At Last, PDP NEC Throws Presidential Ticket Open, Recommends Consensus Governors pledge support towards repositioning party Mark heads convention committee Chuks Okocha in Abuja After some back and forth over a period of time, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has finally adopted report
of the national caucus of the party, which approved the report of the 37-man committee that threw open the presidential ticket of the party. Before the NEC, PDP stakeholders had met at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge at 10 am, but
no resolution was reached and the meeting was adjourned for further consultation. However, while the meeting was adjourned to 8pm, the Board of Trustees (BoT) too met at 7pm, where the report was adopted.
But before the NEC and BoT meetings, it was agreed to adopt zoning in subsequent elections, and, due to time factor, the presidential ticket of the party should be thrown open. The NEC and BoT, therefore,
urged the party to work towards a consensus candidate, if possible. The report of the 37-man committee was signed by 36 members, except the member from Imo State, Nze Fidelis OziChukwu. According to the communique,
"The 2022 National Zoning Committee, after extensive deliberations on the mandate given to it by the National Executive Committee of our great Party, at its 95th meeting Continued on page 56
Nigerian Firm, Five Other African Start-ups Make WEF's Technology Pioneers' List…Page 10 Thursday 12 May, 2022 Vol 27. No 9893. Price: N250
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UNICEF Decries 18.5 Million Out-of-school Children in Nigeria… Page 5
2023:Nwajiuba,Onu,AkpabioResignFollowingBuhari’sDirective Amaechi, Malami, Sylva, Ngige, others yet to comply I will consult with president, my constituents, labour minister declares They have up till May 16 to vacate office, says Mohammed It’s with immediate effect, Shehu clarifies CSOs commend president Deji Elumoye, Michael Olugbode and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations,
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, resigned from
their respective positions following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that ministers in
his cabinet who were desirous of running for elective offices should resign forthwith.
However, Minister of Labour and Continued on page 10
Concerns Mount over N'Assembly's Amendment of Electoral Act to Boost Lawan’s Chances Senior lawyers split on A'Court’s voiding of judgment striking down Section 84(12) of Electoral Act Despite ruling, appellate court insists section unconstitutional, breaches Section 42 (1)(a) of Constitution Alex Enumah in Abuja
Some Nigerians have expressed concerns that the National Assembly’s latest amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, to allow statutory delegates – all those elected – to participate and vote in the conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties, saying it was designed to boost the chances of the Senate President, Ahmad
Lawan, who recently joined the 2023 presidential race under the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is just as the decision of the Court of Appeal yesterday which set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia State which voided the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, Continued on page 56
Public Utilities Affected as NGMC Shuts Down SECOND TERM FOR ABIODUN LOADING... Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo; Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako Oyedele; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and Gas Supply to Ossiomo Power in Edo... Page 6 L-R: National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungun, during Abiodun’s submission of his nomination form in Abuja... yesterday