2019: Crisis Looms In PDP Over Vice Presidential Ticket And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

According to Independent, interest groups within the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) are set to engage each other in an open war for the control of the party as the race for 2019 presidential election get underway. A competent source within the party told INDEPENDENT at the weekend that some power brokers within the party who seemed united towards the convention held last weekend have since commenced underground moves to outwit one another in battle for the control of the party.

Meanwhile the The Nation reports that Nigeria plans to lend its neighbours a hand in the anti-Boko Haram war, with its headline reading; $1b Anti-Boko Haramm Battle Plan Sparks Row. The Federal Government requested for $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to bolster the military’s capacity to assist neighbouring countries, Defence Minister Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali said.

The Punch moves to the oil sector to report that Fuel Queues Reappear In Lagos, Persist In Abuja, Others. The lingering petrol scarcity in many parts of the country grew worse on Sunday in Lagos, Abuja, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states as many filing stations were shut. The closure of the filling stations followed threats by members of the Petrolum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria to embark on a nationwide strike from today (Monday).

Presidency, Nass May Clash Over $1bn ECA Approval tops the stories for Nigerian Tribune. According to their reports, a fresh crisis is now looming between the executive and the legislature over the planned $1 billion withdrawal from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight the Boko Haram war as both chambers of the National Assembly resumes plenary today. It was gathered on Sunday that plan had been concluded for a showdown in the House of Representatives with the Presidency over the deduction from the ECA which they claimed was illegal and unconstitutional.

The Vanguard newspaper has also revealed that UK Court Orders Return Of $85m Malabu Oil Loot. After many years of legal fireworks, the United Kingdom has given the final clearance for Nigeria to draw down a whopping $85 million seized from entities embroiled in the controversial Malabu Oil Scam. This was confirmed by the Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, saying the money was not yet in the coffers of Nigeria but would soon be repatriated.

Daily Sun draws the curtain today on headlines, giving an exclusive interview as Governors, Others Felicitate With President at 75.