Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 29th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 29th, October 2023.

Adamawa: Tribunal Gives Verdict On Fintiri, Binani’s Governorship Election

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Umaru Fintiri, has defeated his rival, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Adamawa State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Naija News reports that the Tribunal on Saturday affirmed the election of Fintiri as duly re-elected Governor of the State in the March 2023 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the incumbent governor, who sought reelection, as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election, which dragged into a supplementary poll and some controversial moments.

At the end of the drama-filled exercise, which ended in April, Fintiri polled 430,861 votes, defeating Binani, who got 398,738 votes.

APC and its candidate, alongside other contestants, had filed a petition against the declaration of Governor Fintiri as the winner of the gubernatorial election in the State, alleging extensive violations of the electoral law and fraudulent voting practices in their petition.

PDP’s Atiku Fixes Date To Address Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will address Nigerians at a press briefing scheduled for Monday.

Naija News reports that the press conference will be held at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

This was made known in a post on the official X page of the main opposition party.

The post reads: “The Presidential Candidate of our great Party, the @OfficialPDPNig, in the February 25, 2023, Presidential election and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, @atiku will address a crucial Press Conference on issues of serious importance to the Nation.

“Date: Monday, October 30, 2023, Venue: PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, Time: 11 am Prompt.”

EFCC Quizzes Ex-CBN Boss, Emefiele As Details Of Allegations Emerge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun questioning the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, with an alleged $15 billion foreign debt topping the investigation.

Naija News understands that a panel of EFCC operatives had started grilling Emefiele on the allegations against him, including the following:

•Alleged foreign debts of $15 billion.

•Spending of N74. 84 billion on Naira redesign, production, and rollout of currencies.

•Alleged fraud in Anchor Borrowers Scheme.

•Suspicious audit of CBN accounts.

•Acquisition of bank and Fintech licenses by some top officials of CBN.

•Award of suspicious billions of Naira contracts.

Tinubu Will Work With Atiku, Obi – FG

President Bola Tinubu-led government has promised to work with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Friday night after the Supreme Court judgment affirmed Tinubu as the winner of the election.

Naija News recalls that the apex court on Thursday upheld the September 6 ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Court.

The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Inyang Okoro, dismissed the petitions filed by Atiku and Obi against Tinubu.

‘We Are Ready To Work With You’ – Apapa-Led Labour Party Faction Congratulates Tinubu On Supreme Court Victory

The Lamidi Apapa-led Labour Party faction has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his victory at the Supreme Court on Thursday while expressing readiness to work with the president.

Naija News recalls that on October 26, 2023, the apex court, in its judgment, affirmed the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court, which upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

While one faction of the Labour Party has kicked against the Supreme Court Judgement, the Apapa-led faction has on Saturday congratulated the president on his victory.

The Apapa-led Labour Party faction, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, on Saturday in Abuja, asked Tinubu to be magnanimous with his victory.

Tinubu: Discontent As New Aso Rock Cabal Emerges, ‘Akande, Osoba, Others Treated Like Outsiders’

Close allies, party elders, and traditional rulers, among other stakeholders, are reportedly expressing discontent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s style of governance and some of his policy decisions.

The alleged inability of his allies and party elders to have access to the President, advise him on their observations, or even register their displeasures has fueled insinuations that President Tinubu might be going through a similar scenario as his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government was allegedly hijacked by a cabal, which controlled access to him.

According to The Guardian, a series of policies introduced by President Tinubu since assuming office have left Nigerians facing varying degrees of economic hardships, with feelers from Tinubu’s allies indicating that they believe there is a compelling need for him to cautiously begin to look inward to engage people and assuage their pains.

One of the political blocs said to be discontented with Tinubu’s style of appointment is the Southwest and Northwest Muslim stakeholders in the ruling party, who feel they are being short-changed despite their votes giving Tinubu victory in the presidential poll.

Bayelsa: Timipre Sylva’s Governorship Ambition Suffers Setback

The bid of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, to contest in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State has suffered setback.

Naija News gathered that the Court of Appeal in Abuja has refused the motions by the APC and Sylva seeking to stay execution of the judgment nullifying their candidature.

Sylva filed the appeal and stay of execution following the judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja which barred him from contesting as the APC candidate because he has served twice as governor.

In a unanimous judgment of a three-member panel of justices, Justice William Daudu, struck out the motions for lacking in merit.

Supreme Court Justice Accuses CJN Of Abuse Of Power, Faults Panel That Affirmed Tinubu’s Election

A retiring justice of the Supreme Court, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who reportedly pulled out from the seven-man panel that dismissed all the appeals that sought the removal of President Bola Tinubu from office, has accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, of abusing the powers of his office.

Naija News reports that Justice Muhammad retired from the Supreme Court bench on Friday, having clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age.

Speaking at a valedictory session organised in his honour by the apex court, the former judge revealed the rots in the judiciary that have continued to affect the justice delivery system in the country.

He said: “Through the years, I rose to become the second most senior justice of the country’s apex court and Deputy Chairperson of the National Judicial Council.

“Considering the number of years I have spent in judicial service and the position I have attained by the grace of the Almighty, I feel obligated to continue the struggle for reforms for a better Judiciary and would be leaning on the earlier submissions of those who had exited before me.”

We Will No Longer Tolerate Your Incessant Defamation Of Peter Obi – Labour Party Stakeholders Warn Arabambi

Stakeholders of the Labour Party (LP) in the six geopolitical zones of the country have berated the Publicity Secretary of the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the party, Abayomi Arabambi over his constant verbal attacks on the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi.

The group consisting of the Labour Party Leaders Conference for National Consolidation (LPLCNC), Labour Party National Pressure Group (LPNPG), and the Labour Party Primary Elections Independent Observer Group, (LPPEIOG) lambasted Arabambi in a statement at Abuja, hours before the Supreme Court final judgment on the 2023 presidential elections.

In the statement signed by the National Secretary, LPLCNC, Comrade Tony Akeni, a national leader, Bishop Samuel Omede, and eight others, the group stated that they have warned Arabambi several times to desist from attacking the party’s flag bearer but he refused to listen.

The LP leaders insisted that Peter Obi remains the presidential candidate of the party irrespective of the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Lagos Govt Reopens Alaba International, Trade Fair Markets

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led government of Lagos State has reopened Alaba International Market and some markets at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.

Naija News understands that the Lagos State Government had earlier shut down the markets over poor waste disposal, failure to pay waste bills, and other environmental violations.

In a statement, however, on Saturday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the decision to reopen the markets was made after a thorough evaluation and implementation of strict environmental standards.

He further clarified that the markets were reopened only after the environmental concerns had been resolved, dismissing any suggestions of political motives behind the closure. Wahab emphasized that the temporary closure of the market was a necessary measure to ensure a clean and healthy environment in the vicinity of commercial establishments.

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