Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 10th November, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 10th November 2021

1. APGA’s Soludo Wins Anambra Governorship Election

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared the winner of the Anambra governorship election.

The former Central Bank governor was declared the winner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Naija News reports that Soludo’s victory was announced by the Returning Officer of the Anambra governorship election, Florence Obi.

Soludo emerged winner with 112,229 votes to defeat Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who got 53,807 votes, and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party polled 21,261 votes came fourth.

2. Senate Passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Approves Electronic Transmission Of Results

The 9th Senate under the leadership of Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and approved the electronic transmission of results.

The decision was reached by the lawmakers following their resumption after three weeks of recess to attend to the 2022 budget defence.

The Upper chamber had constituted a seven-man conference committee to meet with members of the House of Representatives Conference Committee and harmonize the differences in the Senate and House versions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The approval followed an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) during the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

3. ‘I’ll Not Interfere’ – Uzodinma Reacts To Leadership Change In Imo House Of Assembly

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo has told the state lawmakers that he would not interfere in their matters as a sign of respect between the activities of the legislative and executive arms of government.

Uzodinma made this known on Tuesday when he hosted some members of the state house of assembly following the recent change of the leadership in the house and all the attendant drama.

It is understood that the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibeh, his Deputy, Amara Iwuanyanwu alongside the impeached Speaker, Paul Emeziem, and other lawmakers were all part of the delegation to the State Governor.

The Governor in his address to the lawmakers called on them all to forget about the past and work together to have a vibrant legislature that will bring development to the state and the people who elected them.

He added that no one should feel vanquished as all power belongs to God and he only chooses who occupies any position per time, noting that no single individual can occupy any position forever.

4. Anambra Election: Security Operatives Engage IPOB In Gun Duel In Ihiala

There was chaos at Mbosi Osumoghu junction Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday during the conduct of the supplementary election in the area.

Naija News reports Mbosi Osumoghu is a border town between Anambra and Imo State and one of the strongholds of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

During a routine patrol on Tuesday, joint security operatives engaged in a three-hour gun duel with suspected IPOB members in the area and thereafter blocked the junction.

It was learned that the operatives comprised of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Immigration and other security agencies.

5. No Shaking, It Has Not Opened Up – FG Says Lagos Third Mainland Bridge Is Safe

The federal government has declared that the third mainland bridge in Lagos State is okay and safe for vehicular movements and other road users.

The government in a statement on Tuesday urged members of the public to ignore rumours that the bridge is shaking and has opened up.

The position follows an earlier social media post on Monday by an individual which warned Lagosians to stay off the third mainland bridge because it has opened up and could result in a major disaster.

However, reacting in a statement signed by the Director Press & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abuja, Boade Akinola, the federal government has stated that there is no truth in the social media post.

The statement said the federal controller of works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola drove on the bridge to ascertain the real position of things and didn’t notice any shaking.

The 11.8km bridge which Naija News reports is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland has now been declared totally safe for use.

6. Senate Issues Directives To IGP On Justice Odili’s Home Invasion

The Senate has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to reveal the report of the investigation into the invasion of the Abuja home of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili.

Naija News reports that security operatives had on Friday, 29th October 2021 stormed the Abuja residence of the Supreme Court judge acting on a purported court warrant to carry out a search on her home.

Following the invasion, the police boss ordered a detailed investigation into the reported invasion, describing the illegal raid as unfortunate and unacceptable.

At the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, the Senator representing Rivers West in the National Assembly, Betty Apiafi, raised a motion concerning the illegal invasion of Justice Odili’s Abuja home.

Some other lawmakers also contributed to the motion.

After listening to all the submissions, Senate President Ahmad Lawan condemned the invasion and asked the police boss to immediately make the report on the probe public.

7. Senior Military Officer Murdered In Kaduna

A retired senior officer in the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Maisaka, has been murdered by some unknown gunmen on Tuesday morning.

Naija News gathered that Maisaka was killed alongside his driver after the gunmen invaded his home in Makarfi, Rigasa ward in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Until his death, Maisaka was the Proprietor and Managing-Director of MSK Hospital, a private health institution in Kaduna.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military has yet to issue a statement on the sad development.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Muhammad Jalige, has confirmed the killing of the retired senior military officer.

8. House Of Reps Take Action On Insecurity In Abuja, Summon Minister

The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory in recent weeks.

During a plenary session on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu raised a motion of urgent public importance concerning the insecurity in the nation’s capital.

The lawmaker pointed out to his colleagues that the activities of unknown gunmen in Abuja have increased, asking the House to take urgent steps to address the situation.

Okechukwu also asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, to ensure the safety of lives and properties in Abuja.

Thereafter, the Green chamber summoned the FCT minister to come and explain the reason for the surge in insecurity in Abuja.

9. Electoral Act Amendment: PDP Rejects Portion Of Bill Passed By Senate, Tackles APC

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is trying to force the direct primary option of choosing candidates on other political parties in the country.

The PDP said this in its reaction to the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the Senate on Tuesday.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the 9th Senate under the leadership of Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which among other things included the approval for the electronic transmission of results and provided for direct primaries for nomination of candidates for elections by political parties.

But reacting to the development, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the Senate has no powers to decide the form of primary political parties in the country should use.

It added that choosing of candidates is an internal democratic process for each party and because direct primaries is favoured by APC, it shouldn’t be forced on other parties through the Senate.

Ologbondiyan noted in the statement that the final position of the PDP on the matter will be revealed within the next 48 hours.

10. Pastor Taiwo Odukoya Loses Wife

The wife of Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, founder of the Fountain of Life Bible Church, Pastor Nomthi Rosemary Odukoya has been confirmed dead.

Naija News understands that the bereaved Pastor confirmed the demise of his wife on his Instagram page on Tuesday, revealing that she died of cancer.

The deceased is said to have battled the dreaded disease for a period of about two years.

Naija News recalls that Pastor Taiwo lost his first wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya in the tragic Sosoliso plane crash that occurred on December 10, 2005.

Odukoya after mourning his late wife for five years, remarried in 2010.

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