Buhari Writes Reps On Why He Rejected Direct Primaries

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the House of Representatives stating reasons why he declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, particularly as it relates to the provision for direct party primaries.

The House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, read the President’s letter on the floor on Tuesday, wherein the President enumerated a series of disadvantages of the system which he said include the manipulation by incumbent officeholders who seek reelections, as well as political parties’ inability to muster the funds to finance it.

The President said the preponderance of the advice he received was that he should reject the Bill, stating that political parties should be allowed to choose either direct or indirect primaries to adopt in the conduct of their primary elections as their respective realities might permit.

Meanwhile, a civil rights movement under the aegis of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre on Tuesday asked the National Assembly to override the assent of the President Muhammadu Buhari, on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill even as it expressed disappointment over the failure of the president to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021

In the same vein, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the National Assembly lacks the temerity to veto President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act amendment bill because it is part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheme to deny Nigerians free, fair and transparent election in 2023.

However, the Senate has gone into a closed session to take a position on President Muhammdu Buhari ‘s refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and the outcome of the meeting would be communicated soon

Avoid Patronising Touts, Pay Online For Passport Application, FG Tells Nigerians

The Federal Government says it has digitized payments for Nigerian passports, advising citizens to avoid patronizing touts and unscrupulous officials when applying for the document.

Minister of Interior,  Rauf Aregbesola, stated this on Monday at the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the rollout of the enhanced e-Passport with polycarbonate data page and other security features.

While unveiling the new e-passports, he noted that the new development was part of the reforms, indicating the migration of international passport application and payments to digital platforms.

Speaking on the new application process, the minister noted that a new timeline has been set for fresh passport application and reissue. #

Zamfara Gov, telecom networks dragged to court over network shutdown

Zamfara Circle, a civil society organization, has dragged Zamfara State government,  mobile telecommunications service providers, comprising MTN, GLO, Airtel and 9mobile, to court, demanding hundred million naira as damages for the deliberate shutdown of their services in the state.

The suit has Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, and the National Communications Commission (NCC) as co-defendants.

In the motion filed in a court in the state capital, the plaintiffs said the shutdown of the network has brought suffering and losses to the subscribers.

Musa Umar and Ahmed Jamilu, on behalf of Zamfara Circle, said the telecoms service providers decided to shut down network in the state on the 3rd September 2021 without obtaining a court order to that effect which was  tantamount to breaching the terms of contract entered into between the plaintiffs and defendants.

The group was also praying the court to determine among others, whether there exists between the plaintiffs and the 4th, 5th and 6th Defendants, a binding contract for the provision of telecommunication services including internet and email.

CBN withdraws $485.4m from external reserves in 17 days

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn over four hundred and eighty-five point four million dollars  from Nigeria’s external reserves since the start of December.

According to the data obtained from the CBN website., the money was withdrawn between December 1st and December 17^th, as Nigeria reserves dropped to forty point six-six billion after hitting a height of almost forty-two billion dollars  on October 29.

Analysis of the data showed December started with the reserves at forty-one point two  billion and consistently fell in the last 17 days.

This trend according to analysts at Cowry Assets Management Limited will persist this week as CBN looks to meet dollar demands during the festive season, adding that the fall in oil prices would make it difficult to save into foreign reserves#

ON THE FOREIGN SCENE

Covid Omicron: Biden buys 500m test kits to tackle surge

US President Joe Biden’s administration is to make 500 million rapid tests for Covid available amid new measures to tackle the surging Omicron variant.

According to a senior official, there will be more vaccines and more support for hospitals, as there was no need for a lockdown, stating that Omicron has become the dominant strain in the US, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all new cases.

The senior official said that unvaccinated people were at high risk of getting sick and 14 times more likely to die from Covid, as the variant was highly transmissible.

The country according to him has launched new federal testing sites nationwide, with the first in New York City, which has seen a massive surge in Omicron#

ON ENTERTAINMENT

Nollywood Actor, Damola Olatunji Detained For Confronting Police Officers

Talented Nigerian actor, Damola Olatunji has been allegedly detained at the Area ‘P’ Police Command, Abesan, Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The Nollywood actor announced the development, in a Morse code distress signal message  sent out on Monday.

The popular actor had confronted a police officer for allegedly slapping his personal assistant at Abule Egba on Monday.

According to Olatunji, the issue with the police officers started after he asked them to release a motorcycle seized from a rider,  as the actor could be seen an Instagram live video accusing officers of the Nigerian police of extorting the public and making life difficult for everyone.

A police officer could be seen trying to hide his face from the camera as the actor recorded the incident, Olatunji, however, has deleted the video from his page.#

IN SPORTS

Premier League Clubs Choose to Continue Matches Despite Covid Outbreak

Premier League clubs on Monday decided against a temporary halt to the season despite a surge in coronavirus cases that has forced mass postponements and threatened to derail the season.

Just four of the weekend’s scheduled 10 games went ahead as Britain battles record numbers of positive Covid cases due to the new Omicron strain.

The Premier League board has been considering applications for postponements on a case-by-case basis but there has been criticism over the decision-making process, with fears it jeopardizes the sporting integrity of the competition.

But on Monday the English top flight, following a shareholders’ meeting involving representatives from the 20 clubs, said games would continue through the busy festive season.

According to reports, clubs were told that no postponements would be permitted if 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper from their 25-man squad list were available.