TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  WEDNESDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  WEDNESDAY 

1. Buhari Seeks Senate Confirmation As He Makes Seven Fresh Appointments

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to okay the confirmation of the nomination of seven persons as National Commissioners of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The president made the request in a letter read during plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday.

The names of the national commissioners of the ICPC forwarded to the upper chamber for screening and confirmation included Justice Adamu Bello (rtd) from Katsina State. He will represent North-west.

Others are Hannatu Mohammed from Jigawa State, who would represent North-west, while Mrs Olubukola Balogun (rtd) from Lagos State would represent the South-west and Dr. Grace Nkechiyere Chinda from Delta State to represent South-south.

The list also included Mr. Obiora Samuel Igwedibia from Anambra State to represent South-east, Abdullahi Maikano from Niger State to represent North-central and Prince Dauda Yahaya Umar from Nasarawa State to represent North-central in the commission.

2. Chatham House: Yakubu Reveals Implication Of Attacks On INEC Offices

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, spoke today about the implication of repeated attacks on the commission’s facilities ahead of the 2023 general election.

There have been a series of attacks by hoodlums on INEC offices across states. The electoral body has in different publication lamented the situation which was a setback to its preparations ahead of the forthcoming polls.

Addressing an audience on Tuesday (today) at Chatham House, London, Yakubu decried the increasing attacks, saying the implication was that the commission would have to continue to rebuild the burnt facilities and also replace damaged materials.

The INEC boss said in spite of the development, the commission is ready to conduct the 2023 general elections as scheduled.

According to Yakubu, at least 50 facilities of the commission were attacked in the last four years. He, however, assured that INEC, in collaboration with security agencies, had increased security presence in some of the attack-prone locations.

3. Wike Reveals When G-5 Govs Will Unveil Preferred Presidential Candidate

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon reveal their preferred presidential candidate before the February 25th election.

Wike stated this on Tuesday at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa Town, in Ikwerre during the inauguration of the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Campaign.

The governor stated that the G5 governors will soon conclude talks on their preferred candidate, urging the people of the state to wait for him to conclude discussions with his political allies.

READ ALSO: 7 Personal Finance Hacks You Must Know(MUST READ)

Wike stated that the people of the state understood their political importance and would not play a second fiddle in the forthcoming poll, adding that Rivers people had been sensitised to vote for the candidates of PDP for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly.

He explained that the forthcoming elections would not leave room for any form of electoral manipulation and intimidation from security personnel.

The governor insisted that it would be a case of one man, one vote and no blackmail could thwart the collective resolve of the people on whom to support with their votes.

4. Senate To Go On Break For 2023 Election Campaigns

The Nigerian Senate is set to proceed on a break ahead of the 2023 general elections scheduled to commence on February 25.

This was made known on Tuesday during plenary by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

He explained that the break is to allow the lawmakers, particularly those seeking re-election to organize and participate in campaigns.

Lawan said the Senate would adjourn this week if it can deal with all urgent issues requiring its attention so it does not have to sit next week.

According to him, “We are prepared to sit up to Friday this week to attend to all urgent issues requiring our attention, so we don’t have to sit next week in view of the forthcoming elections.”

The senate had just recently resumed plenary from a three-week break after it adjourned plenary on December 28, 2022.

5. INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Reveals Who 2023 Election Is For

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu has said the 2023 general election is the election of the young people because they have the numbers.

INEC’s Chairman, Yakubu, revealed this during his presentation at the Chatham House, London, on Tuesday, where he noted that out of the 93.4M total registered voters, over 70.4m are young people between the ages of 18-49.

The INEC chairman further added that the majority of the PVCs collected are also being collected by young people.

“We have 93. 4m registered voters, of which 37m, that 39.5 percent are young people, between the ages of 18-34, and there are closely followed by 33.4m or 34.75 percent, middle age voters, between the ages of 35-49. Put together these two categories constituted 75.39 percent of registered voters in Nigeria.

“So, actually the 2023 elections is the election of the young people, because they have the numbers, even the majority of the PVCs collected, actually are being collected by young people. So out of the 93.4 million, 70.4m registered voters are between the ages of 18-49. Majority of the PVCs collected, are actually collected by young people.

6. Akeredolu Opens Up On Health Challenge After Wife’s Leaked Audio

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has confirmed battling an undisclosed ailment after his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu revealed he has been sick in a leaked audio.

The Ondo First Lady in the leaked WhatsApp audio also threatened to deal mercilessly with Bunmi Ademosun, the Special Adviser on Multilateral and Intergovernmental Affairs to Akeredolu.

According to Betty, Ademosun has been giving the Ondo state governor concoction from fake pastors to treat himself.

She noted that the family relies on the Western style of medical care and Ademosun should stay away from her husband.

Rotimi Akerodolu, in a statement on Tuesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said the governor has a health challenge like every other person but has received treatment and he is recuperating speedily.

Olatunde noted that the Governor was constrained to respond to the concerns and assure people that by the grace of God, there is no cause for alarm.

The spokesperson said his principal is not a superhuman and the immunity his office enjoys does not extend to physical wellness or otherwise.

He further debunked the speculations that the governor is frail, noting that Akeredolu has been discharging his official functions and not bedridden as widely speculated.

Olatunde listed the governor’s recent engagements including last week’s Executive Council meeting and Security Council meeting where decisions were taken on the escalated clashes in Ikare-Akoko.

While expressing appreciation to everyone who had shown concern, Olatunde urged the public to ignore baseless insinuations capable of creating any false sense of needless anxiety.

7. Two Parties Form Alliance For 2023 Presidency, Announce Adopted Presidential Candidate

Ahead of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria, the African Action Alliance (AAC) and a faction of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) have formed an alliance.

The parties signed the memorandum of understanding to that effect at an event in Kano State on Monday.

The alliance also announced the adoption of Omoyele Sowore as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

Speaking after the signing of the memorandum, Sowore described the alliance between AAC and PRP as the “most powerful kinetic combination” in the history of the country.

He added that the alliance is a fulfillment of the prophecy made by Alhaji Balarabe Musa in 2018 in Kaduna.

Sowore expressed confidence that with the alliance, they will win the 2023 presidential election and send both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) packing.

He said both parties have destroyed Nigeria but the country will be rescued by the alliance.

READ ALSO: Here’s Why You Should Eat Nuts Daily 

8. Angry Mob Burn Down Police Station In Niger Over Murder Of Catholic Church Priest

A mob in Kaffin-Koro, Paikoro local government area of Niger State reportedly burnt down a police station on Tuesday in protest against the killing of a Catholic Priest, Rev Father Isaac Achi.

The Priest in charge of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in the area was gruesomely murdered last weekend when gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed his residence.

Reports had it that Fr. Achi was burnt to death during the attack which happened on Sunday morning.

Many hours after the incident, some youths who were said to be angered by the ‘lackadaisical attitude of the policemen in the area, stormed the police outpost today and set it ablaze.

It was reported that the protesters also burnt some cars and houses as some persons even sustained various degrees of injuries.

Confirming the chaotic situation in the area, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Services, Emmanuel Bagna Umar, told reporters on Tuesday that though, the state government is pained by the killing of the Priest, nobody has the right to take laws into his or her hand for whatever reason.

9. He Lacks Capacity – Peter Obi’s Campaign Spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo Hits Buhari

The spokesperson of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, Kenneth Okonkwo has berated the capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

IMPORTANT: You can now Click “HERE” to receive More updates directly on your WhatsApp!

Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Arise TV, Okonkwo submitted that character, competence and capacity are three things a president must have but the virtues are not complete in Buhari.

The Labour Party chieftain stated that President Buhari is not lacking in character but competence and capacity are grossly missing.

Okonkwo spoke against the background of a recent declaration by President Buhari that nobody can blackmail him with corruption because he has no house outside Nigeria.

The veteran Nollywood actor agreed with the President’s submission that he is personally corruption-free but argued that competence and capacity are lacking in his government.

The actor cum politician argued that for anyone to lead Nigeria correctly, the three Cs of character, competence, and capacity must be complete.

10. Presidential Candidate Vows To Deal Decisively With IPOB, Yoruba Nations Agitators, Other Secessionists

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, has vowed to deal decisively with secessionists if elected Nigerian president.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Yoruba Nation agitators have been calling for the Biafra and Odua Republic respectively. There agitations have led to widespread killings in the southeast and clashes with police in the Southwest.

Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a presidential parley organised by the South-West Development Stakeholders Forum, Abiola declared that their action was unconstitutional and amounted to treason.

The PRP Presidential candidate insisted that he would not accept any action that would threaten the unity of Nigeria if elected.

WATCH THIS: DEAR FARMERS, HERE ARE 5 SECRETS THAT A BILLIONAIRE FARMER TOLD ME ON FARMING SUCCESS

According to him, his administration would encourage them if only it would not affect the unity of Nigeria.