Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 1st June 2022
1. 2023: Allow Me To Pick Nigeria’s Next President – Buhari Appeals To APC Governors
Truetells Nigeria understands that Buhari is in the last lap of his second tenure and Nigerians would have to decide the fate of the nation in the 2023 general elections.
Speaking, however, today ahead of the ruling party’s presidential primaries, President Buhari asked that he should be allowed to pick his successor.
The number one citizen made the request in his address during a meeting with the APC Governors today in Abuja, Naija News understands.
President Buhari said state governors were given the opportunity to pick their successor, hence he should be given the same privilege at the federal level.
2. 2023: Why Peter Obi Cannot Win Election In A ‘Local Party’ Like Labour – Dele Momodu
Nigerian journalist and presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu has opined that Peter Obi cannot win the 2023 presidential election from the Labour Party.
Dele Momodu disclosed this earlier today when he appeared on a current affairs programme ‘Your View’ on TVC stating that he and Peter Obi were the best candidate in the main opposition party, PDP, but he absconded.
When asked if Peter Obi would be able to pull the type of votes Trump did in the US which nobody thought existed or get a large number of youths to vote for him in the general election, Dele Momodu said it’s impossible.
Giving his reason, Dele Momodu said he started his political career in Labour Party and the first thing Peter Obi would face is to fund the party because the party is not financially buoyant and Nigerians do not make contributions.
According to Dele Momodu, Peter Obi cannot win the presidential election from a fringed local party like Labour.
3. President Buhari Travels Out Of Nigeria, Heads To Spain
The presidency on Tuesday confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari will today May 31, depart the shores of Nigeria for Madrid, Spain.
A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina stated that Buhari was travelling on a state visit at the invitation of the Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez.
The statement added that during the visit, both leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest to both countries and strengthen bilateral relationships and agreements.
Also, President Buhari will meet with the Head of State of the Spanish nation, His Majesty King Felipe VI.
Adesina added that the Nigerian President is expected back in the country on Friday, 3rd June.
4. Trouble For Atiku As Fresh Suit Seeks His Disqualification Over Citizenship
Again, the citizenship of former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has been questioned ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
This is as a constitutional lawyer, Mr Johnmary Jideobi, on Tuesday, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the eligibility of the Adamawa State-born politician.
Truetells Nigeria that the suit challenging Atiku’s citizenship was first filed in 2019 by a civil society organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa.
The suit was, however, shelved after a series of arguments by stakeholders.
With barely nine months to the 2023 general elections, Jideobi in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/751/2022, maintained that Atiku, who is the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not constitutionally qualified to participate in the presidential contest.
5. Bauchi PDP To Conduct Fresh Guber Primary After Gov Bala’s Loss Of Presidential Ticket
The Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State is set to hold a fresh governorship primary election after the state Governor, Bala Mohammed failed to clinch the presidential ticket of the party.
The development was confirmed by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Yayanuwa Zainabari on Tuesday.
Recall that the former Secretary to the state government, Ibrahim Kashim had clinched the governorship ticket of the party in the last primary.
The Returning Officer for the primary, Hassan Ahmed Grema, declared Kashim, the sole aspirant, as the winner, saying he polled a total of 655 votes out of the 656votes, while one was invalid.
Kashim while reacting after his victory said he had accepted the mandate given to him by the delegates.
PDP spokesman in Bauchi said a fresh exercise would be conducted because Kashim said he was no longer interested in the governorship race.
6. 2023: PDP To Present Certificate Of Return To Atiku On Wednesday
The Peoples Democratic Party will present a certificate of return to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday.
This is coming after the former Vice President won the presidential primary of the main opposition party last Saturday.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba disclosed this on Tuesday and invited all party stakeholders.
7. Atiku: Why PDP Chairman Must Resign Immediately – Edwin Clark
Elder statesman, Edwin Clark has called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to resign immediately.
The Niger Delta leader made this known in a statement he personally signed and obtained by Naija News on Tuesday afternoon.
Truetells Nigeria reports that calls for the resignation of Ayu has heightened recently following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s flagbearer for the 2023 presidential election.
Recall that the former Vice President defeated Nyesom Wike who was his closet rival at the presidential primary of the main opposition party on Saturday night.
Atiku gathered votes of 371 delegates while Wike, polled 237 votes after the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal pulled out of the race for him during the electoral process
Those behind the call have continually stated that the party’s presidential candidate cannot be from the North as its national chairman.
Reacting in the statement, Clark said Tambuwal’s withdrawal was done to foist another Northerner as the Party’s flag bearer.
8. 2023: APC Crisis Deepens As NWC Members Send Warning To APC Chairman, Adamu
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu has been warned by some members of the National Working Committee over his autocratic style of leadership.
Adamu was accused by the NWC members of taking decisions unilaterally when it suits him.
Members of NWC further stated that the APC National Chairman invokes the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to blackmail members of the working committee into accepting his decisions.
In a statement issued Tuesday titled, “APC and the Need for Vigilance: Urgent Call for Intervention”, and jointly signed by the National Vice Chairman, North-West, Dr Salihu Lukman and the National Vice Chairman, South-West, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke, said no member was elected at the March 26, 2022, National Convention to warm seats or offices in the National Secretariat.
9. Two Governors Atiku, PDP Are Reportedly Considering For Vice Presidential Candidate
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP and it’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar are reportedly considering two governors from the South-South to occupy the vice presidency position.
Party sources have told Premium Times that they are considering Ifeanyi Okowa and Udom Emmanuel.
However, for some highlighted factors, Governor Okowa of Delta state is said to be the favourite between the two.
Delegates from Okowa’s region reportedly voted for Atiku, ignoring the two aspirants from their region, Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike and Emmanuel.
The PDP is said to have given credit to Okowa for the delegates’ decision to vote for Atiku.
10. Alleged N2.9bn Fraud: Court Grants N500m Bail To Okorocha
Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has been granted N500 million bail.
Naija News reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Okorocha bail on Tuesday during his arraignment over alleged N2.9bn corruption charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier arraigned Okorocha, an ally to the former governor, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye and five companies on a 17-count money laundering charge.
In his ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted bail to the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District in the sum of N500 million and a surety in like sum.
Justice Ekwo gave the order while ruling on the bail application filed by Okorocha and Chinyere.
He ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen who has landed property in the like sum of the bail granted to the presidential aspirant.
The judge also directed Okorocha to deposit his international passport with the registry of the court and should not travel outside the jurisdiction of the court without the court’s permission.