Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 29th September, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 29th September 2022

1. Independence Day: FG Declares Monday As Public Holiday

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has declared Monday, October 3, 2022, a public holiday to celebrate this year’s Independence day.

Naija News reports that Nigeria’s Independence Day which is celebrated every October 1st falls to coming Saturday which is a weekend.

To mark the nation’s 62nd Independence Day, Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola released a statement today on behalf of the government congratulating the citizens for yet another year of celebration, assuring Nigerians of commitment to ending challenges bedevilling the country.

The statement made available to newsmen through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said the government will return smiles to the faces of all the people.

2. Court Stops Peter Obi Supporters From Converging At Lekki Toll Gate, Rules On Rally

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has refused to stop the Labour Party (LP) and its supporters from holding the #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally billed to hold on October 1, 2022.

Naija News reports that Justice Daniel Osiagor, however, ordered Peter Obi supporters not to converge at the Lekki toll gate for their rally.

The judge directed that the rally procession cannot converge at the Lekki toll gate, but that the procession can pass through the toll gate to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which the rally plans to meet.

He also directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

3. Atiku, Okowa, Tambuwal Attend As Wike, Ayu, Ortom, Makinde, Others Shun PDP Campaign Inauguration

The Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his allies have boycotted the official inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council.

Naija News reports that governors in the Wike group that snub the inauguration include Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Other party chieftains sympathetic to the Wike’s camp also stayed away from the International Conference Centre, Abuja venue of the inauguration.

PDP chieftains loyal to Wike’s camp include, Chief Olabode George, Senator Jonah Jang, Ayo Fayose, Donald Duke, Dan Orbih, Olusegun Mimiko and many others.

However, the remaining PDP Governors loyal to the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar attended the event.

4. 2023: Obaseki Speaks On Dumping Atiku, Backing Peter Obi

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has distanced himself from reports claiming he endorsed the presidential ambition of the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer, Peter Obi.

Obaseki, in a statement sent to Naija News and signed by his Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, described reports of him dumping the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for Obi as absolutely false and malicious.

According to the statement, the false story is being peddled by detractors with ulterior motives, intent on misleading and misinforming members of the public for their selfish interests.

5. Oshiomhole Reveals When APC Presidential Campaign Council Will Be Inaugurated

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said the party’s presidential campaign council will be inaugurated next week.

Naija News reports that Oshiomhole made this known on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He stated that the inauguration was earlier postponed due to the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the chairman and the Director-General of the council, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.

The Deputy Director-General of the council added that both leaders were in New York to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Oshiomhole, however, stated that the inauguration would be done next week after Governor Lalong returns to the country at the weekend.

6. Wike: PDP National Vice Chairman, Leaders, Others Paid To Frustrate Atiku’s Ambition ‘Exposed’ By NEC Member

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Wednesday with an allegation from a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) that a national vice-chairman of the party and some other top chieftains are responsible for the issues.

The NEC member, Chinemerem Madu in a statement on Wednesday alleged that the party leaders including some NEC members behind the PDP crisis have received money to continue to fuel disagreements.

He added that the calls for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu are just a distraction while the main target of those behind the crisis is to frustrate the ambition of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Sharing his allegation about the lingering crisis, Madu said the unnamed national vice chairman has confessed to receiving huge cash to frustrate Atiku’s bid and disrupt the party’s presidential campaigns.

He alleged further that part of the plans of the group is to orchestrate press conferences where damaging statements will be made against Atiku shortly after the official commencements of campaigns for the 2023 presidential election.

7. 2023: Tambuwal Tells INEC What To Do Ahead Of General Elections

The Sokoto State Governor and Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, (PDPPCC), Aminu Tambuwal has said the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) must ensure to conduct a free and fair election in the 2023 elections.

Naija News reports that Tambuwal, during the inauguration of the party’s presidential election campaign council at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja on Wednesday, also pointed out that there’s no crisis in the party.

He made this known whilst making reference to the Rivers State Governor’s camp opposing the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu.

The Wike camp has demanded Ayu’s ouster to pave way for a new Chairman from the South, a call that has been rejected by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Ayu has also been adamant, refusing to resign. The under-pressure National Chairman also failed to attend the inauguration of the PCC.

Tambuwal added that there’s nothing new about parties experiencing crises, noting that feedbacks across the country proves the party is on the right track to win the 2023 presidential election.

8. Yobe North Senatorial Candidate: Senate President Lawan Loses In Court As Machina Is Declared Winner

The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State has declared Bashir Machina as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Yobe North Senatorial seat election.

The court, presided over by Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu on Wednesday also ordered the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Machina as the candidate for Yobe North senatorial district.

Aminu in the ruling held that Machina duly won the APC primary held on 28th May 2022 for the position.

The judge further described the primary election which produced Senate President Ahmad Lawan as “phantom’ and therefore nullified the parallel primary election of 9th June 2022 that produced Lawan.

9. NDLEA Explains Why It Burnt Cocaine Worth N194 Billion Recovered In Ikorodu

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has explained why it set ablaze cocaine worth N194 Billion that was recovered from a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos days ago.

Naija News reports that the Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa’s led agency a few weeks ago confirmed its operatives seized parcels of cocaine worth N194bn, which weighed 1.8tonnes in a warehouse located at Ikorodu.

It also confirmed the arrest of the suspected drug barons. Subsequently, the agency made a public display of the illicit drugs and set them ablaze.

The development has since generated reactions as many Nigerians doubt if the real drugs were burnt while others condemned the agency for burning evidence.

However, in a statement handed down to newsmen on Wednesday morning, NDLEA said the commission has been able to ensure the conviction of exactly 2,904 drug offenders in the last few months from January 2021.

It noted that since the agency commenced its offensive action against drug traffickers, it has secured record convictions.

10. Ihedioha Speaks On Calling Peter Obi’s Igbo Supporters Saboteurs

A former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has denied ridiculing Igbo people who are supporting the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives was reacting to several reports which he was quoted to have described Igbo supporters of the former Governor of Anambra State as saboteurs.

In a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Chibuike Onyeukwu, Ihedioha said the mischievous reports were gotten from a viral video which surfaced online on Tuesday.

Ihedioha said his address at the New Yam Festival of Mbaise people living in Ghana was manipulated and taken out of context by his detractors to suit their mischievous scheme.

The former Imo governor pointed out that he was referring to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were sabotaging the party in the South-East.

Those are the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.