Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday

Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday

 

1. Electoral Act: I Did Not Order Senate To Remove Section 84 (12) – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday distanced himself from the directive calling for the removal of section 84 (12) from the amended Electoral Act 2022.

The President told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that he did not order the senate to remove section 84 (12).

Buhari while reacting to the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party instituted against him and 12 others, said he only expressed reservations and concerns in respect of the aspect of the Electoral Act.

The view of the President was revealed in a counter-affidavit filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Oladipupo Okpeseyi, and deposed to by Abimbola Akintola, a legal practitioner.

According to Malami, President Buhari on February 25, 2022, gave proper, full, and unconditional assent to the amended Electoral Act.

2. 2023 Presidency: “It Is Not The Chairman Of Your Village Motor Park” – APC Chairman Defends ₦100m Price Tag For Forms

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has said the party would not change its mind about the ₦100m price tag for its 2023 presidential nomination forms.

He added that those criticizing the APC are sponsored by opposition parties who are trying to paint the ruling party in a bad light.

Senator Adamu added that anyone that doesn’t have N100m either personally or from support funds has no business contesting the presidency in Nigeria.

The APC Chairman made the submissions in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service on Wednesday where he reacted to the backlash and public outrage that has followed the price tag set by the party for its 2023 nomination and expression of interest forms for various positions.

Defending the party position, Senator Adamu said anyone not satisfied with the party position or unable to raise the funds can look elsewhere to actualize his/her ambition but the APC is not going back on its decision on the price tags.

He said the presidential race can not be compared to the contest for a motor garage/union chairman or the traditional rulership of a community, stating that only serious-minded persons should approach the presidency.

3. PDP Governorship Aspirant, Dagogo Arrested

The lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo has been arrested by police operatives in Rivers State.

Recall that Governor Nyesom Wike declared the governorship aspirant wanted on Wednesday for allegedly hiring cultists to disrupt the screening of aspirants at the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in the state.

An allegation which was denied by Dagogo, accusing the Rivers State Governor of bulling and blackmail.

Dagogo in a statement released on Thursday called on the police to arrest and investigate the Camp Commandant to the Governor, Efeturi Irikefe for his actions at the PDP office.

The lawmaker had promised to honour police investigation after the screening of governorship aspirants.

However, Dagogo was arrested by policemen attached to Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the venue of the PDP South-South Zonal office, Port Harcourt, on Thursday evening.

4. Workers’ Day/Eid-el Fitr: FG Declares Monday, Tuesday As Public Holidays

The Nigerian Government has declared May 2nd and 3rd as public holidays to mark the celebrations of Workers Day and Eld-el-Fitr.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday.

The minister advised the workers to continue to do their best to work for the growth and development of the country, stating that labour is the very essence of humanity.

Aregbesola also enjoined the workers to continue to support the Muhammadu Buhari-led government in order to make all the people of Nigeria derive maximum benefit from the nation.

5. Top ISWAP Commander Killed As Troops Rescue 848 Kidnapped Victims

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday declared that troops of the Nigerian Army recorded massive victory against terrorists in their operations over the last three weeks.

Among the major breakthrough is the killing of a top commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Commander (ISWAP), Abubakar Dan-Buduma.

Dan-Buduma was among those appointed as commanders of the terrorist group in January 2022.

Dan-Buduma was appointed to oversee Bakkassi Buningil and Doron Buhari while Muhammed Ba’ana for Kirta; Mohamet Aliamir for Kwalaram; Bakura Gana for Jubularam; Malam Musa for Jubularam; and Mohamadu Mustapha for Marte.

Speaking, however, in Abuja today, the Director, Defence Media Operations, General Benard Onyeuko, disclosed that no fewer than 848 kidnapped Nigerians were rescued by troops during various operations across the country in the last three weeks.

He added that the terrorists’ informants and logistics suppliers were also arrested in different theatres of operations between April 7 and 28, 2022.

6. 2023: ‘I Won’t Work For You’ – PDP National Chairman, Ayu Tells Atiku

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu on Thursday informed the presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar that he would not work for him as an aspirant.

He, however, stated that he has been friends with the former Vice President for more than 30 years as they were key players in the emergence of Chief MKO Abiola.

According to Ayu, it was he and Atiku that plotted the emergence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He added that the Obasanjo administration did very well and put Nigeria on a healthy map economically, socially and politically.

7. Malami Declares Interest In Kebbi Governorship Race

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami has joined the race for the Kebbi State governorship seat in 2023.

The Minister declared his intention on Thursday, and would be seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Malami, he joined the race in response to calls from his people to serve the state as their Governor.

Speaking at the presidential hall in Birnin-Kebbi during an interactive session with APC stakeholders in the state, the Minister said he would be heeding the call of the people to contest the governorship seat.

He said he has been under pressure from those who want him to contest and has therefore taken up the challenge in response to the calls.

8. Insecurity: There Is An International Conspiracy Against Nigeria, We Should Appreciate Buhari – Ayade

The Governor of Cross River State and presidential aspirant, Ben Ayade, says Nigerians should appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for tackling criminal elements in the country.

Ayade stated that the president has done a lot to curtail the activities of Boko Haram in the North, adding that the Nigerian military has overpowered the insurgents.

In an interview on Channels TV on Thursday morning, Ayade said the security challenges in the nation could have been worse if not for the efforts of the Buhari government to address them.

Governor Ayade pointed out that the insecurity in the country is a global issue that is focused on keeping Nigeria unstable, saying that it is far beyond the capacity of President Buhari.

The governor claimed that there is an international conspiracy against Nigeria, adding that the county is extremely lucky to have Buhari as the president.

9. Service Chiefs, IGP Baba Meet Over Kaduna Train Attack

The service chiefs alongside the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on Thursday, met to discuss the rescue effort of the kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train which happened on March 28.

The meeting took place behind closed doors at the Force headquarters, Abuja.

It is understood that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the kidnapped passengers would be rescued and arrest the terrorists behind the train attack.

It was gathered that the service chiefs and heads of security agencies will also discuss the strategic plans for the forthcoming election considering the recent alarm raised by the Department of State Service (DSS) earlier in the week.

10. Nigerian Military Nab ISWAP Civilian Informants Days After Army Spy Commits Suicide

Operatives of the Nigerian military intelligence service have arrested some civilians feeding information to members of the dreaded Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.

The civilians, before their arrest, worked together with a soldier who killed himself after military troops discovered he was an ISWAP collaborator.

The soldier nabbed for collaborating with ISWAP terrorists killed himself while being escorted to the barrack.

The soldier, with one of the Battalions of the Nigerian Army in the North-East, was discovered by intelligence operatives.

The rogue operative was involved in recent attacks on brothels and beer parlours in Gashua and Geidam in Yobe State.

A military intelligence source confirmed to PRNigeria the arrest of the civilian collaborators.