1. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Abudullahi Adamu and five governors of the Progressive Governors’ Forum met behind closed-door on Thursday evening. The meeting which was held at the VP’s residence in Aso Rock, is coming barely five days before the much awaited primary election scheduled for June 6 and 8.

 

2. A presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu, yesterday, claimed that without his support, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have won the 2015 election.

 

3. Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has finally ended his ambition to become the Governor of Enugu State in 2023. The development brings to an end days of speculation that he would join another party after withdrawing from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election in the State.

 

4. A prominent Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged the Federal Government to treat Fulani herders and other aggrieved groups as Niger Delta militants. Gumi made the observation on Wednesday at the ‘Pastoralists and Fulbe Security Conference’ held in Abuja.

 

5. Ezinne Kalu, a player of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Thursday, said she was not likely to represent the country again. The D’Tigress point guard said this via her Twitter handle, following FIBA’s pronouncement that Mali would replace Nigeria at the upcoming 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Australia.

 

6. Condemnation has trailed the alleged sexual assault of a lady, identified as Izzy, at Eko Hotels, Lagos State. The victim narrated that she had a horrific experience at the hotel while waiting for an Uber driver. According to her, a strange man touched her thigh and later punched her for rebuking him over the act.

 

7. Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf, yesterday, lamented what he called the Federal Government’s increasing militarisation of banditry in the country, stating that a million Tucano jets will not solve the problem.

 

8. Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has debunked reports making round the internet that he has now been converted from Christianity to Islam. A report on Wednesday emerged that the actor had embraced the Islamic faith and some Muslims had in reaction welcomed him to their religion, but Iyke denied the report yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pick a presidential candidate that reflects all the values and virtues of the party.

 

He stated this at a meeting with 22 Governors elected on the platform of the APC and the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, at the State House, Abuja.

 

Giving the full statement, the president’s spokesman, Femi Adeshina quoted him saying ”The processes for the 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.

 

”Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.

 

“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.

 

“Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united.

 

”It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the centre, holds the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gains an additional number of states.

 

“In a few days, the party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections.

 

”This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.”