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

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

1. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the vice-presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 elections will be unveiled in the next few hours. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said Nigerians should be patient as the party is going through a democratic process that will culminate in a running mate that will be acceptable to all.

2. The Federal Government has said issues around the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other three university-based unions are not as simple as Nigerians think. The Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Wednesday.

3. The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has debunked rumour that he will leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike, in a statement signed by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, was reacting to a viral video which claimed the governor was threatening to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

4. Mr Sanusi Garba, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), says Nigerians will witness improved power supply from July 1 following renewed efforts by industry stakeholders. Garba gave the assurance at an interactive session with newsmen after the Second Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) meeting on Wednesday in Lagos.

5. Indications have emerged yesterday that the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has picked the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the preferred running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

6. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said he would seek the presidential ticket again in the near future despite losing his first attempt at last week’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election. He spoke yesterday while interfacing with State House reporters after a thank-you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing him to participate in the exercise.

7. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has raised fears that three airlines may soon shut down operations following the aviation fuel crisis. Though the three airlines were not mentioned, the Vice-President of AON, Mr. Allen Onyema, confirmed that the fuel price has now hit an all-time high of N714 per litre.

8. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party will on Thursday (today) screen nominees for the vice-presidential position. Those shortlisted for the exercise include Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

9. The Yobe North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bashir Machina, has stated that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who currently occupies the seat, did not have a plan to return to the Senate. Machina insisted on not giving the ticket to Lawan.

10. Gunmen have abducted a reporter, Mr Chucks Onuoha, from his country home in Umungasi, Ohuhu, Umuahia, Abia State. According to a family source, Onuoha, who is the Editor-in-Chief of All Facts Newspaper, was abducted around 10pm by hoodlums who scaled his fence.