Good morning, here are top Nigerian news for today, May 28, 2022.

INEC ,The Independent National Electoral Commission, has extended the deadline for political parties to conduct primaries.

NAIJA NEWS NG gathered that the commission made this announcement on Friday.

This decision was made by the electoral umpire after a crucial meeting with the leaders of the 18 registered political parties.

INEC said the Inter Party Advisory Commission (IPAC) asked for a 7 days extension to enable parties conclude their convention and primaries.

Engr Yabagi Yusuf Sani,IPAC chairman, appealed to INEC to adjust its June 3rd timeline for the conduct of primaries.

Sani said, “I want to thank you for giving us the very official time to meet with you once again on the issue of how the parties can collaborate with you to ensure that we have a crisis-free election as we conduct our primaries.

Responding, INEC via its Commissioner for information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye on Friday announced the additional 6 days to its formal June 3 deadline.
The statement reads below:

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met with the leadership of political parties today Friday 27th May 2022. Once again, the political parties requested the Commission to review the timelines for political party primaries provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2023 General Election released on Saturday 26th February 2022.

“Earlier, the political parties had requested for 37-60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The Commission was emphatic that this request could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the Timetable. This position of the Commission has not changed.

“However, based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, the parties have now pleaded with the Commission to use the 6-day period between 4th and 9th June 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal.

“The Commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period. The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading same to the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal from 10th – 17th June 2022.

“The Commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct.

“However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The Commission will not monitor already concluded primaries.

“After the conduct of primaries, the next critical activity for political parties is the online submission of the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor which shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidates indicating that they fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into the various offices via the INEC Candidates

“In addition, the Commission, based on past experience, has decided to train the political party officials to make efficient and effective use of the portal. The Commission will train four officials from each of the 18 political parties, making a total of 72 in all.

“Unfortunately, some of the political parties are still yet to submit their nominees for the training. The Commission hereby reminds such parties to do so immediately. The Commission wishes to reiterate that only electronically submitted nominations will be processed.

“Political parties are therefore advised to ensure that their primaries are free of rancour in order to meet the timelines for the remaining activities embodied in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.”

 

APC Fixes New Dates For Its Presidential Primary

Following the extension of deadline for the conclusion of primaries by INEC, APC has moved the date of its presidential primary to June 6th and 7th.

The date was moved from Sunday, May 29 .

INEC in a statement on Friday, extended the dates for primaries by six days.

You would recall that Nigerian political parties had requested for a two months extension of timeline for primaries but INEC refused to grant it.

Enyinnaya Abaribe Joins APGA

After his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has joined the the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
The Nnamdi Kanu supporter told Newsmen that he would be taking part in APGA’s senatorial primaries on Saturday, May 28.
Abaribe who also resigned his position as Minority Leader of the Upper Chamber was contesting the Governorship ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has settled for senatorial ticket.
Chief Ahamdi Nweke member of the APGA Board of Trustees BoT has also confirmed that Senator Abaribe “is now fully with APGA”.

He said: ”The most-ranking Senator in Abia has joined the progressives to deliver Abia from the clutches of the forces that have held the state down.

”He is coming with hundreds and thousands of PDP members who are aggrieved by the lack of internal democracy in the party.”

Anybody PDP Gives Governorship Ticket Will Win In Rivers State- Wike Boasts

Governor Nyesom Wike has confidently said anyone the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gives the ticket will win the 2023 governorship election in the State.

Wike urged the PDP stakeholders in Rivers State to see the emergence of Mr. Siminialayi Fubara as the party’s governorship candidate as an act of God.

After the Rivers State PDP Governorship primary, Wike said many people fought to get the governorship ticket but only one person achieved it.

He said: “With the performance of our administration, and with what we have achieved in this State, there is no candidate that PDP will present that will not win election.

“Our campaign focus will be like this, that we made promises to the State to do roads and other projects, ask us, have we done them? Yes, we have.

“We will ask them (other parties), what have you done for Rivers State? Certainly nothing. So, who tells you that any other party can come and win this State? Let no one deceive you about that.”

Wike added that after the presidential primary, PDP leaders in Rivers would set up a team that would work to ensure that the party wins the 2023 gubernatorial election..

Fubara, the immediate past Accountant-General of Rivers State, described his victory as evidence of grace.

He called on all party faithful to support his victory and the new drive to consolidate on the achievements of Wike’s administration.

He said: “It is not victory for Fubara. It is victory for the party. It is not just victory for the party, but victory to moving the state forward.

“The purpose of this special event this night is also to consolidate on the achievements, on every side, of this present administration.

“We are going to work together to sustain the work that this administration has already done for us.”