Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Capital Oil Chairman Ifeanyi Ubah has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of a fraudulent primary in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State. Ubah alleged that the primary was a sham and that the party had the right to trample on its constitution and the Electoral Act. He stated that the list of delegates used for the election was different from the list given to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Ubah, a loyal member of the PDP, described the Anambra governorship primary as a "show of shame" with obvious irregularities. He accused the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, and some party committee members of robbing the people of their dream for a potential governor.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is awaiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's report on officers accused of corruption before making a decision. The commission is currently investigating over 100 officers for alleged bribery during the last general election. Some resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC were alleged to have been bribed by People's Democratic Party officials. The EFCC has arrested Oluchi Brown, an administrative secretary in Delta State, and Edem Effanga, a retired INEC official. The commission is not going to cover up any of its workers, and suspects will not be disciplined until the EFCC submits its reports. The law will be used to handle the EFCC's report when it is out.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to adopt the statutory delegates' option in the next review of its constitution, particularly for state and local government primaries. He emphasised the need for a modality where no one person could influence delegates to elections and suggested that those who served at certain levels should be made statutory delegates. Jonathan also urged PDP members not to be intimidated by corruption and urged society to come up with reforms to reduce it. He also said that the PDP is still the strongest party and that some issues may be addressed in the future. He encouraged his party members to continue with the party, stating that the PDP did well during its 16-year rule by the number of reforms it implemented. He also mentioned his defeat in the 2015 presidential election and his plans to speak on the reasons behind the party's defeat.

The PDP, the ruling party in Nigeria, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of sharing money meant to fight insurgency in the North-East and the country as a whole. The party's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulahi Jalo, stated that the former President should clarify whether he authorized the sharing of money meant for arms purchase. Jalo urged all those who took part in the sharing of the money to refund it, and that former President Jonathan should speak on the matter. The party has alleged that several prominent members, including former Governors of Rivers State, Sokoto State, and Oyo State, were involved in the scam. The party also mentioned ex-PDP National Chairman Bello Haliru, Abba Mohammed, Sagir Attahiru, and former members of the House of Representatives. Those not members of the PDP are also linked to collecting cash. The party held a fundraising dinner for the scam.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been pressured to abandon the peace process he initiated in the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Investigations revealed that the former President was no longer interested in bringing the two factions in the party together. National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has distanced himself from the peace process. The party under Sheriff will no longer take part in the peace process, which ended in confusion about two weeks ago. Sheriff led members of his National Working Committee out of a meeting on April 6, aimed at discussing the party's crisis. The former President had promised to set up a 40-man team to find a political solution to the crisis. The caretaker committee spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, stated that the reluctance of Jonathan to continue with the process could be due to the pulling out of the process by the Sheriff group. Some members of the party, including about two governors, have called on the former President to jettison the idea of setting up any committee.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a meeting with all candidates for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State for next Tuesday. The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the electoral body would not transfer the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Segun Agbaje, before the conduct of the election as being canvassed by some people in the state. The meeting will also be attended by security agencies, civil society organizations, and local and foreign observers registered by INEC.Aspirants expected at the meeting include Jimoh Ibrahim, Rotimi Akeredolu, Chief Olusola Oke, and Dr. Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party. The commission is ready for the election and appeals to all aspirants to play by the rules. The commission has no plan to redeploy the Ondo REC, Mr. Segun Agbaje, who is one of the commission's best and is doing a wonderful job in the state.The commission has learned from the just-concluded elections in the United States of America, which were monitored by officials of the commission. The use of technology in terms of electronic voting is instructive, and Americans have absolute trust in the integrity of their electoral system. Nigerians should emulate this and have confidence in INEC.

Former Borno State governor and factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has warned the party's Board of Trustees (BoT) to abandon its move to the functions of the National Working Committee (NWC). Sheriff, who claims the BoT is an advisory body, argues that the party's constitution is intact and that the BoT's role is advisory. However, Sheriff's claim to party leadership has been set back when eight members of his NWC decided to abide by the proclamation of the national convention, which created a caretaker committee with Makarfi and Senator Ben Obi as chairman and secretary, respectively. The NWC members, including the former deputy national chairman, deputy national secretary, and national legal adviser, have also agreed to accept and work with Makarfi's team.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and board of Trustees have backed efforts to end the crisis in the party. The party's National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, will name members of its reconciliation committee on Monday. The committee will work with those nominated by the factional National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. The crisis began after the party lost the 2015 presidential election and worsened in March this year when its attempt at holding a national convention was thwarted by party leaders. The two factional chairmen's desire to bring peace back to the main opposition party was applauded by the governors and other members of the caucus. The committee will discuss ways of moving the party forward and will be inaugurated on Monday next week. The PDP will use all legal means to get its mandate back from affected lawmakers, including taking back seats from former governor Joshua Dariye.

The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Ifeanyi Ubah and queried Senator Buruji Kashamu for alleged anti-party activities. Ubah was questioned for disparaging national officers and those conducting the Anambra State governorship primary. Kashamu, representing Ogun East in the Senate, was queried for his activities in the South-West zone of the party. Ubah chose not to answer the query, leading to his suspension for one month and referring the matter to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action. The party's spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated that the matter had been referred to the party's disciplinary committee, which is expected to brief the party in two weeks. Ubah dismissed the allegation that he instigated the police against some PDP members in Ogun State, stating that he never reported any of these people to the police nor did he have course to instigate the police against them.

The Peoples Democratic Party and the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) have criticised President Muhammdu Buhari's decision to work from home. Buhari was absent from a Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, and the Presidency blamed his absence on the Easter holiday. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that Buhari only decided to work from home on Wednesday and that he wanted to rest today. However, the PDP urged the Presidency to reveal Buhari's health status, citing the era of manipulation of his health status by a cabal within the Presidency. The CLO President, Igho Akeregha, criticised the APC government's fraudulent setup and called for Buhari to resign if his health could not sustain the pressure of work. He argued that hanging around office and trying to protect the cabal is not good for the country and that Buhari's ardent fight against corruption should be remembered.

Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi, the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), met in Abuja to discuss their intentions to end the party's perennial crises. The meeting was held at an undisclosed venue and was attended by some members from both factions. At the end of the meeting, representatives of each faction jointly addressed a press conference, stating that their leaders were working together to reposition the party. The meeting was held at a neutral venue away from each faction's offices. In a joint statement, the two leaders said that their meeting was without prejudice to all outstanding matters in court. They emphasized the need to heal the wounds and bring about a united, focused, and constructive opposition party that can bring sanity to the democratic process. Both Ojougboh and Obi refused to entertain questions after the briefing. The meeting was held without prejudice to all outstanding matters in court. briefing.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of delaying the restructuring of the county. The party alleged that the pronouncements of some APC leaders in the past were indications that the party was not interested in restructuring. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, stated that the committee set up by the party on restructuring and headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, was an afterthought. Adeyeye noted that the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, and El-Rufai said on national television that their party was not interested in restructuring. He said that the setting up of a committee was a delay tactic meant to kill the demand for restructuring, and they were not interested. Adeyeye stated that the APC is employing delay tactics to kill the issue of restructuring and it is a shame on them. The party will not participate in the hearing because the APC has no genuine interest in restructuring the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis has deteriorated as ex-ministers, senators, Board of Trustees members, and governors disagree on the tenure of new National Chairman, Senator Modu Sheriff. A joint meeting at the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja resolved that Sheriff should spend three months in office, followed by organizing a national convention to elect a new chairman. The meeting was attended by the party’s Governors’ Forum, the National Caucus, and the National Assembly caucus. The National Working Committee was represented by Sheriff, National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Publicity Secretary. The PDP Governors’ Forum, also the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Jibrin, expressed optimism that the crisis would be resolved within three months. However, former ministers from 1999 to 2015 insisted that Sheriff must leave, stating that the forum rejected Sheriff as PDP chairman due to his illegitimacy and commended the BoT for the rejection.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been accused of playing politics with the lives of the people and not taking the development of the state seriously. Amaechi, a former governor, accused Wike of twisting and turning the truth upside down to denigrate his towering image and achievements. Amaechi questioned Wike's alleged propensity to play politics with the safety and security of the lives of Rivers people, stating that no government should play politics with the safety and security of its citizens. Amaechi also challenged Wike to tell Rivers people the cult wars that led to the brutal murder of hundreds of Rivers people since the election that made him governor. Amaechi also questioned the Rivers Monorail project, which Wike said he would abandon, and questioned who Rivers people told him not to touch the project.