Top Nigerian newspaper headlines and breaking news in Nigeria today, Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Tinubu Returns To Nigeria ‘Hale, Hearty’
President-Elect, Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a trip to France.
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He arrived at the Abuja airport on Monday, April 24, 2023.
Contrary to rumors of his ill health, Tinubu stated that he is in good condition at his residence in the Asokoro area of Abuja.
His statement was brief but confident, indicating that he was ready to take on the responsibilities of the presidency.
His return was met with large approval and extreme optimism from Nigerians who were eager to see the new administration take charge.
Nathaniel Ochoche: Herdsmen Kill Labour Party Chairman in Benue
He said:
“Let me take some rest for tonight after a long flight. Eat some Amala and Ewedu. After that, sleep a little, and then tomorrow, we’ll meet.
“Whatever they like, they speculate. I’m healthy, sound, and okay.”
President-Elect announced that he was ready for his inauguration on May 29. He has assured the public that he was fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of the presidency.
Furthermore, he stated that he was currently in the process of consulting with various individuals regarding the formation of his government.
He said:
“You don’t govern alone; you govern with people. You consult, assemble, and then hit the ground running.”
The former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, arrived back in Nigeria yesterday with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The couple was warmly received by Vice-President-Elect, Kashim Shettima, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other high-ranking members of the APC.
Tinubu’s track record as governor of Lagos State and a prominent leader in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has earned him the trust and confidence of many Nigerians.
APC Expels Taraba Governorship Aspirant, Senator-Elect
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has expelled David Sabo Kente, a governorship aspirant of the party, and Senator-elect for Taraba South District, David Jimkuta.
Both had reportedly engaged in anti-party activities during the just concluded 2023 general elections.
In a statement in Jalingo, the state capital, the party chairman, Elsudi Ibrahim made it clear that Kente was no longer a member of the party and should stop parading himself as one.
Furthermore, the chairman recommended the expulsion of Senator-elect Jimkuta to the national executive committee office.
Read the full statement below:
“You will recall that sometime in July 2022 the Executives of APC Kente Ward of Wukari Local Government Area wrote the Chairman of APC Wukari LGA calling for the expulsion of Chief David Sabo Kente on series of allegations and offences against the party as enshrined in the party constitution 2022 as amended.
”You will equally recall that the APC Wukari LGA severally invited Chief David Sabo Kente to defend himself on the allegations leveled against him by the APC of his Ward but refused to honour their invitations and abused them instead.
”On 12th August 2022, the APC Wukari Local Government wrote a letter to the State APC on the above complaints. Having investigated and confirmed that all constitutional procedures of fair hearing and disciplinary steps have been satisfactorily followed by both the Ward and Local Government level of the party in Kente and Wukari Local Government.
”The State Working Committee in its sitting on Thursday 20th April 2023 exercised its powers under Article 13.9 iv of the party constitution to ratify the decision of the APC Wukari Local Government Area.
”For the avoidance of doubt, Chief David Sabo Kente Stands Expelled from the All Progressives Congress and should stop parading himself as a Member of the Party henceforth.
”You will also recall that on 21-3-2023 the APC Fete Ward of Takum L.G.A.
“Leveled some offenses against the party by the Senator-Elect for Southern Taraba State Hon. Jimkuta S.U David. The APC Takum Local Government Constituted a 5 Man Disciplinary Committee that invited Hon. Jimkuta S.U David but he refused to Honour the invitation. The report of the Disciplinary Committee was submitted to APC Takum Local Government who in turn expelled Hon. Jimkuta S.U David from APC.
“In line with article 13.9 (iv) of the APC constitution 2022 as amended. The State Working Committee sat on 20th April 2023 and hereby ratify the action of the APC Takum Local Government with slight modification in line with 21.5 (h), (ii) by suspending him from the party but recommending to the National Executive Committee for his expulsion from the party for the plethora of offences he is found guilty of.
“Hon. Jimkuta S.U David Stands suspended from the party henceforth
.
”We want to notify all Tarabans and All Progressives Congress Members from the southern part of the State that the following persons are the party Chairmen and Secretaries of the Local Governments Arcas:
1. Donga L.G.A
2, Ibbi L.G.A
3. Takum LG.A
Habu Abdulrahman – Chairman
David Nulamuga Savala – Secretary
Yusuf Yusuf-Chairman
Joseph Sakya Muhammed – Secretary
Sirajo Sallau-Chairman
4. Ussa L.G.A
Sabo Bulus Joro-Secretary James Rimamsuwe – Chairman
Benjamin M. Yakubu – Secretary
Ibrahim Danji Jibatswen – Chairman
5. Wukari LGA
“David Yau Muhammad – Secretary For the avoidance of doubt, Salihu Bako Abdullahi was the Chairman of Donga APC but was removed by the Federal High Court Jalingo on 12/10/2022 in suit No FHC/JAL/CS/13/2022 Habu Abdulrahman versus- INEC and 3 others. The Judgment has not been appealed against till today.
“The Claim that other Executives have been affirmed by the FHC Jalingo is not true the purported suit which is suit No FHC/JAL/CS/10/2022 Habu Abdulrahman Versus-2 others was struck out for want of Jurisdiction
“Any interim or interlocutory order becomes otiose having struck out the suit. It is now non-existent. The officials as given by the National Secretariat of our party on 12/5/2022 remain the same until reversed by the National Secretariat.
“While Condoling the State Government and the PDP over the death of the member-elect for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci which is a great loss to the State, we call upon Governor Dickson Darius Ishaku to intervene by releasing Mr. Ishmael Yakubu Young J.P from Prison. The elections are over. If he is asking for forgiveness he should start by forgiving his perceived enemies let justice be done, let Ishmael Yakubu Young J.P be immediately released from custody.”
Nathaniel Ochoche: Herdsmen Kill Labour Party Chairman in Benue
Suspected herdsmen have reportedly killed Mr. Nathaniel Ochoche, a Chairman of the Labour Party in the state.
Ochoche was killed along with four others over the weekend.
He held the position of Edikwu Ward 2 Chairman of the party in Apa Local Government Area of the state before his demise.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Tersoo Orbunde, confirmed the incident in a statement he issued and made available to reporters on Monday.
READ ALSP: Gunmen Kill Couple, 5 Policemen in Imo
It read:
“It is with a rude shock that the Benue State Secretariat of the Labour Party received the news of the gruesome murder of its Chairman in Edikwu Ward 2 in Apa LGA, Nathaniel Ochoche, who was ambushed and killed by armed Fulani militia.”
It was understood that Ochoche’s death was a great loss to the party and the people of Benue State.
The statement added:
“Until his death, Mr. Ochoche was a consummate party man who worked assiduously hard for the growth of his community, constituency, and country both in words and works.”
Gunmen Abduct Bayelsa Population Commissioner, Others
Mrs Gloria Izonfuo, a Federal Commissioner with the National Population Commission, NPC, in Bayelsa State, has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen.
The incident occurred at the Ogbakiri Junction along the East-West Road at 6 pm on Sunday while she was travelling to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from Brass in Bayelsa State.
Izonfuo, the driver and maid was reportedly whisked away by the gunmen who demanded five hundred million naira ransom for their release.
The Rivers State Police Command has also confirmed the incident.
Its Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police has mandated tactical teams to ensure the safe release of the abductees.
US President, Joe Biden Announces 2024 Re-election Bid
The United States President, Joe Biden, has officially launched his campaign for re-election in 2024.
The president announced his campaign in a video posted on his Twitter account on Tuesday morning.
“I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said.
“The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.”
Biden made his re-election announcement four years after he announced his bid to run for the US presidency for the first term on April 25, 2019.
JAMB Releases Number Of Candidates To Sit For 2023 UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the total number of candidates nationwide who would be sitting for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination(UTME).
For this year, the examination body registered nearly 1.6 million candidates across over 700 centres.
The end date for the examination which has commenced was scheduled for May 12, 2023.
Interested candidates could begin registration for the Direct Entry examinations thereafter.
Appeal Court Told To Stop Tinubu’s Inauguration
A presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election has told the Court of Appeal to stop the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The candidate and constitutional lawyer, Ambrose Albert Owuru and his political party, Hope Democratic Party (HDP) filed the fresh suit marked CA/CV/259/2023.
READ ALSO: Peter Obi Told to Withdraw Petition Against Tinubu
Owuru demanded for the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from inaugurating Tinubu as Nigeria’s new leader on May 29.
However, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Court of Appeal as of press time.
PDP Suspends Party Chairman, Deputy in Lagos
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State chapter has ratified the suspension of its Chairman, Philip Aivoji and his Deputy, Mr Tai Benedict, pending the outcome of court cases.
Aivoji and Benedict were suspended respectively by their ward executives on April 14 over alleged gross violation of the party’s constitution.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Hakeem Amode, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the State Working Committee reached the resolution after appraising the outcome of the 2023 general elections.
According to him, during a meeting which was held on Tuesday, the committee deliberated on saving the soul of the main opposition party in the state.
He added that the committee consequently confirmed Lagos PDP Vice-Chairman (West Senatorial District), Sunday Olaifa, the acting chairman, pending the outcome of court cases.
Amode revealed that the committee also constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to look into all matters affecting the suspended officials.
”Members of the disciplinary committee are Chief Abayomi Kuye (Chairman), Mrs Esther Egbi (Secretary), Alhaji Isiaka Shodiya, Princess M.A Coker, Messrs Kayode Ariwayo, Femi Oluokun and Segun Oriyomi.
Amode added that the post-election disciplinary committee was expected to revert to the State Working Committee one week from the date of its constitution.
”Members of the State Working Committee at the meeting were Olaifa, Mr Agboola Akinpelu (Youth Leader), Mr Ismail Olatunji (State Auditor) and Mr Adio Salami (State Organising Secretary) and Amode.
“The five members in attendance constitute the majority of the nine members in the State Working Committee out of the original 14 members that can take the decision.
“Three of the original 14 members had decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby reducing the membership of the State Working Committee to 11.
“The embattled chairman and his Deputy were part of the 11 remaining members and since they can’t adjudicate in their own case, only nine members were left to take decisions.”
