Tompolo: There’s Fear, Tension in N’Delta over NDDC Board Crisis Says govt must be sincere in handling the issues Sylvester Idowu in Warri A former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo
otherwise known as Tompolo, has warned the federal government over palpable tension and fear in the region, following the inability of the government to constitute a substantive board for the
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Tompolo, who has continued to appeal to the agitators and stakeholders in the region to sustain the existing peace in the region,
said it was important for the federal government to quickly accede to their request as well as handle issues of development in the region with sincerity. Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei
of Ijaw Nation, who made the appeal on Friday night in a statement he personally signed, however, accused multinational oil companies of conspiracies with the federal government.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had promised stakeholders and agitators in the region that President Continued on page 10
Girl, 14, Killed as Lagos Mega Rally Turns Bloody… Page 5 Sunday 4 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9582
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Zamfara Gov’s Defection Stirs Leadership Crisis in State APC Marafa: Buni’s chairmanship illegal, threatens court action Kyari: Matawalle can’t be our leader, Buni lacks power to dissolve EXCO PDP says defector gov’s statement confirms APC is behind insecurity Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri Last week’s defection of
Governor Bello Matawalle from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
has set off a new leadership struggle in Zamfara State as Senator Kabiru Marafa and former Governor Abdul-Aziz
Yari have opposed a directive that the defector governor has automatically become the leader of APC in the state.
Senator Kabir Marafa contended that the APC constitution in section 17(4) forbade Governor Mai Mala
Buni from being the chairman of APC. Continued on page 5
New Draft Electoral Law Bars Electronic Transfer of Results Lawmakers set for showdown this week
Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja A new Electoral Act Amendment Bill which provides for total ban of electronic transmission of votes is to be introduced at the Senate next Tuesday. The provision forms part of the 121-page document to be laid before the upper legislative chamber at plenary by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Kabir Gaya. The proposed piece of legislation is titled "A Bill for an Act to repeal the Electoral Act No 6, 2010 and enact the Electoral Act 2021, to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory elections, and for related matters". But this current draft, which is said to be at variance with what was earlier agreed to
by the committees of the two chambers of the legislature, THISDAY gathered, might result in a showdown amongst the lawmakers, when the draft is tabled for debate this week. This is as the Senate Committee chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya was said to have concluded plans to clear Ms. Laureate Onochie as an INEC national commissioner. The bill, which has 153 sections, is divided into eight parts including Establishment and function, etc of INEC, Staff of the Commission, National register of Voters and Voters' education and procedure at election. Other parts of the bill are political parties, Electoral Offences, determination of election petitions arising from election petitions and Miscellaneous. The draft bill, a copy of which was sighted by Continued on page 8
CORONATION OF THE EMIR OF KANO... L-R: Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, at the coronation of the Emir of Kano, held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano State...yesterday
Macron Meets Adenuga, Dangote, Samad, Wigwe in Paris... Pages 19 & 20