Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 23rd July, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 23rd July 2023.

Your Plan To Blackmail Judiciary, Judges Will Fail – President Tinubu Fires Atiku

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that the bid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to blackmail the judiciary will fail.

Naija News had reported earlier that Atiku alleged that there is a sinister plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine Nigeria’s judiciary, democracy.

In a statement on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku called on Nigerians to be vigilant, while putting the international community on alert.

He stated that the election that brought the current government into office is the worst in the annals of democratic politics iin Nigeria, even though it was promised to be the best ever

But in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Dele Alake, described Atiku’s statement as laughable and jejune.

Atiku Exposes APC Plot To Intimidate Judiciary, Threaten Judges With Arrest

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that there is a sinister plot to undermine Nigeria’s judiciary, democracy.

In a statement to Naija News on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku called on Nigerians to be vigilant, while putting the international community on alert.

He stated that the election that brought the current government into office is the worst in the annals of democratic politics iin Nigeria, even though it was promised to be the best ever.

INEC Making Desperate Efforts To Arrest And Detain REC, Frustrating My Petition Against Fintiri – Binani

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last gubernatorial election in Adamawa State, Senator Aishat Dahiru Binani, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of making desperate efforts to arrest and detain the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa Ari as a ploy to prevent him from testifying for her at the ongoing Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

She stated that the electoral umpire is working to frustrate her petition against the declaration of Adamu Fintri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the poll, stressing that INEC is showing bias and disregard for the order of the court.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday on behalf of Binani, the APC Returning Officer at the Mach 18 governorship election and the re-run of April 15, Mustapha Umar Madawaki accused INEC of working with the state government to thwart the diligent prosecution of the petition.

He claimed that INEC wanted the suspended REC apprehended and kept out of circulation to make him unavailable as a witness for the governorship candidate.

Lukman Warns APC Govs Against Endorsing Ganduje As National Chairman

The National Vice Chairman for North-West, Salihu Lukman has written a letter to the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), voicing his concern over the rumoured selection of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the former Kano Governor, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the letter dated July 21, Lukman warns that such an endorsement could be unfavourable to both President Bola Tinubu and Ganduje himself.

The letter, titled ‘APC National Chairman: PGF should serve as the Conscience of APC,’ was also sent to President Tinubu, members of the APC National Working Committee, and Ganduje.

Lukman, a political figure from Kaduna, expressed his disturbance at the possibility that the APC governors, under the leadership of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzondimma, could be considering adopting Ganduje as the party’s next leader.

APC Crisis: Oyetola, Senator Basiru ‘Battle’ To Replace Omisore

There are strong indications that the battle to replace Senator Iyiola Omisre as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is between a former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and the spokesperson for the ninth Senate, Ajibola Basiru.

Naija News recalls that Abdullahi Adamu and Omisore had last week Sunday resigned their appointment as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

Oyetola visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. Although President Bola Tinubu was absent from the villa, as he was attending the graduation of Senior Course 45 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State, the former Osun State governor was received by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Lawmakers In Dark Over President Tinubu’s Ministerial List As Lagos, 20 Others Yet To Swear-in Commissioners

With barely six days to the deadline set by the Nigerian constitution, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration and 21 out of 28 states nationwide have yet to swear in their ministers and commissioners, respectively.

Naija News reports that according to the constitution, the president and state governors have until July 27 to send the list of ministers and commissioners to the Senate and various Houses of Assembly, whose confirmation they must get before their swearing-in.

The 1999 Constitution, as amended, gives the President a minimum of 60 days to constitute his cabinet, out of which Tinubu has about eight days left to unveil his ministers.

It was also gathered that only seven states have sworn in their commissioners since the governors’ 2023 inauguration.

APC Speaks On Adamu’s Resignation, Crisis Within Party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims of internal discord in the wake of the resignation of its National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

In a statement released on Saturday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the party as “one strong, dynamic, resilient and progressive Party”.

He said the recent resignations of Adamu and the National Secretary demonstrated the party’s “high level of institutional maturity and quality of its leadership.”

Morka labelled the rumours of turmoil within the party as “purely speculative,” emphasizing that all parts of the party’s leadership are “united in the quest for a more progressive Party.”

States Compiled National Social Register – NASSCO Replies VP Shettima, 36 Govs

The National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) has stated that the country’s social register is a compilation of registries from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This was communicated via a tweet on Friday.

This position from NASSCO follows criticisms from the National Economic Council (NEC), which recently expressed concerns about the credibility of the national social register during discussions on relief measures for Nigerians.

Presided over by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the NEC suggested disregarding the existing social register, originally compiled under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Fuel Hike: ‘We Must Endure The Pains Of Tinubu’s Steps’ – Festus Keyamo

Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has urged Nigerians to endure the pains of President Bola Tinubu’s decision amidst the hardship in the country.

Naija News reports that the recent price hike of fuel had triggered outrage among Nigerians even as business owners and members of the organised private sector expressed fear over the possible shutdown of businesses and job losses.

Following the public criticism that followed the plans to distribute monthly cash grants of ₦8,000 to 12 million households for six months as part of efforts to cushion the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, the Federal Government said it would review the earlier plans.

In a post via his Twitter page on Saturday, Festus Keyamo likened the effects of Tinubu’s decisions on Nigerians to a patient who had recently undergone surgery and still will also endure the pains of some chemotherapy.

DSS, Army Uncover IPOB Hideout In Delta

Troops of the Nigerian Army and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have uncovered some hideouts of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Delta State.

Naija News understands that the joint operation of the security agencies was carried out today, Saturday, July 22, 2023.

According to the Nigerian Army, many IPOB members fled their various camps today in Asaba, Delta State capital, when security operatives engaged them in gunfire on Saturday morning.

The troops attached to the 63 Brigade Garrison under the auspices of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and the operatives of DSS engaged the terrorists and arrested one of the fighters during the gun duel.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.