‘We’ll challenge Ekiti election result in court’ – SDP, ADC vow

The Ekiti State governorship election may have been held and won, but the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Engr. Segun Oni, and his Action Democratic Party counterpart, Mrs Kemi Elebute-Halle, have rejected the results of the Saturday’s election.

In a separate interview with newsmen the duo vowed to challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal.

Engr. Oni made his intention known on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, his state collation agent and former Attorney-General of the state, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of the election.

In a related development, the candidate of ADP, Elebute-Halle alleged that the victory of Biodun Oyebanji in the just-concluded election was “tainted with vote buying and corruption”.

The SDP candidate said that the results, as declared by INEC, did not reflect the true decision of the people, lamenting that the process was allegedly marred by financial inducement.

Ajayi, who said he refused to sign the election results said, ” We are rejecting the results, because the election was characterised by violence and intimidation of voters.

“As a result, we will definitely challenge the outcomes of these results in the court of law for posterity and generations coming to know that when conducting elections, you must follow the rules and procedures.”

Elebute-Halle, in a statement signed on her behalf by Mr Femi Eponlolaye, the State Chairman of the party in Ado-Ekiti, condemned the snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying and harassment of her party members.

According to her, political thugs and members of a party in Ado-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Ilasa-Ekiti, among other areas, attacked supporters of my party.

She said, “The victory of Mr Biodun Oyebanji in the just concluded governorship election, ordinarily would have been accepted by me, if the election had not been fraught by electoral malpractices.

“In spite of various sensitisation programmes and media publicity against vote buying, the APC, PDP and SDP actually promoted and encouraged corruption, both at the grassroots and the state levels.

“Though the Independent National Electoral Commission has pronounced Oyebanji as the winner of this election, I, Kemi Elebute-Halle, hereby, reject the results of this election.

“It was not credible, neither was it free nor fair. His APC thugs destabilised my strongholds across the state, attacked our members, snatched and destroyed our ballot boxes.

“All those votes, including those obtained by PDP, will be cancelled at the tribunal.

“I want to use this medium to urge my followers not to be discouraged about the outcome of the election.

“We shall continue to promote our great party, the ADP, she stressed”

Elebute-Halle, however, urged the international observers, the security agencies and INEC to continue to sensitise Ekiti electorate against vote buying that has eaten deep into the electoral process.

Group cautions INEC against substituting elected candidates’ name

A group, Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts (ASSPT), has warned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against substituting the names of validly elected candidates in the just concluded political parties’ primaries with people that did not participate in the process.

The group who gave the warning on Sunday by its Director, Dr. Sam Amadi, also cautioned the electoral body to ensure its actions are guided by the Electoral Act to avoid external manipulations by anti-democratic elements.

The Abuja School told INEC to reject the fraudulent and false submissions of candidates by parties.

The warning came against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the submission of the names of Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

Their names were said to have surreptitiously appeared on INEC’s portals as senatorial candidates when they reportedly did not participate in elections.

The group contended that for anyone to emerge as a candidate based on the provisions of the Electoral Act, the person must have participated in a primary.

It said an aspirant must have purchased the expression of interest form for the senatorial election and be screened, adding that by the provisions of Section 33 of the 2022 Electoral Act, a political party cannot remove or substitute a candidate that emerges from a valid primary.

Besides, the person must be on the list of contestants sent by a political party to INEC and must have participated in the senatorial election on May 27.

The statement reads in part: “With the conclusion of the elective primaries of parties and the close of the deadline for submission of candidates for federal elections, based on guidelines issued by INEC, the process for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria has commenced in earnest.

“The Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts has watched the process of the elective primaries of the parties and is satisfied with the considerable compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“We want to commend INEC for exercising its oversight functions in a manner that forced the parties to comply with the requirement of democratically electing candidates for elective offices in the 2023 general elections. Without INEC’s oversight, many of the parties would have continued the tradition of violating the norms of democracy in the choice of their candidates.

“As an intellectual and policy think-tank committed to providing insights and evidence-based analyses to assist state institutions to deliver on their mandates, the Abuja School is alarmed at the efforts of some politicians and party leaders to undermine the provisions of the electoral law as regards submission of nominated candidates to INEC.

“It is being reported that some high-profile politicians who did not win INEC-monitored primaries of their parties are being submitted by their party leaders, in clear violation of the provisions of the electoral law.”

“Two notable cases are those of the President of the Senate and the former Minister of Niger Delta Affair, who contested the APC presidential primary and lost but are making frantic efforts to regain senate seats from winners of the primaries.

“The winners of the duly conducted primaries have refused to give up their tickets. Notwithstanding, the party reportedly has uploaded the Senate President and the Minister of Niger Delta as senatorial candidates, although they did not participate in a valid primary.

“Submitting names of persons who did not win duly conducted primaries on INEC’s portal is contrary to the electoral law. The electoral law requires that only persons who won duly conducted primaries should be submitted as candidates.

“It is INEC that determines what is a duly conducted primary, based on its guidelines and the electoral law. The practice in the past where INEC allowed parties to make wrong and fraudulent entries and hoped that the courts will reverse them has gone with the new Electoral Act, which now empowers INEC to reverse such fraudulent and wrong actions by the parties,” the group stated.

BREAKING: INEC declares APC's Oyebanji winner of Ekiti gov poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress winner of the 2022 Ekiti governorship election.

Oyebanji polled a total of 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers – Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who poled 82,211 and Bisi Kolawole of the People’s Democratic Party who got 67,457 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Kayode Adebowale, who is the Vice Chancellor, the University of Ibadan, announced the results.

Adebowale said, “Oyebanji, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as the governor-elect of Ekiti State.

Mr Oyebanji is now set to replace incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi in October.

However, the election, reported was marred with reports of vote buying and violence, was largely peaceful, independent observers said.

The reports of massive vote buying soon surfaced, prompting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to embark on a raid and make some arrests.

Some voters who stormed polling units to exercise their franchise vowed not to sell their votes.

According to INEC, 988,923 registered voters were expected to participate in the exercise, but only 363,438 voters were accredited.

The polls officially opened at around 8:30am (WAT) on Saturday and was expected to close at 2:30 pm (WAT).

‘Obi did not respond to Mbaka's comments' - aide

Valentine Obienyem, Media Adviser to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said that his principal did not respond to comments made about him by the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu (AMEN), Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka.

There had been reports in the  media on Thursday, over Fr. Mbaka's comments describing Obi as a ‘stingy man’ which drew the attention of social media users who knocked the cleric for his statement.

However reports in a section of the media had it that the former governor of Anambra State issued a response to Mbaka.

But in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, Obienyem disclaimed that Obi responded to the cleric’s comment, adding that his principal will not issue any statement concerning such matter in the future.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Mr Peter Obi as his reply to Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

“We wish to state for the record that Mr Peter Obi did not and is not planning to issue any reply.

“We advise that any medium trying to publish such an unsigned letter should clarify its authenticity from Mr Obi’s Media Office.”

‘Northern APC govs's support for S'West inspire me to step down for Tinubu' – Amosun

Former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has disclosed tha the declaration of support for the South-West aspirant by the northern governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, prompted him to step down for the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu.

Amosun and other presidential aspirants from the South including the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, stepped down for Tinubu at the APC convention held in Abuja.

The former governor stated this on Thursday while addressing his supporters, drawn from all the local government areas of the state who converged on the Alake palace pavilion in Abeokuta for a welcome rally.

The former governor who addressed his supporters in both English and Yoruba, said he alloted 20 per cent interest to the presidential contest while he gave the remaining 80 per cent to the general interest of the South-West and Nigeria, because he was not desperate to be his party’s presidential candidate.

Senator Amosun disclosed that when he was declaring interest for the presidential seat two years ago, told his supporters that he was going into the race with 20 per cent interest and would throw weight behind party’s choice.

He said, “let me tell you this, you sent me to Abuja to go and work for us, I told them when I addressed them why I wanted to be president of Nigeria.

“But my wanting to be president of Nigeria cannot supersede the interest of all of us in Nigeria, all of us in the south, all of us in the southwest.

“It got to a point that we realised that our brother governors from the North were even rooting to say they want the presidency to go to the south.

“Then, we say, if we want the presidency to come to the south, then, all of us, we must find a way to unite, we must find a way to drop all these personal ambitions for the overall interest of all of us in the entire south and particularly, the Southwest.”

Speaking on Tinubu’s emergence as APC candidate, Amosun said, “I want to be President of Nigeria but my wanting to be president of Nigeria is just 20 per cent and that 80 per cent of it is that the presidency should come to the southwest; lo and behold, almighty God has answered that prayer, ultimately, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is our flagbearer will be the President of this great nation, Nigeria.

“So, what I want you to do, all the love, all the support, all the prayer that you have been giving to me, continue but, please, extend that support and prayer to our flagbearer, support APC, let us all campaign round because this is the only country that we have.”

Amosun boasted that except for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, no politician from the state either dead or alive had served Ogun state more than he has done.

He said, “In this Ogun State, since 1999, I am on camera, except for Baba Olusegun Obasanjo, I am not talking of pre-1999, no human being, dead or alive has served Ogun State the way I have served.

“I have done eight years as your governor, by next year it will be my 8th year in the Senate. Just between 1999 and now, I have served Ogun State for 15 years of my lifetime.

“Let anybody that has done that come out, I am not talking of our referred fathers. I accept that there are so many giants that came before me, we stood on their shoulders and we are still standing on their shoulders, but the truth must be told and we must say it,” Amosun boasted.

Funding, corruption threaten investigative journalism

The International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has identified poor funding, public sector corruption, and lack of political will to punish culprits as threats to investigative journalism while scoring the Federal Government low in its avowed fight against corruption.

The Executive Director of the Center, Dayo Aiyetan who stated this during his remarks ahead of the ICIR's 10th year anniversary, revealed that ICIR has been at the forefront of promoting accountability and fighting corruption through robust and objective investigative reporting over the years.

Speaking during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja, Aiyetan revealed that investigative journalism is severely challenged by funding and systemic corruption.

He noted that despite the persecution and harassment faced by journalists working for the organization, ICIR succeeded in churning out numerous investigative reports which exposed corrupt acts by public office holders. Adding that some of the reports made remarkable impacts as the government of the day had to react and address the abnormalities raised by the investigation.

Aiyetan commended the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) for funding their projects. He further noted that collaboration with PRIMORG and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) played a significant role in the height attained by the Center in the last decade.

“We are not where we want to be because corruption still persists in Nigeria, but I will say we have achieved a lot that we set out to do.

“Our strategy which has worked perfectly for us is that we have collaborated with other media houses. We have been at the forefront of collaboration between media and CSOs. Beyond that, we are encouraging collaboration between the media and even government agencies, and that’s why we share intelligence sometimes with the military, DSS, and ICPC.“

While, blaming the inability of anti-corruption agencies to take prompt action against individuals or agencies indicted by corruption reports on lack of political will, He rated the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s fight against corruption as abysmally poor.

“This government that is using state institutions to fight us will earn minus twenty in my estimation.

“They have used DSS against us; DSS would just call us to their office. We are not criminals; we are helping the work of the government. But they’re using the state, including the office of the Attorney General, to harass and hound us. Why? For doing investigative stories.”

Aiyetan opined that the release of convicted former governors of Taraba and Plateau states, Rev Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, both serving jail terms for misappropriation of funds, climaxed the government’s unwillingness to fight corruption.

Source: VANGUARD

Full speech: Why I nominated Okowa as my vice presidential candidate

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has explained the reason for picking the Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

He gave this reasons at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Abuja, during his remarks at the unveiling of Okowa as his running mate on Thursday. 

Okowa and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, were the two governors rumoured to be considered for the VP slot.

READ ATIKU’S FULL REMARKS

Let me begin by, once more, commending our great Party for organizing and concluding, arguably, the best and rancour-free Convention, which produced me as our flag-bearer for the next year’s Presidential Election.

Once more, I commend my fellow aspirants in that contest. I thank them for their sportsmanship. They put up spirited fights because they cared and care for our country. I have personally gone around to thank them and to seek their cooperation for the struggle ahead.

Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for. The task of winning the coming elections will be a tough one and we must not take anything for granted.

With the convention behind us, we have arrived at the stage for me to pick a Running Mate because this is a joint ticket. I am very happy to announce today that I have reached a decision on that.

In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our Governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.

In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.

In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.

The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.

My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as a I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.

As you know, the APC government went to sleep as huge swathes of our country’s territory fell into the deadly hands of gangs of criminals, including those masquerading as freedom fighters or pastoralists, while our farmers and genuine pastoralists are unable to go about their businesses. The costs in precious human lives and properties have been enormous. My running mate must also not only symbolize the imperative of reuniting our country but also be able to work with me to achieve that objective. This is because a united Nigeria is a potentially stronger, more prosperous, and more secure country able to lead Africa and give hope to the Black race.

In addition, my Running Mate has to be someone who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and, be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government.

In the United States of America from where we borrowed key aspects of our current Presidential system, a running mate is used to balance the ticket, complement the candidate and, after victory, assist the President with governance. Sometimes a candidate is chosen who generates a buzz and adds huge excitement to the campaign.

But today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately. My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less. That is why I promised the Governors of our party that my running mate will come from among them. Our current challenges call for a government that is highly focused and disciplined.

I have sought for the support, guidance, and counsel of the PDP in selecting a befitting Running Mate who meets all or most of the qualities enumerated above. The wisemen and sages of the Party, put together by our NWC, have gone fishing and brought home an enviable group of awesome politicians that surpasses these qualities. Every one of the recommended persons is a fit and proper individual to hold this office. While this makes me marvel at the bundle of talents that abounds in our Party, it also compounded my task of choosing a single person from among them.

Let me therefore pay tribute to my Party and, most especially, to all those that made the shortlist that must now be narrowed down to a single person. They are all dedicated party-men suitable for this task. I wish all the recommended persons could be announced today as my Running Mates. Unfortunately, only one MUST be chosen.

It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions would remain a part of my everyday life.

Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my Running Mate.

Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my Running Mate possesses all those identified qualities. He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving State Governor who has demonstrated, in his State and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.

I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energized ticket and campaign, but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government, come 2023. I am pleased, therefore, to announce here my choice of Running Mate who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the Presidential election but also in the governorship and legislative elections. And he will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both Legislative and Executive experiences. Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

You know him to be a fighter; you know him to care about winning; you know him to care about good governance; and you know him to care about our people. Now, my dear friends, let’s do the disciplined hard work necessary to win this election. Let’s go. Thank very much.

Finally, Atiku announces Okowa as vice presidential candidate

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has announced Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 presidential race.

Atiku revealed this to Nigerians on Thursday via his social media handles.

The PDP presidential candidate posted, “I am delighted to announce Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa as my Vice Presidential candidate.

“I look forward to travelling our great country together, engaging with all Nigerians and building a shared future of peace, unity, and prosperity for all. As One We Can Get It Done. #OneNigeria.”

Earlier, Okowa was welcomed to the PDP’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday with congratulatory remarks.

Okowa was at the PDP Headquarters to attend the party’s Vice Presidential screening.

Some party members, who welcomed Okowa into the building, were heard saying ‘congratulations’.

Ekiti 2022: Masked men are unleashing terror on my supporters, Oni cries out

The candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), for governorship poll in Ekiti state on Saturday, Engr Segun Oni has disclosed that some masked people are unleashing terror and arrests on his supporters ahead of the state.

He also revealed that the assailants abducted one of his supporters, Kayode Adelusi who has not been found as the time of filing this report.

The former governor of Ekitu state alleged that some people who close to the Presidency are behind the dastardly act, using their influence to launch undeserved arrests and oppression on his supporters.

Speaking on Arise TV Morning Show on Thursday and monitored by VANGUARD, Oni appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to look into the unlawful arrests and protect the people of Ekiti state who have a civic duty of electing their next governor on Saturday.

The governorship candidate explained that, “Two nights ago, armed people with face masks went to one of my supporters’ place, Kayode Adelusi, they broke his door, abducted him and as I speak to you we don’t know where he is.

“We accept the fact that the IGP said adequate measure are in place to safeguard people in the state, but he must address the issue of indiscriminate arrest. These people are bringing oppression to people who didn’t belong to them.”

The IGP had ordered the immediate mobilization and deployment of adequate police personnel, Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), technical capabilities of the Police Airwing, the Force Marine, Mounted Troops, K-9 Section, and other operational assets for the successful conduct of the Ekiti State gubernatorial elections scheduled for Saturday.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. This includes the deployment of selected seasoned strategic commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the election.

The IGP noted that the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, psc(+), mni, has been deployed to Ekiti State as the Coordinator of the security component for the election.

Speaking further, Engr. Oni dismissed reports in the media that he withdrew from the governorship race, adding that he cannot be easily enticed with money to step down for any political party’s candidate as claimed by some stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former governor affirmed that he is the most popular politician in the state, so could not fathom why he would have stepped down for any party, stressing that his political opponents were scared of his popularity.

Oni said, “APC is afraid, they know I’m popular hence the lies. I believe that it shows the spirit of panic on APC side, I’m the number one candidate, I’m topmost, I am not withdrawing. I never cut any deal with APC.

“This game is up for them, maybe that’s why they concocted that I withdrew from the race. They should allow the people of Ekiti to pass their judgment.

“What will Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) give me to make me withdraw from the race? Is it money, I’m the type that cannot be easily moved by money; Is it that he (Asiwaju) wants to make me his VP, which is not possible?” he queried.

Aregbesola reacts to alleged shortage of passport booklets in Nigeria

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has debunked the purported shortage of passport booklets in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the decoration of the acting Comptroller -General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Idris Jere, Aregbesola said with the supplies of booklets available with the Nigerian Immigration Service, there can never be shortage of booklets.

Nigerians have repeatedly bemoaned the recurring shortage of booklets and the delay and exploitation that accompany passport issuance across the country. This, according to reports, has festered through connivance with NIS officials.

But the Minister said what the country was contending with was ‘human challenges’.

Explaining why some applicants get long appointment dates, he said this was as a result of the volume of applicants in the area.

Aregbesola said, “Depending on the volume of applicants in your chosen station, your appointment period can be short or long. For example, if you’re in Lagos, Ikoyi passport office has the highest volume of passport seekers in Nigeria, it is almost 50 percent of the entire population of applicants in Nigeria. If you pick Ikoyi, you might have three months waiting period to have your data captured and other enrollment requirements, whereas it is not so in other places.”

The Minister also disclosed that the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) was unhappy with the cumbersome nature of getting the Nigerian passports abroad as well as applying for Visa on arrival.

Aregbesola said, “I received a message from the president at FEC today which I want to make public. The president is concern with the report coming from overseas on the difficulty of getting a Nigerian passport . The challenges are there not because of the lack of concern.

He said, “I say to you that there is no shortage of booklets in the country, we maybe having human challenges. The truth is that, in terms of supply of booklets we have on ground, there cannot be shortage of booklets.

“I read lamentations on social media and I want to say nobody can access Nigerian passport without going online, it is not possible those who go online are not serviced , although some still partronise touts to a cess the online process. This is because of the difficulty we have managing ourselves that is why they have refused to go through it the proper way. ”

“Second, international visitors to Nigeria and even Nigerians who have the fortune of being born outside the country and therefore need to have a Nigerian passport before they can come into the country because they couldn’t get and want to come home through the visa on arrival platform find it difficult to process this effectively and seamlessly. We can’t afford to have this challenges with our people in diaspora,” he explained.

BREAKING: Premier League unveils 2022-23 season fixtures

The Premier League has released the 2022/23 fixtures with Crystal Palace v Arsenal being the first encounter for the new season.

Though the new EPL will begin on Friday 5 August at 8 pm Nigerian time, the Premier League said kick-offs are 15:00 for Saturdays and bank holidays unless stated otherwise.

According to Premier League, the fixtures are subject to change.

See the dates of all 380 matches below:

Friday 5 August

20:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Saturday 6 August

12:30 Fulham v Liverpool

AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Leeds v Wolves

Leicester v Brentford

Newcastle v Nottingham Forest

Spurs v Southampton

17:30 Everton v Chelsea

Sunday 7 August

14:00 Man Utd v Brighton

16:30 West Ham v Man City

Saturday 13 August

Arsenal v Leicester

Aston Villa v Everton

Brentford v Man Utd

Brighton v Newcastle

Chelsea v Spurs

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Man City v AFC Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest v West Ham

Southampton v Leeds

Wolves v Fulham

Saturday 20 August

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Everton v Nottingham Forest

Fulham v Brentford

Leeds v Chelsea

Leicester v Southampton

Man Utd v Liverpool

Newcastle v Man City

Spurs v Wolves

West Ham v Brighton

Saturday 27 August

Arsenal v Fulham

Aston Villa v West Ham

Brentford v Everton

Brighton v Leeds

Chelsea v Leicester

Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth

Man City v Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest v Spurs

Southampton v Man Utd

Wolves v Newcastle

Tuesday 30 August

19:45 AFC Bournemouth v Wolves

19:45 Arsenal v Aston Villa

19:45 Fulham v Brighton

19:45 Leeds v Everton

19:45 Leicester v Man Utd

19:45 West Ham v Spurs

20:00 Crystal Palace v Brentford

Wednesday 31 August

19:45 Southampton v Chelsea

20:00 Liverpool v Newcastle

20:00 Man City v Nottingham Forest

Saturday 3 September

Aston Villa v Man City

Brentford v Leeds

Brighton v Leicester

Chelsea v West Ham

Everton v Liverpool

Man Utd v Arsenal

Newcastle v Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest v AFC Bournemouth

Spurs v Fulham

Wolves v Southampton

Saturday 10 September

AFC Bournemouth v Brighton

Arsenal v Everton

Crystal Palace v Man Utd

Fulham v Chelsea

Leeds v Nottingham Forest

Leicester v Aston Villa

Liverpool v Wolves

Man City v Spurs

Southampton v Brentford

West Ham v Newcastle

Saturday 17 September

Aston Villa v Southampton

Brentford v Arsenal

Brighton v Crystal Palace

Chelsea v Liverpool

Everton v West Ham

Man Utd v Leeds

Newcastle v AFC Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest v Fulham

Spurs v Leicester

Wolves v Man City

Saturday 1 October

AFC Bournemouth v Brentford

Arsenal v Spurs

Crystal Palace v Chelsea

Fulham v Newcastle

Leeds v Aston Villa

Leicester v Nottingham Forest

Liverpool v Brighton

Man City v Man Utd

Southampton v Everton

West Ham v Wolves

Saturday 8 October

AFC Bournemouth v Leicester

Arsenal v Liverpool

Brighton v Spurs

Chelsea v Wolves

Crystal Palace v Leeds

Everton v Man Utd

Man City v Southampton

Newcastle v Brentford

Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa

West Ham v Fulham

Saturday 15 October

Aston Villa v Chelsea

Brentford v Brighton

Fulham v AFC Bournemouth

Leeds v Arsenal

Leicester v Crystal Palace

Liverpool v Man City

Man Utd v Newcastle

Southampton v West Ham

Spurs v Everton

Wolves v Nottingham Forest

Tuesday 18 October

19:45 AFC Bournemouth v Southampton

19:45 Arsenal v Man City

19:45 Brentford v Chelsea

19:45 Brighton v Nottingham Forest

19:45 Fulham v Aston Villa

19:45 Leicester v Leeds

20:00 Crystal Palace v Wolves

Wednesday 19 October

19:45 Newcastle v Everton

20:00 Liverpool v West Ham

20:00 Man Utd v Spurs

Saturday 22 OOctobe

Aston Villa v Brentford

Chelsea v Man Utd

Everton v Crystal Palace

Leeds v Fulham

Man City v Brighton

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool

Southampton v Arsenal

Spurs v Newcastle

West Ham v AFC Bournemouth

Wolves v Leicester

Saturday 29 October

AFC Bournemouth v Spurs

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

Brentford v Wolves

Brighton v Chelsea

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Fulham v Everton

Leicester v Man City

Liverpool v Leeds

Man Utd v West Ham

Newcastle v Aston Villa

Saturday 5 November

Aston Villa v Man Utd

Chelsea v Arsenal

Everton v Leicester

Leeds v AFC Bournemouth

Man City v Fulham

Nottingham Forest v Brentford

Southampton v Newcastle

Spurs v Liverpool

West Ham v Crystal Palace

Wolves v Brighton

Saturday 12 November

AFC Bournemouth v Everton

Brighton v Aston Villa

Fulham v Man Utd

Liverpool v Southampton

Man City v Brentford

Newcastle v Chelsea

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Spurs v Leeds

West Ham v Leicester

Wolves v Arsenal

Monday 26 December

Arsenal v West Ham

Aston Villa v Liverpool

Brentford v Spurs

Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth

Crystal Palace v Fulham

Everton v Wolves

Leeds v Man City

Leicester v Newcastle

Man Utd v Nottingham Forest

Southampton v Brighton

Saturday 31 December

AFC Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

Brighton v Arsenal

Fulham v Southampton

Liverpool v Leicester

Man City v Everton

Newcastle v Leeds

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

Spurs v Aston Villa

West Ham v Brentford

Wolves v Man Utd

Monday 2 January

Arsenal v Newcastle

Aston Villa v Wolves

Brentford v Liverpool

Chelsea v Man City

Crystal Palace v Spurs

Everton v Brighton

Leeds v West Ham

Leicester v Fulham

Man Utd v AFC Bournemouth

Southampton v Nottingham Forest

Saturday 14 January

Aston Villa v Leeds

Brentford v AFC Bournemouth

Brighton v Liverpool

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

Everton v Southampton

Man Utd v Man City

Newcastle v Fulham

Nottingham Forest v Leicester

Spurs v Arsenal

Wolves v West Ham

Saturday 21 January

AFC Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest

Arsenal v Man Utd

Crystal Palace v Newcastle

Fulham v Spurs

Leeds v Brentford

Leicester v Brighton

Liverpool v Chelsea

Man City v Wolves

Southampton v Aston Villa

West Ham v Everton

Saturday 4 February

Aston Villa v Leicester

Brentford v Southampton

Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

Chelsea v Fulham

Everton v Arsenal

Man Utd v Crystal Palace

Newcastle v West Ham

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Spurs v Man City

Wolves v Liverpool

Saturday 11 February

AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle

Arsenal v Brentford

Crystal Palace v Brighton

Fulham v Nottingham Forest

Leeds v Man Utd

Leicester v Spurs

Liverpool v Everton

Man City v Aston Villa

Southampton v Wolves

West Ham v Chelsea

Saturday 18 February

Aston Villa v Arsenal

Brentford v Crystal Palace

Brighton v Fulham

Chelsea v Southampton

Everton v Leeds

Man Utd v Leicester

Newcastle v Liverpool

Nottingham Forest v Man City

Spurs v West Ham

Wolves v AFC Bournemouth

Saturday 25 February

AFC Bournemouth v Man City

Crystal Palace v Liverpool

Everton v Aston Villa

Fulham v Wolves

Leeds v Southampton

Leicester v Arsenal

Man Utd v Brentford

Newcastle v Brighton

Spurs v Chelsea

West Ham v Nottingham Forest

Saturday 4 March

Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

Brentford v Fulham

Brighton v West Ham

Chelsea v Leeds

Liverpool v Man Utd

Man City v Newcastle

Nottingham Forest v Everton

Southampton v Leicester

Wolves v Spurs

Saturday 11 March

AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool

Crystal Palace v Man City

Everton v Brentford

Fulham v Arsenal

Leeds v Brighton

Leicester v Chelsea

Man Utd v Southampton

Newcastle v Wolves

Spurs v Nottingham Forest

West Ham v Aston Villa

Saturday 18 March

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth

Brentford v Leicester

Brighton v Man Utd

Chelsea v Everton

Liverpool v Fulham

Man City v West Ham

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle

Southampton v Spurs

Wolves v Leeds

Saturday 1 April

AFC Bournemouth v Fulham

Arsenal v Leeds

Brighton v Brentford

Chelsea v Aston Villa

Crystal Palace v Leicester

Everton v Spurs

Man City v Liverpool

Newcastle v Man Utd

Nottingham Forest v Wolves

West Ham v Southampton

Saturday 8 April

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest

Brentford v Newcastle

Fulham v West Ham

Leeds v Crystal Palace

Leicester v AFC Bournemouth

Liverpool v Arsenal

Man Utd v Everton

Southampton v Man City

Spurs v Brighton

Wolves v Chelsea

Saturday 15 April

Aston Villa v Newcastle

Chelsea v Brighton

Everton v Fulham

Leeds v Liverpool

Man City v Leicester

Nottingham Forest v Man Utd

Southampton v Crystal Palace

Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

West Ham v Arsenal

Wolves v Brentford

Saturday 22 April

AFC Bournemouth v West Ham

Arsenal v Southampton

Brentford v Aston Villa

Brighton v Man City

Crystal Palace v Everton

Fulham v Leeds

Leicester v Wolves

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest

Man Utd v Chelsea

Newcastle v Spurs

Tuesday 25 April

19:45 Everton v Newcastle

19:45 Leeds v Leicester

19:45 Nottingham Forest v Brighton

19:45 Spurs v Man Utd

19:45 West Ham v Liverpool

19:45 Wolves v Crystal Palace

20:00 Aston Villa v Fulham

Wednesday 26 April

19:45 Chelsea v Brentford

19:45 Southampton v AFC Bournemouth

20:00 Man City v Arsenal

Saturday 29 April

AFC Bournemouth v Leeds

Arsenal v Chelsea

Brentford v Nottingham Forest

Brighton v Wolves

Crystal Palace v West Ham

Fulham v Man City

Leicester v Everton

Liverpool v Spurs

Man Utd v Aston Villa

Newcastle v Southampton

Saturday 6 May

AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea

Brighton v Everton

Fulham v Leicester

Liverpool v Brentford

Man City v Leeds

Newcastle v Arsenal

Nottingham Forest v Southampton

Spurs v Crystal Palace

West Ham v Man Utd

Wolves v Aston Villa

Saturday 13 May

Arsenal v Brighton

Aston Villa v Spurs

Brentford v West Ham

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest

Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

Everton v Man City

Leeds v Newcastle

Leicester v Liverpool

Man Utd v Wolves

Southampton v Fulham

Saturday 20 May

AFC Bournemouth v Man Utd

Brighton v Southampton

Fulham v Crystal Palace

Liverpool v Aston Villa

Man City v Chelsea

Newcastle v Leicester

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

Spurs v Brentford

West Ham v Leeds

Wolves v Everton

Sunday 28 May

16:00 Arsenal v Wolves

16:00 Aston Villa v Brighton

16:00 Brentford v Man City

16:00 Chelsea v Newcastle

16:00 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest

16:00 Everton v AFC Bournemouth

16:00 Leeds v Spurs

16:00 Leicester v West Ham

16:00 Man Utd v Fulham

16:00 Southampton v Liverpool

Osun Poll: Ex-commissioner predicts landslide victory for Adeleke

The immediate past Osun state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kolapo Alimi, has predicted that candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke will defeat Governor Gboyega Oyetola with a margin of 100,000 votes in the July gubernatorial poll.

Alimi, who served as commissioner during the two-term tenure of ex-governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as well as one of his over 2,000 followers defected to the Peoples Democratic Party in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Speaking on why he dumped All Progressives Congress during a rally held to receive him into PDP, Alimi said himself and many others considered as enemies were unfairly treated by the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

He commended Adeleke’s good disposition to both friends and adversaries, and called on electorate to vote for PDP in the governorship poll.

He said, “In 2018, Senator Nurudeen Adeleke led us in first ballot with 353 votes. When president Buhari came here, he said little about what happened then. He said we used remote control.

“Let me assure you, this time around, Buhari has said no more remote control. We should not be scared.

“The poll holding on 16th July, Senator Ademola Adeleke will be victorious. The margin won’t be 353, not 3,500, not 35,000, but he will win by 100, 000 plus,” he predicted.

In his reaction, the PDP candidate, Senator Adeleke, said many more people would join the party, adding that the new Electoral Act has made rigging nearly impossible.

He said, “I thank President Buhari for signing the new Electoral Law. That law has already reduced chances of rigging. Osun people are ready to defend their vote.

“I don’t think rigging will be possible. It is not by force, people have to decide, who they want and the person they want is me, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke,” he boasted.

‘Poor innovative and indigenous-driven ideas disrupt infrastructural development in Africa' – Robert

The founder of Zeetin Engineering, Azibaola Robert, had blamed poor infrastructural development, particularly in Science and Technology in most African countries, on poor innovative and indigenous-driven ideas.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving an award from the International Institute of Chartered Educational Practitioners, IICEP, for ‘Outstanding Performance in Innovation, Creativity and Economic Empowerment’, Robert noted that technology remain a major driving force for industrization in Nigeria and Africa at large. 

He urged the Nigerian Government, and other African governments, and engineers to demonstrate indepth seriousness in addressing the challenge of poor infrastructures.

According to him, the slow pace of progress in indigenously-driven innovations in science and technology as being responsible for the sordid state of infrastructural development of African countries, and urged governments, engineers to demonstrate more seriousness in addressing the challenge. 

He bemoaned the attitude of Africans towards innovation which he claimed is the bane of the region’s development, at a time when the world hits fifth and sixth industrial revolution stage.

He warned that Africa should not be limited to a region of consumption, but must able to make inventions that are of consequential value. 

“Nigerians, being the most populous black nation in the world, “it is our responsibility to show example by doing certain things with the use of technology as this will make Africans proud anywhere, they go as being part of those that are helping in the advancement of the world. 

“Therefore, we need people with their thinking hats, people who with gloves and not politicians, we need people who will wear their helmets and are able to do things”, he stated.

Tinubu sponsors bill to prosecute officials behind unlawful child imprisonment

The lawmaker representing Lagos Central in the Upper Chamber of Nigerian National Assembly, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has sponsored a bill seeking prosecution of officials behind unlawful incarceration of minors in the country.

The lawmaker noted that the Borstal Institutions’ attempt to keep delinquents out of prison and away from adult offenders, was to avoid molestation and negative influence that can make them to become repeat offenders.

According to her, there are only three borstal facilities in Nigeria, situated in Kaduna, Abeokuta and Ilorin.

The wife of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, observed that these Borstal facilities were established to admit only male juvenile delinquents between ages sixteen and twenty-one as at the day of conviction.

She further observed, “Clause 9 of the Borstal Institutions and Remand Centres Act – Subsidiary Legislation, 1962 provides that Delinquents are to be admitted into the institution with a warrant from the court, committing them to a sentence of borstal training; and provides for three months observation period of the inmates.”

Senator Tinubu said, “Clause 123 of the Subsidiary Legislation also provides that Courts of competent jurisdiction may pending determination of suitability for Borstal training, order remand or detention in a Remand Centre or Borstal, provided that persons are not less than sixteen years but under twenty-one years of age.”

Citing a publication titled, ‘Inside Ilorin Borstal Home where deviant children learn life lesson the hard way’, authored by Temitope Mustapha, and published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in September 2020, Senator Tinubu stated that the report alludes to young persons being held at the facility without any conviction or directive of the Courts.

She expressed concern that the Publication also alludes to a statement by officials of the Institute stating that none of the said minors and young persons is ‘in conflict with the law.

She said, “Some of these young persons were said to have been admitted to the facility when they were younger than sixteen, the minimum age prescribed by law.”

“Further Disturbed that on page three of a Newspaper (not The Punch) published on Thursday 10th March, 2022, titled, ‘Not yet Uhuru: Dilemma of Children freed from Borstal Facility’, the author, documents the experiences of teenagers tricked to the facility, under the guise that they were being sent off to boarding school.

“Notes with concern that the reasons given for this include evasion of parental responsibility and allegations of stubbornness, truancy, substance abuse and smoking, amongst others;

“Saddened that the publication further alleges that of the two hundred and twenty inmates of the Borstal facility, Ilorin, only seven (7) have reasons to be there.”

Tinubu expressed worry that unless this is looked into and the system reformed, Nigeria may be institutionalizing the ‘reaction of criminals’.

The Senator then directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure the prosecution of any official of the Correctional Service found complicit in the unjustified incarceration of minors.

It also directed its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Interior to investigate the circumstances surrounding the admission of each inmate of the Borstal facilities and come up with appropriate recommendations to the Senate.

The chamber, directed the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003; while urging State Assemblies across the country on its domestication.

These were resolutions reached by the Senate on Wednesday, after it considered a motion on “The need to investigate admission of inmates and operations of Borstal facilities across Nigeria.”

Market group applauds Soludo over dissolution of leadership excos

Traders in the Ogbaru Main/Relief Market, under the aegis of Ogbaru Relief Market Traders’ Forum, Anambra State, have applauded Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the dissolution of market leadership excos in the state.

The group noted that the dissolution of the excos has renewed permanent peace which had eluded Anambra markets since the flawed elections took place.

Soludo had, in May, sacked 32 market excos over “flawed” and “manipulated” elections.

Making the commendation on Wednesday, the chairman of the Forum, Mr Felix Nwankwo, told journalists in Onitsha that the steps taken by the governor through the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Obinna Ngonadi, showed that they were abreast with happenings in all the markets in the state.

Nwankwo, who was flanked by his secretary, Chief Uche Okoli, said “most of the committee members had overstayed their welcome having stayed beyond the life span of a tenure while others rigged their way to the seat of the chairman during elections.

“Some have stayed in office for over five to eight years running as caretaker committee members without the conduct of democratic elections as they used money to oil the palms of those at the helm of affairs.

“Others, who also won the election as anointed candidates of their sponsors, had smooth sail as they openly rigged the elections to the detriment of their rivals who had nobody to question the flawed elections.

“That is why we commend Governor Soludo and the commissioner for rescuing the markets in the state from the hands of selfish individuals who believed that the markets were their personal properties.

“They never expected that the government would oppose them and bring sanity in the markets in the state in less than two months of assumption of office.

“We thank God Almighty for the gift of the governor and the commissioner and hope that by the time they will complete their first tenure of four years and commence another tenure of four years, making it eight years, markets in the state and other sectors of the economy would have been better off than they are now.

“The governor had, in his electioneering campaign era, pledged to turn the state to Dubai of Africa and we believe he will do that having started on a good note by sanitising the markets.

“There is every hope that the markets under the watch of Hon. Commissioner Ngonadi will be better off than what they were when he came on board, having started on a clean slate by sacking market leaders who boasted that they owned the markets,” he stressed.

PDP panel to screen Okowa, Wike for Atiku's VP slot today

Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Delta state counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, will on this Thursday face opposition Peoples Democratic screening panel for the party’s vice presidential slot.

A party source who disclaimed some newspapers publication on Wednesday, said three nominees, which include; Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa;  his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, were shortlisted for the position. 

There were reports on Wednesday that a committee headed by the PDP Deputy Chairman, Ambassador Umaru Damagun, had on Tuesday nominated Wike as the running mate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar when 13 out of the 17 members voted in favour of the Rivers State governor.

When reacting to the  news reports on Wednesday, the PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, told The PUNCH that the nomination of Wike as Atiku's running mate remained a rumour.

He stated, “The party is going through its processes. When it comes in a name, it will be announced. We don’t rely on rumour, we don’t work on that, in the next couple of hours or probably just before the expiration of the time, we will come out with a position and the name will be announced.

But in a related development, a member of the PDP advisory committee disclosed that, the three aspirants who were recommended would face the screening committee of the party before the party’s final decision would be made known to the public.

He said, “The matter is not in the hands of Atiku yet, When the committee members are done with their job, they will report back to the leadership of the party.

“That committee recommended three people, not just one as is currently being speculated in the media.”

But according to the Coalition of South-South and South-East Youth Forum, Okowa remains the best man for vice-presidential slot.

The Coordinator of the group, Mr Eziwomano Ighoegwu, in an interview with The PUNCH, stated, “Governor Okowa is a man with proven records that can deliver peace and unity to Nigerians, adding that his good work of transforming the state and ensuring peaceful co-existence among indigenes and non-indigenes of the state, can be attested to.

“The decision of endorsing Okowa is to ensure that Atiku has a running mate who would support him in rescuing the country from the insecurity and social vices that have hit Nigeria under the Buhari–led administration.”

On their part, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communication, Mr Fred Oghenesivbe, and the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Tidi Michael, said Atiku needed a trustworthy, incorruptible, competent, wise, good listener, intelligent and experienced politician to be by his side as Vice President.

A top government official and chieftain of the party, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity,  said Okowa had the population of Christians on his side.

“When you talk of national structures, acceptability, give it to Okowa. The relationship between Okowa, CAN and PFN is very cordial compared to Wike.

“He can woo the Christian community for Atiku. He does not talk too much but thinks faster and his role in national assignments over the years gives him an edge over Wike.

“In terms of voters, there is not much difference between Delta and Rivers’ votes, so it is not an edge for Wike over Okowa. We are talking of acceptability among the six geopolitical zones,” he said

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the PDP would unveil Atiku’s running mate on Thursday, adding that the report on Wike’s nomination was a rumour.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, stated, “It is the party and the candidate that pick VP. It is not a contest or race. Nobody buys a form for it rather the party and the candidate take decision who to pick based on good performance.”

But a PDP and former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Ogbonna Nwuke, said picking Governor Wike as vice presidential running mate would be the right choice.

Nwuke, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Atiku and Wike would make a good pair, as they both had political structures and leadership acumen.

He said, “If we were to look at what transpired during the PDP presidential primaries, we will all agree that Wike ran a strong race for a newcomer.

“Therefore, if Wike and Atiku’s political structures are brought together, it will be in the best interest of the PDP. We are happy that a great majority of people in the party believe that Wike indeed has what it takes to be the running mate to Atiku.

“We are aware a committee has been constituted and a final report will come and we are very hopeful.”

On his part, another party chieftain and Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike,  said the choice of Wike would be good for the party.

He said Kano, Lagos and Rivers are three important states anyone wishing to pilot the affairs of the country must win.

Nwanosike stated, “You must win Kano, Lagos and Rivers. If you look at our sister party, the APC that has brought us the worst state of insecurity and destruction of lives and property as well as the destruction of our resources because of their inability to understand the Nigerian nation and lack of capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy, you will see that the candidate they choose has a hold on Kano because of his relationship with the Governor, Ganduje.

“Because of that relationship, you can take it to the bank that the APC will win the Kano votes.

“In Lagos, you don’t need to be told that Tinubu has a stronghold there. So, the only state left is Rivers State. So if the PDP didn’t take this decision, the answer is what you and I know,” he stated.

Reps set to override Buhari on Section 84 (8) of Electoral Act

The Nigerian House of Representatives has concluded plans to override President Muhammadu Buhari on Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act 22 that stipulates provision for statutory delegates at the meetings, congress and conventions of political parties.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at a plenary called on members willing to move a motion for the chamber to override Buhari’s veto to do so anytime from Thursday.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, who failed to secure his party ticket for reelection at the recently concluded primaries, threw weight behind Gbajabiamila on the comments made by the Speaker earlier on Tuesday, faulting the way political parties conducted primaries leading to the failure of members of the National Assembly to get tickets of their respective parties to seek reelection in the 2023 general elections.

The Speaker had, on Tuesday criticised the failure of the parties to allow statutory delegates to vote for candidates at the primaries, as the National Assembly proposed in the amendment to Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act 2022, which the President has yet to assent to.

The bill which National Assembly had, on May 13, transmitted to the President for assent, had yet to be signed as at Tuesday.

It is now over 30 days after the National Assembly passed and transmitted the legislation to the Presidency, the window within which the parliament can veto the bill should the President fails to assent to it.

On Wednesday, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Okechukwu said, “I want to take notice regarding the very copious and auspicious comments you (Gbajabiamila) made yesterday regarding the Electoral Act where, in the circumstances, it has been weaponised; where as a matter of fact, there was an aspiration to make the law a more perfect law to remove every ambiguity; and where there isn’t any material difference between the 2010 Act and that of 2022. And suddenly, the majority of members, where it has been weaponised, have become victims.

“Something is wrong in an environment – in an institution – where the two (Majority and Minority) Leaders of the Senate would have to cross to other parties because of inherent inclement conditions. Anything that occasions it, anything that warrants it, if it is our Electoral Act, if it is our politics, if it is the environment where we operate, we need to retool. And like you said, we have to do better work and we have to fight on.

“For me, it is just a battle that is lost, the war is on and we should go ahead to make sure that that law is retooled, made clear. And if it requires this parliament to take action to override what has not been signed, we should be willing to do so.”

Shortly after, a member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency area of Delta state, Hon. Ben Igbakpa, who also failed to secure PDP ticket to seek reelection in 2023 election, decried that lawmakers were recalled from recess to quickly consider and pass the amendment to Section 84(8) and it was transmitted to the President for assent.

He said, “Mr President did not just ignore (the amendment bill), he travelled out of the country on a condolence visit to Dubai and that created a lot of problems for the country. There was tension and many of our political parties, out of the tension, created what will now be for us in the 2023-2027 electoral process.

“Nigerians are crying for good leadership and the leadership recruitment process starts with our primaries. You have worked hard and that is why I took us to Section 58 (of the Constitution). We are to make laws and present to Mr President and where he does not sign (a bill into law), that same 58 gives us the powers to make sure that we pass that law without Mr President’s assent.

“There is nowhere in the Constitution that says that one arm of the government is subservient to the other.”

The lawmaker noted that Gbajabiamila, despite showing good leadership of the House, would only be judged by Nigerians based on the laws passed that better their lot.

Igbakpa added, “This Constitution gave us the powers, just as it gave to them. We must wake up as a parliament. When we pass laws and we are sure that we have done the right thing, we should start overriding Mr President, because this is just the beginning.

“Today, the NDDC Act is in force because the parliament, which you were part of, did it. Why are we afraid? Mr President has not committed any offence. What he has done is the rule of law and the Constitution, and I believe by the time we do our own by overriding his veto, we would not have committed any offence. We would be working according to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Reacting to the lawmakers' assertions, the Speaker, Hon. Gbajabiamila listed the conditions under which the lawmakers could override a veto successfully.

He said, “Clearly, the Constitution says he has 30 days leeway and we have since gone beyond the 30 days. But the Constitution also says it is not automatic that you override, it is if you are convinced as a House that that amendment must stand. If you are not convinced with the arguments advanced by the president, or in this case there is really no argument advanced, then you can override.

“For us to override, I believe we require two-thirds majority and it cannot be by voice vote neither can it be by way of signatures unless, of course, you have enough two-thirds by signatures what I will suggest is that you bring the application – a formal motion on notice – perhaps tomorrow or whenever you are able to do that and we will determine whether or not this House is ready to override or not,” he submitted.

Kaduna cleric urges members to vote credible leaders in 2023

The Pastor of Rhema Baptist Church at Sabo Tasha, Kaduna State, Chatwason Nathan, has impressed on the worshippers to vote for credible leaders, who have the interests of the downtrodden at heart, come 2023.

Speaking on Sunday, the cleric said bad leaders, who inflict hardship on the people are brought to power when citizens fail to exercise their civic responsibility.

He condemned a situation where Christians were displaced from their ancestral lands and made hopeless under the watch of a government that ought to look after them.

He charged his members not to vote for any presidential or governorship candidate who decided to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 general election.

The cleric who tasked Christians to defend themselves against unprovoked attacks, added that it was regrettable that some Islamic clerics in the northern part of the country were already beating drums of war by inciting the Muslims against the Christians.

He asked the Mission Committee in the Church to identify any Internally Displaced Persons’ camp around so that the church could assist them with relief materials to help alleviate their suffering.

“You must ensure you have your Permanent Voters Card because that’s the only weapon you have to vote for credible leaders who have the interest of the downtrodden at heart.

“I will curse any member who cast his vote for any presidential candidate or governorship candidate that flies a Muslim-Muslim ticket come 2023.

“We are governed by a constitution and those in the position of power must adhere to the rule of law in order to enhance fairness and justice,”

“You must ensure you use your PVC as your only instrument to eject evil leaders who have brought shame, tears, and agony upon our land,” he admonished.

Gunmen kidnap journalist in Abia, demands N10m ransom

Unknown gunmen Tuesday night kidnapped the Editor-in-Chief of All Fact newspaper, Chucks Onuoha, in his Umungasi, Ohuhu Umuahia country home.

According to the family source, the journalist, who was a former Sun Newspapers Correspondent in Umuahia,  was abducted around 10 PM Tuesday night by the gunmen who scaled the fence.

The source who disclosed that Onuoha jeep was taken along with him, added that the abductors were said to have since established contact with the family and allegedly demanded a N10 million ransom.

When contacted, the Abia State Police Command said it was yet to be officially notified of the incident.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said, “we are yet to be officially notified”.

However, the President-General of the community, Suleiman Anyalewechi, confirmed the incident to journalists.

He said he was contacted by the secretary of the community last night to inform him that some men took Chucks Onuoha away.

He added that they were not sure what it was all about until this morning when the kidnappers established contact with the family that he is in their custody.

Also, his present employer confirmed the incident.

Buhari hosts APC governors in Aso Rock

Again, President Muhammadu Buhari had met the governors elected on the platform of ruling All Progressives Congress behind closed on Tuesday.

Although the governors declined to speak with the newsmen after the meeting, it is believed to be in connection with last-minute hunting for a running mate for the party’s standard-bearer, Bola Tinubu.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, led the governors to the meeting.

Since he emerged last Wednesday, Tinubu had been under pressure to produce a running mate.

The APC presidential flag bearer has been consulting various party stakeholders with the likelihood of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

At the 2022 Democracy Day service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, last Sunday, the Christian Association of Nigeria warned that a Muslim-Muslim ticket would tear the country apart.

The CAN President, who was represented by the Founder of Sword of The Spirit Ministries International, Bishop Francis Wale-Oke, said, “While I congratulate the candidates, I must sound this warning, please do not fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It would not fly. It will not stand. Rather, it would set the nation against each other.”

Attending the Villa meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; governors Babagana Zulum of Borno, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Hope Uzodinma of Imo state.