Here are 10 national and political news that made the front page of major newspapers across the country in 2022. The stories shaped 2022 and are expected to have an influence on the coming year.
- Buhari signs Electoral Act Amended 2022
In February 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Electoral Act Amended, which is expected to bring a transformation to the electoral system in Nigeria. The law was signed in the presence of Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Some of the benefits of the Act include financial independence of INEC and early release of election funds to INEC, early conduct of primaries and submission of candidate list, Aspirants have power to institute action for false information, legal backing for electoral voting and transmission of results, provision of central electronic voters data base, political appointee not eligible as a voting delegate or aspirant amongst others.
2. INEC offices torched nationwide
The facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission have been getting torched by hoodlums and gunmen across the country. Just recently, INEC issued statistics that showed that its facilities in the South-East suffered the most attacks, with Imo State leading the chart in the region. Attacks have also been recorded in the South-West and other regions. This all started in 2021 but has increased in frequency since the beginning of 2022. Reacting, National Commissioner, INEC, Festus Okoye, who appeared on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme, warned that the attacks poses grave danger to electoral business, especially with the 2023 general election around the corner. He said, “We believe that those who are engaged in these attacks should leave the commission alone to prepare for the conduct of the 2023 general election because if these attacks continue up till next year, it’s going to pose a grave danger to electoral business and electoral continuity and the commission does not want to get into a situation where we are going to get into constitutional crisis because of the conduct of our election.”
- Atiku becomes PDP presidential candidate
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar became the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party by defeating Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and others in the party’s preidential primary. The party’s ticket had been expected to be zoned to the South because President Muhammadu Buhari who occupied the seat was from the north. Also, the national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, is from the north. However, inclusiveness was thrown away when Atiku, who is a northerner, emerged PDP flag bearer. This led to a crack in the party as Wike and four other governors, now known as G-5 governors, kicked against the current setting of northerners holding the two most of most important positions in the party. The G-5 governors were still at loggerheads with Atiku in the battle for the soul of the party as of the time of filing this report.
- Tinubu emerged APC presidential candidate
Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, emerged as the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress. His emergence seemed unlikely amid reports that he didn’t have the backing of President Buhari despite helping the latter to become president in 2015 after many failed attempts. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Ahmad Lawan were reportedly the choice successor for Buhari. However, democracy had to take its course as there was no consensus candidate by the APC. Before the presidential primary of the APC, Tinubu had angrily lashed out at those not rendering support for his ambition. Speaking in Abeokuta, in the presence of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Tinubu recalled how Buhari won’t have been able to become president without his assistance. He also slammed Abiodun who apparently was supporting the camp of Osinbajo who hails from his state. The heated speech by the former governor of Lagos gave birth to a slogan, Emilokan, meaning ‘It’s my turn.’ The word spoken by Tinubu was seen by many as his undoing, and speculations followed that he may have stepped on toes with his speech. However, Emilokan became his slogan for the 2023 presidency, especially after he emerged APC presidential candidate following the stepping down of many contenders.
- Labour Party emerges third force
The Labour Party has positioned itself as the third force in Nigeria’s political space following the level of success and publicity it has been able to garner since announcing former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as presidential flagbearer. The party has seen its support base more than triple to the extent that many hold the belief that it will win the 2023 presidential election. Rallies have been held for the party in major states across the country and the party is currently holding presidential campaigns across the country. Its candidate, Obi, has been tipped ahead of other presidential candidates by several online polls.
- Muslim-Muslim ticket
The debate about a political party fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket still rages on months after it became the reliance of the APC to retain power in 2023. The first time such a joint faith ticket was fielded was in the 1993 presidential election when the Social Democratic Party presented the late MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, both being Muslims. The ticket won the election in a landslide and was the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. Sadly, the election was annulled by the military regime of General Badamosi Babangida. This formula has now been employed by the APC which fielded Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as its flagbearers. However, the ticket has been Kicked against by many claiming to be of the Christian faith. According to them, Tinubu belittled Christians from the northern part of the country when he picked Shettima as his running mate.
- Ariwoola confirmed as CJN
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was in September confirmed by the Senate as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria. This was following a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking Ariwoola’s screening and subsequent confirmation while he held the role in the acting capacity. Ariwoola held the acting capacity following the resignation of his predecessor, Tanko Muhammad, on June 27, 2022. He became the third CJN since the inception of the Buhari administration. Walter Onnoghen held the post before Muhammad.
- Adeleke eventually wins Osun governorship election
Senator Ademola Adeleke emerged as the winner of the Osun State governorship election by defeating incumbent Gboyega Oyetola. Adeleke, who got the governorship ticket of the PDP following the demise of his brother, had earlier lost to Oyetola four years ago.
- Lagos-Ibadan expressway traffic
Except you are one of those who travel via the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, you will never understand the stress motorists and commuters face on the road. This is all due to the reconstruction work going on on the Magboro to Berger section of the road. Commuters do spend up to five hours on the section of the road that normally shouldn’t cost them more than 15 minutes. The traffic situation often gets worse when there is a broken down trailer on the road. Such usually leaves the traffic situation extended into Mowe in Ogun State. Stories about the gridlock were frequent in the national dailies. As of the time of filing this report, the company carrying out reconstruction work has suspended activities on the interstate road, for now, to enable Nigerians to enjoy Yuletide.
- CBN redesigns naira notes
When the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that it would redesign naira notes, many received the news with mixed feelings. The Apex bank’s decision is to checkmate kidnappers and fraudulent people who have naria notes stashed at home. It is also aimed at sending kidnappers into a confused state and make them come out with the naira notes they received as ransom for their kidnapping activities. When further explanations were given by the CBN, a large number of Nigerians accepted the policy but made a mockery when the new notes surfaced. According to them, nothing changed in the designs other than colours.