These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

The Nigeria Police has invited Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to report on Tuesday (today) to make further statements on the April 5 robbery in Offa, Kwara in which 31 people were killed.

In a letter dated Monday, July 23 which was personally signed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Senate President was asked to make himself available to the Head of the Investigation Team at the Intelligence Response Team, Guzape Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja by 8am.

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The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has however reacted to the invitation extended to him by the police over the Offa bank robbery.

As contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu on Monday, Saraki who described the invite as a mere afterthought designed to achieve a political purpose, also claims that it is an alleged ploy aimed at scoring cheap political points and to stop an alleged plan by some senators and members of the House of Representatives from defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Stressing that the police have obviously corrupted and politicised their investigations into the Offa robbery incident,” he insisted that he would not be intimidated by anyone as he had nothing to do with the robbery.

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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a Harmonisation Committee to consider the possibility of changing the party’s name ahead of 2019 general elections.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, disclosed this on Monday after the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, explaning that the action was part of efforts to rebrand and reposition it  ahead of 2019 election.

Ologbondiyan added that the NEC also applauded the infusion of Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) into the PDP, and as well approved the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to challenge in court the results of the July 14 Ekiti governorship election.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for an urgent amendment of the Electoral Act before 2019 general elections to establish a non-partisan agency to prosecute electoral offenders.

INEC’s Director of Legal Services, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu representing the Chairman, made the call on Monday at the public presentation of the Ekiti governorship election monitors’ observation report;

“The commission is deeply concerned about the rising phenomenon of vote buying during elections and is determined to continue to work with all stakeholders, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, among others, to find solutions to this menace.”

INEC noted that although Section 150 (2) of the 2010 Act saddles it with the responsibility of prosecution, it lacks the power to investigate and arrest those involved in the act of buying and selling votes as well as announcement of false election results.

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A fire outbreak occurred at the office of the Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola on Monday.

As reported by the Daily Trust, the incident caused tension as security men made frantic efforts to prevent journalists from moving close to the office before it was put off by Fire fighters.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sola Fasure said investigation has commenced on the incident.

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And stories from around the world:

At least 50 people have died and scores more have been injured as wildfires tore through woodland and villages around the Greek capital, Athens, officials said.

The death toll rose sharply on Tuesday after 26 bodies were found near the harbour town of Rafina, according to Red Cross workers and the region’s vice mayor, Girgos Kokkolis. (Aljazeera)

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The man accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding 13 others on a bustling Toronto street struggled with severe mental illness, his family said on Monday as police sought a motive in the rampage. (Reuters)

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North Korea has started dismantling some facilities at its main satellite launch station, seen as the testing ground for its intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to expert analysis of recent satellite images. (AFP)

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South Korea’s defense ministry said on Tuesday it plans to reduce guard posts and equipment along the demilitarized zone on its border with North Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported. (Reuters)

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Members of the Thai youth football team rescued from a flooded cave (except one of the boys who is a Christian) will have their heads shaved and don robes to be ordained as novices in a Buddhist ceremony on Tuesday.

Their coach will also receive monk’s orders while the group will spend nine days living in a monastery based on a tradition for males in Thailand who experience adversity. (BBC)