Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Wednesday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State says Nigeria is at “critical crossroads” following what he called “multiple quagmires.” El-Rufai said this while receiving former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was in the State, on a condolence visit over the bandits’ attack on a Kaduna-bound train.

2. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown its presidential ticket for the 2023 election open, abandoning zoning, which has generated heated controversy in recent times. Stakeholders of the party had taken different positions on zoning, with Iyioricha Ayu, National Chairman of the party, saying zoning had come to stay.

3. Reports emerged yesterday that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will formally announce his intention to join the battle for the sole presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday. However, a government source countered the claims.

4. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said any party that violates the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 will not have its candidates on the ballot for the 2023 general elections. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Festus Okoye, said this on Tuesday in a statement.

5. A Kano State High Court sitting at Audu Bako has sentenced a self-confessed atheist, Mubarak Bala, to 45 years imprisonment for blasphemy. Bala, who is the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, pleaded guilty to committing blasphemy against Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

6. A deacon at the Evangelical Church Winning All, Onikoko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Francis Ogunnusi, has died while preaching in the church on Sunday. It was gathered that Ogunnusi was on the pulpit on Sunday preaching against the get-rich-quick syndrome that had become the order of the day in different parts of the country.

7. Terrorists have killed 17 soldiers in an attack at a military base in Polwire, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A source stated that 40 wounded soldiers were taken to the 44 Army Reference Hospital facility, including 17 of them (soldiers) confirmed to have been killed by the terrorists.

8. Gunmen yesterday killed two security men at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. It was gathered that they were killed for attending the prayer session declared by the State government on Monday.

9. A Lagos State Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, yesterday, sentenced a man, Collins Okechukwu, to life imprisonment for raping and robbing a 25-year-old student at the University of Lagos, Akoka. Delivering judgement, Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution proved the charges of rape and robbery against Okechukwu beyond reasonable doubt.

10. Bola Tinubu has lamented the spate of banditry and terrorism being witnessed in the country, saying Nigeria is bleeding. Tinubu, who paid a condolence visit to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday, donated M50 million to victims of the attack.