Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 23rd October, 2023

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

1. I’m Not Your Partner In Forgeries And Lies – Atiku To Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through his media aides, addressed a world press conference on Sunday.

Speaking through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe and Media Assistant, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed claims that he forged his certificates.

He said since the discovery of documents with Chicago State University brought to the fore the litany of certificate forgeries and impersonation by President Bola A. Tinubu, there have been attempts by many of his media aides to create a parallel narrative about the public life of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

It was obvious from the start of their journey into futility that what the media aides and supporters of Bola A. Tinubu were doing was a random bite of the public profile of Atiku Abubakar until they found an item they could chomp with their filthy teeth.

2. Yahaya Bello Escapes Assassination As Gunmen Shoot Sporadically At Convoy

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday evening, while on his way to an official event in Abuja.

Naija News reports that the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, in a statement, disclosed that the attackers, who were clad in military uniforms, ambushed the governor’s envoy and started shooting at his vehicle.

He said the attack was foiled by the quick intervention of security agents, stressing that security officers at the national level would investigate the incident.

The commissioner, therefore, called on the citizens of the state to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements to relevant authorities.

3. Atiku vs Tinubu: PDP Sends Message To Supreme Court Judges On Monday’s Hearing

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it expects the Supreme Court judges to deliver justice in the petition by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 2023 elections.

The party in a statement on Sunday called on the apex court to validate the common saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, adding that the PDP is optimistic of victory in the petition before the apex court.

Naija News recalls the Supreme Court has fixed Monday, 23rd October to hear the appeal by Atiku against Tinubu on the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court regarding the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The PDP in the statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba said it believes the electoral process was manipulated for Tinubu to emerge as the winner but that the apex court would critically examine the provisions of the law, the body of evidence, circumstances and facts presented before it in the petition before it.

He added that the PDP hopes the Supreme Court would apply the laws, including the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and guidelines and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in delivering substantial justice in the matter.

4. Court Nullifies Election Of Senate Minority Leader, Mwadkwon

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon.
In a ruling on Sunday, the court ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not validly nominate Mwadkwon as its candidate and declared his election null and void.

The court, therefore, ordered a re-run election to be conducted within 90 days to determine the new representative for the Plateau North Senatorial District.

The court ruled that the Electoral Act was not fully complied with by the PDP as twelve Local Government Areas (LGA) didn’t participate in the congress organised by the party.

It also cited non-compliance with a subsisting court order as a key factor in the decision.

The pursuit of due process, the court declared, necessitates a fresh election for the Plateau North Senatorial seat meaning the PDP will not be participating in the rerun elections as declared by the appeal court.

5. Sunday Igboho Speaks From Germany, Issues 7-Day Ultimatum To Herdsmen Who Attacked Farmers In Oyo

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) has demanded an investigation into the activities of some herdsmen who allegedly attacked farmers in Iwere-Ile, Oyo State and some communities in Ogun State recently.

He also gave the herdsmen attacking farmers in the southwest a 7-day ultimatum to leave such communities.

Recall that Igboho recently regained freedom from Benin Republic, and reunited with his family in Germany.

The Yoruba nation agitator in a statement on Sunday called on security agents in Nigeria to fish out the herdsmen who allegedly attacked farmers and Amotekun operatives recently in Oyo and Ogun States before the situation gets out of hand.

Naija News recalls there was a clash between Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Amotekun, Operation Burst, Soludero and a group of herdsmen on Monday in Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State which reportedly left many dead.

A source who confirmed the clash said a group of herdsmen had invaded a farm in the community with their cattle and grazed on it, a situation which led to the demise of the owner of the farm during the argument.

It was noted that combined security operatives of Operation Burst, OPC, Amotekun and Soludero were informed to restore peace in the area but they were allegedly ambushed by herdsmen.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, Igboho said the attack by the herdsmen on security agents as well as farmers working honestly is a worrisome development which should not be ignored.

While commending President Bola Tinubu as well as the Governors of Oyo and Ogun States for their responses to the situation, Igboho requested an increased presence of security operatives in areas where clashes between farmers and herders are still happening so food production won’t be affected.

6. Shettima Arrives In US To Participate In AfDB Dialogue

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Iowa in the United States of America to participate in the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize facilitated by Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.

Naija News gathered that the vice president and some of his aides arrived in Iowa in the early hours of Sunday, October 22, 2023.

Recall that the presidential spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement issued last week Sunday, said Shettima would represent President Bola Tinubu at the event.

He said the vice president would attend the dialogue in pursuance of the Food Security and Diversification Policy of the Tinubu administration.

Nwokocha added that Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the event, which will be held on Tuesday, October 24.

7. Ex-Senate President Wabara To Face PDP Disciplinary Committee

Former Senate President Senator Adolphus Wabara is set to face a Disciplinary Committee to be set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State.

Recall that Wabara was said to have recently endorsed Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for a second term in office, but denied the claim, saying that he was misquoted by the media.

But in a recent radio interview in Umuahia, the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary of Abia PDP, Abraham Amah, said Wabara should come and explain some statements credited to him.

Amah stated that the committee would be inaugurated after the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) meeting had met on the issue.

He said the acting chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) must use the occasion to apologise to the party for making statements that could bring ‘collateral damage’ to the reputation of the party.

Amah said Wabara was at liberty to make personal statements on governance in the state and the country at large, however, said that such expression should not bring damage to the party.

8. Gumi Should Be Arrested For Incitement, Attempt To Destabilise Nigeria – Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has called for the arrest of controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, over his recent comments on Christians.

Naija News recalls that Gumi had earlier this week said it was dangerous to entrust Nigeria’s national security to Christians and Southerners, adding that President Bola Tinubu would be stopped from serving for eight years.

The cleric stated this while condemning the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office and planning to collaborate with Israel over security issues in Abuja.

In an audio released on Sunday via his X handle, Fani-Kayode said Christians in Nigeria cannot bow to anybody, and neither will any rational and reasonable Muslims bow to the terroristic rhetoric of Gumi and his cohorts.

The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reminded Gumi that his father died shortly after vowing that he would not be alive to see a Christian become Nigeria’s president.

Fani-Kayode added that Gumi should stop pointing fingers at the Christian community and stop disregarding the fact that there are many millions of decent God God-fearing Muslims in both North and South.

9. Court Asked To Stop Lawmakers From Taking Delivery Of N57.6 Billion 360 SUVs

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the House of Representatives from procuring and taking delivery of N57.6bn 360 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for its members, pending the hearing and determination of the applications for injunction filed by the organization.

SERAP’s applications for interim and interlocutory injunction followed reports that the lawmakers are set to procure and take delivery of N57.6 billion SUVs.

Naija News reports that each of the SUVs would cost taxpayers at least N160 million.

In the applications filed last week, SERAP is seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the National Assembly from procuring, taking delivery and distributing the SUVs to their members, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an order of interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously in this suit.”

SERAP is also seeking such further order(s) that the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit.

10.  Supreme Court Justice, Musa Dattijo Retires

Justice Musa Dattijo of the Supreme Court will officially retire from the bench on Friday, October 27, 2023.

The apex court spokesperson, Festus Akande, announced Dattijo’s retirement on Sunday in a statement made available to reporters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Akande said a valedictory court session would be held in his honour on Friday at the Main Courtroom of the apex court and will be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.

Dattijo’s retirement is coming after the retirement of Justice Amina Augie on September 22, 2023, and the death of Justice Chima Nweze on July 31, 2023.

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