Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 13th November, 2023

Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 13th November 2023.

INEC Postpones Collation Of Bayelsa Governorship Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the collation of results for the Bayelsa State off-cycle election.

The announcement was made on Sunday evening by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Haruna Kuta, while speaking at the State Independent National Electoral Commission’s Office in Yenagoa.

He said collation will resume by 12 pm on Monday.

Naija News understands the Results Collation was stopped to allow for the arrival of the Electoral officers from Brass and Southern Ijaw Local Government areas.

INEC To Hold Fresh Elections In 59 Kogi Polling Units On Nov 18

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, announced that fresh polls will be conducted in 59 polling units in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the state.

According to the electoral body, the fresh election will be held next Saturday, November 18, 2023.

INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna announced this in a statement on Sunday night.

Tinubu Arrives Jeddah To Perform Lesser Pilgrimage

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for an onward journey to Makkah to perform a lesser pilgrimage.

Recall that Tinubu had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to participate in the Saudi-Africa Summit.

Tinubu, during the Summit, underscored Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more Foreign Direct Investment and expanding business partnerships, strongly reinforced by his administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms.

Also, discussions at the first Saudi-Africa Summit revolved around supporting joint actions, enhancing political coordination, addressing regional security threats, and facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, all while bolstering cross-sectoral investment cooperation.

Due to the bilateral meeting, the Saudi Arabian government pledged to help in the repair of two refineries in the country and carry out some other investments.

‘I Don’t Want Some Dictator Like Buhari’ – Soyinka Speaks On Internet Regulation

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has faulted the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari for banning Twitter in 2021.

Naija News reports that Soyinka, during an interview with Arise News Television at the CANEX Live Theatre closing ceremony of the 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2023, convened in Cairo, Egypt by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), called Buhari, an idiot and dictator.

He said while the internet and social media space had been infested with foul communications and languages by people of lower intelligence, integrity and sense of concern of involvement, regulation of social media should be constructive, organized and structured.

‘This Man Is Not Ready For Governance’ – Matawalle Tackles Zamfara Gov

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has advised the Zamfara State Govover, Dauda Lawal, to focus on governing the northwestern state and delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

Naija News reports that Matawalle gave the advice while reacting to Dauda’s allegations concerning his tenure as governor of the state.

The allegations border on alleged mismanagement of resources, heavy debts and non-payment of examination and school fees for students at home and abroad, among others.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja, the Minister opined that Dauda is not ready for governance, stressing that none of the past governors of the state have attempted to tarnish the image of their predecessor.

INEC Declares Winner Of Imo State Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Imo State Governorship Election.

Naija News reports that Uzodimma defeated his opponents in all Local Government Areas of the State.

The election was keenly contested between Uzodimma, Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP).

Uzodimma polled a total of 540,308, while Anyanwu scored 71,503, and Achonu garnered 64,081.

The Returning Officer for the Imo State Governorship Election, Professor Abayomi Fashina, who announced the result, said the candidate of the APC scored the highest number of valid votes cast and was returned Elected for a second term in Office.

INEC, Others Sabotaging Electoral Democracy In Nigeria – Sowore

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of sabotaging the nation’s electoral democracy.

n a post via his X handle on Sunday, the former presidential candidate said it is sad that Nigeria can’t hold free, fair and credible elections, adding that there is no will or interest in getting elections conducted the right way.

He said INEC, state electoral commissions, and security agencies are sabotaging the nation’s electoral process and have been programmed to ensure votes don’t count anymore.

Party Supporter Murdered At Bayelsa Collation Centre

A member of one of the leading parties in Bayelsa State, George Sibo, has been killed at the collation centre in Twon-Brass, Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Naija News learnt that the deceased, popularly called Kobo-Kobo, an aide to the Brass Local Government Chairman, Hanson Alabo-Karika, was murdered when thugs invaded the collation centre on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the indigene of Twon-Brass, married with children, was murdered at the Collation Centre when results for some wards in the constituency were being submitted.

Reacting to the incident, the lawmaker representing Brass Constituency l, Daniel Charles, expressed sadness over the gruesome murder, describing the deceased as a vibrant and hardworking young man killed by desperate power seekers.

‘Imo State NLC, TUC Resisted Evil Conspiracy’ – Uzodinma Reacts To Re-Election As Governor

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has applauded the role of the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the governorship election held on Saturday, November 11.

Naija News earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared and returned Uzodimma as the winner of the Saturday poll after he secured victory in all the 27 local governments in the state.

In his acceptance speech, the Governor thanked the leadership of the NLC and their counterpart in the TUC for not only supporting him but also coming out with their members to vote for him.

The Governor said NLC and TUC in the state were resilient in the face of temptation as they resisted those who attempted to use them while hiding under an evil conspiracy.

Thugs Attack, Shoot At PDP Candidate, Anyanwu’s Convoy (Video)

The governorship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Samuel Anyanwu, on Saturday, was allegedly attacked in the state.

The attack took place in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to SaharaReporters, the convoy was ambushed by heavily armed men who opened fire on his convoy from all directions around 5 pm.

Some of his aides were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury. Senator Samuel Anyanwu is said to have managed to escape.

SERAP To INEC: Identify, Arrest Electoral Offences Sponsors In Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to promptly establish a joint, credible, transparent, effective, and broad-based investigation into allegations of electoral bribery and violence in the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

Naija News reports that the group made the call in a letter dated 11 November 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP urged him to identify, arrest, name, and shame suspected perpetrators and their sponsors of these grave human rights crimes and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.

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