TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, MONDAY

TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, MONDAY

1. Why We Changed Democracy Day To June 12 – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in his Democracy Day speech revealed why the yearly celebration was shifted by his administration from May 29 to June 12.

According to Buhari, Democracy Day was reviewed to remind Nigerians of a free and fair election of the MKO Abiola which was annulled.

The president further stated that Nigerians were denied their rights and their choice following the annulment of the election.

He noted that Nigerians must not forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy during 1993.

2. INEC Rejects Akpabio As APC Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared that it does not recognize former Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district.

According to INEC, it will only recognize the candidate produced from the party primaries it monitored.

The former Minister of Niger Delta stepped down for the National Leader of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu in the just concluded presidential primary of the party.

Akpabio then went ahead to clinch the senatorial ticket after gathering 478 votes.

512 delegates were accredited for the primary, of which Joseph Akpan had one vote, DIG Ekpo Udom who initially won the first primary had three votes, while 11 votes were voided.

While explaining the reason for the fresh primaries, the State APC Chairman, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, had said he was directed by the party at the national level to carry out a re-run over alleged infractions.

However, reacting to the development, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini said the electoral umpire would only recognise the winner of the primaries monitored by INEC.

According to him, the re-run APC senatorial primaries, where Akpabio emerged winner was not monitored by INEC.

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3. Ekiti 2022 Guber: IGP Deploys DIG, 4 AIGs, 3 CPs, PMF Commanders, Operational Assets

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has approved the deployment of one DIG, four AIGs, three CPs, PMF Commanders and operational assets for the 2022 Ekiti Governorship election.

The governorship election in Ekiti State is scheduled to hold on 18th June 2022.

The IGP in a statement on Sunday through the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that he has ordered the deployment of personnel and operational assets to provide security before and during the polls.

The team will be headed by 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.

He will be assisted by 4 AIGs, 3 CPs, PMF Commanders.

The team will also include five (5) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and eighteen (18) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) who will coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, sixteen (16) Local Government Areas and the 2445 polling units in Ekiti State.

4. June 12: MKO Abiola’s Family Makes Fresh Demand From Nigerian Government

The family of the late Chief MKO Abiola has asked the Nigerian government to implement the manifesto of the late politician.

The call was made on Sunday, June 12 by the head of the Abiola Family, Murtala Abiola while speaking with newsmen during the annual prayer session for late MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election held at the family compound of Gbagura, Abeokuta.

According to him, if the manifestoes are implemented, it will make life easier for Nigerians and will put an end to poverty and suffering in the country.

5. Wike Or Okowa: Atiku, PDP Fix Date To Decide On Running Mate

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the party’s leadership must decide on who to select as its running mate as the deadline by the nation’s electoral body draws nearer.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 17th of June for political parties to submit a list of all presidential candidates and their running mates.

INEC had warned political parties that it does not plan to extend the deadline for the submission of the names of the candidates and their running mates, giving the parties about six days to submit the list.

Recall that the PDP had set up a committee to advise on who should be selected as Atiku’s running mate, reports have now emerged revealing that the panel, which comprises of governors, National Working Committee members, former governors and Board of Trustees members, will hold its last and decisive meeting on Tuesday.

A reliable source told The PUNCH that the panel had adjourned its last meeting to continue with consultations.

Other sources disclosed that the party might take a final decision on the issue on Tuesday.

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6. Democracy Day: I Grief Daily Over Insecurity In Nigeria – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in his Democracy Day speech lamented security challenges in Nigeria.

President Buhari called on Nigerians to support and cooperate with our security agencies by reporting any suspicious characters and activities.

He further stated that we can only have a safe country if we prevent the crime before it is been committed.

The President called for prayer for victims of terrorist attacks, adding that he lives with grief every day for the victims of terrorism and kidnapping.

7. Burna Boy: IGP Takes Action On Shooting Incident At Club In Lagos

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has ordered a full investigation into circumstances involving a recent shooting at Club Cubana in Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The shooting incident which is said to have involved some operatives of the Nigeria Police happened on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

It was gathered that some police escorts attached to Grammy-award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu professionally known as Burna Boy had shot two people.

The singer was said to be at the Club alongside his police escorts when the chaotic incident happened.

Reacting in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday, June 12, the IGP disclosed that the police operatives fingered in the shooting incident have been arrested and taken into custody for investigation.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, IGP Baba also directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi to carry out a detailed investigation into the matter.

8. 2023: Former Governor Reveals APC Chieftains, Others That Dislike Bola Tinubu

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has revealed some people and groups that dislike the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard.

According to Lamido, a socio-cultural organization, Afenifere doesn’t like the former governor of Lagos State and has been saying it openly.

He further stated that governors under the ruling party also do not like the APC National Leader.

Lamido disclosed that they dislike Tinubu because he is domineering and he is a dictator.

The former Governor claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will never support Tinubu because he knows the man’s mentality and psychology.

9. NNPP’s Kwankwaso Reveals Who He Will Pick As Running Mate

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has revealed that a southern Christian would be picked as his running mate for the 2023 election.

There have been debates on who presidential candidates pick as their running mate as the June 17th deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of the list of candidates draws nearer.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been in the news lately over who he will decide to pick as running mate.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Kwankwaso said the NNPP is currently making consultation to choose a credible southern Christian.

10. Tinubu May Pick A Muslim As Running Mate, Considering Atiku, Shettima, Ganduje And El-Rufai

The camp of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reportedly ruled out Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as running mate.

It was gathered that the ruling party and its presidential candidate might settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket as no Christian APC member in the North have the capacity to pull votes for the party.

One of those involved in the search for a running mate for the APC presidential candidate said the party will settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket if they fail to find a stronger Christian from either the North-East and North-West.

According to reports, Tinubu is consulting with President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and others in his search for a ‘number two.’

It was gathered that Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; a former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State; and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State are also in contention if the ruling party decides to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.