Buhari Overrules IG, Stops Adeleke's Invitation By Police - Newspaper Review

The main headlines of the mainstream Nigerian newspapers for Thursday, September 20, 2018 are focused on the police invitation to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Osun, Ademola Adeleke.

The Punch reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday stopped the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, from inviting the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the governorship election slated for Saturday in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The police had earlier invited Adeleke to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for the purpose of arraigning him on charges of examination malpractices, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, breach of duty and aiding and abetting.

This Day reports that a presidency source said the president directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to suspend the invitation until after the election on Saturday ostensibly to prevent a possible backlash from a weary public that might think the opposition candidate was being harassed.

Expectedly, the invitation drew the ire of PDP, which cautioned the police to desist from acting the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against its governorship candidate.

The Nation reports that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, sat for its examination in 1981.

WAEC’s confirmation is in its response to an order made on September 11 by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja, directing the examination body to produce evidence of Adeleke’s result.

Vanguard reports that hope of a second term for the politically embattled governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, remained far-fetched yesterday, after elders of the state under the aegis of the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) gave him a cold shoulder.

Following the meeting, the governor relocated to Lagos, where he was expected to make further appeals to national political and party leaders.

The Guardian reports that fortune may smile on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up pressure on National Leader Bola Tinubu to back the incumbent’s re-election.The duo has been at loggerheads, with Tinubu supporting a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ahead of the September 29 primary to select the party’s flag-bearer.

Sanwo-Olu reportedly has the nod of the powerful Mandate Group, which is loyal to Tinubu.But indications that the crisis might be resolved in favour of Ambode became apparent following a meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and some APC governors on Tuesday.