Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 28th May, 2022

Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 28th May 2022.

Until now, many had thought that the selling of votes is the vocation of illiterate Nigerian masses who don’t know better. Delegates to the recently conducted, and ongoing primaries have put a lie to this. With the recently amended Electoral Act which removed statutory delegates, only the college of elected delegates matters in the primaries and to aspirants. These delegates consist of three party members from each of the 774 LGAs with each state and the FCT presenting a representative of persons living with disabilities. This followed the enactment of the Electoral Act.

The Electoral Act 2022 drastically cut down on the number of delegates to elect party candidates for various offices by taking out the statutory delegates. In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only about 811 delegates are needed to elect the presidential candidate while in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the number is about 2,320 delegates. Given this arrangement and their superdelegates’ status, it’s expected that these party chieftains will be a self-respecting bunch patriotic enough to uphold the enlightened self-interest of citizens. It, therefore, beggars belief that they will act in the same manner or be worse than very poor and ignorant masses who sell their votes for as little as a thousand naira. Unfortunately, whereas these sell their future, compromised delegates sell their country. That’s to show how egregious their sellout is. These are people who should present to the Nigerian electorate candidates with vision, intellect, charisma, and character to stir the ship of state in the right direction. PDP, APC, Others May Shift Presidential Primaries As INEC Extends Deadline

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced the extension of the deadline for political parties to conduct their presidential primary election.

 

The electoral body extended the deadline after massive pressure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) after failing to get INEC to extend its June 3 deadline for the conduct of political parties’ primary elections, have now asked the commission to consider a one-week extension.

 

INEC in a statement obtained by Naija News granted the extension for six days for political parties to conclude primary activities.

 

Peter Obi Joins Labour Party Days After Dumping PDP

 

Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi has officially joined the Labour Party.

 

Truetells Nigeria reports that this development comes two days after he resigned his membership from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

Recall that Obi had dumped the PDP a few days before its presidential primary slated for May 29 and 30 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

 

In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, Obi said he resigned his membership due to the recent developments in the opposition party.

 

N96b Fraud: Amaechi Loses At Supreme Court 

 

2023 presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi has lost a bid to stop a probe instituted against him by the Rivers State government led by Nyesom Wike over an allegation of N96 billion fraud.

 

This is as the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the suit brought before it by Amaechi challenging the setting up of a seven-man probe panel against his administration for lack of merit.

 

Truetells Nigeria reports the apex court also awarded N1million cost against the former Minister of Transportation who recently resigned to pursue his 2023 presidential ambition.

 

It will be recalled Naija News earlier reported that Amaechi had approached the Supreme Court to try and stop Governor Wike from proceeding with the 7-man Commission of Inquiry already put in place to probe some transactions estimated at about N96billion carried out by the Rivers State Government under Amaechi during his eight-year tenure as the State Governor.

 

Court Clears Jonathan To Contest For 2023 Presidency 

 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been cleared to contest the 2023 presidential election.

 

Naija News reports that Justice Isa Hamma Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa gave the ruling on Friday.

 

The presiding judge ruled that the former President is eligible to contest the 2023 presidency.

 

He also held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law.

 

Tinubu May Join SDP As Peter Obi, Abaribe, Ekweremadu Eye South-East Alliance

 

Indications have emerged that a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may leave the governing party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) if he is denied the presidential ticket of the Party.

 

This is coming as reports emerged that former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, may be plotting to form a South-East alliance with other aggrieved politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

According to The PUNCH, Peter Obi has been in discussion with the Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso-led New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

 

Senator Abaribe Joins APGA After Dumping PDP 

 

Former Senate Minority Leader and governorship aspirant, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

 

Truetells Nigeria reports that the lawmaker joined the party after officially leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

While confirming his defection to APGA on Friday, Abaribe said he has dropped his governorship ambition and would instead be seeking re-election into the senate on the platform.

 

He told Vanguard that he will be participating in the party’s senatorial primaries on Saturday.

 

Female Lawmaker, Binani Wins Adamawa APC Guber Ticket 

 

Delegates were in favour of Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed Binani at the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State yesterday.

 

Binani won the party’s gubernatorial ticket after pulling the highest number of votes in the election contested by some political big wigs in the state, Truetells Nigeria reports.

 

Announcing the results in Yola, the state capital, the election committee chairman, Malam Gambo said Binani pulled a total of 430 votes while Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), came second with 288 votes.

 

The immediate past governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, came third with 103 votes, Abdurrazaq Namda polled 94 votes while Wafari Theman got 39 votes.

 

Lai Mohammed’s Son, Folaji Loses House Of Assembly Primaries 

 

Hon. Folajimi Mohammed, the son of Nigeria’s information minister Lai Mohammed has lost his bid to return to the assembly under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress.

 

Mohammed, who is a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly was defeated at the primaries held on Friday.

 

The winner of the primaries, a former Legislative Leader of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Hon Seyi Lawal polled 15 delegates votes to defeat Folajimi who recorded nine votes.

 

The ticket of the APC in Ikeja constituency 1  was contested by nine aspirants including Mohammed, Lawal, Ladapo Oyebiyi, Ismail Balogun, Taofeek Olorunfunmi, Olabode Akerele, Adegboyega Kuku, Dr Bode Tawak, and Adesipe Adebiyi.

 

EFCC: Court Denies Former Imo Gov, Okorocha Bail 

 

A former Governor of Imo State and presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, Rochas Okorocha has been denied bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

This is coming days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invaded the Senator’s residence and arrested him.

 

The anti-graft noted that Okorocha was arrested and detained for jumping bail in a corruption case levelled against him.

 

Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo in his ruling on Friday declined to compel the commission to release him from their detention.