TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY MONDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY MONDAY 

1. INEC To Report Some RECs To Buhari As Reason Presidential Election Results Were Not Suspended Revealed

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not suspend collation of results during the conduct of the February 25 presidential election because the glitches experienced did not affect all the results already transmitted through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

BVAS can store information offline for upload later into INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Sources revealed to The Nation that none of the collated results was lost or tampered with because of the Plan B activated when the glitches occurred, adding that the commission may report some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctions over alleged dereliction of duty and insubordination.

INEC management may also report at least two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctions for alleged sabotage, partisanship, insubordination and nonchalant attitude to duties.

By Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, cannot remove a Resident Electoral Commissioner.

The RECs have been asked to stay away from duties pending the final decision of INEC management. They are the RECs in Sokoto and Abia states.

2. Rufai Resigns As NNPP National Chairman

Prof. Rufai Alkali has resigned as the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Alkali, however, noted that he is still and will remain an abiding party member.

While giving his reasons for resigning, Alkali, in a letter addressed to the National Secretary of the party, said he stepped aside to give room for fresh hands to take over to build upon and improve on the party’s modest contributions.

Alkali thanked all party stakeholders for the privilege given him, saying he wished he had done more within the brief period he held sway as National Chairman of the party.

3. “They Cannot Stop Being Fraudulent” – Peter Obi Reacts To Alleged Conversation With Bishop Oyedepo

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring propaganda to discredit him.

Obi stated this while reacting to an alleged audio recording said to be a conversation between himself and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

He accused the APC of being unrepentant in sponsoring fake news and propaganda.

The trending audio had alleged that Obi on the eve of the presidential election, asked Bishop Oyedepo to mobilize support for him from the church.

However, reacting to the purported leaked audio conversation through a statement from the Head, Obi Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, in Abuja, on Sunday, the LP presidential candidate said the mischieve planned by those behind the tape can’t work.

While further denying the audio, Obi said the APC wants to retain itself in power by spreading fake audio files about him.

The former Anambra State Governor however said he is not deterred but remains focused on retrieving his mandate given by Nigerians through constitutional means.

The presidential candidate maintained that, unlike APC which parades forged credentials and even fake Bishops, the Labour Party has always urged Nigerians not to vote along ethnic, religious, or other sentimental lines.

4. New, More Powerful Forces Are Emerging, You Can’t Ignore It – Soyinka Sends Message To Tinubu

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has urged the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to work on Nigeria’s restructuring once he is inaugurated.

The Professor warned that all other policies and efforts by the incoming administration may fail if Tinubu fails to address the issues of restructuring.

According to Soyinka, the demand for restructuring is one issue that won’t disappear and the government must understand and address the demands coming from Nigerians.

The Nobel Laureate pointed out that new and more powerful forces are emerging and demanding restructuring so the incoming administration of Tinubu must address the demands if it wants to succeed.

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Speaking during an interview on Roadmap 2023, a Channels Television’s programme, Prof. Soyinka said: “Whomever it is must understand that the people of this country will not cease demanding a restructuring of this nation.

5. Governors To Meet EFCC, ICPC, FIRS, CBN

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will on Tuesday meet with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on how to manage their states’ Security votes.

The governors will also discuss on issues surrounding security votes allocated to States, with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expected to be at the meeting.

This was made known in a statement signed by NGF Director, Media Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo.

Security vote is a monthly allocation given to state governments for improved security.

6. Why We Arrested Rivers APC Lawyers, Support Staff – Police

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three lawyers and support staff of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the command, the legal team and support staff were arrested early on Saturday morning in a hotel in Port Harcourt.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement released on Sunday.

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Iringe-Koko said the arrest followed a tip-off that some unknown lodgers were seen carrying packages in and out of the rooms and printing suspected election materials

The police statement was titled, “Re-arrest of lawyers handling APC election petition.”

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7. Bishop Oyedepo Speaks After Alleged Telephone Conversation With Peter Obi Emerges

The founder and presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo has reiterated that he has never campaigned or spoken on behalf of any politician during elections in Nigeria.

The clergyman made this known while speaking on the subject of faith at the church’s headquarters at Faith Tabernacle, Ota hours after an alleged audio recording of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, pleading with the cleric to help instruct Christians in South West Nigeria to vote for him surfaced.

Oyedepo said he never spoke to any group of people on behalf of any politician.

He added that all political parties sought his prayers and advice before the election and he availed them.

8. “You Can’t Chase Me Out” – Expelled APC National Officer Reacts To Expulsion From The Party

The National Ex-Officio of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Bauchi State, Sirajo Dada who was recently expelled has reacted to the action taken against him.

Dada in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Sunday described his expulsion as an exercise in futility.

He added that those who expelled him from the party have no power to do so hence their action is null and void.

Dada was expelled on Saturday by the executive council of the party in Gamawa Local Government chapter of the APC in Bauchi State.

However, the expelled official has said all the allegations levelled against him by the ward excos are untrue, baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated.

He said their action can not hold because he has done nothing wrong.

Dada challenged those accusing him of anti-party activities to come out with their evidence against him and allow him to defend himself.

9. Peter Obi Fed Our People With The Sacred Apple, Nigeria May Not Be The Same Again – Nnamani Laments

The Senator representing Enugu East in the National Assembly, Chimaroke Nnamani has accused the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi of promoting ethnicity and religious bias with his campaigns during the 2023 election.

Senator Nnamani who contested and lost the senatorial seat to the candidate of the Labour Party, Kelvin Chukwu said “Peter Obi deflowered the virgin innocence of political patriotism and nationalism in Nigeria.”

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According to him in a statement on Sunday, Obi campaigned along religious lines but subtly told the people otherwise.

Senator Nnamani however submitted that with what the Labour Party presidential candidate did during the campaigns for the 2023 elections, Nigeria may not be the same again.

10. Ayu: Atiku’s Silence Even Though His Interest Is Being Threatened Worries Us – PDP Chieftain

A source from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is keeping stakeholders and leaders on edge by refusing to disclose his next role in the party.

An anonymous source who spoke to The Nation explained that Waziri is yet to show his hand in the ongoing efforts by some stakeholders to reposition the party.

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Some of the current developments, like the removal of Iyorchia Ayu due to alleged anti-party activities, are viewed in some quarters to be against his interest.

However, the source revealed that the PDP flag bearer seems to be more interested in reviewing the outcome of the last presidential election.

The source noted that Atiku’s silence even though his interest is threatened has raised concern in some parts of the party.