Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Sunday, 31st 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 Sunday, 31st July 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
2023: Atiku Made Peter Obi A National Figure – Melaye
Former Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye had claimed that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, made the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, a national figure.
Melaye claimed that the former vice president discovered Obi and made him a national appeal when he picked him as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
He said this during the public declaration for Atiku and induction ceremony by the Diamond Ladies in Politics held Saturday evening in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The former lawmaker described the PDP presidential candidate as a talent hunter, saying that Atiku identified the former Anambra governor before his supporters on social discovered him.
2023: Wike Meets PDP Chieftains Behind Closed Door
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is currently in a closed-door meeting with some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News learned that the meeting, which is taking place at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, is being attended by some PDP Governors.
The governors include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.
Also at the meeting are former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke; former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam; former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko and former Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson;
Others are the former governor of Kogi state, Ibrahim Idris; former Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang; Prof. Jerry Gana, and Kano PDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Abacha among other chieftains.
Ebonyi South: Umahi Wins APC Senatorial ticket
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has won the ticket of All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
Naija News reports that governor Umahi scored 250 votes to defeat his younger brother, Austine Umahi and three other contenders for the Senatorial ticket.
In the rerun election held at the Afikpo North Local Government headquarters, the governor’s younger brother, Austin’s Umahi polled 10 votes to place a distant second, while another contestant, Ann Agom Eze scored zero votes.
The election witnessed the presence of various security operatives, APC supporters, and reporters, among others.
Tambuwal Meets Obasanjo Behind Closed Doors
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo played host to Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Penthouse on Sunday, Naija News understands.
Full information about the meeting is yet to be made public but reports said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor met with Obasanjo to discuss national issues.
Special Assistant to Obasanjo on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi confirmed in a terse statement that Tambuwal arrived at the OOPL at about 1:30 pm today with some of his key aides.
The Sokoto State leader reportedly went straight into the meeting with the former President and at about 2:40 pm, they both ended the brief meeting hinged on national issues.
APC Wins All Seats In Ebonyi Local Council Elections
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the winner of the Ebonyi Local Government Area election conducted on Saturday.
Naija News reports that the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Jossy Eze, made this known in Abakaliki on Sunday.
While announcing the results, Eze said the APC won all 13 chairmanship seats in the local government and all the 171 councillorship seats.
The EBSIEC chairman, therefore, commended the electorate for ensuring that the polls were free and peaceful.
All South-West Govs Are Christians – Fani-Kayode Reacts To APC Muslim-Muslim Ticket
A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has weighed in on the continued argument over the choice of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election.
Fani-Kayode, in a post via his verified Twitter page on Sunday, admonished Christians not to fear the single faith ticket by the ruling party, of which he is a member.
Naija News understands that there were concerns raised by the Christians after Tinubu in Katsina State announced former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 elections.
Major stakeholders including Christian leaders have expressed fear of marginalization while some asserted that APC’s single faith ticket was a plot to Islamize Nigeria.
Christian southerners and northern APC Christians leaders, led by former Secretary to the Government of Nigeria, Babachir Lawal and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara had also raised a red flag to the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
However, Fani-Kayode took to Twitter on Sunday to cite examples of how Christian politicians dominated Southwest Nigeria and the Judiciary arm of the Nigerian government.
Atiku Reveals When To Unveil Campaign Structure, Strategy
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said he would unveil his campaign structure and campaign strategy soon.
Atiku made this known on Saturday while speaking at the unveiling of the New Generation project named Rescue Nigeria in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The former Vice President said his campaign strategy for the 2023 presidential election will be centred on polling units in line with the new electoral process.
He stated that the opposition party needs to change its strategy and embark on a grassroots mobilisation plan if it wants to win the 2023 general elections.
Atiku added that the PDP will not have a large campaign council and the party is not going to be engaged in the jamboree campaign as previously done in past elections.
‘Buhari To Blame For Outrage Over APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket’
Elder statesman and former Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Aminu Wali has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari should be blamed for the outrage that greeted the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 election.
Naija News reports that many individuals and groups have kicked against the decision of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket by picking Senator Kashim Shettima.
Following the outrage that greeted the APC and Tinubu’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the ruling party’s Northern Christians had vowed not to support the party in the 2023 presidential election.
Many chieftains of the ruling APC have called on Tinubu to reach out to aggrieved Christian leaders and appease them.
Speaking to Sunday Sun, Wali accused President Buhari of failing to use his authority to avert the religious controversy exploding in the face of Nigerians.
2023: Why Wike Fell Out With Tambuwal – Aminu Wali
Elder statesman and former Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Aminu Wali has dismissed claims that Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State betrayed his friend, Governor Nyesom Wike.
Naija News reports that Wike and Tambuwal had fallen out after the latter stepped down to support Atiku Abubakar to emerge as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s convention.
Tambuwal’s decision was seen as a betrayal because Wike supported the Sokoto governor’s presidential bid in 2018 against Atiku.
But in an interview with Sunday Sun, Wali said Tambuwal only supported who he thinks has the potential to grab the party’s ticket.
2023 Presidency: Atiku Reacts To Wike’s Accusation Of Falsehood
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the accusation made by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of falsehood.
Naija News recalls that the former vice president had in a recent interview said he chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate because he could work with him amicably.
In response to Atiku’s interview, Wike, while speaking with journalists on Friday at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, accused the PDP presidential flagbearer of falsehood.
Reacting to Wike’s accusation, the Media Adviser to Atiku, Paul Ibe, said the party can move forward now that the Rivers governor has responded to his principal’s interview.
He claimed that though some people might want to escalate the crisis, the former Vice President and PDP were focused on bringing the disagreement to a closure.
2023: Atiku Healthier, Experienced Than Tinubu, Others – Melaye
Former Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PD) presidential candidate (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is healthier, fitter and more experienced out of all 2023 presidential candidates.
Melaye stated this during the public declaration for Atiku and induction ceremony by the Diamond Ladies in Politics held Saturday evening in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He argued that there is no basis for comparing Atiku with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Melaye maintained that the supporters of the PDP Presidential candidate are real and organic, adding that Atiku is a billionaire with an enterprise.
The PDP chieftain, however, stated that both Atiku and Tinubu remained the frontrunners for the 2023 presidency.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
This article was originally published on Naija News
