The All Progressives Congress in the South South has announced the ceding of the position of Deputy Senate President to the zone by the national leadership of the party.

The zone then went ahead to endorse Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) as its candidate for the position.

These decision were announced to newsmen on Saturday by the Chairman and Secretary of the APC for the South South, Hilliary Eta and David Okumagba.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/deputy-senate-president-south-south-apc-says-position-ceded-to-zone-endorses-omo-agege

The National Alliance For Equity & Justice, a pan Nigerian group, Friday enjoined the All Progressives Congress, APC, senators-elect and other stakeholders to support the bid by former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, to emerge as the Deputy Senate President of the 9th National Assembly.

Kalu, elected Senator to represent Abia North Senatorial District has already declared his intention to vie for the position in the 9th Assembly slated for inauguration next Tuesday.

In a statement signed by Mazi Chukwuemeka Nwosu and co-signed by Hon. Akinola Akinyemi and Alhaji Hassan Jubril, the group noted that the emergence of the Abia North senator-elect as Deputy Senate President would reflect balance, equity, justice and national integration in the zoning of principal officers of the Senate among the six geopolitical zones.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/group-drums-support-for-senator-elect-orji-kalus-deputy-senate-president-bid

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on Friday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Rochas Okorocha, a Certificate of Return.

The Court ruled that the decision to deprive Okorocha of the certificate was a “lawless decision.”

Abang held that only the returning officer of the INEC had the constitutional authority to declare a winner.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/court-orders-inec-to-issue-rochas-okorocha-certificate-of-return

Nigerian lawmaker Senator Godswill Akpabio Thursday apologised to members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for leaving the party months before the 2019 general elections.
“I apologize to my colleagues in the PDP for the manner I left,” Akpabio said at the 8th Senate valedictory session in Abuja.

“I know they miss me.”

Akpabio left the PDP in August 2018 for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/akpabio-apologises-for-leaving-pdp

Media mogul and founder of DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has alleged witch hunt of the AIT by the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Ishaq Modibbo Kawu.

At a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Dokpesi called on the Presidency to remove Kawu from office in the collective interest of the nation’s broadcast industry.

Bemoaning what he described as persecution of his media establishment, Dokpesi said there were deliberate moves by the NBC boss to gag AIT and other privately owned broadcast stations in the country.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/raymond-dokpesi-protests-alleged-witch-hunt-by-nbc-boss

The coast is now clear for Senator Ahmed Lawan to become the next Senate President, as a key contender, Senator Danjuma Goje has stepped down for him.

Goje had met with President Muhammadu Buhari over leadership of the Senate at the State House, alongside Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

He told newsmen that he had met with the president and that he had stepped down for Lawan.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/senate-presidency-goje-bows-out-backs-lawan

About seven days to the election of principal officers for the Ninth Senate, there is a major disagreement in the camp of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The split has created a setback for the proposed block votes by the main opposition party against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Ahmed Lawan.


Lawan looks good for the trophy, with many senators-elect, including those of PDP, joining his campaign train.

Although the final figure was being collated last night, there were indications that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 of the 108 votes available.

The fate of a former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is yet to be decided by the court.

Notwithstanding, four APC senators, including Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Saidu Alkali and one other.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there has been a major split in the PDP Caucus on block votes when the Senate is inaugurated on June 11.

It was learnt that some PDP senators-elect have opted to vote on principle for Lawan instead of party sentiments.

Others are unhappy that a principal officer of the outgoing National Assembly and some opposition governors decided to dictate to them on who to vote for as the next President of the Senate and other principal officers.

The aggrieved PDP senators-elect alleged that selfish interest, rather than “PDP’s larger common interest”, accounted for the push to vote against APC candidates.

A ranking PDP senator-elect said: “Unlike in 2015 when we had clearly defined agenda, the PDP has no focus this time around on the choice of principal officers. I can assure you that the opposition will not engage in block votes this time around.

“We have not even been given any serious directive by the party. This was not the case in 2015.

“A few of our leaders championing block votes have been doing so to pursue personal agenda. It is absurd to attempt to make principal offices hereditary or to impose leaders on us.

Some of us will rather collaborate in a manner that a constructive opposition will be in place for a greater future for PDP.

“Some PDP senators-elect have elected to have a new Senate with enhanced agenda. They have high regards for Lawan and they will vote for the APC candidate.”

The source claimed that some PDP senators from the Southwest, Northcentral, Southsouth, and the Southeast will join forces with their APC colleagues on Lawan’s project.

The source confirmed that a “former President of the Senate, who is in PDP, has given his blessing to Lawan” in the country’s interest.

Members of the Lawan Campaign Council and strategists yesterday defied the Sallah holidays to “take stock” of those who had signed up to back their candidate.

Although they were still computing the tally, a member of the team said: “More senators-elect have appended their signatures to support Lawan.

“I cannot give you the exact figure now but the situation at hand is far better than it was in 2015. Some PDP senators are part of our campaign this time around because of the vision inherent in it.”

Despite the fact that the final tally figure was kept under wraps, there were indications that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 out of the 108 votes available.

“We will not hide it; all the senators-elect backing Lawan will surely come out to confirm they belong, “ another source added.

But APC senators-elect have decided to be united with the exception of four.

The four APC senators-elect opposed to Lawan’s leadership are Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, who are eyeing Senate President, Alh. Saidu Alkali ( Gombe North) and one other from the North.

A source said: “So far, apart from the four APC senators, our caucus is more united for the election of principal officers than the case four years ago.”

Lawan will tomorrow unveil his legislative agenda for the 9th Senate, The Nation learnt.

A notice by the Chairman, Sen. Ahmad Lawan Campaign Group, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi, said the agenda is about “a National Assembly that works for Nigeria”.

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/senate-president-block-votes-unlikely-as-pdp-senators-split/amp/

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was re-elected unopposed today at the congress of world football’s governing body in Paris, with a pledge to splash more money on football development in 211 member associations.

FIFA spent $1.1bn between 2015-18 and Infantino said the budget will increase to $1.75bn from 2019-2022.

Infantino also claimed amidst applause at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles venue of the Congress that he has turned the organisation from being “toxic and almost criminal” back to its core values.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/infantino-re-elected-fifa-chief-for-fresh-term

As the battle for the leadership of the National Assembly hots up ahead of the June 11, 2019 inauguration date, the Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Senator Kabiru Gaya has said that a zone which produced only two Senators cannot produce the Deputy Senate President ahead of the zone with 17 Senator.

The former Kano state governor who spoke in an interview with some reporters in Abuja said the north-west zone with 17 Senators gave the party about 6 million votes which cannot be easily wished away.

According to him, with the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives going to the South West which already has the Vice President, there was nothing wrong in giving the Deputy Senate President to the North West which has the President.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/zone-with-two-senators-cant-produce-deputy-senate-president

After days of studied silence, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday spoke on the face-off between its former National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the incumbent Adams Oshiomhole.

Odigie-Oyegun accused the former Edo State governor of lacking the temperament to lead a political party.

But the party hit back at the former party leader, saying the APC had been battling to clear the mess left behind by his administration.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/oshiomhole-cleaning-your-mess-apc-replies-oyegun

Controversial Senator, Dino Melaye has attacked the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for hugging a paramount ruler in the State.

A picture has surfaced on Instagram showing Bello hugging 90-year old traditional ruler, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.

Melaye, who is aspiring to be Kogi State Governor in November lashed out at Bello for what he termed a despicable act.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/dino-melaye-attacks-yahaya-bello-for-hugging-monarch

Lawmaker-elect for Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Mansur Manu Soro, has expressed optimism that Femi Gbajabiamila will emerge the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the ninth National Assembly unopposed.

Newsmen report that Gbajabiamila, is a major contender in the race for the exalted office of the Speaker. He has adopted Ahmed Wase, a member from Plateau State as his running mate.

However, addressing reporters yesterday in Bauchi, the state capital, Manu Soro said: “You know the House Standing Order provides that the election of the Speaker and deputy should take precedence over any other business on the day of inauguration.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/ninth-national-assembly-femi-gbajabiamila-may-emerge-speaker-unopposed-reps-member-elect

Governor Emeka Ihedioha has said that he cannot do his work from Government House describing the place as an eyesore.

Newsmen report that the governor of Imo state spoke on Sunday, saying the state of the Government House makes it difficult for him to operate officially.

Ihedioha claimed he does not have any document to know the current financial status of the state claiming the past governor, Rochas Okorocha, did not properly hand-over to him.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/governor-ihedioha-i-cant-work-from-government-house

The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State has charged the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee and the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association and the courts to withdraw all the privileges that Prof Itse Sagay enjoys as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The party, in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately replace Sagay as the Chairman of the c.

According to the Lagos PDP, the security agencies must arrest, interrogate and prosecute Sagay for “his inciting comments capable of provoking civil unrests in the country at large.”

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-asks-nba-lppc-lpdc-to-withdraw-itse-sagays-privileges-as-san

An All Progressives Congress (APC) advocacy group under the aegis of Rivers Unity House (RUH) Saturday threw its weight behind calls for the resignation of the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

The Convener of the group, Mr. Kingsley Wali, made the call at a news conference in Port Harcourt, alleging that Oshiomhole was responsible for 96 per cent of the challenges faced the ruling party in the 2019 general election.

Wali said, “It is a natural thing in politics that whenever there are loses, people have to be held accountable for those loses. There is need to identify the people who made it possible for the party to suffer any kind of loss.”

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/apc-group-joins-call-for-resignation-of-adams-oshiomhole

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said he has forgiven his predecessor Ibikunle Amosun and others who tried to sabotage his candidacy.

He spoke at a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Egba Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta.

According to him, he held no malice against anyone who was against his emergence as governor, saying that whatever role anyone might have played was predestined.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/i-have-forgiven-amosun-other-saboteurs-gov-abiodun

Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who will be sworn-in as the 10th governor of the state has appointed Mr. Tayo Ayinde as his Chief of Staff.

Ayinde, who was the Chief Security Detail to the former Governor Bola Tinubu, during his tenure and until his new appointment was the Director General Babajide Sanwo-Olu Campaign Group (BOSCO), and Independent Campaign Group, ICG in 2019 general elections.

The announcement, which was made in the early hours of Wednesday, was also confirmed by a senior member of BOSCO, saying that the governor will announce.the appointment during the inauguration at Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos Island.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/babajide-sanwo-olu-makes-first-appointment-names-ayinde-chief-of-staff

Former Lagos Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode said he will not be attending the formal inauguration of his successor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Tafawa Balewa Square today saying the new governor deserves to enjoy his historic day without having him share in the glory with him.

Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, on Wednesday congratulated Sanwo-Olu, saying his successor should be allowed to be the star of his inauguration.

“I have already formally handed over reigns of power in the state to the new governor in a most cordial and convivial ceremony at the State House yesterday.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/ambode-why-i-am-absent-at-sanwo-olus-inauguration

President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained that Nigeria’s elites have always been against his political ambition.

Buhari said since he started contesting for presidency, the elites have been against his political ambition.

He stated this during an interview broadcast on Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on Monday night.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/presidential-election-nigerian-elites-have-always-been-against-me-buhari

The Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has declared that, come what may, he will become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The embattled outgoing Governor made vow on Sunday during his valedictory thanksgiving service held at the Government House Chapel in Owerri.

According to Governor Okorocha, the political travails he faced now, particularly the seizure of his Certificate of Return as the Imo West senator-elect, were only his stepping stone to the presidential seat.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/governor-okorocha-ill-become-nigerias-president

In an unprecedented judicial pronouncement, Nigeria’s Supreme Court awarded governorship, National Assembly and state Assembly elective posts to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

In a verdict read today, the apex court nullified the participation of the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2019 General Elections.

The party members had been locked in judicial dispute over the legality of the primaries conducted.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/supreme-court-awards-zamfara-to-pdp

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm on alleged plans by “unscrupulous and anti-democratic elements to contrive skirmishes in the coming weeks aimed at smearing his personality”.

Abubakar raised the alarm in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, on Friday in Abuja.

Abubakar who was Vice President from 1999 to 2007, said that it was being revealed the grand plot orchestrated by some agents of evil to stage-manage pockets of upset targeted at attacking his reputation.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-raises-alarm-over-smear-campaign

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, on Wednesday withdrew as a member of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

This followed allegations of likelihood of bias levelled against her by the Peoples Democratic Party, and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Altthough, the five-man panel of the tribunal, in a unanimous ruling, dismissed the application on the grounds that the allegations of a likelihood of bias were not established; Bulkachuwa said she was withdrawing for “personal reasons.”

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-reacts-as-bulkachuwa-quits-presidential-poll-tribunal

There is no let-up in the disagreement over the last general elections between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham.

They have been trading words over each other’s role during and after the polls.

The governor took on the GOC yesterday and said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Gen. Sarham and his “political party” during the elections.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/wike-to-goc-pdp-defeated-you-and-your-party

The Peoples Democratic Party has asked the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to apologise to Nigerians for allegedly misleading the nation and heating up the polity with unfounded security breach allegations against the party and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The party said that with the assurances on Monday, that the nation was safe for the Presidential inauguration, the minister had further exposed the fact that he, acting for the Federal Government, only conjured claims to create the impression that the PDP and Atiku had set security breaches against the Presidential inauguration.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, claimed that the allegations “have vanished like what they are – phantoms!”

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/security-allegations-apologise-to-nigerians-pdp-tells-lai-mohammed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that it is investigating the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

The anti-graft commission has also explained that it froze N5 billion funds belonging to the state government because Okorocha was spending too much money in a suspicious manner during the general election.

The Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ibrahim Magu confirmed the investigation of the governor by the EFCC in an interview with Channels Television.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/efcc-we-are-investigating-okorocha

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Okwukwu, has backed the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that the South East cannot produce the country’s next president in 2023.

Okwukwu made his position known in a statement on Monday.

He said the people of the South East played themselves out reckoning for the 2023 Presidency by failing to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 general elections.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/ohanaezes-secretary-to-igbo-on-2023-amaechis-right-you-cant-be-president

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed to stop dodging issues and address the monumental failures of the government he speaks for.

The main opposition party was reacting to allegations of subversive activities which the Minister leveled against the PDP and its presidential candidate in the February 23 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar.

Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan challenged Mohammed to come up with evidence of subversion against the PDP and its candidate, if he has any, instead of playing to the gallery.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/stop-dodging-issues-address-your-failures-pdp-replies-lai-mohammed

Timi Frank, a political activist, has labelled the recent claim by the APC administration and the military that certain persons were planning to overthrow the government as false.

The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), therefore, challenged the military to conduct a thorough investigation and make the names of the said coupists public if there was anything like that.

Speaking through a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the political activist said the military was fabricating lies so as to protect a stolen mandate given to President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the May 29 inauguration.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/coup-allegation-apc-concocting-lies-to-protect-stolen-mandate-timi-frank

The national spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Imo Ugochinyere, on Thursday announced his resignation as the president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

Ugochinyere, who is also the national chairman of the Action People’s Party, made the announcement at a press conference in Abuja.

He attributed his decision to what he called his deep involvement in opposition politics during his leave from the council.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/cupp-spokesman-resigns-as-president-of-national-youth-council

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is perfecting plans to drag the Federal Government and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to court over the allegation levelled against it that it was planning to sabotage the government.

Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday showed that the former ruling party was taking the allegation seriously and that its national leaders had agreed to challenge the claim by the government in court.

It was however not clear if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would also be dragging the government to court on the matter.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-threatens-to-sue-fg-minister-over-accusation-of-threat-to-democracy

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday unanimously endorsed June 12 of every year as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

The Senate passed the bill seeking to legalise June 12 as Democracy Day just like the House of Representatives had already done.

If the bill is assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, May 29 celebrated as Democracy Day since 2000 will cease to be so marked.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/senate-okays-june-12-as-democracy-day-in-nigeria