resume on February 1, 2021, and end on April 1, 2021, for Easter." Ekuwem added that although COVID-19 cases had reduced in the State, parents must provide face masks for their children. Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel has told residents to continue to observe all COVID-19 protocols to contain the pandemic. | Akwa Ibom, Re-opening of Schools, COVID-19 | https://guardian.ng/news/akwa-ibom-adopts-staggered-schedules-for-students-as-schools-reopen-monday/ | 12 |
| Vanguard Newspaper | Thursday, September 24, 2020 | Bayelsa Governorship Dispute: ANDP Applies to Withdraw Defence Against Diri’s Appeal | The Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) on Wednesday, September 23 asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to strike out its defence to the appeal Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State filed to challenge the tribunal judgement that nullified his election and ordered a fresh election in the State. ANDP which lodged the petition that led to governor Diri’s sack told the appellate court that it was no longer interested in processes its lawyer, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, filed to defend the judgement of the tribunal. Specifically, the party, in a motion dated September 23, prayed the appellate court for an order striking out its briefs of argument and all other processes it filed in governor Diri’s appeal and in two other sister appeals that were lodged by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). ANDP anchored its application on the ground that its gubernatorial candidate, King George, earlier withdrew from the case at the tribunal and equally left the party. It told the court that in the event that a fresh election is conducted in Bayelsa State as ordered by the tribunal, it would be left without a gubernatorial candidate. Meanwhile, the appellate court adjourned its proceedings on the matter till Thursday, September 24, following another application the party filed to change its lawyer. | Bayelsa State governorship election, ANDP | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/bayelsa-gov-dispute-andp-applies-to-withdraw-defence-against-diris-appeal/ | 12 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | Lagos Assembly Set To Begin Probe of Auditor General’s Report on MDAs | The Lagos State House of Assembly is set to commence the 2019 consideration exercise of the State Auditor-General’s statutory report on the account of the State’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Nurudeen Saka-Solaja, who disclosed this, on Tuesday, September 22, stated that the purpose of the exercise was not to witch-hunt but to invite all heads of the indicted MDAs and seek clarifications as regards the outstanding queries raised in the Auditor-General’s report to enhance better service delivery in the State. Saka-Solaja noted that the committee was a statutory establishment of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and an important instrument of checks, probity and accountability by the legislature, both at the Federal and State levels. He, however, assured Lagosians that as part of the oversight function of the legislative arm of government, all monies budgeted for the MDAs would be properly scrutinised, as well as judiciously spent as captured in the budget of the State. | Lagos State House of Assembly, State Auditor-General’s Statutory Report, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) | https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-assembly-set-to-begin-probe-of-auditor-generals-report-on-mdas/ | 11 |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | Politicians Investing Money In Vote Buying – Situation Room | A coalition of over 70 civil society organisations, under the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, on Monday, September 21 raised fears over alleged commercialisation of votes in Nigeria, describing it as a threat to the electoral system. The group added that politicians were increasingly investing money in vote buying, noting that voters appeared willing to sell their votes. Situation Room Convener and Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, expressed the views in the group's second interim statement on the Edo State governorship election. Nwankwo stated that, “The menace of vote trading, which includes buying and selling, appears to be deepening in Nigeria’s elections. Politicians are increasingly investing money to buy votes with voters appearing to be willing to sell their votes. In the Edo State election, this practice was widespread with all of the major political parties engaging in this infringement.” The group, which called for a more effective enforcement of election laws added, “Situation Room calls on the National Assembly to move quickly and urgently proceed with legislative action to ensure the passage of the Electoral Offences Commission Bill that creates a body to enforce respect for election laws. Overall, the Edo State governorship election was violence-free to the relief of stakeholders who had feared that the violence-laden rhetoric of the election participants could pose a threat to peaceful elections.” | Situation Room, Edo State governorship election | https://punchng.com/politicians-investing-money-in-vote-buying-situation-room/ | 11 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | KwanKwaso Hails Obaseki, Says US, UK Advisory on Election Riggers Timely | Former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki for his re-election in last Saturday’s governorship election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in a statement by his Principal Private Secretary, Muhammad Inuwa Ali, congratulated Edo people for their “foresight in re-electing their hardworking and effective Governor.”Kwankwaso stated that the advisory of the United States and the United Kingdom to election riggers and promoters of election violence to know that “there are consequences, beyond the borders of Nigeria for their ignominious action was very effective.” He added that the Party’s victory was hugely facilitated by the outstanding commitment, resilience, courage and doggedness of the chairman of its Campaign Council, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. He stated: “Let me also thank the representatives of the international community in Nigeria, especially the United States Embassy in Nigeria and the United Kingdom Embassy in Nigeria for their timely advice to merchants of election malpractice and perpetrators of electoral violence. Your advisory to election riggers and promoters of election violence to know that there are consequences, beyond the borders of Nigeria, for their ignominious action was very effective. We thank you for your interest in deepening democracy in our country. The good people of Edo State have spoken. And the true choice of the people had prevailed. I therefore join all citizens of goodwill to congratulate the people of Edo State on the successful and peaceful conclusion of the gubernatorial election, which was held on Saturday September 19, 2020." | Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Edo State governorship election | https://guardian.ng/politics/kwankwaso-hails-obaseki-says-us-uk-advisory-on-election-riggers-timely/ | 11 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | Zulum Inaugurates Audit Panel for Borno LGs | Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a panel to verify pension and gratuity payments in the 27 councils of the State. According to him, the three-month audit is an effort to institute the culture of accountability and transparency in the councils’ finances. Inaugurating the 15-man committee on Tuesday, September 22 at Government House, Maiduguri, he stated thus: “The Local Government system is empowered to address various challenges of development at the grassroots. This is to infuse procedural expediency and administrative diligence in the payment of pension and gratuities in the councils.” The committee, led by Ibrahim Lawalam, a retired council auditor-general, is to identify challenges associated with council payment system and how to overcome them. | Borno State, Local Government Councils, Audit | https://guardian.ng/news/zulum-inaugurates-audit-panel-for-borno-lgs/ | 11 |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | Leakages: FG Takes Over Revenue Custody In NNPC, Customs, FIRS, NIMASA, Others | The Federal Government is set to take over direct custody of revenues generated by its key agencies as part of efforts to improve income generation and block leakages. Many Federal Government revenue generating agencies, commissions and enterprises are being accused of either spending at will most of the monies they generate or not declaring correct figures. It was learnt that specialised directors from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation would be posted to 10 revenue-generating agencies of the government in the first instance. These include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC,) Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC). The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed stated this at the opening of a three-day orientation programme for 50 directors of revenue who are to be posted to various Government-Owned Enterprises (GOE). According to her, the initiative was in compliance with a presidential approval conveyed via a circular referenced SGF.50/S.3/C.9/24 of 16 October 2018, on the approved Revenue Performance Management Framework for Government-Owned Enterprises (FGOEs). She added that, “Government is increasingly concerned with the dwindling profile of revenue and this trend has to be quickly arrested, particularly with key revenue generating agencies of the government. Analysis of budgets of some of the Federal Government-Owned Enterprises show that they have the capacities if properly managed, to significantly improve the revenue base of the Federal Government." She noted that it was in this light that the deployment of the treasury directors was considered expedient as a pilot project. | Federal Government Revenue | https://dailytrust.com/leakages-fg-takes-over-revenue-custody-in-nnpc-customs-firs-nimasa-others | 11 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 21, 2020 | Obaseki Lauds Buhari For Ensuring INEC Freedom In Edo Polls | Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for defending democracy by allowing the lndependent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security services to perform their constitutional functions without interference. Obaseki who gave the commendation in his acceptance speech after he was declared winner, stated that INEC and the security agents have shown Nigerians and the world that they are capable of conducting free, fair and credible elections. He stated thus: “Words fails me in saluting the teeming supporters who displayed courage in the face of fierce intimidation and brutalisation.” He noted that the collective will of Edo people made it possible for him and the State to triumph over godfatherism. He added, "I am eternally grateful to my party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and my brother-governors, not only for giving us the umbrella during our political storm, but for the hard works which has brought me back as governor.” He said his victory has reinforced his belief that there is nothing Nigerians can not achieve as a people. | Edo State governorship election, Godwin Obaseki, President Muhammadu Buhari | https://dailytrust.com/obaseki-lauds-buhari-for-ensuring-inec-freedom-in-edo-polls | 10 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 21, 2020 | APC Crisis: Our Faction Is Open For Dialogue – Yari | A former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari on Sunday, September 20, stated that his faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State is ready for dialogue with other factions to put an end to the crisis rocking the party. Yari, who stated this during a meeting with a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in Oyo State, Segun Dokun Odebunmi, expressed optimism that the internal rancour in the party will soon be a thing of the past. He stated that although the APC is one family, it is expected of the people to ventilate their grievances over certain policies and decisions of their party leadership. Earlier, Odebunmi had said the meeting was necessary to chart a way out of the crisis in the party to ensure that Oyo and Zamfara States returned to the APC in future elections. According to Odebunmi, “All leaders of the party are members of the reconciliation process. We must reconcile ourselves and talk to our followers. This will complement the efforts of the State and the National Reconciliation Committee.” He harped on the need to build trust among the leaders and elders of the party and ensure that camps within the party embraced the reconciliation agenda of the interim national executive of the party. He expressed optimism in the effort of the interim party executive to not only restore peace and stability in the party but also position it to win future elections in the country. | Zamfara State, APC | https://dailytrust.com/apc-crisis-our-faction-is-open-for-dialogue-yari | 10 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 21, 2020 | Edo: Repay Voters With Good Governance, Abdulsalami Abubakar Panel Tells Obaseki | The National Peace Committee (NPC) headed by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has charged Governor Godwin Obaseki to repay the people of the State with good governance. This is contained in the NPC statement on the Edo 2020 governorship election and signed by Abubakar on Sunday, September 20. Godwin Obaseki of the PDP won the election to be re-elected after defeating his main challenger, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC. The statemnet read thus: “On behalf of the members of the National Peace Committee, I wish to congratulate the good people of Edo State on the peaceful conduct of their elections in which a winner has emerged. Nigerians appreciate the exemplary sacrifice, decorum and courage that you showed allaying the earlier fears that preceded the elections. I appeal to Nigerians across board to emulate your conduct.” While also congratulating the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his team, the Inspector General of Police, other security agencies, and civil society groups for doing such an excellent job and making great sacrifices, the former military ruler prayed that every election will bring the nation closer to peace. He equally thanked the Oba of Benin, who he said teamed up with the committee to deploy his moral authority in the appeal for peace. He added, “Our congratulations to the contestants, to Godwin Obaseki, the winner, Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others who sought the office of governor. It is our prayer that you (Obaseki) will repay the good people of Edo State with all the ingredients of good governance, justice and equity.” | Edo State governorship election, National Peace Committee | https://dailytrust.com/edo-repay-voters-with-good-governance-abdulsalami-abubakar-panel-tells-obaseki | 10 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 21, 2020 | APC, PDP Exchange Words as Police Arrest Ondo Armed Thugs | The Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, September 20, engaged in a war of words over the arrest of seven suspected political thugs in a PDP branded vehicle. The men were arrested in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area. It was gathered that the suspects were arrested with locally-made weapons. The Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation, stated that the incident was a proof of its earlier assertions alerting security agencies about an arms buildup by the ruling party to implicate opposition parties. In a statement by Gbenga Akinmoyo, the organisation stated thus: “The APC who boasted of militancy, arms and ammunition through one of their party chieftains and unleashed unprovoked mayhem on the PDP few days ago in a botched assassination attempt on the PDP governorship candidate have moved to the next scene of the unfolding drama. The information of the arrest of some hoodlums in the PDP branded vehicles at Ifon in Ose Local Government, whilst our campaign train is due to make a stop in the town, that is presently circulating on social media, is nothing but an attempt by the APC to make good its evil plans.” In reaction, the spokesman of the Akeredolu/Ayedatiwa Campaign Organisation, Olabode Olatunde, stated that, “We are relieved that the police were able to seize the sophisticated guns, live cartridges and machetes which could have been used to cut the lives of the innocent people of the State short on the altar of politics. While we commend the police authority for its gallantry efforts at arresting these hoodlums, we condemn this act in strong terms and call for more investigation into the PDP campaign activities." The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tee- Leo Ikoro, stated thus: “We are investigating this but the hoodlums were arrested with a branded vehicle purportedly using the name of PDP. Our investigation will prove at the end of the day if they are truly members of PDP or not. Seven of them were arrested with locally-made weapons.” | Ondo State governorship election, APC, PDP | https://punchng.com/apc-pdp-exchange-words-as-police-arrest-ondo-armed-thugs/ | 10 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 21, 2020 | I’II Announce My Next Plan Soon, says Ize-Iyamu | The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has stated that he will soon announce his next line of action after the declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner of the September 19 poll. Ize-Iyamu, who trailed the winner with over 84,000 votes, explained that he was still studying the results and he would make known his plan very soon. He disclosed this on his Facebook page. It read, “I hereby thank and appreciate my teeming supporters, who have had to endure many evils including being prevented from exercising their franchise, for their support and determination during the election process. I assure you all that I am studying the results along with other party members and will announce the next line of action soon. God bless you all.” | Edo State governorship election, APC, Osagie Ize-Iyamu | https://punchng.com/iii-announce-my-next-plan-soon-says-ize-iyamu/ | 10 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 17, 2020 | Ondo Guber: Five Persons Injured, Vehicles Vandalised as APC, PDP Supporters Clash | No fewer than six persons sustained varying degrees of injuries while about five vehicles in the campaign trains of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were vandalised, as supporters of the two parties clashed on Wednesday, September 16 at Oba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government area of Ondo State. Spokespersons of the campaign organisations of the two political parties have since engaged in accusations and counter accusations. The spokesperson of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Olabode, in a statement, alleged that hoodlums loyal to the PDP Governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede SAN, on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, at Oba Akoko in Akoko Southwest Local Government area of the State. Olabode stated that Akeredolu and the APC campaign train was on the way to Ikare-Akoko in continuation of the local government campaign rally when the PDP struck and attacked the convoy of the campaign train. Similarly, the Head of Media and Research of Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation, Mr Samuel Fasua, stated that it was thugs in the campaign train of Akeredolu that attacked the Jegede Team that was already on ground at Oba Akoko in continuation of the PDP's campaign. Fasua stated that no fewer than three vehicles in Jegede's convoy was badly damaged while Jegede himself sought refuge inside the palace of the monarch of Oba- the Oloba, Oba Adeniyi Adegoroye, as gunshots were being fired outside. He added that, "In the last five days too, there have been series of attacks on PDP supporters in Aiyede-Ogbese community in Akure North Local Government Area leading to machete and gun attacks and the burning of at least two houses of PDP members." | Ondo State governorship Election, APC, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/16/ondo-guber-five-persons-injured-vehicles-vandalised-as-apc-pdp-supporters-clash/ | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 17, 2020 | Edo Governorship: Sensitive Materials Arrive Edo | Sensitive Materials for the conduct of Edo state governorship election on Saturday have arrived the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Edo State branch on Wednesday, September 16. Confirming the arrival of the materials, Head of Voter Education and Publicity, in the Independnet National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, Timidi Wariowei, stated that the Commission was at CBN to inspecte the sensitive materials comprising ballot papers and the results sheets. He stated thus: “We are set for the election. From tomorrow morning as early as 7.30am we will start the distribution to various Local Government Areas." On his part, the Edo State Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Kelly Ogbaloi, stated that party agents were invited by INEC to inspect the materials at the CBN. He confirmed that, “Everything is intact, we just inspected the materials and we are satisfied.” | Edo State governorship election, Sensitive Materials, INEC | https://dailytrust.com/edo-govship-sensitive-materials-arrive-edo | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 17, 2020 | Edo Poll: Police To Deploy 3 Officers Per Polling Unit | Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adeleye Oyebade, on Wednesday, September 16 stated that the police would deploy three police officers and personnel of other security agencies to each of the 2,627 polling units across Edo State for the September 19 governorship election. He stated that the deployment was to ensure effective manning of the polling units and free, fair and peaceful election. Oyebade, who disclosed this in Benin while briefing journalists on the election preparation, assured that the officers would be neutral and professional in their assignments. He further stated that the election would be a litmus test for the nation’s democratic process. Oyebade said though previous elections may have had their challenges, the force had resolved to improve on them and make the 2020 Edo State governorship election free, better, more inclusive, safer and more credible. He urged the electorate to go out on the election day to vote without any hindrance. | Edo State governorship election, Police | https://dailytrust.com/edo-poll-police-to-deploy-3-officers-per-polling-unit | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 17, 2020 | INEC To Resume Continuous Voter Registration Soon | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it would soon resume its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which was aborted few months ago following the outbreak of COVID-19. Prof. James Apam, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State, announced this on Wednesday, September 16 at Onyadega, Ibaji Local Government Area of the State. Apam, who was addressing stakeholders in preparation for the coming bye election in the Local Government, blamed the inability of the Commission to register Nigerians of voting age in the area on the pandemic. He assured that the Commission would resume the exercise next year and appealed to those who would not be able to vote in the election to show understanding and bear with the Commission. He stated that the bye election was necessitated by the death of Hon. John Abah, who was representing the Constituency in the State House of Assembly in June 2020. He stated that the bye election to fill the vacant seat will hold along with others nationwide on October 31, and urged the people of the area to get ready to participate fully. He further stated that 10 political parties had indicated interest to participate in the election. The REC further disclosed that there are 78,575 registered voters in the affected area and that arrangements were being made to organise training for the ad hoc staff and the Commission’s staff that will conduct the election. He appealed to leaders of political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to allow peace to reign before, during and after the election. | INEC, Kogi State, Continuous Voter Registration | https://dailytrust.com/inec-to-resume-continuous-voter-registration-in-kogi-soon | 9 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, September 17, 2020 | FG Moves to Create Agency for Crime Proceeds | The Federal Government has approved the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency Bill to be transmitted to the National Assembly for legislative sanction. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday, September 16 after a virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that the bill was intended to have in place a legal and institutional framework because previously, proceeds of crime were scattered in different and agencies. According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Justice presented a council memo today. The council memo is about a bill, which seeks the approval of the council to transmit to the National Assembly for passage. It is a Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency Bill. “And the institutional component of it is to have an agency that will be saddled with the responsibility of managing the assets that constitute the proceeds of crime in Nigeria. What happened before now is that the proceeds of crime were scattered all over, and mostly in the hands of different and multiple agencies of government, inclusive of the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC)." Malami added that the new law would move the fight against corruption to the next level of transparency, accountability and, in essence, have in place an agency of government exclusively responsible for proceeds of crime. | Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency Bill, Abubakar Malami | https://guardian.ng/news/fg-moves-to-create-agency-for-crime-proceeds/ | 9 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | Edo Governorship: INEC Pledges Neutrality, As Police Deploy 31,000 Personnel | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to guarantee neutrality of the electoral process in the Edo State governorship election. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the commitment on Monday, September 14 at a Stakeholders’ meeting held at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin. He stated that the commission sent two National Commissioners to ensure the neutrality of INEC staff, particularly ad hoc staff engaged for election duty. He also stated that the two commissioners reviewed the process of recruitment to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines, in reaction to the concern being expressed in some quarters about the neutrality of INEC staff and the ad hoc staff. He added that the ballot papers and the election results sheets would come with new undisclosed security features to safeguard the integrity of the election. According to him, “Your votes will count. Polling unit level results will be uploaded for public view. However, this will not happen where the process is disrupted by violence or malpractices.” He added that: “Our ultimate objective is to ensure that the choice of who becomes the next Governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of the voters. I wish to reassure you that votes will count and only the choice made by the people of Edo State will determine the outcome of the election. The commission shall not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate. Our focus is on our processes and procedures. Nothing more.” The INEC boss also stated that the new Z-pad technology would not be deployed for for the purpose of voter authentication because of the challenges encountered with its use at the Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election in Nasarawa State on August 2020. He, however, added that it would be used for the uploading of the polling unit results. Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, stated that 31,000 personnel would be deployed to Edo State to ensure peaceful election. Adamu stated that election security threat assessment had been undertaken and all flash points and actors planning to threaten the electoral processes had been identified, adding that plans have been perfected to deal with the situation accordingly. On his part, the NYSC Director-General, Shaibu Ibrahim, represented by the officer in charge of South-South, Benjamin Ayodele, assured that the corps members deployed for the election would perform their assignment with utmost neutrality. | Edo State governorship election, INEC | https://dailytrust.com/edo-govship-inec-pledges-neutrality-as-police-deploy-31000-personnel | 8 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | US Imposes Visa Restrictions for Electoral Infractions in Nigeria | The United States on Monday, September 14 stated that it has imposed visa restriction on some individuals who are responsible for undermining the democratic process during the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections in Nigeria. According to a statement by Mike Pompeo, the United States Secretary of State, “In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run-up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections." Pompeo stated that the individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles in Nigeria. Both State governorship elections took place in 2019 with observers, journalists and civil society organisations adjudging them to be full of violence, voter intimidation by security forces and vote-buying. Despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring winners in the elections, opposition parties rejected the results, alleging cases of rigging and unfairness by INEC. Governors of both States were subsequently decided by Nigeria’s supreme court. The outcome of both elections have since then caused political parties and their candidates to push for legislations to make electioneering more credible and transparent in Nigeria. Pompeo, however, noted that the visa ban was not directed at Nigerians in general but certain people that oppose peace and democratic values in the country. The statemnet further read thus: “This decision reflects the Department of State’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government to realize its expressed commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights.” | US, Visa Ban | https://guardian.ng/news/us-hit-election-riggers-in-nigeria-with-visa-ban/ | 8 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | NBC Cautions Broadcasters Against Infractions | The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Monday, September 14 cautioned broadcasters against breaching provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, regulations, and other extant laws, as it would not hesitate to sanction any organisation that contravenes its requirements. In a statement issued by the Commission ahead of the governorship election in Edo State, the commission “reminded broadcasters of the essential provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Electoral Act on the coverage of elections, collation, and the announcement of results." Specifically, the NBC drew their attention to Section 5.3.3 of the code, which stipulates that “The Broadcaster shall ensure that the broadcast of a partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement, and any other form of partisan party identification or symbol ends not later than 24 hours before election day. “Broadcasters should not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on the chances of any candidate." It also stipulates that media outfits should only relay election results or declaration of the winner only as announced by the authorised electoral officer for the election. This provision is also contained in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). According to the Commission's sttatement, “The Commission, along with stakeholders, has been working towards a free and fair governorship election in Edo State and enjoins broadcasters to continue to perform their duties professionally in order to achieve a successful democratic process.” | Edo State governorship election, NBC | https://guardian.ng/news/nbc-cautions-broadcasters-against-infractions/ | 8 |
| Punch Newspaper | Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | Crisis: No More Suspension of Members in Ekiti – PDP | Chairman of the faction of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to former Governor Ayodele Fayose, Mr Bisi Kolawole, stated on Monday, September 14 that the party would refrain from suspending members of the party for the time being. He stated that the PDP is now more focused on reconciling aggrieved members in order to expand its membership base. Kolawole said his agenda was to unite the party and with that, reposition it to win the 2022 Ekiti governorship poll in the interest of Ekiti people. This was contained in a statement titled, ‘It is bye-bye to APC in Ekiti come 2022 – PDP Chairman’, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bola Agboola, in Ado Ekiti. Kolawole was quoted as saying, “We are not going to suspend any member unless such member proves beyond every reasonable doubt that he or she is against the success of the PDP. The PDP in Ekiti State had been polarised over leadership crisis between a group loyal to Fayose and another loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi, which has resulted in parallel congresses at the ward, Local Government and State levels. We’ll do everything possible to assuage the feelings of genuinely aggrieved members and make everybody comfortable under the leadership of Bisi Kolawole. The State Working Committee will ensure all tendencies in the party are brought together to achieve success. The spirit, as I speak, is to bring people into the party; not suspend members. Unless you are determined to leave the party, we are not willing to send you out of the party. I don’t belong to that school of thought for now.” | Ekiti State, PDP | https://punchng.com/crisis-no-more-suspension-of-members-in-ekiti-pdp/ | 8 |
| Punch Newspaper | Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | Electrical Fault, Cause of Ondo INEC Office Fire –Police | The Ondo State Police Command on Monday, September 14 stated that the fire incident which destroyed over 5,000 card readers at the Ondo State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was caused by power surge. The inferno, which occurred at the computer section of the INEC office last Thursday, destroyed the card readers stored for the October 10 governorship election. Speaking with journalists at the State police command headquarters in Akure, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami, stated that police investigations ruled out sabotage. According to him, “Investigation into the incident is out. The fire was caused by faulty electrical connection and all the smart card readers were burnt. The smart card readers were kept in two containers on the premises of INEC and the air conditioners were kept on for 24 hours. This will put to rest speculations that the fire was caused by saboteurs. If there are other findings, we will let you know. For now, the major cause is faulty electrical connections. This report is final from the fire service. They have the authority to investigate fire incidents in Akure.” On preparations by the command for the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election, the police boss stated that, “We are working hard to curtail political violence. We are meeting with political leaders to tell their followers to desist from attacking each other. We are investigating all aspects of the killing in Idanre.” | INEC, Ondo State, Fire Outbreak | https://punchng.com/electrical-fault-caused-ondo-inec-office-fire-police/ | 8 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 14, 2020 | Zamfara APC Tackles Police Over Arrest of Supporters | Thousands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Zamfara State on Sunday, September 13 converged at the State police command’s headquarters in Gusau to demonstrate over the arrest of 17 of their members. The police had on Saturday, September 12 arrested some APC members at the residence of one of the party’s stalwart, Alhaji Abubakar Dantabawa. The party’s supporters, who were angry with the arrest of their political associates, demanded that they should be released and threatened to take drastic action against the police. The police threw tear gas canisters at the protesting APC supporters to disperse them but they refused to leave. When all efforts to send away the protesters failed, the police discharged all the arrested APC supporters which brought to an end tothe protect. The spokesperson for the command, SP Mohammed Shehu stated that, “The police got an intelligence report that the arrested APC supporters were in a meeting with repentant bandits in the house of one Alhaji Abubakar Dantabawa, trying to convince them to go back to banditry.” The APC Zamfara State Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Liman described the police report as baseless, as well as an attempt to smear the good image of the party in the State, adding that, “The Police Commissioner has on several occasions used his office to fight APC supporters because he is being used by the Zamfara State Government.” | Zamfara State, APC | https://punchng.com/zamfara-apc-tackles-police-over-arrest-of-supporters/ | 7 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 14, 2020 | Edo: PDP, APC Fight Over Vote-Buying Plot, Tinubu mentioned | The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and APC chieftains in Edo State to rig and buy votes during the September 19 governorship election with N300m polled from councils in Lagos State. Chairman of the Council’s Publicity and Media Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, in a statement alleged that each local council in Lagos State had been mandated to contribute N15m each to finance the rigging plan. He stated that, “It is regrettable and disturbing that at a time when Lagosians are suffering from the vagaries of biting economic hardship superintended by the APC government’s policies, the party is deploying Lagos State’s resources to subvert the will of Edo People.” He queried the interest of Tinubu in the outcome of the poll in Edo, noting that the people are resolute in truncating the reign of godfathers in the State. However, APC in Edo State in a statement by the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, described the story as “fabricated” by Nehikhare. | Edo State governorship election, APC, PDP | https://punchng.com/edo-pdp-apc-fight-over-vote-buying-plot-tinubu-mentioned/ | 7 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 14, 2020 | Commissioner Deploys 1,000 Policemen for Edo Election | The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has deployed 1,000 policemen to provide security during the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Sunday, September 13, that Odumosu deployed the policemen to complement the men that the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, had deployed in the State for the election. He added that CP Odumosu urged the policemen to be professional in their duties and refrain from acts capable of denting the image of the Force and truncating the peaceful conduct of the election in Edo State. Part of the The statement read thus: “The CP warned the officers and men from Lagos State Command to be of good conduct and exhibit professionalism in discharging their duties before and during the election." Odumosu made the call while addressing the men at the parade ground of the Police College in Ikeja. He reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to sustain the core values of democracy in Nigeria via fair, free and credible elections. The CP also spoke on the welfare packages for police personnel detailed for the Edo special duty as approved by the Inspector-General of Police to boost their morale. | Edo State governorship election, Police | https://punchng.com/commissioner-deploys-1000-policemen-for-edo-election/ | 7 |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, September 14, 2020 | External Forces not Influencing Constitution Review – Omo-Agege | The Senate Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution has stated that it is not under pressure from external forces. Chairman of the Committee , who is also the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said this in a statement by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, on Sunday, September 13. Omo-Agege, assured Nigerians that the panel would not kill any of the Constitution alteration bills before it. He promised that the Senate would recommend all the bills before it for consideration. The Committee had last week shifted the deadline for submission of memoranda from September 11 to September 25. He stated that, “Any Nigerian who feels strongly about any issue that ought to be addressed in this exercise has a right within the time stipulated to put their thoughts in writing by way of a memo and submit same to us." He further explained that, “Upon receipt of that, we will meet as a Committee, set up some sub-committees within the main Committee that will go to each of the geopolitical zones. There. they will reach out and ask people to step forward and speak to the memo that they have already submitted to us. Thereafter, we will come back, hold a retreat where we will aggregate the views of the content of the memoranda." He added that, “Members of this committee and indeed all of the senators of this 9th Senate will do the right thing. We are not going to succumb to any pressure.” | Constitution Review, 9th Senate | https://punchng.com/external-forces-not-influencing-constitution-review-omo-agege/ | 7 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 14, 2020 | Uproar In APC Over Plot To Shift Convention | Feelings of indignations have arisen within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged plot to shift the party’s national convention, earlier slated for December 2020, to the first quarter of 2021. The APC had proposed to organise an elective national convention this year at which a new crop of National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party would emerge. However, credible sources told Daily Trust's correspondent on Sunday, September 13, that some party stalwarts were planning a revolt if the decision to shift the convention later than December 2020, was considered. The APC National Executive Committee (NEC), the second-highest decision-making organ of the party, had dissolved the Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC in June. The NEC also constituted a 13-member National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee headed by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, to take charge of the day-to-day running of the party and to, within six months, organise a national convention for new leaders to emerge. When contacted on the said reschedluling of the national convention, Buni’s spokesman, Mamman Mohammed stated that mischief-makers were at work. According to him, “One can attribute such mischief to opposition parties or their agents probably working to create disaffection to divert the attention of party men from the task of delivering Edo and Ondo States in the forthcoming governorship election. His Excellency the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee is currently committed to delivering the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, as well as organising a successful national convention for the party. The caretaker committee under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni is indisputably working hard to reposition the party and this is evidenced in the achievements recorded so far. And you can see the likes of former Speaker Yakubu Dogara and thousands of supporters have returned to the party. In Ondo State, the numerous factions have been united.” | APC Convention | https://dailytrust.com/uproar-in-apc-over-plot-to-shift-convention | 7 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Malami Set to Testify before Salami Panel on Magu's Case | The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Wednesday, September 9, expressed his readiness to appear before the presidential panel investigating the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to substantiate his allegations against him. Responding to the demand by Magu’s counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, that he should appear before the panel headed by a former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, Malami stated that he was ready to testify before the panel if invited. He stated that as the chief law officer of the country, he has a responsibility to assist whatever investigation is taking place both locally or internationally. | Abubakar Malami, Ibrahim Magu | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/10/malami-to-open-up-on-magu-ready-to-testify-before-salami-panel/ | 6 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Edo, Ondo Polls: INEC Clears Air On Use Of Z-Pad | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, September 9, stated that no political party or vendor will compel it to deploy any technology which it has not fully and satisfactorily tested, for the forthcoming Edo and Ondo State governorship elections. INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Public Information, Mr Festus Okoye, specifically clarified that the recently introduced tablet (Z-pad) would not serve as “secondary authentication process for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections because we are still test-running it.” Speaking at a virtual dialogue on ‘Nigeria Electoral System Audit: Edo and Ondo Elections in Perspective’ organised by the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Okoye stated that the Z-pad is still being test-run. According to him, the Z-pad would only be used for uploading election results into the INEC Result View Portal and not as a replacement for the smart card reader used in voters’ authentication. Okoye also declared that it is mandatory for voters to come to the polling units with face-covering in line with the COVID-19 protocol, restating that INEC would not endanger the lives of other voters. | INEC, Edo and Ondo governorship elections | https://dailytrust.com/edo-ondo-polls-inec-clears-air-on-use-of-z-pad | 6 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Buhari Inaugurates Committee For Agenda 2050, Development Plan | President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, September 9, inaugurated the National Steering Committee to oversee the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan to succeed the Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 – 2020. The membership of the newly inaugurated committee to be co-chaired by Atedo Peterside and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, comprises one State governor from each of the six geopolitical zones, the Senate and House of Representatives, ministers and representatives of key agencies. Other members are major political parties, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, captains of industries, labour organisations, youth organisations and women’s societies, farmers’ associations, traditional and religious leaders, people with special needs and members of the press. The committee is to develop Successor Plans to Vision 20:2020 and ERGP. Buhari stated that it had become necessary to develop successor plans to the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 and the ERGP, which both lapse in December this year, in order to ensure continuity and efficiency in the country’s development planning. | Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan, President Muhammadu Buhari | https://dailytrust.com/buhari-inaugurates-committee-for-agenda-2050-development-plan | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Crisis Hits South-West PDP as Fayose Fights Makinde over Control | Crisis may have hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west as the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has warned the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde against tampering with the leadership of the party in Ekiti State and other South-West States, despite the position of the governor as the zonal leader of the party. Fayose insisted that the Oyo State governor has no right to interfere with the local politics in each South-West State despite being a zonal leader of the party. The former governor stated this on Wednesday, September 9 when he led the national delegates of the PDP as well as the chairmen of the party in Osun, Ekiti and Lagos States to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He noted that he is ready to fight anyone that wants to take over the structure of the party in Ekiti State from him. He stated thus: “There has been a reasonable cold war of who and who becomes the executive of the zone. Governor Makinde has demanded that the zonal executive be sacked and a caretaker be fostered on the zone, which the party did. But since the caretaker committee came into being, he has not allowed them to function because he produced the chairman." Earlier, a fcation of the party in Ogun State had taken over the party secretariat barely a month after the leader of another faction of the party in the State, the late Senator Buruji Kashamu died. | Ekiti State, PDP, Ayodele Fayose, Seyi Makinde | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/10/crisis-hits-south-west-pdp-as-fayose-fights-makinde-over-control/ | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Oshiomhole, Wife of Edo Deputy Governor Bicker over Alleged Threat to Life | Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu, has petitioned the State Commissioner of Police over an alleged threat to life by the immediate-past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole. While reacting, Oshiomole described the petition as nothing but a futile attempt to divert the attention of Nigerians from the trending video of Mrs. Shaibu threatening to flog women old enough to be her mother if they dared to exercise their rights to attend any event other than the one she organises. In the petition dated September 8, 2020, by her counsel, Idemudia Ilueminosen and Co, titled: ‘Threat to Life’, Mrs. Shaibu alleged that Oshiomhole had threatened to deal with her after casting aspersions on her at a rally in Etsako West Local Government Area of the State. The petition alleged that Oshiomhole at the rally sent several warnings that she (Mrs. Shaibu) should stay clear of campaigning for her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on which platform her husband is running with Governor Godwin Obaseki for the September 19 governorship poll. The petition further stated that, “We are further informed by our client that the said Oshiomole did not only threaten to deal with her, but he has also declared that he has sent some thugs to monitor her movements in Etsako West area with a view to carrying out the threat of ‘dealing with her’. “Consequent upon this, our client, for fear of being hurt or harm by Oshiomole and the assigned thugs, has not been able to continue with her campaign anymore. It is on this note that we passionately appeal to you on behalf of our client to use your good office to investigate this incident. Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole stated that he is focused on marketing the governorship candidate of the APC, and cannot, under any circumstances, be distracted by the “buzzing of baby mosquitoes like Mrs. Shaibu.” According to him, “The allegation is baseless and an attempt to drag Oshiomhole’s name to the mud." | Edo State governorship election, Maryann Shaibu, Adams Oshiomhole | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/10/oshiomhole-wife-of-edo-deputy-gov-bicker-over-alleged-threat-to-life/ | 6 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | Imo North Primary: APC Committee Accuses Party of Clearing Disqualified Aspirants | The controversy that trailed the Imo North Senatorial primary bye-election assumed another dimension on Monday, Spetmebr 7 as the screening committee accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining its authority by clearing six aspirants that were disqualified from contesting the primary. The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena, had issued a statement after the screening committee and appeal committee had concluded their work, that the APC cleared all aspirants who purchased expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the party’s primary election ahead of the October 31 concurrent legislative bye-elections. However, while addressing journalists on Monday at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, the Chairman of Imo North Senatorial Screening Committee, Dr. Lawrence Chuku, accused the leadership of the party of clearing disqualified aspirants. The primary election for the Imo North senatorial bye-election held on Thursday, September 4 saw the emergence of Mr. Ibezim Frank, who was declared winner by Senator Ajibola Bashir-led-faction of the committee, while Senator Ifeanyi Araume was declared winner by Mr. Umar Nguma-led faction. | APC, Imo North Senatorial District, Primary Election | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/08/imo-north-primary-apc-committee-accuses-party-of-clearing-disqualified-aspirants/ | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | No Rallies For Lagos East, Kosofe 2 Bye-Elections – APC | The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, Spetmeber 7 inaugurated a 100-man campaign committee for the October 31 bye-elections for Lagos East Senatorial District and Kosofe 2 State Constituency, declaring that there would be no on-the-spot rallies. State Chairman of the party, Tunde Balogun, who also handed over the party’s flag to the candidates, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru and Wasiu Obafemi Saheed (Kosofe 2), said the campaign would be COVID-19 protocol compliant. According to the APC chairman, the campaign to retain the two seats would be conducted street-to-street, house-to-house, ward-to-ward and from one zone to the other “in a carnival-like movement so that all the people from one street to another, especially the traders, will see you." “We encourage souvenir distribution, outdoor advertisements, billboards, signage, newspaper advertisements and social media platforms,” he stated. Balogun further stated that the campaign committee chaired by Asipa Kaoli Olusanya is an all-inclusive one comprising prominent personalities in Lagos East, adding that the opposition should be prepared for defeat. The Chairman also restated that the party remains supreme in the State and that the supremacy of the party is reflected in the composition of its campaign committee. | Lagos East Senatorial District, Campaign | https://dailytrust.com/no-rallies-for-lagos-east-kosofe-2-by-elections-apc | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | 2023: APC Mulls Constitution Amendment | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced moves to amend its constitution to include a clause that would compel its elected and appointed officers to be meeting with people at the grassroots twice a year, ahead of the 2023 general elections. Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed, representative of the youth in the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, disclosed this when he received APC youth leaders from across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Ahmed, who addressed journalists at the end of their meeting which lasted for several hours, stated that he had proposed the idea to President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party. According to him, “This will help to energise our people and build the faith of party members at the ward level in the party and our leaders. It will also help educate and inform party members at the grassroots of policies and programmes of the government. I have discussed it with Mr. President and he is freely disposed to the idea. He welcomed it and I think we have to ensure this through constitutional backing. We proposed some vital recommendations for changes in the APC constitution and guidelines for congresses and primaries which we believe would see to better participation of young people in the party’s activities and process. We also looked at presenting a draft for the APC Youth Policy Agenda and including certain items in the APC manifesto that cater for the welfare of the Nigerian youth.” | APC, Party Constitution | https://dailytrust.com/2023-apc-mulls-constitution-amendment | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | Edo, Ondo Governorship: INEC Expresses Worry Over Violence Threats | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over comments by political actors which can cause violence and undermine the September 19 and October 10 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, respectively. Chief Press Secretary to the Commission’s Chairman Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi voiced the concern on Monday, September 7, during a webinar entitled ‘Edo/Ondo Elections: The Imperative of Safety Consciousness and Conflict Sensitivity in Media Coverage and Reportage’ organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN). Oyekanmi, however, assured Nigerians that the commission would provide a level playing field for all political parties in the elections, adding that INEC was interested in the credibility of the process. Speaking on the threats to the elections, Oyekanmi stated thus: “As we approach the Edo governorship election, it is clear that the good people of the State and Nigerians as a whole are very concerned about what will happen on election day. We have all been hearing the loud drumbeats of war from political actors. There have been accusations and counter-accusations. Just like everybody else, the commission is deeply concerned.” He assured that regardless of the threats and utterances, INEC would conduct a credible and fair contest. He also assured journalists of their safety, unlike previous experiences, particularly with security agents. | Edo and Ondo States Governorship Election, INEC | https://dailytrust.com/edo-ondo-govship-inec-worries-over-violence-threats | 5 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | Confusion, Violence Trail PDP Bye-election Primary in Cross River North | Confusion and violence trailed the recent Cross River North Senatorial primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on September 5, as two aspirants are claiming victory. Now all the aggreived persons in the primary are in Abuja to state their positions. The PDP primary was violent. Two persons were killed on the eve of the primary in Ogoja while two others were shot on the day of the event opposite the Ogoja council headquarters, venue of the primary. Four vehicles and police pick up truck in the governor’s convoy were smashed by some unknown youths suspected to be supporters and delegates of the member of the House of Representatives representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Mr. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, one of the aspirants in the primary. Journalists were heavily teargased with Editor of Watchman magazine, Mr. Lawrence Mpama, almost losing consciousness. No less than 200 policemen flooded the venue and opened fire and teargas on everyone to allow mercenary voters, said to be for Dr. Stephen Odey, enter the venue at the expense of the duly accredited voters that would possibly have voted for Jarigbe. In PDP’s tension-soaked primary, the former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Odey emerged winner of PDP Cross River North Senatorial bye-election primary held at Ogoja council secretariat and witnessed by officials of the Independent NAtional Electoral COmmission (INEC). He polled 450 votes while his closest rival Jarigbe garnered 90 votes. Chairman of the electoral panel, Mr. Olorogun Taleb Tebite, declared Odey the winner having scored the highest number of votes. He spoke to newsmen after the result was announced and described the process as “peaceful and orderly.” One of INEC’s officials, who observed the event, Mr. Amula Timotheus, also expressed satisfaction with the exercise, saying it was conducted in line with INEC’s guidelines and was therefore satisfactory. Governor Ben Ayade, who witnessed the entire exercise, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the delegates’ primary and commended INEC for playing its observatory role adequately, stating that “the election was a family affair as all the candidates are members of the PDP family in the State,” and gave assurance that the party would work together to win the general elections. | Cross River North Senatorial District, PDP, Primary Election | https://guardian.ng/politics/confusion-violence-trail-pdp-bye-election-primary-in-cross-river-north/ | 5 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 7, 2020 | Imo North Senate Seat Contest Divides APC, PDP Members | Fresh trouble is looming in the Imo State chapter of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as aspirants for the October 31 Imo North senatorial election have rejected the outcomes of the primaries of the two political parties. In APC, the committee that conducted the September 3 primary election backed two candidates, while the national leadership of the party is expressing support for the chairman of the primary election committe, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, who declared Frank Ibezim as the winner. Three members of the committee led by Alhaji Gana Nguma, have on their part declared Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the winner of the election. The parallel results after the conduct of the exercise by the two factions produced Ararume as the winner of one of the factions with a score of 22,944 votes, while Frank Ibezim emerged winner of the other faction with 13,637 votes. However, the party had, in a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, stated that the Basiru-chaired committee was duly appointed by the party’s caretaker committee chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. The statement maintained that only the outcome from the Basiru-led committee was tenable and acceptable to the party. | Imo North Senatorial District, Bye Election, APC | https://dailytrust.com/imo-north-senate-seat-contest-divides-apc-pdp-members | 4 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 7, 2020 | Sokoto PDP Elects Local Government Excos Through Consensus | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has elected its Local Government executives through consensus. A Daily Trust reporter who went round some of the venues of the congresses observed delegates affirming their executives in an orderly and peaceful manner. Chairman of the Local Government Congresses in the State, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, commended Governor of the State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other leaders of the party for the consensus arrangement which, he described as being the best. | Sokoto State, PDP, Local Government Congress | https://dailytrust.com/sokoto-pdp-elects-lg-excos-through-consensus | 4 |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, September 7, 2020 | Reforms: Presidency urges Nigerians to Ignore Buhari’s Critics | The Presidency says in these challenging times, President Muhammadu Buhari is pushing development goals, not politics and that history will judge him in favourable terms in spite of criticisms on social media. Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, September 6. The presidential aide was reacting to comments on the Buhari administration following an upward review of the pump price of petrol and electricity tariffs in the country. Shehu maintained that subsidy removal in these sectors had long been foreseen by successive administrations as game changers in search of solutions to move forward with the nation’s development. According to him, these are reforms that are necessary and overdue. He stated thus: ”To stop the mismanagement of taxpayers money, eliminate corruption associated with subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others, the administration took the decision to implement long-delayed reforms, withdraw and allow the market to determine their prices." | Presidency, Petroleum Price, Electricity Tariffs | https://guardian.ng/news/reforms-presidency-urges-nigerians-to-ignore-buharis-critics/ | 4 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, September 7, 2020 | Osinbajo, Others okay Journalists’ Coverage of Virtual Court Proceedings | Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) have thrown their weight behind coverage of virtual court proceedings by journalists. They stated that since section 36 of the 1999 Constitution provides that court sittings must be in public, journalists participating in covering virtual sittings would help to project information to the world, thereby reducing corruption. They spoke at a zoom conference titled “Media coverage of virtual court proceedings: prospects and challenges” organised by an online news platform, Gavel International. In his keynote address, Osinbajo stated that reporting of court proceedings was a crucial exercise of the right to fair hearing. According to him, that right would be given full expression when journalists are given access to the encrypted confines of virtual proceedings. He also stated thus: “I was impressed when the Supreme Court by its judgment validated virtual court hearing considering the way it has elevated technicalities in the past. Adequate means can be provided to ensure that virtual court hearings are public, that the press and members of the public can access the proceedings.” To him, the reasonable thing to do is for the host of a court proceeding, such as the registrar, to send an invitation link of the proceedings to journalists to join. He added that the practice direction of courts would have to be amended to accommodate these emerging trends. The Vice President pointed out that anyone who publishes virtual court proceedings would be subjected to the same regulations as with the traditional media, irrespective of whether the person is a blogger or other social media content provider. | Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Virtual Court Proceedings | https://guardian.ng/news/osinbajo-others-okay-journalists-coverage-of-virtual-court-hearings/ | 4 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, September 7, 2020 | Suspected Thugs Lay Siege to Ondo Assembly | Susupected thugs are reported to have laid seige to the Ondo State House of Assembly complex on Monday, September 7. The suspected thugs numbering over 100 were sighted at the main gate of the Assembly complex with their vehicles parked along the road leading to the complex. It was gathered that the presence of the suspected political thugs was not unconnected with the rancour among members of the State Assembly, as some lawmakers were alleged to be the target of the thugs. However, the men of the State Police command, who arrived the venue before the hoodlums, prevented them from gaining access into the Assembly premises. The security men also mounted barricades at the entrance of the complex. | Ondo State House of Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/07/panic-as-suspected-thugs-lay-siege-to-ondo-assembly/ | 4 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | Seeking Peace, Oba of Benin Chides Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu over Electoral Violence | The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on Wednesday, September 2 rebuked politicians in the State, particularly the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for the pre-election violence and belligerent electioneering utterances, threatening to tear the State apart ahead of the September 19 election. However, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, has assured the monarch and the people of adequate security, saying there’s no cause for alarm. “The utterances, statements and activities that I hear are most immature,” the revered monarch told the two leading candidates and their promoters, including former governors John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, in subdued anger during a peace meeting in his palace in Benin. At the meeting initiated by him, the monarch said there were talks about candidates of the two major parties arming thugs. He warned them to desist from the act and expressed worry about what the guns would be used for after the election. Oba Ewuare II, who stated that he was worried about the violence across the State over the upcoming poll, enjoined politicians to learn to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, noting that election was not a do-or-die affair. He admonished the parties and politicians to note that they have only Edo State to call their own and must do everything possible to protect it from disintegration. He added that not only has the State been in the news for the wrong reasons, but that the governorship election has divided the people. | Edo State governorship election, Peace Meeting | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/03/seeking-peace-oba-of-benin-chides-obaseki-ize-iyamu-over-electoral-violence/ | 3 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | Lagos East Senatorial Aspirants Withdraw from Race, Endorse Abiru | All aspirants seeking senatorial nomination in Lagos East Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the race to back the former Group Managing Director of Polaris Bank Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru. The aspirants that withdrew from the senatorial contest included the Vice Chairman, Lagos APC, Chief Kaoli Olusanya; a former Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Segun Ogunlewe; a former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; a former General Manager/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo; a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Odesanya; and the Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association, Chief Olusegun Abiru. The aspirants withdrew from the race ahead of the party's direct primary election scheduled to hold today, Thursday, September 3 across Lagos East. In their separate accounts, the aspirants agreed to support Abiru’s senatorial aspiration due to the need for the APC to conduct a direct primary election free of acrimony, and ensure harmony among all the aspirants that indicated interest in the senatorial seat. | Bye-election, Lagos East Senatorial District, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/03/lagos-east-senatorial-aspirants-withdraw-from-race-endorse-abiru/ | 3 |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | Bauchi Assembly Declares Late Lawmaker’s Seat Vacant | Bauchi State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the late member representing Dass Constituency, Musa Mante Baraza, vacant. This is coming three weeks after he was murdered by gunmen. Baraza was killed in his village at Baraza, Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman declared the seat vacant on Wednesday, September 2 during plenary. The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to formally inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the development. It would be recalled that on August 14, 2020, the lawmaker was killed by armed men, while two of his wives and daughter were kidnapped. The police later rescued the wives and one-year-old daughter. | Bauchi State House of Assembly | https://dailytrust.com/bauchi-assembly-declares-murdered-lawmakers-seat-vacant | 3 |
| Punch Newspaper | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | PDP, APC Clash over Botched Edo Governorship Debate, Convoy Crash | The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have blamed each other for the botched governorship debate which was to hold on Wednesday, September 3. A statement by John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC media campaign council, said the Nigeria Elections Debate Group had been forced to call off the scheduled debate between contenders in the Edo governorship race after the PDP’s candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, pulled out from the debate. The APC campaign council spokesman said Obaseki “is ashamed of his poor records and is unable to defend it without first perfecting his script of half-truths and lies.” However, the governor, while at the Oba of Benin's palace for a peace meeting, denied knowledge of the debate when the monarch asked him. Also, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, stated that, “We are not aware of any debate and we have no commitment to it.” In another development, the APC has decribed the road accident involving the convoy of former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday, September 1 in which two policemen died, as a deliberate attempt to assassinate Oshiomhole. | Edo State governorship election, APC, PDP | https://punchng.com/pdp-apc-clash-over-botched-edo-gov-debate-convoy-crash/ | 3 |
| Punch Newspaper | Thursday, September 3, 2020 | Marafa Faction Dares APC Panel Over Sack Threat | The Zamfara State faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Senator Kabir Marafa has stated that the decision of the Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, to sack its State chairman would spell doom for the party. State Publicity Secretary of the faction, Alhaji Bello Bakyasuwa, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday, September 2. According to him, the decision of the National Caretaker Committee to empower the faction of the party loyal to the former governor of the State, Abdullaziz Yari, to expel members of the Marafa-led faction, was contemptuous of an existing court order. He explained that a court of competent jurisdiction had ordered the dissolution of the State factional executives and ordered fresh congresses. | Zamfara State, APC | https://punchng.com/marafa-faction-dares-apc-panel-over-sack-threat/ | 3 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | Edo APC Suspends Campaign, Grieves with Accident Victims | An accident occurred before Oluku junction in Edo State, as a truck ran into the travelling campaign entourage of top chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former Chairman of the party, Admas Oshiomhole, and claimed two lives. In a statement by the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki, the campaign team stated that it was suspending its scheduled event, to honour the dead. On behalf of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the APC, Mayaki condoled with the families of the victims, saying they were not alone in their grief. The Campaign Council pledged that it would do everything within its powers to ameliorate their grief. Reaching out to the families of the policemen involved in the fatal crash, Mayaki stated that Edo would never forget their supreme sacrifice. | Edo State governorship election, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/02/edo-apc-suspends-campaign-griefs-with-accident-victims/ | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | INEC Pledges Credible Elections in Edo, Ondo | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the electorate in Edo and Ondo States that it would ensure free and credible governorship elections in the two States. Fielding questions from journalists on Tuedday, Spetember 1 in Abuja shortly after swearing in a new Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Tella Rahmon, INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the commission would not be distracted by spurious allegations peddled by mischievous politicians from doing the right thing “which is to conduct a free and fair elections.” According to him, the commission would stand by its officials, irrespective of spirited attempts by politicians to smear their reputations, as they are known to do any time elections are to be conducted. Yakubu spoke against the backdrop of the allegation by Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, was plotting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the upcoming governorship election. | INEC, Edo and Ondo governorship elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/02/inec-pledges-credible-elections-in-edo-ondo/ | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | YIAGA Raises Security Concerns in Edo Election, Identifies 13 Flashpoints | YIAGA Africa has expressed concerns over the increase of pre-election violence ahead of the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 19. The group also identified 13 areas across the three Senatorial Districts of the State as possible flashpoints. YIAGA Africa raised these concerns in its Pre-Election Observation Report titled, ‘2020 Edo Election: An election defined by strongarm tactics and violence’ by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo. The report which became public on Tuesday, September 1 was released on August 31, 2020. The report read in part ,“Based on our observation reports, the potential hotspots and flashpoints of violence include Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Owan West, and Akoko-Edo in Edo North Senatorial district. In Edo South Senatorial district, our reports suggest Oredo, Orhionmwon, Egor, Ovia North East, and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs, while in Edo Central Senatorial District, Esan Central, Esan North East, and Esan West are potential hotspots. Reports from our long term observers (LTOs) suggest that the spate of violence and insecurity in the pre-election period may discourage voters from turning up to vote on election day.” The report attributed the violence to thugs, touts, gangsters, and cultists on the one hand, and the widespread belief that elections could not be won – or smooth governance guaranteed – without strong-arm tactics and the support of powerful thugs. | Edo State governorship election, YIAGA Africa | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/02/yiaga-raises-security-concerns-in-edo-election-identifies-13-flashpoints/ | 2 |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | Bye-elections: APC Clears Aspirants, Says No Anointed Candidate | The All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee has cleared all aspirants seeking to contest in the September 3 primary election ahead of the October 31 legislative bye-elections scheduled to be conducted across eight States of the Federation. This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Legislative Bye-Elections: APC Screening Committees Clear All Aspirants for September 3 Primary Election,’ and signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Tuesday, September 1. The statement read in part, “Ahead of the October 31 concurrent legislative bye-elections scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Congress Screening Committees have cleared all aspirants who purchased expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the party’s primary election scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2020.” Recall that legislative bye-elections will be conducted across eight States of the Federation on October 31. | Bye Elections, APC | https://punchng.com/bye-elections-apc-clears-aspirants-says-no-anointed-candidate/ | 2 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | Senate Challenges NDDC to Prove N10.8bn Payment to Lawmakers | The Senate has challenged the Executive Director in charge of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, to provide evidence to back his allegation that the commission gave between N15 million and N20 million, totalling about N10.8 billion, as palliatives to members of the National Assembly. It further stated that if Ojougboh failed to prove the allegation, he should retract his statement and apologise to the lawmakers. The NDDC director was reported to have listed senators and Members of the House of Representatives as beneficiaries of the COVID-19 palliative from NDDC, sttaing thus: “In the National Assembly, each of the senators got N20 million, while the House of Representatives members got N15 million for the COVID-19 from NDDC.” However, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement asked Ojougboh to provide evidence to back up his claim. He denied the allegation that members of both chambers of the National Assembly received cash as COVID-19 palliative from the commission. He, therefore, challenged Ojougboh to provide the names of lawmakers who were beneficiaries or retract his statement and apologise to the National Assembly. | National Assembly, NDDC | 2 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | IGP Assures of Neutrality, Professionalism in Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections | The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has stated that the police will be professional and neutral during the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. The IGP, who disclosed this at a one-day interactive session with conveners/representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday, August 31 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, also assured that the police would provide a level playing ground for all during the elections. He called for improved collaboration and support from civil society groups in the country towards the successful conduct of the September 19 and October 10, 2020 Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections, respectively. Adamu noted that the meeting became necessary as part of ongoing efforts by the Force leadership to galvanise critical stakeholders to share knowledge, compare notes and experience on the conduct of elections in the country. He further assured the CSOs of adequate security and enjoined them to assist the police in identifying impostors who may want to hide under the umbrella of accredited CSOs to foment trouble during the elections. The CSOs, on their part, pledged support for the police and other agencies involved in election security management in the country. They commended the IGP for the existing cordial relationship between the police and the CSOs and also for his quick responses to issues bordering on human rights abuses, sexual and gender based violence and so on. | IGP, Edo and Ondo governorship elections | https://guardian.ng/news/igp-assures-of-neutrality-professionalism-in-edo-ondo-governorship-elections/ | 1 |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | Sen Olujimi Kicks As Ekiti PDP New Exco Assumes Office | Senator Biodun Olujimi has blamed the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the party. PDP in Ekiti has been embroiled in a protracted crisis for some time now. The party is polarised, with one faction loyal to a former governor of the State, Ayodele Fayose, and the other to Senator Olujimi, who represents Ekiti Central in the Senate. The two groups produced two State chairmen at the recently concluded parallel congresses after they had conducted congresses at the Ward and Local government levels. Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Senator Olujimi stated that her faction held a parallel congress in protest against the national body’s support for the “illegal” congress conducted by the Fayose group. Meanwhile, the new leadership of the PDP in Ekiti State has promised to reclaim the State from the ruling APC in the 2022 governorship poll. The State Working Committee (SWC) led by the Chairman, Bisi Kolawole, who is a loyalist of Ayodele Fayose, promised to reach out to Senator Olujimi and other aggrieved leaders of her faction to unify the party and reinforce its chances in 2022. | PDP, Ekiti State | 1 | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | Bye-election: Withdraw Lawsuits against Party, PDP Urges Aggrieved Members | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, September 1 asked all its members challenging the outcome of the screening of aspirants for bye-elections to withdraw their lawsuits in court and give the party the opportunity to use its internal mechanism to resolve their complaints. This was the outcome of the NWC meeting in Abuja where the party considered several appeals, including that of Jarigbe Adam Jerigbe, and all that instituted lawsuits against the party, as it assured them that “the needful would be done." Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated thus: “The NWC looked through several issues particularly concerning primaries and congresses. The NWC considered issues concerning States where we have bye-elections. Concerning Cross River State, the decision taken by the NWC concerning the Cross River North Senatorial District election and Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, is that all cases in court should be withdrawn." Asked if the withdrawal of the cases would pave the way for the aspirant to participate in the primary election, the party’s secretary responded in the affirmative. The Cross River North Senatorial seat became vacant following the death of Senator Rose Oko in March 2020. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed October 31 for the bye-election. Jarigbe, a member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency in the House of Representatives, was disqualified from participating in the primary election on the premise that he instituted a case against the PDP in court. However, the lawmaker in an appeal addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, prayed the PDP to “redress and reverse the politically-motivated injustice done to me after my clearance." | PDP, Bye Elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/01/bye-election-withdraw-lawsuits-against-party-pdp-urges-aggrieved-members/ | 1 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | Fayemi Appoints Eight New Commissioners, Drops Two | As part of the drives to rejig and infuse fresh ideas into his cabinet, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday, August 31, inaugurated eight newly appointed Commissioners, while he also dropped two from his cabinet. The governor also appointed seven Special Advisers; four of them being his former Commissioners. Swearing in the Commissioners and Special Advisers in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi urged them to see their new public service roles as an opportunity to serve and not an avenue to enrich themselves. The governor also expressed his immense appreciation to the outgoing cabinet members for their meritorious service and contributions, especially by committing half of their salaries to the COVID-19 relief fund. | Ekiti State, Commissioners | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/01/fayemi-appoints-eight-new-commissioners-drops-two/ | 1 |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | Buhari Laments How Bitter Squabbles Cost APC Governorship, Legislative Seats | President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, August 31, expressed concern about how bitter and unnecessary bickering cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) many governorship and legislative seats in past elections. He spoke at the State House, Abuja, while inaugurating the Tripartite Consultative Committee of the Executive, Legislature and Leadership of the APC. The Committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is drawn from the executive, legislature and the APC. The President who stated that the APC has a clear majority of memberships of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, added that the executive-legislative relationship in his second tenure has so far been smooth. However, he stated that the party was always embattled as a result of frequent acrimony, which he said often cost APC elective offices. The President spoke against the backdrop of intra-party squabbles in some State chapters of the party, which have led to its loss of both executive and legislative seats to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara and Rivers States. | APC, President Buhari | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/01/buhari-laments-how-bitter-squabbles-cost-apc-governorship-legislative-seats/ | 1 |