Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. The Senate is set to amend the Electoral Act to allow for diaspora voting in the 2027 elections. This amendment will enable Nigerian citizens, especially those on essential service abroad, to vote for the presidential elections. The Senate also plans to make electronic transmission of results mandatory starting from the next general elections in 2027.
2. Joint Security Forces, comprising officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Armed Forces, have arrested four armed robbery suspects linked to the Friday robbery in Otukpo banks. The arrests were made along the Otukpo-Taraku road in Benue State. A video clip of the suspects is currently circulating on social media.
3. Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has informed President Bola Tinubu that the Supreme Court can accept fresh evidence of alleged forgery in his challenge of the outcome of the February 25 election. The Supreme Court will begin hearing Atiku’s appeal on Monday.
4. Prof Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called for amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022. He suggests that the President should no longer have the power to appoint the chairman and National Commissioners of INEC, in order to free the commission from political bias.
5. Nuhu Sambo, a 19-year-old student of Al-Azhar Academy in Zaria, has died under controversial circumstances. The Junior Secondary School 3 student allegedly lost his life due to severe beating and corporal punishment by teachers. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, as confirmed by the Kaduna State police command spokesman.
6. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denounced what it labels as “fake news” spread by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) regarding the reconfiguration of the BVAS machines for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State. INEC’s official account on the verified X platform posted this clarification.
7. Nnanyereugo Best, also known as “Killaboi,” a wanted killer who was declared wanted for the murder of his girlfriend, has been arrested in Sierra Leone. The suspect changed his name to Kanu Princeton Samuel and used $25,000 to obtain a Sierra Leonean passport.
8. Engr. Ibrahim Idriss Garba, the recently appointed Borno State Commissioner for Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Resettlement (RRR), passed away at his Guest House in the 777 Housing Estate in Maiduguri, the state’s capital. The cause of his untimely death remains unknown.
9. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed confidence in the party’s victory in the upcoming gubernatorial election on November 11, 2023, in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states. Ganduje made these remarks during an interaction with journalists at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, where he was hosted by the Kebbi State governor.
10. A tragic incident occurred in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, where two children lost their lives and two others sustained injuries when a boat caught fire. The boat fire was ignited by a mechanical fault in the engine, which caused a jerry can of petrol inside to ignite.
