No NEC meeting before Edo primary, says APC

The possibility of an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Edo State governorship primary is remote, it was learnt on Monday.

The shadow poll is expected to hold on June 22, according to the guidelines by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) which has directed the chapter to brace up for a direct primary.

However, some party chieftains, including some governors rooting for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term, are mounting pressure on the party leadership to consider an emergency NEC meeting to renew the guidelines on the direct primary.

Obaseki and his supporters, who are resisting the direct primary, are rooting for an indirect primary or delegate system.

But, APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who spoke on preparations for the Edo election in Abuja, said there would be no need for any emergency NEC meeting before the poll.

He said: “Why should there be emergency meeting? What is the emergency? COVID-19? We, NWC, are involved in the day to day running of the party and this is part of the routine we carry out. This is not the first time and whoever said that also is expressing view, which is also allowed in democracy.”

Issa-Onilu, spoke shortly after the party displayed the aspirants’ credentials, was silent on wether the screening committee, which will be set up today, will disqualify any aspirant based on alleged forgery and perjury. (The Nation)

Gov. Sule sacks Secretary to State Government

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed-Tijani.

Ahmed-Tijjani was Commissioner for Education in the administration of Sen. Umaru Al-Makura, immediate past governor of the state.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Hamza Gayam, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Government House Administration, on Monday in Lafia.

The statement said the governor had directed Ahmed-Tijani to immediately handover all government property in his possession to Mr Muazu Adamu-Gosho, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs in the  Office of the SSG.

It said that the governor thanked the former SSG for his services and support to the administration and wished him well in his future endeavour.

Recall that the state House of Assembly ad-hoc committee investigating the release of N1 billion for the renovation/fencing of public secondary schools in the state in 2018, had indicted the former SSG.

Following the indictment, the state legislators asked Ahmed-Tijani to refund over N248.5 million as unaccounted funds to the state government.

The house said the former commissioner displayed blatant inefficiency, incompetency and ineffectiveness in the performance of his official duties and urged the governor to relief him of his appointment.

NAN

Ekiti Assembly to Invite Fayose over Alleged Fraud

Ekiti State House of Assembly has said the House will invite former governor Ayodele Fayose at the appropriate time to make clarifications on some financial dealings he undertook during his reign.

The Assembly said a committee had been set up to discuss Fayose’s invitation with respect to the N10 bn supplementary budget passed 30 days to his exit from office on October 15, 2018 .

The Chairman , House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemisi Ayokunle, said this while speaking on the first year in office of the sixth Ekiti Assembly.

In response to a question whether Fayose had been invited , she said, “ We didn’t invite him, but we were about discussing his issue when he (Fayose) came in here as a meddlesome interloper.”

Recall Fayose last year stormed the Assembly complex in December 2019 , saying he was there to clarify issues after news spread that he was being invited . He was however resisted by the lawmakers.

As part of the activities marking its one year in office on June 6, the Assembly disclosed that a motion mandating the executive to rename Ekiti State Civic Centre, under construction, as John Kayode Fayemi Cultural Centre, was passed, to honour Governor Kayode Fayemi for his unwavering dedication to serve Ekiti people.

The motion was moved by the lawmaker representing Moba 1, Hon. Adeyemi Ajibade, and seconded by his colleague from Ikole II, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, and adopted by the whole Assembly.

Buhari nominates Monica Dongban-Mensem as court of appeal president to the senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the Acting President, Court of Appeal, to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

This was disclosed by President Buhari in a tweet posted this afternoon through his official twitter handle.

The president in his statement said, ”I have sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban Mensen, Acting President Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council”.

Monica Dongban-Mensem who is the most senior Judge of the court of appeal was first appointed in an acting capacity in March 5, 2020, for an initial term of 3 months, following the retirement of the then President court of appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa and subsequent recommendation from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad.

Her tenure in acting capacity was further extended for another 3 months in May 29, 2020, following the expiration of the initial 3 months.

Although some of the critics expressed concerns at the delay in the confirmation of Dongban-Mensen ad the appeal court president, the presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, said that the president is not a rubber stamp and would rather wait for relevant security clearance before her confirmation.

Going further, Shehu said that this is not about ethnicity or religion but rather security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work and as such the president should not be stampeded in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities.

Nigeria Records 315 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 12,801

Nigeria Records 315 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 12,801

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 315 new positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

Lagos State recorded the highest daily figure on Monday with 128 infections, However, Lagos still remains the epicentre for the disease.

Seven deaths were recorded from the virus on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths from the virus to 361.

No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.

Announcing the confirmed cases on its tweet on Monday night, NCDC said the 315 new cases are reported from 14 states- 

Lagos(128), FCT(34), Rivers(32), Edo(28), Oyo(22), Kaduna(20), Gombe(13), Ogun(8), Plateau(5), Delta(7), Kwara(7), Kano(5), Bauchi(4), Katsina(2).

First Ladies Against Gender Based Violence

The First Ladies Against Gender Based Violence

A Communique Issued at the end of a meeting held via zoom conferencing by First Ladies in Nigeria on Sunday 7TH June 2020.

#SayNoToSexualViolence