Newspaper Headlines: DHQ to deploy troops in Kaduna, Imo ahead of elections

Insecurity, promises of presidential candidates, and petrol subsidy are the major issues that dominated the cover pages of Nigerian newspapers.

Sunday Punch reports that the defence headquarters said more troops would be deployed to states battling insecurity ahead of the forthcoming polls. The newspaper says Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has failed to make the account of the party public despite making a promise to do so.

The Nation says the suspense over the preferred presidential candidate of the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened. The newspaper reports that Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, has volunteered to stand as surety for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Guardian says the federal government is contemplating a renewable energy plan that would generate 178,000 megawatts for Nigeria. The newspaper says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has dismissed the comment of Bola Tinubu, flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, that he is a stingy politician.

Daily Trust says Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate, has promised to revive the Abeokuta steel company in Kogi state if elected president in February. Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, said his administration has found 199 ghost doctors on the payroll of the state government, the newspaper reports.

THISDAY reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the updated list of governorship and national assembly candidates following the death of some candidates and court rulings. The newspaper says fuel marketers, economists and the organised private sector have again asked the federal government to stay away from the regulation of petrol prices to allow market forces to prevail.

Vanguard: Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned that the window of reconciliation in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is closing, saying there would be dire consequences if the party refuses to heed calls for the exit of its National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.