 As the 2023 general election draws closer, party primaries are on in full swing. We look at the politics of party primaries and delegates on the programme today. Also on the breakfast, it was a day of intrigues and drama. As the PDP held its governorship primaries yesterday, we take a look at what transpired and analyzed the chances of the winners. As usual, we have interesting and in-depth analysis of today's new super headlines and of the press. Good morning. It's a beautiful, beautiful Thursday morning right here in the city of Lagos. We're reaching you live from Plus TV Africa Studios in Victoria Island, Lagos. You're welcome to Off the Press. You're welcome to the breakfast. My name is Kofi Bartels. And I am Masiboko, beautiful Thursday morning right here. And it's really great to be back on your screen. Masiboko, you're glowing. I mean, every day is just a new glow. A new glow, I don't know. You know how it is to say it now. You won't wash me. Yesterday was quite a drama field day. Looking at the PDP primaries, information was coming out almost every hour that these people had become. This one had pulled out of the race and I will spend some time to look at the governorship primaries of the PDP. Some interesting results, you know. Some people pulled out of the race in some states, like Inugu states and Abia states, surprisingly. But the big one was Pitobi pulling out of the People's Democratic Party altogether. I think we'll have time to look at that as we go on. And of course, talk about it in depth right here. But that was really, really surprising to a lot of people. I saw the message first on WhatsApp and I ran to Twitter. The first thing that came to my mind was at all. You know, it's one of those fake news attempts that we see. You know, someone must have doctored it. Where did they even get the stamp of the PDP? I said, oh, so something was totally unexpected. Only to head to his Twitter account and see that as a first tweet on his Twitter handle. And I just said, okay, let's look at the comments. It was interesting to see, mercy that one of the comments or replies to Pitobi's announcement was a young man who goes by the name Obong Ekbe. That's the student under Obong Ekbe who is a member from what he seems of the PDP in Aquabomb state. He showed his PDP membership card. He showed the back, the outer part, took a picture of it, and opened, showed the inner part, took a picture of it. We showed his face, showed his name, showed his membership of the PDP. And he'd been paying his registry or paying whatever they paid since 2018 in his ward in Aquabomb state. And then after the third picture was the picture of the card torn to shreds, torn to shreds. And he says, I've torn my PDP membership card, Pitobi, wherever I go, I go. I can't be in a party that puts party interests ahead of national interests. It was interesting to see. Very interesting. So I mean, there's a lot surrounding his resignation yesterday. You could also say that the microblogging platform, if you look at the tweets that's been on top of the chats, has been that of Pitobi's resignation, has been that of, you know, you see the PDP, you would see a lot of tweets and up until this woman, I mean, the reactions are still pouring in and all of that. And so, surprisingly for some people, it would be like, oh, really? He has this followership whether or not is via Twitter because people have said that. I mean, what you have on Twitter and what you have in real life, different things entirely. And so those who are on Twitter and those who are or those who will be on ground or those who understand the dynamics or those who have accepted him to different, you know, sections and category. But it's a very dicey one. Now, first of all, the electoral act, as it is, does not allow you to, you know, go through the cycle so you cannot contest, you know, the primaries in a party. If you lose, then you used to do it before. Yes. So I lost. Game going by, the candidature of another party. So it doesn't allow. Maybe a Labour Party. Now, a lot of people have told that, okay, this would be it because majorly, so many persons are asking what it is. They're also insinuation that it's possible that you have some persons, powerful persons in the party who were threatened that they would suspend him or he's foreseen what the outcome would be. And that's why he decided to take a bow and walk away. So he doesn't want to be caught in that electoral act's web of not being able to decamp like they used to do. Exactly. Not being able to decamp. But also, so if that's the case, because that part of the electoral act does not allow you to decamp. I mean, you can't just be everywhere at the same time. You can't be here and the PDP contest the primaries and then decamp to another political party because it doesn't favor you. It's not football. And also, you know, try to pitch your tent there and vie for the same position. Now, that part of the constitution. Another part of the constitution, I mean, not the constitution of the electoral act also. You look at section 77 of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022. I'd like to read it. It says a political party registered under this act shall be a body cooperate with perpetual succession and common seal and may use and be sued in this corporate name. Now, every registered political party shall maintain the register of its member in both hat and self copy. Each political party shall make sure re-register or the register is available to the commission, not later than 30 days to the commission, not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the party primaries or Congress convention. So two things right now, very nice. You look like a lawyer. No, I'm not a lawyer. You dress like a lawyer. I'm telling you. I'm just saying that it's very nice. So one of the things that the reason he did this is because you can't do that because of the election. He doesn't want to be like this. Because if you already see the sign and it's difficult for him to go ahead and contest. But it's also section of the constitution, I mean of the electoral. Why do I keep saying the constitution? The electoral act section 77 also is difficult. I really don't know how he's going to do it. And some persons are saying, why didn't you see this before now? Because it feels like the INEC that we have now, the INEC is very resilient. They feel like we're not going back. What we have said, we have said, we have stamped it and it's sealed. There's no going back on this one. And so it's quite dicey. So everybody has to answer their father's name? Yes. It's like it's game over for, you know, Pitalbi. So for that, for that, I think it maybe has to do with them. If you participate in the primaries, like you said. But if, like you said, if you participate in the primaries and then you lose, like some of our politicians have been known to do in the past, is ah, I lost a Labour Party. Sorry, I'm calling Labour Party because I mean, from what I've seen, the other ones that usually people go to, a Labour Party. Chairman, let's see, let's meet. I want that ticket, you know, and then you pay and then they give you the ticket. And so they're saying that it's not, if you want to join a party and go through processes there, if you lose, you lose, go home. Or just go home and lick your wounds. I think from what you've said, which is a fantastic reminder, that maybe he is trying not to be caught like this, hand-stired. Because for now he hasn't participated in any party primaries anywhere. And he's even gone ahead, not just to say, I know do. But to say, I did go, I did pack my own go, I did go. In other words, he's no longer a member of the PDP. So I think he still stands a chance of, of course he has not yet followed on what you've said, which is quite interesting, that provision you mentioned from the electoral act of clause. It's quite interesting. Merci. You know, I was having discussions with some people yesterday and the people are so disappointed. In fact, one gentleman was so bitter. He goes, oh, I'm so bitter. He said Peter has let him down. No. It was serious. People were, some people were bitter. You had the crowd who said, we move with you. And so we had to remove crowd. And we had the crowd who felt let down. That they don't care where he's going to. As far as their consent is over for Peter to be, you understand. And so this now brings in question, whatever party he goes to, whether it's NNPD. He can't even go to any other party. I think he can. Why? Because I just told you about section 77 of the electoral act 2022. That says that, you know, at this point in time, what time are you going to have? Can I read it again? So, what date are we today again? Today's the 26th. Yeah, the party primary's end on June 3. Yes. So June 3. Now if you look at this part of the electoral act, section 77, it says that, that every registered political party shall maintain a register of its members with both hat and soft copy. And each political party shall make such register available to the commission not later than 30 days. True. Not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the party primary. Okay. And I like to say that. So that 30 days is now an issue. Exactly. Okay. So today is May 26th. June, today is 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th. Is there a 31st? No. Are you sure his name is not another party's register? It can't be. That would be... Are you sure? I don't know but... I mean, there are people who are members of two parties. No, so because if you look at this particular clause, he just feels that, oh, you're too late. It's over for him. It's over for him. We don't know but, I mean, this is Niger. A lot of things can actually happen. Let's see. Let's see what happens. You know, let's move on. Let's move on. We'll have some time to talk about it. Very interesting. So we have a police officer who has been calling on Nigerian medical providers or health care facilities, let's call it that, to treat gunshot victims without asking upfront for police report. We all know that most times when a victim is taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound, GSW, he will be turned back because the hospital may be afraid, the staff may be afraid to treat him. They'll be afraid because of the police, maybe they come for an investigation, they might be implicated. That fear causes them to say, oh, go and bring a police report before we can treat you. Because when a victim is bleeding, what time does he have, what time do his rescuers have to go to a police station and start applying for a police report? It doesn't make sense. So a superintendent of police, S.P. Benjamin Houdain, he is Houdain, is a public relations officer of the police in Lagos, he has been tweeting, you know, he tweets quite a number of times, puts out some good content. It's interesting. He said that he's shocked to learn that a few doctors still request police report before treating gunshot victims. He went on to say kindly provide immediate medical attention as stipulated by the medical ethics, then notify the police accordingly. One of our commandments remains, the protection of life is what he said. So here's a call for the health care practitioners to do the right thing. Doing the right thing. So it feels like you had the president re-echoing that he just had to echo that part of the electoral act, those who were the constitutional or the law, let's even leave it at the law, saying that, oh, if you have an ambition, you have to resign. Those were political appointees and that's what it is. So I also think that this is what the superintendent is doing, is actually re-echoing what the act has actually stated. Because if you look at the National Health Act of 2014, it states clearly part three, section one. The National Health Act. Yes. Now, it talks about the health care provider. If you're a health care worker or health establishment, you shall not refuse a person's emergency medical treatment for any reason whatsoever. And there's a penalty for that, 100,000 fine or six-month imprisonment for both. But the issue with us is that we have a lot of laws. If you talk about laws, regulations and what have you, we're not very great at obeying and ensuring that all of this is implemented. And I'm also surprised that he's saying that he's surprised. Because I'm surprised that he's being surprised at the fact that doctors are not treating. Because that's the norm. It's normal. Everybody knows that. He even said a few. He said a few. And you know it's not a few. You have to say a few. I mean, so it's like, don't you leave the space? Let's understand what the gentleman, he's just trying to be diplomatic. Trying to be diplomatic. Right. But this is something that's been going on for a very long time. It's a practice that's been going on. And a lot of people know. I mean, everybody knows it. As much as even almost the young soclean would definitely know that this is what it is that if you have a case, and that's why most times you have people, whatever situation it is, you don't have people or these medical practitioners attending to them. I also remember a certain situation where a colleague actually died because of the issue of COVID. You remember what COVID was actually great and all of that. People did a lot of rejection. You have a hospital saying, oh, no, we cannot, we cannot. And so it brings us back to the fact that as much as we constantly demand a change for our country, we can't blame President Muhammad al-Buhari. We also have to do the need for we have a role to play. Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. All right. Now look at the last one. Mercy. All right. Looking at the last conversation here, you have Apostle Chibuzor, who fulfills his promise to Deborah's family, and he talked about giving a mini-flat. So he's made available a mini-flat to the family and also to the group. The family of Deborah Yacobo, Deborah Solomon. Yes, yes. Okay. The victim of the Sokoto lean chain, you know. And so prior to this incident, he had talked about it. He said that he was going to be there for them, and that's what he's done. The family of Deborah Yacobo, the young lady that was stoned to death and also burned at the same time, Apostle Chibuzor, fulfills his promise to Deborah's family by making available, you know, the car for them and also the property. This would actually go a long way in helping them, you know, have a better life. The reaction that has actually, you know, come up from this is that people are applauding him and saying, hey, you are a man of God, you are real, and you are true. But for me, this is humanity, and this is what humanity is all about. And this is what kindness and mess is all about. So it's applaudable. It's very commendable. But you can also take out the fact that, hey, Deborah actually died in a very detestable way. And all that a lot of persons are still asking is that justice, you know, justice should prevail. And that's it. All right, there's been another shooting in the United States of America this time in Ovalde, Texas. It's a latest in the series of mass shootings in United States of America. The mass shootings in that country are well documented. Of course, famously Barack Obama tried to introduce anti-gun laws. And the Republicans said, no, allow us to keep our guns. Well, I hope that they're seeing what's happening because they are sacrificing politics, are sacrificing business or life rather on the altar of politics and business with the National Rifle Association, the NRA, lobbying and paying their way to ensure that more Americans buy more and more guns. They always talk about their amendments and their rights to own fire arms and all that. And sometimes, you know, these these groups, you know, they prop up people to go online and to go on TV, radio and all that to talk. And, you know, most of these red necks, especially who are mostly Republicans, don't country between the lines. Most of them are they're not so well educated populace in America. They call them Yankee boys, you know, and they wish out here because they're cowboys. They want to own their guns. And what Barack Obama was saying was simple. See, you need to have a mental check. Then this is somebody that can certify that you are fit and proper to own a gun. There should be a history. You should not anyone, not just just not just anybody should be able to walk in, walk up and go to a gun store and buy. I mean, you see gun shops in America on the street, just like you see ice cream shops, you know, in fast restaurants around here. So from what we hear in this latest mass shooting in Ovalde, Texas, in an elementary school, mercy, an elementary school. I mean, it's sad, really. Fourteen students were killed. I hope that is sinking into Donald Trump, George Bush and cool. Fourteen students killed. One teacher killed. This is according to Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, whom himself is a Republican. The suspect is said to be a local 18 year old high school student. He's dead, so now we can make that 16 casualties so far. And the suspect is also said to have shot his grandmother. You can't tell me that someone like that was stable. Well, they say, as you lay your bed, so you will take a lie or not. I hope that they are seeing what's happening. But yesterday, President, United States President Joe Biden gave a press briefing on that elementary school shooting at the White House. He said he's been briefed on that horrific news of the elementary school shooting in Texas and will continue to get briefings as regular information becomes available. And he says that. His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event and that he will speak some more as the days unfold. It's it's really sad, really sad. So, um, well, let's see how this is very condemnable. And it calls for a lot of questioning because at this point, you have several persons saying we need the legislatures, you know, to make legislation about gun control and what have you, just like you have rightly stated some of this point. You can't allow guns in the hands of anybody and anyone. And that's why coming back home to Nigeria for those who have constantly say, we need to get to a point where we defend ourselves. People need to take up arms. It's really, really not a good idea or ideology, you know, to put out. Also, remember the time where you had Nancy Pelosi tweeting and talking about the Buffalo killings? The Buffalo, Buffalo shootings, targeting black people at the time. And in that way, they said it was compounded by a replacement theory that a lot of people hold. And if you look at that, it's about the Republicans and what are the Republicans saying? So it feels like, you know, the issue of interest is not limited to a particular region when you have politicians that behave in a certain way, you know, they have a certain behavior. I mean, the characteristics is all is almost the same. So you can't differentiate them, whether they are not in Nigeria or the outside of Nigeria, if another they behave in a certain way. And, you know, their interest would always be what it is. So what's the problem? The question is, if you have, you know, the lawmakers at this point, why do you have now 38 lawmakers not saying yes to saying, hey, we need to put a stop to gun control? It's really so. So it's worrisome. It's really worrisome. I'm not sure these lawmakers actually have children. I mean, it shows that one thing in common, it never changes as their interests. Do they really care about the people? Yeah, you remember, you know, P.S. Morgan took this thing very personally when he was with CNN, you know, and P.S. Morgan, you know, lost his job because he was so personal about, because he couldn't understand, as a Britain who came from a country that has an advanced democracy, they have health care, you know, public health care. You couldn't understand why the Americans were fighting Obama care. Like, I mean, why don't you want to fellow citizens who can't afford health care to have health care? And you understand why they were fighting his auntie or his gun law efforts, you know, I mean, why should anyone, just anyone wake up? It's crazy. So P.S. Morgan took it personally with his programs on CNN. And he paid the price for it. He lost his job. Well, I think I think they it's sad to say, but they're enjoying the fruits of the seeds that they've been sowing. We have to go. That's it for our training segment right here on the breakfast of Plasti, Africa, when we return of the press, we take a look at the latest headlines on the pages of the National Daily.