It observed that Nigerian journalists fought very hard to achieve its democratic status and deserve a better deal unlike the current situation where many of them struggle with poor conditions of service amidst other challenges, including censorship, harassment, intimidation and in some cases, assassinations. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, who stated this at the eve of the celebration of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day, noted that the society should see journalists as “The oxygen of democracy and agents of change and development”, saying that their constitutional duty which is enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “to hold the goverment accountable to the people” distinguishes them as those who perform essential duty to the nation.
Nigeria’s race for the presidency in 2023 got a little more interesting today as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio declared his intention to run for the office of president in the 2023 elections.
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor made the formal declaration today, Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in front of a massive turnout of supporters of the All Progressives Congress at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium.
Akpabio will be up against the likes of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo;
Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos; Rotimi Amaechi, transportation
minister, and Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor; among others for the ticket.
Earlier today, the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi declared his intention to run for the 2023 Presidential election under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
What you should know
- The ruling party is looking at having its presidential primary election between May 30 and June 1.
- The All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at N100 million.
- The expression of interest form for presidential aspirants is expected to go for N30 million while the nomination form is pegged at N70 million.
- The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is charging its presidential aspirants, comprising N35 million for nomination forms and N5 million for expression of interest forms.
2023: Governor Kayode Fayemi declares intention to run for president
The Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi has declared his intention to run for the 2023 Presidential election under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Fayemi declared this today in a press briefing in Abuja, joining the likes of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and others in the party that have also declared their intentions to run for president.
He stated that he had travelled the length and breadth of Nigeria to consult with esteemed elder statesmen and women, and a cross-section of party members, before arriving at his decision.
What Fayemi is saying
Publicly declaring his intention to run for president, Fayemi said, ”I have been privileged to witness first-hand, the underline commitment and sense of solidarity which Nigerians from all parts of our country share about the promise of our fatherland.
“It has been my singular honour to have been an active part with other committed groups from various works of life labouring with determination towards rapid and sustained national progress.
“It is the spirit of the abiding faith and promised of unfinished greatness, that I stand before you today in total humility and sense of responsibility to solemnly declare to all within our party and Nigerians at large, my decision to accept my name to be put forward for consideration by the All Progressive Congress leadership and membership as our party standard-bearer in the upcoming contests for a successor to our leader President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He also said it is not a decision which he has taken lightly and to have arrived at this point, he carried out a long and deep self-introspection with the help of his wife and family members and colleagues.