Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 23rd April 2022.
APC Forms: Citizens’ Righteous Anger Must Be Well Channeled
Nigerians were flummoxed when the All Progressives Congress (APC) rose from its National Executive Committee meeting pegging the price of Expression of Interest (EoI) and Nomination Forms for the 2023 elections as follows: House of Assembly – N2,000,000 (N500k EoI). House of Reps – N10,000,000 (N1m EoI). Senate – N20,000,000 (N3m EoI). Governorship – N50,000,000 (N10m EoI). President – N100,000,000 (N30m EoI). These are non-refundable fees, the payment of which does not mean that the aspirants will automatically get the ticket!
While the nomination form was made free for women and aspirants living with disabilities, they are however requested to purchase only EoI form at the stipulated price. Also by the approval of the NEC, youth below the age of 35 are to pay 60 per cent for the nomination form and full payment for EoI form. With this seeming concession, a youth aspiring for President on the platform of the APC will still have to pay N72m for EoI and nomination forms. Even one of the presidential aspirants, Chris Ngige did not see the hike coming as he confessed on national television that he had budgeted N50m for the procurement of the forms.
Ex- House Speaker Dogara Sacked By Court For Defecting To APC
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has been sacked by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja following his defection from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Justice D.U. Okorowo on Friday gave the verdict in a suit challenging his defection.
Naija News understands that the court had on March 23 moved judgment in view of a suit filed in August 2020 by the Incorporated Trustees of United Global Resolve for Peace Organisation, through its counsel, Michael Okejimi Esq. of Messrs. Micheal Okejimi & Co. Law Empire.
PDP also filed separate defection suit against Dogara.
INEC To Spend N305bn On 2023 General Election [See Breakdown]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the 2023 general election will gulp N305bn.
According to the commission, the amount is N116bn higher, compared to N189bn expended on the 2019 general election, Naija News reports.
The INEC Charman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during the public presentation of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (SP) and the 2023 Election Project Plan (EPP).
Yakubu disclosed that the commission will spend N239.2bn to procure voting materials and vehicles for the election and spend N105.2bn to purchase accreditation devices.
Unknown Gunmen Attacking South East Make Demand From Buhari Govt [Video]
Unknown gunmen attacking public facilities and killing innocent citizens in the South East have made their demands known to the Federal Government.
The terrorists who spoke in a video obtained by Naija News on Friday threatened to continue to unleash mayhem until their demands are met.
In the video shot in a forest, the gunmen said their mission is to protect the South East at all cost, claiming that they don’t have any sponsors as speculated.
The criminals also disclosed that they are not under the command of the self-acclaimed follower of IPOB leader, Simon Ekpa, or former MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike.
Jonathan Reveals Position On Contesting 2023 Presidency
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan on Friday addressed supporters who have been clamouring for him to join the 2023 presidential race.
Jonathan told the demonstrators who stormed his private office in Abuja to demand he declares for the 2023 presidency that the political process is ongoing, urging them to just watch as things unfold.
Specifically, he stated that he can’t tell them if he would be declaring or not for the 2023 presidential race yet.
He said this while addressing a group of supporters including women and youths who came with posters to his office in Abuja bearing inscriptions such as “Goodluck Jonathan, you must run”, “We need you to restore Nigeria.”
Anambra: Police Declare 12 Persons Wanted Over Isu-Aniocha Killings [Photo]
The Nigeria Police Force on Friday declared twelve (12) persons wanted over killings and other acts committed in Isu-Aniocha, Akwa North LGA of Anambra State.
Naija News reports that the 12 individuals were declared wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, act of terrorism, kidnapping, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, housebreaking, burglary, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
This was made known in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
He said the Police had earlier secured a court order to declare wanted the suspects, all male of Igbo extraction with ages ranging from 25 years to 55 years old, natives of Isu-Aniocha, Awka North LGA of Anambra State with heights between 1.5m to 1.7m.
Suspected IPOB Bomb Maker Arrested By Police In Imo State
The Police have announced the arrest of a 50-year-old man identified as Simeon Onigbo who is said to be the bomb manufacturer for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He was arrested on Thursday during a raid at Uba Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State as confirmed on Friday by the spokesperson of the Imo Police Command, CSP Michael Abattam.
The Police spokesperson explained that the suspect manufactures Improvised Explosive Devices ( IEDs) used in various attacks by IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Several items used in the manufacturing of the explosives were recovered from the scene and have been handed over to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) of the Police for further analysis and possible detonation.
2023: I’m Not In Any Relationship With Obaseki – Wike
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says he does not have any relationship with his Edo counterpart, Godwin Obaseki apart from being colleagues.
Naija News reports that the Rivers governor, who was in Edo state last week, failed to meet with Obaseki and the state executive of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
Instead, Wike visited the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, at his palace to inform the monarch of his intention to become the next president in 2023.
He also met with the Deputy Vice Chairman South-South, Dan Orbih, and Edo PDP delegates at the residence of a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP, the late Chief Tony Anenih.
2023 Presidency: Consensus Is A Scam, Only Death Can Make Me Step Down – Wike
The Rivers State Governor and 2023 presidential aspirant, Nyesom Wike has revealed that only one thing which is death can make him step down from the presidential race.
He added on Friday that he doesn’t believe in the idea of a consensus candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential ticket that some aspirants are promoting because there is no sincerity in their plans.
He said if the PDP would adopt the consensus method, the idea should come from the party directly and not some persons trying to force their opinions on others.
Wike declared that as long as he is alive, he would go head to head with other aspirants for the PDP ticket during the party’s presidential primary election and he is confident of victory.
‘Atiku Abubakar Will Never Honour Aisha Buhari’s Invite’
Former Vice President and presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar will not honour the invite by First Lady, Aisha Buhari to a Ramadan Iftar dinner at the State House Conference Centre.
Naija News reports that this was made known by Reno Omokri, an ex-presidential aide amd a loyalist of the former VP.
Reacting to the invite in a post on his Twitter handle, Omokri stated that Aisha’s invite was a summon in disguise.
While insisting that the First Lady lacks moral or constitutional authority to summon anyone, he urged Nigerians not to vote for any aspirant that attends the dinner.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News