Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Thursday, 7th July, 2022
Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Thursday, 7th July 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
Doyin Okupe Withdraws As Labour Party Vice-Presidential Candidate, New Running Mate To Be Announced
Former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe has formally withdrawn as the vice-presidential candidate of Peter Obi.
Naija News reports that the Labour Party would announce a substantive running mate soon.
Doyin Okupe made this known in a post on his Twitter page on Thursday.
According to the former running mate, he has submitted his withdrawal letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He wrote: “This afternoon I submitted my withdrawal letter from the position of the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party to INEC.
“A replacement will be announced by the national chairman of the party shortly. I feel greatly blessed to have been part of the foundation of success for the Labour Party.“
2023 Presidency: Atiku Abandoned June 12 Movement, Only Tinubu Fought – Keyamo Speaks
The Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, has alleged that Atiku Abubakar was one of the first Nigerians to abandon the June 12 struggle.
Sharing his thoughts via a series of tweets, Keyamo insisted that no 2023 presidential candidate played an important role in the June 12 struggle except for Bola Tinubu and Omoyele Sowore as a student leader then.
He went on to state that Olusegun Obasanjo who was initially against the movement later benefitted from it.
He added that Obasanjo was not the choice of Yorubas in the 1999 polls because of the part he played in the June 12 struggles.
Running Mate: Tinubu To Choose Between El-Rufai And Shettima – Source
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly narrowed down his choice of a running mate to Kaduna State governor, Nasir el- Rufai and former Borno State governor, Senator Kashim Shettima.
An associate of Tinubu told Daily Independent that picking a running mate has been quite tedious considering the fact that several people have shown interest in the position.
He, however, stated that the former Lagos governor has finally narrowed down his choice to Shettima and el-Rufai who are considered seasoned politicians with the ability to pull in votes from the North.
According to him, “It is one of the key reasons why Tinubu jetted out of the country to France so as to have a breathing space to weigh the several options before him.
Court Sacks Sherrif Oborevwori As Delta PDP Governorship Candidate
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, disqualified Sherrif Oborevwori as the Delta State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 governorship elections.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a suit brought before the court by Olorogun David Edevbie challenging the emergence of Oborevwori, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly as the PDP candidate.
He argued that Oborevwori didn’t emerge from a properly conducted party primary election as the PDP violated both its constitution and the Electoral Guidelines during the primary election.
Edevbie, therefore, approached the court to restrain the PDP from forwarding Oborevwori’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and to also restrain the electoral body from receiving or recognising him as the duly nominated candidate of s the party for the election.
The relieves sought were granted by Justice Taiwo who submitted that the case has merit.
Skirmishes In Taraba APC Are Internal Issues, It Will Soon Be Resolved – Kirim
Taraba state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, disclosed that it was working on the psychology and mentality of citizens in the state against religious and ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2023 election.
Alhaji. Illiyasu Kirim, the running mate to the governorship candidate of the party disclosed this while addressing journalists in reaction to the court case challenging the emergence of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the party’s governorship candidate in Jalingo.
He expressed that the party was intact without crisis and they were working hard to change the people’s minds against religious and ethnic sentiments to enable them defeat the PDP come 2023.
The Guber running mate also expressed that the little skirmishes been heard in the Taraba state chapter of the party were normal party internal issues that would soon be resolved.
Oyo: Lawmaker, Oyeleke Dumps APC For PDP
The lawmaker representing Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Simeon Oyeleke has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News learnt that the lawmaker dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Oyeleke was elected on the platform of APC in 2019 to represent the constituency in the state House of Assembly.
The lawmaker on Wednesday announced his defection from APC to PDP.
PDP Crisis Deepens As Ayu Fails To Resume Work After Vacation, Deputy Presides Over Meeting
The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu has reportedly failed to resume work on Wednesday after the end of his vacation.
Ayu has been on break since the crisis over the emergence of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice-presidential candidate of the party broke out.
There have been speculations that the chairman was forced to go on leave and might not return if those who insist that he gives up his position continue on their path.
However, Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, has debunked rumors of Ayu suspension over misappropriation of funds while also insisting that reports of Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Damagum, being appointed in his place in an acting capacity, were “mischievous as they are purely the work of mischief-makers and idle minds”
2023: ‘I’m Confident Of Defeating Banky W – Obanikoro Boasts, Sends Message To Youths
The lawmaker representing the Eti-Osa Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Babajide Obanikoro has expressed confidence in emerging as the winner in the February 2023 election.
Obanikoro made this known during an interview with Punch and also sent an important message to Nigerian youths.
Asked if he was confident about defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representative candidate Banky W, Obanikoro said he doesn’t want to sound arrogant.
According to Obanikoro, considering the work, he has done so far and the current efforts of APC, he’s confident about merging victorious.
Crisis: APC Chieftains Drag Party, INEC To Court, Demand Masari Remains As Tinubu’s Running Mate
Two All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains Zakari Maigari and Zubainatu Mohammed, have sued the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC over the choice of running mate to Bola Tinubu.
The chieftains who were delegates in the just concluded presidential primaries are demanding that the court stops INEC from accepting a change of vice-presidential candidate from APC.
Tinubu had chosen Alhaji Kabiru Masari in what is believed to be a placeholder capacity for the vice-presidential candidate position pending the time he chooses his real running mate.
Wike Moves To Counter PDP’s Chairman Plot Against Fayose, Makinde, Ortom, Others
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reportedly got wind of an alleged plot by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to move against his allies.
The governor, on Tuesday evening, was reportedly told of Senator Ayu’s plan to undermine his close allies like the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and others.
Naija News reports that the likes of Ortom and Fayose, amongst others, have been vocal with their support of Wike after he was overlooked for the Vice-Presidential ticket of the PDP by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to reports, Senator Ayu was allegedly planning to use his position as national chairman to undermine the likes of Fayose, Ortom, and others in their various States.
A close ally of the Rivers State Governor told Vanguard that Wike, who is not against dialogue to resolve the party crisis, is insisting that Senator Ayu must resign in line with the agreement made before he (Ayu) was endorsed as the national chairman.
Trouble For Peter Obi As Presidential Ambition Comes Under Threat
The former Deputy National Chairman of Labour Party, (LP), Calistus Uju Okafor has tackled the former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi over his inability to settle the crisis in the party.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday, Calistus Uju Okafor, who is currently challenging the constitutionality of the Abure-led national working committee of the party in Court, faulted the claims of Doyin Okupe that he was demanding N48 million to withdraw his case against the party.
Calistus said he is fighting for his right and justice, pointing out that Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party because of the injustice carried out against him.
He stated that he is not going to court for the sake of Obi, noting that his case has been instituted in court since 21st December 2021 before the former Anambra Governor joined the party on May 29th.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
