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Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, says Nigeria is one of the safest place to live in despite the menace of Boko Haram terrorists.


Mr Shehu stated this on Sunday while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics monitored by TODAY POLITICS.

The presidential spokesman said the country is safer today than than it was before the coming of the administration in 2015.

He said his principal has curtailed the explosion of bomb blasts unlike what it used to be in the past and has bought about 26 brand new aircraft since he came to power.

The United Kingdom says it is closely watching violence against nationwide demonstrators calling for an end to police brutality and reforms.

Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, made this known on Friday while calling for the protection of people’s fundamental rights.

The protests began last week in various cities across the country and have continued despite the police unit being scrapped. The citizens are citing insincerity on the part of government as reason for not standing down action.

On Wednesday, thugs allegedly loyal to the government attacked most of the demonstrators, inflicting injuries and demanding their automobiles.

“Minister for Africa @JamesDuddridge and colleagues in London following events closely. Hearing disturbing reports of violence against peaceful protesters in parts of #Nigeria. Encourage authorities to protect people’s fundamental rights. @UKinNigeria @PoliceNG,” Ms Laing said in a tweet while responding to a similar notification.

The foreign country might take decisive action against those sponsoring the thugs just like it did to politicians adjudged to have undermined democracy by rigging elections in the country.

The website of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been taken down by Anonymous hackers, an online squad, that has declared support for the ongoing nationwide campaign against police brutality.

The NCDC website is used for providing updates on the pandemic disease still ravaging the country.

This is after it pulled down the websites of the Ministry of Justice; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Also, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Twitter handle is also being controlled currently by the hacking squad.

Anonymous hackers, an online cyber squad, launching attacks on government websites in support of the #EndSARS protests says it looks like President Muhammadu Buhari cheated during the last general election.

The online hackers stated this after taking down and gaining access to the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body which oversees and conducts elections in the country.

“Hey @MBuhari, why does it seem like you cheated in elections?” it queried via its Twitter handle.

Mr Buhari won the 2019 presidential election, according to results announced by INEC, however, his major challenger, Atiku Abubakar, argued that results obtained from the servers of the electoral body showed that he won the exercise.

The matter went upto the Supreme Court and Mr Abubakar lost with the apex court affirming the election of the president.

The website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been hacked in support of campaigns to end police brutality in the country.

This is coming moments after Anonymous hackers, who declared support for ongoing nationwide protests, claimed responsibility for cracking down on the websites of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The activities of hired thugs disrupting peaceful demonstration will no longer be tolerated, the Defense Headquarters warned Thursday.

While nationwide protests demanding the reforms of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the end of its notorious units began last week peacefully, the continued demonstration turned violent in most places where it held this week.

Yesterday, protesters were disrupted by thugs in Lagos State and Abuja, the nation’s capital. Today, their counterparts attacked demonstrators at Osogbo, Osun State capital.

Warning the distractors to steer clear, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, in a Thursday statement, stated that the military would not condone further attacks on the peaceful protesters.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have observed with dismay some violence-related protests across the country, particularly the increasing number of attacks on peaceful protesters by thugs and miscreants,” Mr Enenche said.

“This unfolding event against peace-loving Nigerians will not be condoned. Hence, thugs and miscreants are hereby warned to desist from engaging in violent activities against peaceful Nigerians henceforth, or face appropriate measures,” he added.

The Nigerian Army (NA) has reaffirmed its loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In doing so, the military in a statement today threatened to deal with demonstrators currently protesting against police brutality and calling for reforms of the force.

For over a week now, protests against a brutal unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have been ongoing nationwide.

Although the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS has been scrapped, the citizens have continued to protest, accusing the government of insincerity having once pronounced the security outfit dissolved last year February but did nothing to remedy the allegations of extortions, killings and violations of human rights levelled against the brutal police unit.

In a statement authored by the acting director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, the military indirectly refered to the aggrieved demonstrators as trouble makers warning them to stop protesting or be decisively dealt with.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure law-abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement read.

“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation, the NA reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the country.

“The NA hereby, warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defending the country and her democracy at all cost.

“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively,” it added.

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has moved his personal belongings out of official residence in Maitama.

Credible sources have confimed to TVC News that security agencies in two vehicles visited his personal residence in Karu and may have been looking for incriminating documents.

It is not clear if they have visited his official residence in maitama, but TVC News has also learnt that Mr Magu has removed his personal effects from the Maitama house

The seven-man panel has concluded its sitting today with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi representing Mr Ibrahim Magu.

It is still unclear why Mr Magu is being held and has not returned to his personal or official residence.

Nyesom Wike, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for Edo State gubernatorial election, has threatened to choke into coma, Umar Ganduje, the governor of Kano State.


Mr Wike handed down the threat today in response to that of the Kano helmsman who first threatened to isolate his River State counterpart.

Mr Ganduje had yesterday claimed that he and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will isolate the Rivers State helmsman only for him to recover after the exercise has been completed.

But responding after being inaugurated as the chairman of the 99-man panel of the PDP for the Edo election, Wike said he and his people from the southern part of the country will choke Ganduje into coma.

“Why they made Ganduje the chairman of the campaign council is because of the dollar they saw,” he said, probably referencing 2018 video clips which showed the Kano governor receiving kickbacks from infrastructural projects his administration is executing in the state.

ALSO READ: Defection: Ondo lawmakers begin impeachment process against deputy governor

“But for the dollars, Ganduje would not have been made the chairman of their campaign council. But what they don’t understand is that we from the Niger Delta would chop the dollar and will choke him into coma.


“So, Ganduje, your dollar will not work in Edo State,” he added.

Wike, a PDP governor currently on his second term like Ganduje, defeated predecessor as an opposition candidate seeking the position. He also was victorious when he sought re-election, dismantling plots to ensure he did not succed.

He was one of the PDP bigwigs whom Godwin Obaseki, the state governor of Edo, ran to for help when the APC disqualified him from using its platform for seeking a second term in office in the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 19.

Mr Obaseki, has succeded in securing the ticket of the PDP.

The scheduled National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) scheduled for tomorrow has received legal backing.


Victor Giadom, the factional acting national chairman of the ruling party, had called for the NEC meeting. He choosed the Presidential Villa, instead of the party headquarters, as venue of the meeting.

Already, President Muhammadu Buhari has recognized his leadership as the authentic lawful authority in the APC. The Nigerian leader and some governors will be present at tomorrow scheduled for tomorrow.

Authorising Giadom to go ahead with the NEC meeting is a High Court of Justice sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The order was made upon the application of the chairman of Plataeu APC, Mr. Letep Dabang, who is also a member of NEC.

Mr Dabang, complained that by the provision of the APC constitution regarding the convening of a quarterly NEC meeting has been serially abused and ignored by the present NWC.


ALSO READ: Amaechi speaks on APC crisis, denies involvement

The prayers of the applicants contained in suit no: PLD/J258M/2020 was granted by Justice N.L. Musa today.

Below are the certified copies of the order.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again shifted its Edo governorship primary wherein the candidate of the party in the September 19 election is expected to emerge.


The primary earlier scheduled to hold today was shifted to June 23 but has now been scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 25, 2020. The opposition party took the new decision after Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, joined its fold.

Mr Obaseki who was disqualified by the All Progressive Congress (APC) from participating in its primary was also granted waiver by the National Working Committee (NWC) to participate in the Thursday primary of the PDP.

Spokesman of the opposition party, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Friday, said the action of the NWC is pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of the PDP constitution and in exercise of the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under Section (50)(3)(b) of the PDP constitution.


“The National Working Committee (NWC) in exercise of the above powers has ratified the application for waiver by the ward, local government & state executives of the party in Edo state and accordingly grants waiver to H. E. Governor Godwin Obaseki to enable him contest the gubernatorial primary of the PDP,” the statement partly read.

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“Also the NWC has further shifted the Edo state governorship primary from an earlier slated date of Tuesday, June 23 to a new date of Thursday June 25, 2020,” it added.

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Godwin Obaseki, the embattled governor of Edo State, visited his counterpart and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel.

Mr Obaseki met Mr Emmanuel at the government house in Uyo at the state capital. The Edo governor also visited Nyesom Wike, Rivers State governor.

His visits to the state governors belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came two day after he was disqualified from participating in the primary of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Although reason for the visit is still unknown, it might not be unconnected to rumored speculations that the embattled governor, who is at war politically with his predecessor and national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, is planning to decamp to the PDP in a bid to secure another term in office.

Mr Oshiomhole is hell bent on ensuring his successor does not secure another term in office. The incumbent Edo helmsman said he is currently consulting and will make his position known when he finalises it with the president.

ALSO READ: Edo 2020: Obaseki 'consults' Wike after APC disqualification

Mr Emmanuel faced same fate as Obaseki when he sought the second term which he is currently doing. His predecessor and current Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, wanted frustrating his second term but failed to even realised his senatorial ambition at the last general election.

Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor has said his next political move after being disqualified by his party will be made known after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Obaseki, disqualified from participating in the party primary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is rumored to be consulting leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the intention of securing the ticket of the opposition party to enable him stand for the guber poll.

Alleged discrepancies in his academic credentials, though was questioned by the PDP when he sought being elected as governor in 2016, is largely responsible for his ousting from the APC primary.

The ruling party said by doing so it was trying to avoid a repeat of what transpired in Bayelsa State where though the party emerged victorious in the guber poll, disparities found in the certificate of the deputy governorship candidate led to it loosing grip of the state.

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The governor who has been at war with his predecessor and national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, while thanking his supporters for their solidarity, said he will not be making any political move soon aside from going ahead with consultation. He added that after his scheduled meeting with his supporters and Mr Buhari, he will then go public with his next line of action.

Before he was disqualified for the June 22 exercise, he had met with the president with a view of getting him to settle the misunderstanding between him and his predecessor.

Already, one of his aides told TODAY POLITICS that the governor is hell bent on contesting in the coming governorship election slated for September 19.

“I appreciate the sustained show of solidarity, support and goodwill from Edo people and Nigerians in the face of injustice by the @OfficialAPCNg screening committee,” the governor tweeted Sunday afternoon.

“I will be making my next move known after I complete consultations with my supporters and meet with @MBuhari,” he added.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to the State Government, has given reason why Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was disqualified.


The governor, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen were ousted from participating in the party primary slated for June 22, where the flag-bearer of the ruling party in the September 19 governorship election will emerge.

While the trio were disqualified, Mr Ize-iyamu, who enjoys the support of Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party, was cleared for participation.

Messrs Obaseki and Oshiomhole are politically at war with each other shortly after the latter succeeded the former in office.

In a statement by his spokesman, John Maiyaki, the former SSG explained why his colleagues were ousted saying the governor was deemed ineligible “over multiple inconsistencies in his presented academic certificates, including a Higher School Leaving Certificate the Governor claimed to have obtained from an Institute of Continuing Education in Benin City, Edo State.”

Godwin Obaseki, the state governor of Edo State, will contest the Edo governorship election despite being disqualified by his present party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a bid to actualize his re-election bid.

The governor was disqualified from participating in the primary of the ruling party where its governorship candidate will be chosen for the September 19 gubernatorial election.

Two other aspirants were also disqualified in the race that had six aspirants including the governor. However, Osagie Ize-iyamu and two other aspirants scaled the screening and are expected to slug it out on June 22.

In a chat with TODAY POLITICS, a close aide to the governor described the development as injustice and insisted that his principal is currently exploring other options left in his bid to actualize his re-election bid.

“My principal will contest the September election, take that from me,” the source who pleaded anonymity said.

“Expect his exit any moment from (the APC) now. He already knew he was not going to get justice as long as that comrade (Adams Oshiomhole) is still the one piloting the affairs of the APC,” he added.

ALSO READ: Obaseki reacts to his disqualification from Edo APC primary
When asked which political party the governor was making plans to defect to, the aide refused to disclose, saying “its too early to tell you but consultations are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, the governor has said it will be effort in futility attempting to appeal the decision of the screening panel which ousted him.

“It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into. The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice,” a statement signed by his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, partly read.

“We have therefore decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party.

“We wish Oshiomhole luck in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice.

“We call on all party members and the teeming supporters of Governor Obaseki to remain calm and await further directives.”

A Federal High Court in Edo State has barred the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) from conducting primary to choose its governorship candidate.

Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has denied betraying Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Mr Obaseki, who is interested in retaining his position as the state governor, made the denial on Wednesday after submitting his expression of interest and nomination form to the party at its National Headquarters.

Addressing reporters after the submission, the governor narrated how he assisted the former governor reclaim his mandate at the court after being defeated at the poll by Oserheimen Osunbor, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when Oshiomhole contested for governor after leaving the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).


Oshiomhole had ran as governor under the defunct Action Congress (AC), one of the merger parties than formed the now ruling APC.

Messrs Obaseki and Oshiomhole have been testing their nights in a bid to showcase who is more popular in the state politically. The APC helmsman is hell bent on frustrating the governor and ensuring he does not secure another term in office.

“In life, everybody gets helped, everybody gets assisted. The person you talked about (Oshiomhole), he had no money when he left labour to contest. We knew what we did to make him Governor,” Obaseki said.

“I sacrificed eight years of my life pro bono, I collected no kobo to serve him in Edo. Today, we know what we have built because of where we started from. So, when you talk of betrayal, the biggest betrayal can be when people betray a cause, when they betray an idea.

“So, when you talk about betrayal, let us be very clear. I want to put it on record that I am grateful, he assisted me just as I assisted him. I know the sacrifices we made to make him national chairman,” he added.

The governor also warned the national chairman to steer clear of the party primary slated for June 22 because, according to him, the former governor is an interested party.

“I am using this opportunity to call on Comrade Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party,” Obaseki advised

“It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case. So I think the honourable thing to do is to recuse himself and let us have a free process and let us reconcile and build our party.

“I believe that ours is a lawful party and we will do things according to the Constitution of our party. So, direct or indirect, I am certain I will win the primaries but we have to respect our constitution and follow our constitution,” he added.

Obaseki is expected to face Osagie Ize-iyamu, another aspirant of the party believed to enjoy the support of the former governor.

Officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) dispatched to Kogi State to help confirm if it is truly Coronavirus-free have fled the state.

On arrival, the state governor, Yahaya Bello, who received the delegation said the team will have to isolate themselves for 14 days before being allowed to discharge their duties or return back from where they came from.

TODAY POLITICS learnt that Mr Bello gave the order after noticing that a member of the delegation violated the normal practice of the NCDC when he shook hands with an official of the state government.

But speaking during the press conference of the Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus disease on Friday, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said those sent to the state have returned without accomplishing their mission.

“The Ministry of Health team sent to Kogi State has returned to Abuja without mission accomplished. New efforts will be made to engage Kogi authorities for resolution of differences,” Mr Ehanire said.

ALSO READ: Why Supreme Court is right in quashing Orji Kalu's conviction - Lawyer
“Kogi State is one of the few states that have said that they do not have COVID-19 patients, and they seem to be sure of that.

“The agreement we have had with them after discussions with the governors (Kogi and Cross River) is that we should send a delegation to the states just to validate that fact and to be able to engage the state governors and commissioners of health and also other public health authorities for validation.


“Of course, we need that for our national records and to be able to report to the world what the situation is in our country because by now the whole world knows that we do not have any record from these two states.

“We tried to send a team of the Ministry of Health and the NCDC into Kogi State yesterday (Thursday) but there were some differences there as to processes.

“This will mean that we need to re-engage the state governor again and work with him and his team to create the conditions under which the Ministry of Health and the NCDC can complete their job,” the minister said.

The Supreme Court has nullified the conviction of Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia North Senatorial District.



Mr Kalu, prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was sentenced to 12 years for 7bn fraud when he held sway as Abia governor.

In its ruling on Friday, the apex court nullified the sentence and ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal high Court to reassign the case for a fresh trial.

Details later.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced the Coronavirus status of individuals and health workers exposed to the deadly virus during the funeral of Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Kyari died last month and has been buried. He is said to have died while on self-isolation after he manifested symptoms of COVID-19.



One of the health workers at the funeral who assisted in burying the deceased did not properly dispose the protective garment he wore, thereby drawing criticism from Nigerians.

After the public outcry, the government traced those involved and quarantined them.

In a statement by the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA, Muhammed Kawu, said those involved have completed their 14 days isolation and have tested negative for the pandemic disease.

“The Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCT Administration is happy to announce that the individuals exposed during the burial of late Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, have completed their 14 days of isolation,” Mr Kawu said.

“Tests were conducted on them and they have all tested negative for COVID–19. They have been reunited with their families,” he added.

The 9th National Assembly has been accused of receiving kickbacks from every loan it approves for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Headed by Ahmad Lawan, the legislative arm of government is often referred to by critics as a rubber stamp assembly.

The National Assembly is made up of two chambers; the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Mr Lawan and the House of Representatives which Femi Gbajabiamila overseas its affairs.

When the Senate reconvened for plenary Tuesday, approved the change of source for a previously approved N850bn loan and adjourned indefinitely, critics again took the red chamber to the cleaners.

For Timi Frank, a former National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the present national assembly is the problem of this country.

He accused the legislative arm of receiving 10 percent as kickbacks of every loan it approves for the president.

“9th Assembly is Nigeria problem. They’re ‘Copy & Paste’, they’re worst than rubber stamp. That’s why they cannot say ‘No’ to all the loan requests from @MBuhari,” Mr Frank said in a tweet Saturday.


“Becos they’re beneficiaries of the loans. They have 10% from all the loans. These people are worst than COVID-19!” he alleged.

Timi Frank
@RealTimiFrank
9th Assembly is Nigeria problem. They're 'Copy & Paste', they're worst than rubber stamp. That's why they cannot say 'No' to all the loan requests from @MBuhari. Becos they're beneficiaries of the loans. They have 10% from all the loans. These people are worst than COVID-19!

Ajibola Basiru, the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, was not reachable for comments.