Politics
Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Friday, 15th July, 2022
Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Friday, 15th July 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
INEC Announces New Deadline For PVC Registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced 31st July, 2022 as the new deadline for continuous Voter Registration.
Naija News reports that the electoral body made this know in a statement released on Friday via their official social media page.
The statement reads partly; “In compliance with the interim injunction of the court pending the determination of the substantive suit, and in order to enable more Nigerians to register, the commission continued with the CVR beyond 30th June 2022.
“For this reason, the CVR has already been extended beyond 30th June 2022 for a period of 15 days.
INEC Speaks On Disqualifying Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi from the 2023 presidential election.
Naija News reports that the PDP on Thursday had filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop Labour Party’s Obi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu from selecting Kashim Shettima and Datti Baba-Ahmed as their running mates.
The PDP also asked the court to rule that Tinubu and Obi cannot run for office unless they do so with their respective former running mates, Kabiru Masari and Doyin Okupe.
In the originating summons with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1016/2022, the PDP is seeking an order barring the INEC from replacing the running mates of Tinubu and Obi.
The first to seventh respondents in the case are INEC, APC, Tinubu, Masari, Labour Party, Obi, and Okupe.
The PDP asked the court to determine if by the combined interpretation of Section 142(1) of the constitution, Section 29(1), 31, and 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s timetable, Tinubu and Obi are bound by the submission of Masari and Okupe respectively as their running mates.
Speaking about the suit during an Arise TV interview on Friday, Festus Okoye, the INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, said only the court could decide if the presidential candidates who swapped their running mates could be disqualified on those bases.
He further added that the commission is unaware if they had been served with the court processes.
2023: LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi Visits Ango Abdullahi
The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi on Friday visited the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi.
The former governor of Anambra State also took out time to visit the hometown of the party’s vice presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed.
Obi giving the reason for his visit on Friday said he met with Abdullahi to seek his blessings and fatherly advice.
He further stated that he also discussed some political issues with the elder statesman.
2023 Southern Presidency: Fayose Creating Confusion In PDP – Chieftain
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Kehinde Agboola has accused a former state governor, Ayodele Fayose of creating confusion in the party with his demands for a 2023 southern presidency.
According to Agboola while there is nothing wrong with a southern presidency, the timing of Fayose’s demand is absolutely wrong and causing unnecessary tension in the party.
He said after participating in the PDP presidential primaries which clearly produced Atiku Abubakar, Fayose now suddenly turned round to start demanding a southern presidency.
He argued that all the agitation should have been before the emergence of a party candidate and not after.
Speaking during an interview with Punch, the former House of Representatives member submitted that “imagine our leader (Fayose) wanting a southern presidential candidate overnight, when he was an aspirant in a primary conducted on a levelled playing ground, but after having a candidate, suddenly he prefers a southerner, indirectly creating confusion.”
Senator Akpan Dumps PDP, Says He Consulted God
The lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State, Albert Bassey Akpan has renounced his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akpan had in March 2022, announced his intention to run for the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State in the 2023 general election, Naija News understands.
The 9th National Assembly lawmaker said in a letter addressed to his ward chairman in Ibiono Ibom Eastern Ward 1 of Ibiono Ibom local government area of the State, that he resolved to withdraw from the PDP after consulting God, friends and families and his colleagues in the political affairs.
He reiterated his intention to contest for the Akwa-Ibom State governorship office but on the platform of another unnamed political party.
Osun Election: PDP Knocks Oyetola Over Blockage Of Access To Rally Venues
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has slammed Governor Gboyega Oyetola over the blockage of access to two rally venues in the state.
Naija News had reported that the PDP governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, had claimed that the state government restricted access to the Osogbo City Stadium and Freedom Park, Osogbo.
He stated that a letter was written to the state government to get permission to use the two venues for its mega rally but the PDP’s request was denied.
In a statement on Thursday, the Osun PDP Caretaker Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle, said the action of the state government shows that it was already scared of losing Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeyanju Reacts To Funke Akindele’s 20m Followers Comment, Makes Reference To Shehu Sani
Nigerian activist, Deji Adeyanju has reacted to Funke Akindele’s comment on 20 million of her followers on social media voting for her in the Lagos gubernatorial election.
Naija News earlier reported that Funke in an interview on Channels TV claimed that she has a huge number of followers just like the governorship candidate, Jandor, who has a good number of supporters.
Funke Akindele said she has over twenty million followers on social media who would support her party to emerge as the winner.
Reacting to the statement by the mother of two, Adeyanju reminded her of Shehu Sani who has 2.6m followers on social media but was only able to pull 2 votes in the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries in Kaduna State.
Atiku Is The Reason Tinubu Chose Shettima As His Running Mate – Kwande
Waziri Kwande, an aspirant for the Plateau State House of Representatives in the just concluded primary election has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar is the reason the All Progressives Congress, (APC) fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Speaking with a correspondent of National Daily in Jos, Kwande said without a core Northerner to run with Tinubu the party’s chances in the upcoming election were zero to none.
He insisted that the party needs a core Northerner to go against Atiku.
According to him: “A core northerner does not know any Tinubu being a Muslim. As far as the north is concerned, they need a core northerner who is a Muslim to go against Atiku, if not, the APC will lose to Atiku.”
Why Wike Will Not Leave PDP – Atiku’s Aide, Phrank Shaibu
Phrank Shaibu, an aide to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has said the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike will not leave the opposition party.
Shaibu made this know in an article while reacting to the recent visit to Wike by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.
He claimed that the plan to make the Rivers State Governor defect to APC is attributed to one of the newest members of the party.
Shaibu wondered if they would make Wike a leader to his predecessor and former minister, Rotimi Amaechi since he is a sitting governor.
Osun Election: Why PDP Was Unable To Use Rally Venues – Oyetola
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has refuted the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it was denied access to two rally venues in the state.
The state chapter of the PDP had claimed that it was denied the use of Osogbo Township Stadium, Technical College field and the Freedom Park, which it applied to use for its final campaign rally on Thursday.
Reacting to the claim in a chat with ThisDay on Thursday, the Special Adviser to Governor Oyetola on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere, said the PDP failed to book the two venues on time.
Akere said the lack of organisation on the part of the opposition party cost them the said venues.
2023: Why Is APC Crying If Peter Obi’s Internet Sensation Is Not Making Impact? – Kenneth Okonkwo
Veteran Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo has faulted the All Progressives Congress, (APC) for consistently making a mockery of the growing internet sensation of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi.
This is coming a few days after the actor dumped APC over the decision to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
In an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Okonkwo said he’s not contemplating joining any political party at the moment, and commended Obi’s supporters for doing a great job of marketing their candidate.
When asked about the speculations that LP is just a social media buzz, Kenneth said APC were the originator of internet sensation before they took over power in 2015.
2023: Wike Is Not Desperate But PDP, Atiku Must Recognize Him – Agboola
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ex-House of Rep member, Kehinde Agboola has submitted that the party must recognize the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
He spoke against the backdrop of Wike’s fallout with the PDP leadership over the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election and the subsequent emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice presidential candidate of the party.
According to Agboola, PDP can’t afford to play the politics of exclusion and part of what the leaders of the party must do is to ensure Wike is properly recognized as a pillar of the party, honoured and carried along in decisions heading into the 2023 general elections.
He however recognized the right of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to pick his running mate.
Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Ohanaeze Speaks On Tinubu’s Choice Of Shettima As Running Mate
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has blasted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
Ohanaeze stated that the decision of the ruling party has shown that it is not bothered about the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians and the fragile unity of the nation.
The Vice President-General of the organisation, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, stated this while addressing reporters in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Thursday.
Okeke-Ogene said the ruling APC decision has undermined the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians who have continued to bridge the gap of religious differences and promoted ethnic harmonious co-existence in the country.
Why Tinubu Could Lose 2023 Presidential Election – APC Chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Doknan Sheni, says the party’s candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, could lose the 2023 presidential election.
The leader of Christian members of the APC in the 19 states of the North stated this in an interview with Vanguard on Thursday in Abuja.
Sheni said that the APC Presidential candidate could lose the 2023 presidency because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy. He added that Tinubu’s decision could also cost the ruling party some political positions across the country in 2023.
The APC chieftain claimed that some Northern APC governors persuaded Tinubu to go for the Muslim-Muslim ticket in order to garner more votes in the North.
2023 Presidency: Sowore Lists Peter Obi’s ‘Godfathers’
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Thursday, listed the ‘godfathers’ of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The Sahara Reporters publisher, in a post on his Twitter account, claimed that the people that ruined Nigeria are the ones pushing for Obi in 2023.
Sowore stated that three former heads of state are supporting the former Governor of Anambra State.
He listed the three former heads of state as Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Kwara: Why I Am Working For PDP Governorship Candidate — Lai’s Aide
Kayode Ogunlowo, an aide of the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Thursday revealed why he would be supporting the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State, Shuaib Yaman.
According to Ogunlowo, he decided to work with Yaman because of their relationship while he was in the All Progressives Congress.
Ogunlowo stated this after meeting with the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki at his Broadway GRA residence in Ilorin on Wednesday.
He, however, stated that Lai Mohammed remains his leader despite his support for the PDP candidate in 2023.
2023 Presidency: Okogie Speaks On Muslim-Muslim Ticket
A former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, has expressed his thoughts on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okogie was reacting to the decision of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pick the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.
The decision has attracted a barrage of reactions from concerned Nigerians, religious groups and socio-cultural organisations both on and off social media.
Speaking with The Punch on Thursday, Okogie stated that ethnicity and religious sentiments play a key role in Nigeria’s politics, describing the development as unfortunate.
Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Kumuyi Speaks On Tinubu’s Choice Of Shettima As Running Mate
The General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, W.F Kumuyi has shared his thoughts on the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday after paying a visit to the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kumuyi said that the presidential candidates of various political parties should consider the desires of people before making their decisions.
He insisted that politicians are not elected into office for themselves but for the country, hence the needs of the people should be considered before making a decision.
According to him: “The Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christan ticket is a difficult and slippery area.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
