Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 18th September, 2022
Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 18th September 2022.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has revealed how some hackers, including some in Asia, attempted to hack into the INEC Results Viewing iRev Portal during the last Ekiti and Osun elections.
Speaking at a forum in Abuja, the INEC chairman stated that the hackers wanted to change the polling units-level results but that they failed.
Naija News reports that the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was defeated by Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun Guber election.
Professor Yakubu, however, assured that the commission had taken steps to strengthen its digital assets with a view to ensuring foolproof security of all its web-based resources.
He also dismissed claims that one of the political parties in the Osun election succeeded in hacking the portal and would present the purported at the tribunal.
The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from calls for the removal of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Naija News understands that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had at a meeting with the southwest stakeholders in Ibadan where the party’s presidential flag-bearer, Atiku Abubakar was present, demanded that Ayu must vacate his position ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Makinde was quoted to have said that southwest leaders have resolved that someone from the South occupy the PDP chairmanship seat to prove their inclusion in the party’s processes.
Other PDP chieftains from the South including Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and former Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Olabode George, who is generally seen as the leader of the PDP in Lagos, have called for Ayu’s removal, stressing that the North can not dominate the party.
But in a statement on Friday the Lagos State PDP, Publicity Secretary, Hon. Hakeem Amode stated that it was not part of such calls.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday released the list of its presidential campaign council ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The list which has the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal as the Director-General of the National Campaign Management Committee of the party has generated heat in the party.
While some party leaders expressed their support for the composition of the committee, some have condemned the party for choosing a northerner as the DG.
In the past few months, there had been division in the party due to Northerners taking charge of sensitive positions in the party.
The issue has seen the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and former national vice chairman of the PDP (South West), Bode George call for the removal of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
They also requested that Ayu’s successor comes from the South to give the region a sense of belonging to the party.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu has been expelled from the party.
The development was disclosed in a statement released by the National Chairman of the party, Ralphs Nwosu on Saturday.
Nwosu revealed that Kachikwu was expelled from the party due to anti-party activities and violation of the party’s constitution.
The chairman of the party said the seven-man panel set up by the party which sat for six days submitted its report on Thursday.
He further stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Friday after reviewing the report, accepted the report of the panel with modification.
The unavailability of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resulted in the temporary suspension of the party’s campaign activities.
Naija News understands that the tight schedules of state governors had forced activities lined up by the APC national leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) to strategically position the party for victory were postponed.
It was gathered that some of the activities include the commencement of the zonal reconciliation visits of all the geopolitical zones, starting with the visit to Kano State in the North West and Borno, in the North East.
Another activity originally scheduled for Monday was the meetings between the NWC’s three-man harmonization committee and the Director General presidential campaign council, Governor Simon Lalong, to finalize the comprehensive list of the presidential national campaign council.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva has been conferred a chieftaincy title in President Muhammadu Buhari‘s home state, Katsina.
Naija News understands that the former Governor of Bayelsa State was conferred the title of ‘Sarkin Kudun Hausa’ by the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk.
The development was confirmed in a letter personally signed and handed over to the minister by the Daura Emir when the Bayelsa man visited the monarch’s palace this weekend.
Faruk noted that in the entire northern region, only the Daura emirate has the power to confer on individuals such titles and Sylva according to him is deserving of the title in recognition of his enormous contributions to the development and oneness of the country, especially the north.
The traditional ruler explained that with the conferment of the title, Sylva now represents the Hausa community in the Southern region of the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja, on Sunday, for New York, United States to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).
Naija News reports that the theme for the 77th session which opened on Tuesday, 13 September, is: “A watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.”
Key topics of discussion at the UNGA this year include; the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit.
President Buhari will take his turn to deliver the National Statement on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, 21 September.
Buhari will also participate in High Level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU); Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will in place of President Muhammadu Buhari, represent Nigeria at the State funeral for England’s late Queen Elizabeth ll, Naija News reports.
Recall that Britain’s long-serving monarch died on 8 September 2022, at Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom (UK), at the age of 96.
A number of events would be held on Sunday through Monday in the UK as the Queen would be finally laid to rest.
In honour of the events, Osinbajo will depart Abuja on Saturday to join world leaders including members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families to sympathize with members of the England Royal Family.
Naija News understands that a funeral service is also scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s letter to attend the funeral of England’s Queen Elizabeth II has been rejected.
Naija News learnt that the late Queen’s son, King Charles III disapprove of the African president’s request over an alleged human rights violation in his country.
Mnangagwa was said to have in a condolence letter to the king requested to honour the Queen’s funeral despite not being included in the list of world leaders that had been invited to the event at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles, however, in a statement by the deputy to the Senior Correspondence Officer, Miss Jennie Vine, said Zimbabwean President’s request could not be granted.
A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has called for the resignation of the opposition party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to give the PDP a chance in the South-west.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, the PDP chieftain said it would be difficult to campaign against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in the region if the north holds all the top positions in the PDP.
According to the elder statesman, Ayu had promised to resign from the position of national chairman if a northerner emerge as the PDP presidential candidate.
He said: “But how do I go on the campaign trip in the South-West and tell the people that look, we are ready and you must vote for our candidate? We must realise that the opposition party has its own presidential candidate from the South-West and he (Tinubu) will tell them (voters) I have the presidential ticket, what does the PDP have on its ticket for South-West?
“Let’s assume the south has the presidential ticket, vice presidential ticket and chairmanship position, how will our PDP brothers from the north take it? Will they be happy? All I am saying is to ensure justice and fairness and if they say they don’t want it, history will be on the side of the truth.”
