Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 21st April 2022
1. 2023 Elections: What Buhari Said During APC NEC Meeting In Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to abide by all extant laws, rules, and regulations guiding the party.
The Nigerian leader urged members of the ruling party to follow due process in all the party processes ahead of the 2023 general elections and develop more mechanisms against corruption.
President Buhari stated these at the party’s 11th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Wednesday.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President also cautioned party leaders to avoid the imposition of unpopular candidates that cannot win the 2023 elections.
The president also warned APC members against oppressive behavior and in-fighting within the party, stressing that such would lead to the party’s loss.
2. APC Pegs Presidential Nomination Form At ₦100m
The ruling All Progressives Congress on Wednesday fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at ₦100 million.
The national publicity secretary of the party, Felix Morka revealed this after the 11th National Executive Meeting in Abuja.
APC noted that the nomination form would go for ₦70 million while expression of interest forms would go for ₦30 million.
The party’s forms for governorship aspirants cost ₦50 million; Senate, ₦20 million; House of Representatives, ₦10 million and State Houses of Assembly, ₦2 million.
Morka said women are entitled to free nomination forms but will pay for their expression of interest forms.
3. Nigerian Air Force Reacts To Trainer Aircraft Crash In Kaduna
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reacted to the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash that occurred Tuesday at its Base in Kaduna State.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the tragic crash claimed the lives of two pilots who were on board the aircraft on Tuesday.
In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, the Nigerian Air Force expressed sadness over the tragic accident which led to the death of two pilots.
Gabwet said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has constituted an Accident Investigation Board to thoroughly investigate the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
The NAF spokesman named the pilots who died in the crash as Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu.
He added that Amao commiserated with families, friends, and colleagues of the two pilots, asking God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The statement said the CAS assured the officers, airmen and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures will be emplaced to avert similar occurrences in the future.
4. APC Reveals Date For Presidential Primaries
The National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress has revealed the date for its presidential primaries.
NEC on Wednesday approved May 30 and 31 for the primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The spokesperson of the party, Felix Morka, disclosed this at the end of a closed-door meeting of NEC in Abuja.
According to Morka, the ruling party also fixed May 18 for governorship primaries, adding that the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms would commence this Saturday.
5. Buhari Should Have Resigned Five Years Ago, He Is Part Of Those Causing Problems For Nigeria – Pa Adebanjo
Leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has called for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 94-year-old statesman argued that the resignation should have taken place about five years ago.
While challenging the federal government to arrest him for fake news, Adebanjo added that President Buhari is one of those responsible for the insecurity plaguing Nigeria and unless he leaves office, Nigeria can’t be secured.
He accused the President of treating criminal herdsmen killing innocent citizens with glove hands and sending security forces after those making legitimate demands.
The Afenifere leader added that there must be a change of constitution as well before any meaningful progress can be made as without this, the 2023 election will just be a change of personnel and nothing more.
6. APC Rules Out Consensus, Settles For Indirect Primary
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday ruled out consensus mode to choose its, presidential candidate, ahead of the 2023 general election.
The party, however, stated that it would choose its presidential candidate through an indirect primary.
The decision was reached at the party’s 11th National Executive Committee meeting held at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
This is coming after it was reported that some governors elected on the platform of the party opposed the consensus mode to pick its presidential candidate and governorship candidates in the 2023 general elections.
7. HURIWA Lambasts Defence Minister For Seeking God’s Help In Dealing With Terrorists
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has slammed the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), for failing to combat the insecurity rocking the nation.
The group stated that seeking God’s intervention is an excuse for the failure to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians.
They condemned the military and police operations in Orlu, maintaining that a lot of innocent passers-by and house owners lost their lives and were deprived of their homes by unknown gunmen.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko stated that it was a fraudulent act to continue earning salary from taxpayers’ money while looking unto God for a solution to the insecurity issues plaguing the nation.
8. APC NWC Takes Over NEC Powers For 90 Days
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken over the powers of the National Executive Council of the party for the next 90 days.
Truetells Nigeria understands that the APC NWC led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu will now take decisions that might require the intervention of the NEC for the next two months.
National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, made the disclosure on Wednesday at the NEC meeting of the party held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Omisore stated that Senate President Ahmed Lawan moved the motion for the transfer of NEC powers to the NWC and was seconded by Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.
The APC scribe said the transfer of NEC powers to the NWC was in line with Artctle13(3) of the party’s Constitution.
9. FG Orders DisCos To Charge Nigerians Per Hour Of Electricity Supplied
The Federal Government has directed Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to bill consumers according to the hours of electricity supplied.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) gave the directive in a statement via its Twitter handle on Tuesday.
The commission also instructed the electricity distribution companies to install meters purchased by consumers within ten days of payment.
It also asked the DisCos to take into cognizance the epileptic supply in the country following the collapse of the national grid last month.
FCCP urged the DisCos to respect consumers’ rights, as complaints against the electricity distribution companies rose to 478,415 in the first six months of last year.
10. Why Tinubu Was Absent At APC NEC Meeting – Aide
Tunde Rahman, the media aide to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has revealed why his principal was absent at the National Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
The spokesman of the presidential aspirant in a chat with Punch said the APC constitution does not grant Tinubu permission to attend the meeting.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Governors, the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu and other stakeholders in the party attended the meeting.
He noted that members of NEC are the President, VP, Senate President, Speaker, chairmen of the party in different states and members of the national executives of the party.