President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, stating that signing it into law would cause trouble among the political parties in the country.
Specially, the President in a letter addressed to the Senate cited the direct primaries as approved by the National Assembly for picking candidates by political parties in the amended Electoral Act as dangerous to the polity.
The letter of rejection of the bill, which is before the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, is expected to be read on Tuesday at plenary.
President refused assent to it against the backdrop that the parties have their various constitutions that indicate that primaries should be conducted either directly or indirectly, Vanguard reported.
And until such provisions are amended, asking parties to do that through direct means would mean forcing the parties to conduct primaries through direct means which, according to President Buhari, amounts to abuse of the constitution of the party.
The source said, “With all these reasons given by the President, he has returned the bill to the National Assembly, asking the lawmakers to look at the clause that has to do with direct primaries by political parties, work on it and return the document for assent.
There are strong indications that the Senate will be turbulent as the Senators will take a decision on the growing uncertainty in the political atmosphere as the 30 days’ deadline for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Bill elapsed on Sunday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity on the issue, a senator said, “We have the number to override Buhari’s veto.
“But with Senator Lawan, as the President of the Senate, it will be difficult because he operates the Senate as an extension of the Presidency.”
Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) urged the National Assembly to extricate itself from what he described as public odium and disrespect by going ahead to override President Buhari who is All Progressives Congress, APC, just as he said that history stares NASS in the face if indeed it is not a rubber stamp.
Senator Urhoghide said, “We must be reminded that members of the National Assembly are truly the representatives of the people because every constituency and senatorial district seat is allocated to a segment of the Nigerian people who are their constituents.
“The members of the National Assembly consulted with a cross section of their constituents to reach an informed position on any matter of national interest and development.
“The issue of direct primaries in our electoral process has been well canvassed, elucidated, and argued by both chambers and inputs were taken at public hearing from across the spectrum of all critical stakeholders.
“The bane has always been that the greater majority of party members do not have the privilege or right to choose who becomes the party candidate in an election.
“Hitherto, it was the exclusive preserve of the power holders or deep pockets who would always want to control the party.
“The time has come when only popular candidates within the party should be thrown up for general elections.”
Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid
It will be the eighth time there has been an El Clasico in the Spanish Cup final, with the nation’s two most successful club sides set to meet on 26 April in Seville.
Ferran Torres’ first-half effort proved decisive for Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spain forward poking the ball past Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso after Lamine Yamal’s superb pass had split the home defence.
It was no more than the visitors deserved, with 17-year-old Yamal a constant source of danger and Raphinha also twice threatening to extend Barca’s lead.
Unlike the thrilling first-leg tie in February, when Diego Simeone’s side twice scored late on in a dramatic 4-4 draw, this was a tighter and more tense affair without the grandstand finish from Atletico.
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The hosts did have opportunities.
Substitute Alexander Sorloth elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Antoine Griezmann for a tap-in, while the Norway forward was also ruled offside after rattling in what he thought was an equaliser.
However, in truth, Atletico were second best to Hansi Flick’s side for long periods, with the record 31-time winners always appearing relatively comfortable as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions.
The Catalan club remain the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to lose in 2025 and remain on course for a potential quadruple.
Barca, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup this term, lead the La Liga table by three points from Real Madrid.
They also host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 9 April (20:00 BST).
Meanwhile, the final against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Seville will come just over two weeks before a potentially pivotal fixture between the clubs in the Spanish top flight.
Wike congratulates Okpebholo on tribunal victory
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has congratulated Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo on his victory at the tribunal.
The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting on Wednesday, affirmed Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of Edo.
A three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the election outcome.
The petition challenged the result of the governorship election held on Sept. 21, 2024 but was struck out by the tribunal for lack of merit.
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Reacting, Wike, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, urged the governor to remain focused on delivering good governance.
He advised Okpebholo not to be distracted but to remain dedicated to serving the people of Edo.
Wike described the tribunal’s ruling as a confirmation of the mandate freely given to Okpebholo by Edo voters.
The minister expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to bring relief and development to the state.
“This victory belongs to the people of Edo who elected, as their governor, Okpebholo.
“I believe in him, and with the way he has started, his government will positively impact Edo and its people,” he added.
(NAN)
Teacher arrested in Osun for allegedly molesting 7-year-old pupil
22-year-old male school teacher, Rufai Akorede, has been arrested in Ilesa, Osun State, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly molesting a seven-year-old female pupil.
The NSCDC stated that Akorede is accused of “thrusting his manhood” into the child’s mouth in a classroom after school.
Following a report, the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, ordered an immediate investigation, which revealed the alleged molestation began in 2024, according to a statement signed by the state command’s public relations officer, Kehinde Adeleke.
According to NSCDC, in his confessional statement, Akorede admitted to the crime, explaining that after school hours, he instructed the victim to close the windows in the classroom before assaulting her.
“The second incident happened on March 20, 2025, after school hours. It was only the teacher and the girl who were in the class, and he pressed her buttocks,” Adeleke said.
Akorede was arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ilesa, Osun State, on March 26, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in the correctional centre. The trial has been adjourned.
In a separate case, 20-year-old Tiamiyu Samuel was arrested for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl in Gbongan, Osun State.
Adeleke, the NSCDC spokesperson, stated that Samuel had known the victim for three years and, after she rejected his advances, forcibly dragged her into his room on March 23, 2025, with the help of an accomplice.
The suspect allegedly threatened the victim with a cutlass before assaulting her, causing the victim to bleed. He then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
“The accomplice is currently at large but will be apprehended to face the consequences of his actions. The suspect admitted committing the offence and a medical report confirms that the victim’s hymen was broken,” Adeleke said.
The NSCDC has assured the public that once the investigation is concluded, the suspect will be charged in court.
The Osun NSCDC urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and safeguard their children from such predatory individuals. The Commandant also warned that those engaging in such heinous acts will face severe consequences
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