Good morning Nigeria, welcome to our news roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 1st October 2022.
On September 28, 2022, INEC blew the whistle for the flag off of campaigns for the 2023 electoral cycle. This is in accordance with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which stipulates that campaign in public by all political parties “commences 150 days before polling day and ends 24 hours prior to that day”. With this development, Nigerians’ moment in the sun is here, particularly as the competition this time is the stiffest with the leeway for manipulation very narrow. We, therefore, make haste to urge the citizens not just to enjoy the breeze but use the window to have a proper look in and let what they see swing their ballot. This will be the longest campaign season that will be preceding the general election in Nigeria. These 150 days for the campaign must be used to set the political elite’s feet to the fire. They mustn’t be allowed to get away with the sweet nothings they usually say on soapboxes.
The electioneering period is the beauty of democracy as it brings the supremacy of the electorate to the fore. It is projected that 95 million voters would participate in the election to hold next February. The people now have more time to be courted by those seeking to win the 2023 general election. It would be recalled that in the 2019 polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted its ban on political campaigns on November 18, 2018. For the penultimate election, the then Electoral Act provided for the lifting of the ban on political campaigns 90 days before the commencement of the elections which brought it to December 5, 2014. Now, the Nigerian electorate has a whole 150 days to play the beautiful bride.
While final lists for candidates at the state level are still being expected, the electoral umpire has disclosed that 18 political parties have fielded candidates and running mates for the Presidential election. For legislative elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 Senatorial seats while 3,122 candidates are in the race to represent the 360 Federal Constituencies. These candidates and their parties as well as their agents will be trying to outdo one another just to make sure that the people get to trust them with their votes at the polls. If previous experience is anything to go by, the urge for advantage over their opponents sees politicians and their agents to throw caution to the wind in do-or-die politics.
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Friday paid a visit to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Naija News reports that this is not the first time the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer will be visiting Wike who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike and Obi had also met on June 22, 2022.
Recall that the embargo placed on political campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was lifted on September 28th, 2022.
The closed-door meeting between Peter Obi and Wike on Friday lasted for a few hours at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt.
Sharing the pictures of the meeting on his Twitter handle on Friday, Wike wrote, “It was nice hosting my brother @PeterObi once again.”
Although details and outcome of the meeting were not known, the meeting was coming amid allegations and counter allegations of bribery within the PDP fold.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar reportedly held a fresh meeting with Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to resolve their lingering misunderstanding, Naija News learnt.
The meeting according to an insider who pleaded anonymity was held at the Asokoro Rivers Governors lodge in Abuja yesterday.
The source, according to DailyTrust, revealed that Wike responded to Wazirin Adamawa in an uncultured manner when they met in the afternoon on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
The meeting which reportedly witnessed the presence of top aides of the duo ended abruptly as Wike reminded Atiku of their conversation in London where he (the presidential candidate) promised to speak with PDP’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to get him to resign.
According to the source, many of those that followed Atiku to the meeting were not happy with Wike’s response to the reconciliation move.
The source, who insisted he was not authorised to speak, said Atiku opened the conversation, urging Wike to return fully to the party and work with other chieftains to win the 2023 election.
The Nigeria Football Federation Election was held today, 30th of September, 2022, in the City of Benin after the tenure of Former President, Amaju Pinnick came to an end.
Naija News reports that there were three major candidates vying for the top position of the Nigerian Football body and it was known to be the most highly contested election in recent years.
The two former NFF Vice Presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko went toe to toe alongside the eventual winner, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
There were total number of 44 votes and the person with the highest votes became the eventual winner of the election.
After the voting process was concluded, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was declared the winner with a total of 21 votes, while Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko had 12 and 6 votes respectively.
But there was a twist in the election, according to the constitution, Musa Gusau didn’t get up to fifty Percentage of the total votes and a rerun took place.
The presidency has defended the performance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration since coming into power in 2015.
Speaking in a statement via his Facebook page titled ‘I MISS THE SOUTH EAST WE USED TO KNOW’, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina rated the performance of the Buhari government high.
He stated that the current administration has left no region in the country untouched with its developmental projects, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
Adesina added however that no single leader can solve all the problems of the country, but can only do his best and hope others continue from there.
He said in the statement released on Thursday: “President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot for the country, particularly in the area of infrastructure. And no region has been left behind. Not the North, or the South, and South East particularly.
“Two weeks ago, we had a chronicle of great works done, and being done in that part of the country on this page. No leader ever solves all the problems in a country. He will come, do his bit, and somebody else succeeds him, and continues. History will ultimately be kind to Buhari, in that he came, he saw, and conquered to the best of resources available.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is planning to appoint 2,000 members to the newly constituted Presidential Campaign Council of the party to appease aggrieved governors and members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Naija News gathered that some APC governors, especially Governors Ben Ayade of Cross River and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and NWC members are dissatisfied with the 422-member campaign council.
The governors were said to have tabled their grievances before the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and the national chairman of the APC, Adamu Abdullahi.
Recall that a leaked letter that went viral had emerged online on Thursday suggesting all is not well within the ruling party.
In the leaked letter, the APC National Chairman accused Tinubu of breaching the agreement he had with the NWC with regard to the composition of the presidential campaign council.
Adamu said the presidential candidate is operating solo whereas winning elections is supposed to be a collaborative effort.
The NWC had made some recommendations to Bola Tinubu before the announcement of the Campaign Council, but the presidential candidate had refused to follow those recommendations according to the purported letter.
However, the APC, in a swift reaction, denied any letter originated from the chairman to the presidential candidate on such an issue.
The denial was contained in a statement on Thursday issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo stated that the list released on Friday was inconclusive.
According to the Minister, the earlier published list contained names of leaders in each directorate, adding that a supplementary list of over 2,000 ‘membership cadre’ is on the way.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as false, claims that the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is sick and recuperating in a London hospital.
Naija News reports that Tinubu’s decision to jet out to the United Kingdom and miss the signing of the Peace Pact ahead of the election had drawn widespread reactions.
Some individuals had alleged that the former Lagos State Governor had left the country to attend to his alleged failing health.
Speaking with Vanguard, a source, who was privy to Tinubu’s trip, said: “Tinubu is not sick. I saw him before he travelled on Saturday night to London.”
The source also refused to confirm or deny reports that the APC presidential candidate had met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies in London.
The source said: “I am sure if the opportunity presents itself, they will meet.”
A fresh crisis is threatening to hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) over the decision to retract a ‘draft letter’ written to its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that a leaked letter that went viral had emerged online on Thursday suggesting all is not well within the ruling party.
In the leaked letter, the APC National Chairman accused Tinubu of breaching the agreement he had with the NWC with regard to the composition of the presidential campaign council.
Adamu said the presidential candidate is operating solo whereas winning elections is supposed to be a collaborative effort.
However, the APC, in a swift reaction, denied any letter originated from the chairman to the presidential candidate on such an issue.
The denial was contained in a statement on Thursday issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka.
According to Morka, there is no disagreement between Adamu and Tinubu neither did the viral letter originate from the party chairman has been alleged.
But Daily Sun reports that the decision of Morka to distance the NWC from the purported letter did not go down well with some members of the party.
A member of the NWC expressed shock over the action of the party’s spokesperson, saying the leadership did not authorise his action.
The immediate past spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has said there is no issue with the money paid into the accounts of some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Naija News reports that six PDP NWC members announced the return of the sum of N93.6 million paid to their bank accounts by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
The members that returned the money include, the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe.
The PDP chieftains, in different statements, claimed that they received the notification of the payment from their bank accounts without any description or purpose.
Reacting, the PDP denied reports that the amounts returned by six members of the NWC members were paid as bribes, stating that funds were for their housing allowance.
In a statement by its spokesman on Thursday, Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party said the money went through due process before being paid into their accounts.
Speaking on Friday during an interview with Arise News, Ologbondiyan said the amounts paid to the party chieftains were legal and not bribes as claimed in the media.
The Court of Appeal sitting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Friday upheld the senatorial candidacy of the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.
The Appeal Court dismissed an appeal by Ann Nwanyibuife Agom-Eze and also set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and all its orders.
According to the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court was wrong for upholding Ann’s Counter-affidavit and failing to uphold the primary election of 9th June 2022 where Umahi was nominated as the APC Senatorial candidate
The Appeal Court ruled that nobody challenged Umahi’s nomination as APC senatorial candidate within 14 days as prescribed by section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution.
The appellate court proceeded to grant all the reliefs sought by Governor Umahi and the APC in the trial court.
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