Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Monday, 20th June, 2022

Political News In Nigeria For Today, Monday, 20th June, 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 Monday, 20th June 2022.

Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.

Defection: Picture Of Nyesom Wike With APC Governor Emerges, Party Chieftain Says Something Is Loading

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe has fuelled fresh speculations that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike may dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

Amidst the rumours of a possible defection by Wike from PDP to APC, Igbokwe on his Facebook page on Monday morning, shared a photo of the Rivers Governor with his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi.

Sharing the picture, Igbokwe added a caption which reads: “SOMETHING IS LOADING HERE AND I WILL NOT TELL YOU.”

Umahi himself belonged to the PDP until his recent defection to the APC, Ezenwoko's Blog recalls.

It will be recalled that after first losing the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP to Atiku Abubakar and then subsequently, the running mate slot to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, rumours emerged that Wike may be set to dump the PDP for another party.

The Rivers Governor who has been very quiet is said to be in talks with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC over a possible defection.

Read more.

2023: INEC Gives Update On Peter Obi, Tinubu, Others Substituting Their Running Mates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday gave an update on allowing the presidential candidate to substitute their running mate ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Ezenwoko's Blog had earlier reported that some presidential candidates submitted the name of a member of their political party as a placeholder to meet the deadline of INEC.

The likes of presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are yet to submit the name of their official running mate.

The INEC's National Commissioner of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye while speaking on Arise TV on Monday said the running mates can only be substituted if only they write INEC, attaching an affidavit.

Read more

Yobe North APC Ticket: I'm Your Senior – Machina Blasts Senate President Ahmad Lawan

The last has not been heard about the controversies surrounding the Yobe North Senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Bashir Machina has insisted he is the rightful candidate.

He said the people are tired of Ahmad Lawan, adding that it is time for Lawan to take a rest and allow the people of the constituency to experience the change they want.

Ezenwoko's Blog recalls Bashir Machina emerged the winner of the Yobe North Senatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress but was eventually dropped for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appeared to have accepted Lawan as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District.

Speaking in an interview published on Monday, 20th June by The Punch, Machina insisted that the party wants to steal his mandate.

He added that he is Lawan's senior in the National Assembly having been first elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 as a 26-year-old.

Read more

Orubebe Dumps PDP, Submits Resignation Letter

Former Affairs Minister, Godsday Orubebe, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

Recall that Orubebe came into prominence in 2015 when he attempted to scuttle the collation of results of the presidential election at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

Orubebe, who was the PDP agent for the election, accused the then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, of bias.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that Orubebe forwarded his resignation letter to the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.

The former minister stated that he has notified his ward chairman in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of his exit from the party.

Read more.

2023: Okotie Begs Tinubu, Atiku To Step Down

The Founder of Household of God Church, Reverend Chris Okotie, on Sunday appealed to the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar to step down for him.

Okotie in his statement expressed his desire to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his duty in 2023.

The cleric called on President Buhari to hand over to him, describing himself as the right person to solve the challenges rocking Nigeria.

Okotie made this call while addressing newsmen at his Church, Oregun, Ikeja when celebrating his 63rd birthday anniversary.

According to Okotie, Nigeria is blessed with all human and natural resources yet we are not moving forward.

Read more.

What Ganduje Said About Oyebanji's Emergence As Ekiti Governor-elect

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has congratulated Biodun Oyebanji on his emergence as the Governor-elect of Ekiti State.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that Oyebanji was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti governorship election held last Saturday.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Sunday, declared the APC candidate the winner of the governorship election in Ekiti.

Oyebanji, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), won 15 out of the 16 Local Government Areas of the state gathered 187,057 votes.

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Segun Oni, came second with 82,211, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bisi Kolawole, gathered 67,457 votes.

In a statement issued on Monday by the state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, Governor Ganduje said the landslide victory recorded by Oyebanji shows that Nigerians across the country trust and have confidence in the APC.

Read more.

2023: Peter Obi Denies Engaging In Vote-buying, Dismisses Viral Pictures

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has reacted to photos of him sharing money during the 2017 Anambra governorship election.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that photos of the LP Presidential candidate allegedly sharing money during the election in 2017 went viral over the weekend.

In the photos, Obi was pictured allegedly sharing money to traders in a market even as they mobbed him after he took the governorship campaign to them.

The former Governor was seen campaigning for the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Oseloka Obaze.

However, some APC and PDP supporters took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to slam Obi for allegedly engaging in vote-buying during the election. They described the former Anambra governor as a “hypocrite and a liar.”

Reacting to the photos, Obi stated that he is a philanthropist and he always shares money to old women in his village when he returns from Akwa, the state capital.

He denied social media reports that he engaged in vote-buying during the Anambra governorship election, adding that he has never induced voters to vote for any candidate.

Read more.

Kano Assembly Elects New Deputy Speaker

All Progressives Congress (APC member in Kiru), Alhaji Kabiru Dashi has emerged as the new deputy speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly.

His emergence, Ezenwoko's Blog understands is coming following the resignation of Malam Zubairu Massu who defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Dashi's election followed his nomination by Mr Sale Marke (APC-Dawakin-Tofa) at plenary on Monday. The nomination according to reports was seconded by Mr Nuhu Achika (APC-Wudil).

Ezenwoko's Blog understand that Dashi's nomination was received favour and immediately, he was sworn in by the director, house legal matters, Malam Nasidi Aliyu at a plenary presided over by Speaker Hamisu Chidari.

The speaker congratulated Dashi on his election and assured him of the house support. The lawmaker accepted the development and appreciated his colleagues for finding him worthy of the new appointment.

Read more.

Mbaka Is My Father, We Are Very Close – Peter Obi Reacts To Clergyman's Stinginess Accusation

Labour party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has reacted to the embattled Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka's accusation of him being stingy.

The former governor of Anambra state during an interview with Rufai Oseni revealed that he bore no grudges toward the clergyman.

Recall that Mbaka during an outburst in a midweek service in his church stated that Peter Obi was too stingy to become the president of Nigeria and insisted it was better to have an old man as president instead of a stingy one.

This statement was followed by a lot of backlashes which led to a ban stopping all catholic faithful from attending Mbaka's parish.

However, Obi has stated that despite Mbaka's angst towards him, he listens to the clergyman when he speaks and described him as a father.

Read more.

Running Mate: Atiku Mocks Tinubu, Obi, Others Over Place Holders

The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has mocked other frontline contestants over their inability to choose their running mates before the expiration of the deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ezenwoko's Blog recalls that Atiku had chosen Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate while other presidential candidates submitted placeholders as running mates.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, submitted the name of Kabiru Masari as a placeholder pending when a substantive Vice Presidential candidate will be unveiled.

Also, the Labour Party presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, chose former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe as a placeholder pending the unveiling of his real running mate.

In a statement he personally signed on Sunday, Atiku said that his choice of Okowa as his running mate shows that he is prepared to govern the country.

He stated that the first and most important decision that any candidate for an executive position in a democracy must make is the choice of a running mate.

Read more.

Why Nigerians Must Not Vote Parties With ‘Political Structures In 2023' – Pastor Omakwu Spills

The senior pastor of the Family Worship Centre, Sarah Omakwu, has asked Nigerians not to vote major political parties with ‘structure' as they have failed to provide basic amenities since 1999 when they started governing the country.

In the video posted on her verified Facebook page, pastor Omakwu urged the people to vote “that candidate that they say doesn't have structure” in the 2023 presidential election as the major political parties have failed them.

She said; “Therefore, you are going to get your PVC, and we are going to waste our votes.

“That candidate that they say doesn't have structure; structure has not helped us.

“Structure has taken away power from us, structure does not have electricity, structure is killing people, structure has left us jobless, structure has killed us; so, we will be structureless and we shall waste our votes.

“Where ever there is (political party) structure, don't vote.”

Pastor Omakwu also faulted the major parties fielding Muslim presidential candidates to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Read more.

‘Why Tinubu Is Yet To Send Prefered List Of Running Mate To Buhari For Approval'

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, is yet to present the names of preferred nominees as his running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari for deliberation and ratification.

Ezenwoko's Blog recalls that Tinubu submitted the name of Kabiru Masari as a placeholder pending when a substantive Vice Presidential candidate will be unveiled.

In a chat with ThisDay, an APC chieftain said Tinubu has yet to submit a list of his preferred persons to the President for approval because he is waiting for the result of a poll he commissioned on his best choice of running mate.

He disclosed that the APC Presidential candidate commissioned the poll to give a more clinical and scientific approach to selecting a running mate.

The source added that Tinubu delayed his choice of running mate for further consultation on the best winning strategy, while at the same time factoring in the country's cultural and religious diversities.

The APC chieftain stated that it was a normal custom that Tinubu should send the list of his preferred nominees to the party and the President must equally buy into the choice.

Read more.

2023: I Am In Talks With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Sunday affirmed that he is in talks with the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The former Governor of Anambra State disclosed this during a panel session at the Men of Valour Conference convened by the Revival House of Glory in Abuja.

This is coming after NNPP debunked the claim that Kwankwaso will deputise Obi in the 2023 general election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Agbo Major in his reaction said there was never a time such a discussion or negotiation was held.

Obi, however, said there is an ongoing discussion with NNPP over a possible merger.

Read more.

Ex-Minority Leader, Abaribe Attacks Buhari, APC Over Alleged Marginalization

The former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has lamented the leadership style of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmaker accused the incumbent government of being fairer to the Northern region of the country than other regions.

Ezenwoko's Blog understands that Abaribe had just resigned as the Senate Minority Leader last week. His resignation from the position was following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Featuring on Arise TV, the lawmaker said the current administration had downplayed non-northern region.

He said President Buhari's administration marginalized other regions, stressing that the president was totally unfair to citizens who are not from what he claims is his own place.

Read more.

That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Ezenwoko's Blog

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