Chibok residents vote for security in Nigerian election

CHIBOK, Nigeria — In Chibok, the village in northeastern Nigeria’s restive Borno state that is still suffering the loss of more than 200 schoolgirls who were abducted last year by the armed group Boko Haram, some voters traveled hundreds of miles to cast their votes in the country’s landmark presidential election.

“I know it was a huge risks but it is my civic duty to cast my ballot,” says Allen Manasseh, who traveled nearly 500 miles from the capital, Abuja, to Chibok, his hometown, where he cast his vote on Saturday. His cousin Maryam was one of the kidnapped girls, and Manasseh is still hoping for her return. “We will keep demanding for our girls to come back,” he said.

Like many in Chibok, Manasseh is disappointed in President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the mass abduction of the schoolgirls on April 14 by Boko Haram. It took more than a week for Jonathan to make a public comment on the abduction, and he has still never visited the troubled community to express his condolences. “I tried to engage the government of Goodluck Jonathan, but the government treated us as if we were criminals just because we were demanding our girls,” Manasseh said.

Chibok voters went to the polls on Saturday, and the main opposition party, led by the former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, won by more than 7,000 votes. Nationwide, Buhari defeated Jonathan by a landslide, with a margin of more than 2 million votes. Jonathan issued a statement on Tuesday congratulating Buhari, and across Africa’s most populous nation, Buhari supporters celebrated an unprecedented moment — the first time an opposition candidate has won a presidential election in Nigeria, and a peaceful transition of power.

Buhari’s campaign slogan of “change” appealed to Nigerians seeking an administration that will tackle rampant corruption and an economy suffering from a falling currency. But for many in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram has killed more than 13,000 people and displaced more than 1 million in its campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate, security is the number one issue.

“Security is the priority,” said Bulus Mungopark, a leader in Chibok’s vigilante force. “And concerning our girls, we believe Buhari will do everything to find out girls because Jonathan is too weak to do so.”

Buhari’s military background appeals to those frustrated with Jonathan’s inability to defeat Boko Haram after more than six years. Nigerian soldiers have been accused of being too heavy-handed in their attempts to clear villages of suspected Boko Haram fighters, and also of running away from oncoming Boko Haram attacks. The armed group has turned into a threat to regional security, and Nigeria’s neighbors have stepped into the fight.

Mungopark, who traveled about 80 miles from Maiduguri to Chibok to cast his vote, said he has engaged with Boko Haram fighters on numerous occasions, sometimes alongside Nigerian troops. Since February, the Nigerian military has made some gains in the fight against the armed group. Last week, the military announced the recapture of the strategic town of Gwoza, where Boko Haram fighters had set up a base.

Polls celebration gone wrong: Lamido's aide kills one, injures 4 with car

DUTSE—Special Adviser on Religious Affairs to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Alhaji Isah Ahmed Duniya Bahutu, Monday, knocked down and killed an ex-soldier (names withheld) and injured four others in Birnin-Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The accident occurred when the special adviser was returning from Kiyako, his village, a few kilometres away from the headquarters of Birnin-Kudu Local Government.
Vanguard gathered that the governor’s aide ran over a group of youths, who were celebrating All prpgressives Congress, APC’s senatorial victory, having barricaded the main road.
Bahutu, a former state chairman of Jigawa PDP, ran into the gathering, lost control and hit the deceased, who died instantly.
Four of the youths, who sustained injuries, were rushed to the hospital.
It was gathered that immediately the special adviser noticed what had happened, he took to his heels to avoid being lynched by irate mob that had gathered.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the special adviser did not deliberately hit the youths, saying he did all he could to dodged the crowd but to no avail.
At the time of filing in this report, the special adviser was nowhere to be found, but the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abdul Jinjiri, said they did not receive any information concerning the issue.
He promised to get back to this reporter, which he had not done at press time.

NYSC denies death of 2 members in Gombe

ABUJA—The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday, denied a report of the death of two corps members, who served as ad hoc staff in Gombe State at the just-concluded March 28 presidential and the National Assembly elections.
In a statement by the NYSC Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, in Abuja, the scheme clarified that the two names broadcast by Channels TV were INEC ad hoc staff.
He commiserated with the families of those that lost their lives.
The statement read: “The attention of NYSC management has been drawn to a misleading news story featured by Channels Television on the death of two corps members in Gombe State, during the attack on some parts of the state.
“Management categorically wants to state that no corps members in Gombe died during the said attack by the suspected insurgents.
“The two names carried on Channels TV as corps members, who lost their lives, were INEC ad hoc staff and not corps members as reported.
“The NYSC, however, commiserates with families of those that lost their lives.
“NYSC management wants to reassure all Nigerians that we are indeed committed towards the security and safety of corps members nationwide.”

We should be celebrating rather than mourning, Jonathan tells PDP

President Goodluck Jonathan has told his supporters and the Peoples Democratic Party to be celebrating rather than mourning because he has kept his word of ensuring a free and fair election.
In a message to the nation conceding defeat, President Jonathan reiterated that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
The statement reads:
“Fellow Nigerians,
I thank you all for turning out en-masse for the March 28 General Elections.
“I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) WITH THE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR 2015 ELECTIONS GEN ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR DURING AN AUDIENCE AT THE END OF COLLATION OF RESULTS FOR THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON TUESDAY (31/3/15)
“Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress.
“As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.
“I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going through the process of the March 28th General Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was demonstrated nationwide.
“I also commend the Security Services for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violence-free.
“To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support.  Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning.  We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.


PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN LOOKING CALM AND UNRUFFLED AFTER CONCEDING DEFEAT TO HIS OPPONENT AT THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
“For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation.
“Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism.
“I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure”.

Breaking: Dame Patience Slumps As Buhari Is Declared Winner

Dame Patience Jonathan has reportedly been rushed to a hospital in Otueke and is in critical condition after she slumped while watching the live collation of votes on TV.

Dame Patience, according to eye witness accounts, is said to have been agitated ever since the election collation began on TV, but slumped at fainted just as the results for Benue state were called.

Our eye witness tells us that, on hearing that her husband lost Benue, she screamed “David Mark ooooooo heiiii” and fainted.

She was immediately rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bayelsa State University Teaching Hospital. On the ride to the hospital she kept mumbling “I don wan to go prison ooo”.

She is currently recieving medical attention.

Source:- FNN

Edo declares April 1 public holiday to celebrate Buhari

BENIN CITY-THE Edo State Government has declared a work-free day in the state on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, to celebrate the historic victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the 2015 Presidential election.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole invites people of the state to a victory party which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City starting from 3:00pm on Wednesday, April 1.
Top artistes, including Davido, Patoranking, Osayomore Joseph, Young Bolivia, among others, will perform at the party to celebrate General Buhari’s victory.

Buhari's victory: Celebration erupts in Kano

KANO – Kano streets were thrown into celebration, Tuesday evening,  ahead of the declaration of Buhari as the winner of the 2015 presidential election.
Tens of thousands poured into the streets, including women, dressed in the national colours celebrating Buhari’s victory.
A long motorcade of volunteers also entertained curious onlookers with life threatening displays.

The streets of Kanio ahead of BUhari’s declaration as winner of 2015 presidential election.
Commenting on the celebration, a Kano based Human rights activist Ahmed Soron Dinki  commended President Jonathan for conceding defeat.
He said that Buhari’s victory is a clear indication that democracy has come to stay in the country.
“I salute the courage of opposition party members for thier effort in changing the political shape of the country. I believed Nigerians are matured enough politically now”.

Jonathan Congratulates Buhari On The Phone

As Nigeria expects the presidential election results from Borno state, it is reported that Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Vanguard, the president called his major challenger, the opposition candidate, to congratulate him.

A source disclosed that Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party, first spoke with Buhari on the phone and then with the APC national leader Bola Tinubu.

See the photos from GMB’s Facebook page going under the caption: “Muhammadu Buhari receiving a call from President Goodluck Jonathan congratulating him on his victory in the elections.”

Leadership adds that Jonathan assured Buhari of maximum cooperation and smooth transition.
Meanwhile the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a break till 8pm. By that time the results from Borno state are expected to arrive.

As for the current situation, the preliminary numbers estimated by Naij.com team are as follows:
Muhammadu Buhari – 14,951,378 (51.70%), Goodluck Jonathan – 12,827,522 (44.36%).

INEC Announces Results Of The 2015 Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held two press conferences in Abuja on March 30, 2015, Monday, and starts the third session of announcement on Tuesday.




The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held two press conferences in Abuja on March 30, 2015, Monday, and starts the third session of announcement on Tuesday.

Nigeria now knows the results for 35 states and FCT Abuja. Read more details below. Click to check the total votes’ count on naij.com

17:55 With one state remaining, let’s have a look at current preliminary numbers, as estimated by our editorial team:

Muhammadu Buhari – 14,951,378 (51.70%)

Goodluck Jonathan – 12,827,522 (44.36%)

17:50 Jega announces a break till 8pm.

Catholic bishops to challenge Rome on consecration of bishops

Two renegade Catholic bishops on Tuesday at a remote monastery in Nove Friburgo, Brazil, expressed their willingness to consecrate a new generation of bishops in apparent challenge to Rome. French Bishop Jean-Michel Faure, said the new group “rejected Pope Francis and his new religion” and would not engage in a dialogue with Rome until the Vatican reversed some of its actions.
Richard Williamson and Faure, who were both excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church when the former made the latter a bishop without Vatican approval. Faure said the fact they planned to consecrate bishops was important because it means their schism can continue as a rebel form of Catholicism.
“We follow the Popes of the past not the current one. It is likely that in maybe one or two years we will have more consecration.
“There were already two candidates to be promoted to bishop’s rank,’’ he said. Faure said the group was first addressed as Roman Catholic now St Pius X, and later the Resistance. He said the St of St Pius X (SSPX) was a larger ultra-traditionalist group that was excommunicated in 1988 when its founder consecrated four new bishops, including Williamson, despite warnings from the Vatican. Faure said they rejected the modernising reforms of the 1962-65 “Second Vatican Council’’ and stuck with Catholicism’s old Latin Mass after the Church switched to simpler liturgy in local languages.
He said the resistance group would not engage in dialogue with Rome. “We resist capitulation, we resist conciliation of St Pius X with Rome,” he said. Faure said he was not sure what it would take for Rome to return to its old traditions but conflict could be a catalyst. “If there is another World War maybe the Church will go back to the way it was before,” he said.
A report said former Pope Benedict readmitted the four SSPX bishops to the Catholic fold in 2009, but the SSPX soon expelled Williamson because of an uproar over his Holocaust denial. It said in contrast to Benedict, Pope Francis pays little attention to the SSPX ultra-traditionalists, They claim to have a million followers around the world and a growing number of new priests at a time that Rome faces priest shortages.
The report stated that under Catholic law, Williamson and Faure are excommunicated from the Church but remain validly consecrated bishops.It explained that the duo could ordain priests into their schismatic group and claim to be Catholic, albeit without Vatican approval. It added that by contrast, women supposedly made priests by dissident Catholic bishops are not validly ordained because Catholic law reserves the priesthood only for men.

Presidential Election: Buhari leads, PDP kicks

Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru & Jude Opara
ABUJA — Erstwhile Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was last night sustaining his lead over President Goodluck Jonathan in the declared results of the presidential elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, last night.

President Jonathan has, however, protested results declared from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi States, alleging malpractices.

Jonathan’s protest articulated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was, however, followed by another statement late last night in which it claimed it was not perturbed by the results from the North-West, stronghold of Buhari.

Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC, has also protested the results submitted from Rivers State on the basis that there was no election in the state.


Main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari casts his ballot at a polling station in the “Gidan Niyam Sakin Yara A ward” at Daura in Katsina State on March 28, 2015. Voting began in Nigeria’s general election but delays were reported countrywide because of technical problems in accrediting electors.
AFP PHOTO
As at the time the commission suspended announcement of results late last night, Buhari had scored 10,101,497 votes from 21 states and the FCT, to President Jonathan, who has so far polled 6,798,254 votes, to second place.

The results were declared by the returning officers from the states.

Of the 21 states declared, Buhari won the polls in 13 states of Ogun, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna.

Jonathan won the polls in eight states namely Ekiti, Enugu, Nasarawa, Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Plateau. Jonathan also won the polls in the FCT.

Buhari had so far marshalled more than 25 per cent in 16 states while the president grabbed 25 per cent in 15 of the states so far declared.

The results from Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara were outstanding at press time and would likely be declared today.

The results earlier submitted from Rivers State, however, turned into a matter of investigation after the APC sent a strongly worded petition rejecting the results. The results returned had given Jonathan 1,487,075 votes, representing 95 per cent of the votes.

Under-aged voters

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, gave the seven states the party has petitioned INEC for the cancellation of the polls to include Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi States.


Jonathan casting his vote
Secondus alleged that in the seven states, under-aged children were allowed to vote in contravention of the Electoral Act and he also alleged that voting took place late in the night in the affected states, adding: “In Kano and some of these states in the North, majority of voters were under-aged. Voting also took place in the night, and you know that in the night rigging can take place. We have completed our reports from the Kano State chapter.”

We’ll resist rigging—Fani-Kayode

Also yesterday, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO, reiterated its claim that its candidate, President Jonathan, was winning the presidential election.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Director, Media and Publicity of PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode threatened that any attempt to manipulate figures or rig out the PDP from any quarter would be firmly resisted.

Fani- Kayode said: “We wish to take this opportunity to make it clear to the Nigerian public that according to the figures made available to us, we are ahead in the presidential elections by at least two to three million votes.

“We have our own Situation Room and we have collated all our figures from the various polling booths, wards, local government areas and states in the federation.

“Despite the propaganda of the opposition, we are confident of victory. They and all other stakeholders can be rest assured that we will accept nothing less than the announcement of an election result that is truthful and that reflects the true will of the Nigerian people.

“Any attempt to manipulate figures or to rig us out from any quarter will be firmly resisted.”

INEC probes Rivers result

Announcing the constitution of a high-powered investigation team to investigate the allegation that voting did not take place in Rivers State, the commission in a statement issued by Mr. Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said the fact-finding mission would ascertain the veracity of the claims and allegations and advise it and the Chief Electoral Commissioner/Returning Officer for the Presidential election appropriately.

Idowu said the committee of National Electoral Commissioners to handle the investigation included Mrs. Thelma Iremirem, Head and Supervisory National Commissioner for Rivers State, Col. M.K Hammanga and Professor Lai Olurode as members.

He said: “They have departed for Rivers State and it is expected that they will submit their report before the end of the collation of results of the other states and the FCT. Following the consideration of the report, the commission will make its decision known.”

The PDP also suffered significant losses in the Senate elections.

The APC swept the three seats in Kogi, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Kebbi and Sokoto. The PDP, however, won in Abia, Imo and Ebonyi.

Presidential Election: APC wins Yobe

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won the presidential election in Yobe state north east Nigeria.

Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Damaturu the Yobe state capital, the collation officer for the election in the state, Prof Ibrahim Njodi says APC pulled a total of 446,265 votes while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scored 25, 526 votes.

He also revealed that registered votes for the election was 1, 77, 942 as the valid votes was 473, 796 as against 16, 783 invalid.

The returning officer also said total votes cast at the presidential election were 490.079 votes.

Meanwhile the Resident Election Commissioner (REC) in the state Mr Habu Zarma has told journalists in state that the People Democratic Party (PDP) has won the senatorial election in the Yobe south senatorial district as well as the Potiskum Nangere federal constituency.

APC according to him won the House of Representatives seats for the Damaturu, Gujba, Gulani and Tarmuwa and that of the Bursari, Geidam and Yunusari constituencies.

While thanking all stakeholders for their various contributions towards the success of the exercise in the state, the resident commissioner says he will continue to update newsmen on other results as they come in.

The returning officer for the Yobe east senatorial zone of the state Prof Yakubu Muktar while announcing the senatorial results said the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the senatorial election in Yobe east senatorial zone with Sen Bukar Abba Ibrahim defeated his PDP counterpart Abba Gana Tata with a total of 87, 890 votes as against 27, and 846 votes.

Pregnant lawyer, 14 others escape death as armed thugs sack Federal High Court in Bayelsa

About fifteen lawyers among them a pregnant woman and two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) yesterday escaped death in a stampede triggered by armed invasion of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa by suspected thugs over the suit between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Foster Ogola.

The incumbent Senator, Lokpobiri, is challenging the choice of Ogola in the court as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bayelsa West Senatorial district of the state.

According to eyewitnesses, the thugs stormed the Federal High Court premises located along Capt. Amangala road, at about 10am over a purported sitting of the court and attempt by the judge, Justice I.E.Ekwo, to deliver judgement on the case of candidacy of the PDP.

Lawyers, who escaped from the premises included the State Chairman of the NIgerian Bar Association (NBA), Tony Okorodas.

The thugs upturned chairs within the court room and caused pandemonium as the lawyers scampered for safety.

An eyewitness said it took the deployment of armed policemen and sporadic shooting into the air to restore normalcy as the invaders fled the scene.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.

He said “yes, some group of boys, attacked the court and vandalized the windows and chairs in the court. I am not aware of shooting of guns but before our men deployed to the scene could arrived, they escaped.”

However the Counsel to Senator Lokpobiri, Selekeowei Larry (SAN) told newsmen that the thugs were led into the court premises by the state Governor, Hon.Seriake Dickson.

This was however dismissed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso- Markson, who in statement said the Governor’s visit to the scene was to ensure peace between rival supporters of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Foster Ogola.

Counsel to Senator Lokpobiri, Selekeowei Larry, told newsmen that the attack on the court, which he claimed was led by the State Governor, was a shameful act and a show intimidation against the judiciary.

He said: “Our case was listed as number 9 on the court list and I arrived the court early. Few minutes later, strange boys took over the entrance into the court and stopped people from entering. I tried to go out and know what was happening and I met the Bayelsa Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wodu. And I asked him what was going on. But his body language and countenance showed that all was not well.

“While the court was hearing the case being handled by Linus Nwosu (SAN), we heard the loud voice of the governor threatening fire and brimstone and claiming that nobody can come from Abuja and determine what will happen in Bayelsa. We saw him wave his hands up and the thugs came into the court and everyone scampered for safety including the court judge.”

Selekeowei also debunked the claim that his client Senator Lokpobiri instigated the sacking of the court, describing the allegation as spurious.

“How can the same man that wanted justice through the court, disrupt the proceedings of the court with thugs?” he queried.

But the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Iworiso-Markson frowned at what he described as the deploying of force by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to secure the PDP ticket for the Bayelsa – West Senatorial District, with misleading information and outright forgery of party documents.

The governor, according to the statement, spoke during his visit to the scene of the clash between rival supporters of the winner of the party’s primaries, Foster Ogola and incumbent Senator, Heineken Lokpobiri, who is challenging the candidacy of Ogola in court.

Dickson in the statement warned that the government will deal decisively with anybody or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, that takes the law into their hands.

The statement read in part, “Reports have it that, supporters of Evangelist Foster Ogola were irked, when the Judge, who had earlier been petitioned over his lopsided handling of the matter, went ahead to fix hearing and judgement for today (Monday), without proper notification to both parties, even as the matter has been moved away from his court.

“Governor Dickson, who visited the scene of the clash in the company of some heads of security agencies, condemned the action of Senator Lokpobiri for manipulating the judicial process for judgement to be passed in his favour, without the knowledge of the other party in the matter.

“He advised the judiciary not to allow itself to be used by desperate politicians to perpetrate injustice, capable of causing a breach of the peace, as was experienced today between the rival supporters.

Meanwhile, as a press time, a police armoured personnel carrier had been deployed at the junction leading to the court premises with two patrol vans stationed some distance from the scene of the skirmish.

Kidnapper of judge's wife to die by hanging

ASABA—A Delta State High Court sitting at Ughelli in Delta State has sentenced one David Tamarakpo Pade to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping of wife of a retired judge of the Court of Appeal, Mrs. Roli Awala.

The court also sentenced two of his accomplices to a total of 19 years in jail with hard labour for the same offence.

The court, presided over by Justice Ebiowe Tobi, found the three accused persons guilty on various counts, while delivering its verdict amidst tight security for the trial that lasted several hours.

The court proceedings were, however, intermittently inte-rrupted by several deafening sounds of explosives, which were later discovered to be sounds of traditional canon fired to herald the arrival of party leaders to a campaign rally held very close to the court premises.

Herbalist jailed

The convicted kidnappers include a popular herbalist, Moses Omiovwobese, who was sentenced to two years in jail for accessory on grounds that the kidnapped victim, 54 years old Mrs. Roli Awala was rescued from his shrine by the Police.

He was discharged and acquitted on the other four-count charge, while first accused, a 39-year-old Happy Opute, driver to the retired Court of Appeal Jurist, Honourable Justice A. P. A. Awala, was found guilty only on  the count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was slammed with seven years jail term with hard labour.

The second accused person, David Tamarakpo Pade, was not that lucky as he was sentenced to death after being found guilty of four of the five count charges, including that of armed robbery.

An Assistant Director from Delta State Ministry of Justice had told the court that the three accused persons with two others now at large, on or about August 5, 2009, at Ireden Crescent, GRA Warri, within the Warri Judicial Division, kidnapped one Mrs. Roli Awala and held her for six days before she was rescued.

He also told the court that they robbed the victim, her husband and daughter of their mobile phone and Honda salon car, while armed with a gun.

The kidnappers were said to have asked for an initial ransom of N50 million, but later reduced it to N25 million before she could be released.

The court, however, discharged them on the count of demanding property with menace.

ITF trains 74,000 youths in technical, vocational Skills

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has trained 74, 000 young Nigerians in different technical and vocational skills, said Director General, Mrs. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko. Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement forum in Lagos, themed: “Zero Oil Policy and Economic Growth: The ITF Perspective,” Onaeko said that the training programme was ongoing.
According to her “So far, 74, 000 young Nigerians have been trained in different technical and vocational trade areas. Some of the trainee secured employment immediately after completion of their training,  while a large number of them have established businesses of their own and are doing well.”
“The Technical Skills Development Program is being run using facilities of employers in different parts of the country and ITF Skills Training Centres. So far, over 2,300 trainees have benefited from this partnership. “We have also entered into technical collaboration with Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN), for the training of craftsmen and Artisans in the construction industry.”
She said the Federal Government has introduced various policies to reform the economy in other to place it on sustainable economic growth and stability.” Explaining further she said “ As a proactive organization, we have acquired four mobile workshops to complement our existing industrial skills Training Centres. These will increase accessibility to skills training in all nooks and crannies of the country and ensure that our young men and women acquire relevant skills to fit into existing and new jobs.
“The ITF has also refocused its training programme to equip two million youth annually with employable and life skills required for self and paid employment. We hope that the outcome will be drastic reduction in unemployment and restiveness across the country.” Additionally, she said most of the trainees secure employment immediately after completion of their training, while large number of them have established businesses on their own and are doing well.
She appealed to the stakeholders for support and collaboration to consolidate on the ongoing training programmes in the different sectors of the economy. “This laudable programme is on-going and we need your support and collaboration to strengthen and consolidate it,” she said.


From punch

Presidential Poll: INEC announces results from 18 states

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced results of Saturday’s Presidential Election in 10 more states to bring the total number of states to 18 states and the FCT. The states are Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Plateau and Imo.
The results were announced by the returning officers of the states at the National Collation Centre in Abuja. INEC had earlier announced results of Ekiti, Enugu, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Nasarawa and the FCT.
In Kano, the ruling PDP polled 215, 779 votes while the main opposition party, APC, scored 1,903,999 out of a total of 2,128,821 valid votes cast. According to the results, which were announced by the Collation Officer, Prof. Hamisu Muhammad, the other 12 parties that took part in the election shared the remaining votes. Hamisu said that a total of 43,626 votes were void in the state. In Jigawa, the PDP garnered 142,904 votes against APC’s 885,988 out of a total of 1,037,564 valid votes.
The Collation Officer, Prof. James Ayatse, said that a total of 34,325 votes were rejected. The PDP polled 98,937 out of a total of 1,449,426 votes cast in Katsina while the APC secured 1,345,441 votes. According to the Collation Officer, Prof. Attahiru Aminu, 32,288 votes were rejected out of the 1,481,714 votes cast in the state. In Kwara, the PDP scored 132,602 votes while the APC polled 302,146 out of a total of 461,401 votes cast.

Jonathan casting his vote
The Collation Officer, Prof. Musbau Akanji, said that 21,321 votes were rejected. In Kaduna State, the PDP secured 484,085 votes as against APC’s 1,127,760 out of a total of 1,650,201 votes cast in the state. Announcing the result, the Collation Officer, Prof. Ja’afar Kaura, said a total of 928,606 votes were cast in the state out of which 32,719 were void. However, there were reported cases of cancellation and non-holding of elections in seven local government areas, including Kudan, Igabi, Zangon-Kataf and Kagarko.
The total numbers of voters affected in the seven local governments were 27,482. Of the total of 688,584 valid votes cast in Anambra, the PDP polled 660,762 while the APC secured 17,926. The Collation Officer for the state, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka, gave the number of rejected votes as 14,825 out of a total of 703,409 votes cast. In Abia, PDP and the APC polled 368,303 and 13,394 votes respectively out of the total of 391,045 valid votes cast in the election. Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma , the Collation Officer, said that 10,004 votes were rejected out of the 401,049 cast.
Results from Kogi earlier announced by Prof. Michael Adikwu, but put on hold by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Atahiru Jega was accepted when the second batch of resu

lts were presented. Adikwu’s report failed to capture the number of voters in the two polling units where the election was cancelled. He, however,
announced that the number of voters in the two polling units affected in Dekina local government area were 9,756 and 1,089.
The results from Kogi s
howed that the PDP secured 149,987 votes as against the APC’s 264,851. Announcing the results, Prof. Adikwu, said that 421,328 votes were valid out of a total of 439,287 cast with 17,959 votes voided. The PDP polled 559,185 out of a total of votes 702,964 cast in Imo, while the APC secured 133,253 votes. According to the Collation Officer, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, 28,957 votes were rejected out of the 731,921 votes cast in the state.
The Election in 54 polling units in four local government areas with a total number of 30,353 registered voters was cancelled owing to irregularities. In Plateau, the PDP scored 549,615 votes, while the APC polled 429,140 out of a total of 1,000,692 votes cast. The Collation Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, said that 1,076,833 votes were rejected. In Akwa Ibom, the PDP secured 953,304 votes as against APC’s 58,411 out of a total of 1,028,551 votes cast in the state. Announcing the result, the Collation Officer, Bassey Asuquo, said a total of 1,028,551 vote

Nigeria: Jonathan Slightly Ahead in First Election Results

President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were marginally ahead of his main challenger, as the first general election results came in on Monday.

Jonathan and the PDP polled 2,322,734 votes overall against 2,302,978 for former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) -- a difference of 19,756.

MUST READ!! Our Honeymoon Was Hell: My Husband Ra*peD Me Violently

There are so many fractions of life that need support and a voice. Of late a lot of violent stories have been released and it gives others a glimpse into the rampant lives of abuse in our society especially between couples who supposedly love each other. The honeymoon period ended the day after we were married, six months from when we first met. After a little argument, Dehinde grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up against the wall.

He grabbed my hands and bent them backward, breaking one of my fingers. I was in shock. I was stunned. I was in serious pains. A few hours after the incident, He broke into tears and told me how sorry he was. I loved him so much, so I believed him when he said it wouldn’t happen again. But life became hell after that. For the next two months the abuse was nonstop.

He kept me in a constant state of terror. I’m not a drinker, but he’d toss a bottle of beer in my face and say “drink”. He’d punch me in the stomach or kick me in the thigh if I didn’t. I started walking on tiptoes around him, fearful of everything I’d say and do. But it didn’t matter; the abuse continued. He dislocated my shoulder several times.
He’d lift me up by the ankles and bang my head against the floor in the living room. A part of me wanted to leave, but another part of me hesitated. Somehow I felt I was partially responsible for the abuse. If I hadn’t made a particular comment or if I had just sipped the alcohol everything would have been OK. And for the first few months he was apologetic after the beatings.
He’d say he felt very bad and that he didn’t mean to hit me so hard. He’d actually cry sometimes and show such remorse that I’d forget my own pain. He’d become romantic and sweet, and I’d fall in love with him all over again. I started to isolate myself from friends and family. I didn’t want them to know about the violence.
I put on a happy face with my two kids and tried to act like things were fine. They knew about the violence but didn’t know the severity. When my mom wanted to see me, I’d lie, saying I was busy. I didn’t want her to see my bruises. I was embarrassed. Sadly, the abuse worsened. The rapes began about two months after we were married.
I was dressing for work when he came out of the shower and asked me where I was going. He didn’t wait for my answer. He threw me on the bed, sat on my stomach, pinned my arms up beside my head and ripped off my clothes. “If you want s*x, wait until I get home tonight,” I said. “You’ll do it when I want, and how I want,” was his response. It got worse after that. He would tie me up and put foreign objects such as necks of beer bottles into my v*g*na.
Five months into the marriage I endured beating after beating. While most of the assaults were done when my children weren’t home, I was worried that they might step in and try to protect me. If they did, they might get beaten, too. I began plotting our escape, but it was difficult. He had begun making threatening comments: “You can never get far enough away from me. I will always find you. If I can’t have you, no one will.” I felt trapped.
How I left? He had disappeared for three days. I didn’t know where he was. I thought he had been in an accident. I called his phone; he would answer but not say anything. He arrived home on the third night at about 1a.m. and immediately started screaming at me that he didn’t appreciate me trying to track him down. We were in the sitting room and he grabbed the land-phone receiver and began to beat me in the face with it.
His eyes were red and flashing like I’d never seen before. I ran to the bedroom, and he was right behind me. He picked me up over his head and threw me across the room twice. I broke my tailbone in the second fall. My 6-year-old daughter woke up. She must have heard something and came to see what was happening.
She just stood there, stunned. He looked at her and got scared for some reason. He went into the bedroom and pack his things. I found my phone, fighting the pain from the broken bone, limped to the living room, I then called my father who took me away from the house. Since then I have not set my eyes on Dehinde. Please what should I do about this marriage?

Three INEC Staff Killed In Benue During Election

Three adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Benue State were reported to have died, in the course of election duties in the state. The Resident Commissioner of INEC in the state, Prof. Istfanus Dafwang, made this known yesterday while briefing reporters at the state headquarters of INEC in Makurdi.

Prof. Dafwang said the commission also recorded the destruction of its materials at an unnamed location in Guma local government area of the state. He said amongst the dead was a female ad-hoc staff who died on Saturday morning in an accident at Oju local government area, while on her way to her duty post.
She was being taken by a motorcycle rider to her unit and he was probably over-speeding when the front of the bike apparently pulled off leading to the gahstly accident that claimed her life.

“The other two died Sunday morning in an accident on their way back to Makurdi from Vandeikya where they took part in the conduct of the elections,” he said.

Prof. Dafwang, who acknowledged that the exercise went on peacefully across the state, however, called for prayers to ensure that the coming governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections went without hitches.
At the time of this report, collation of results were still ongoing at Makurdi INEC office.


Culled from Vanguard.

Meek Mill Grabs Nicki Minaj's Behind on Tour

Nicki Minaj told her Paris fans that she has a major surprise coming for them at the second leg of her performance in France and she has duly delivered. Ms. Minaj came through with her man, Meek Mill.

Meek Mill flew to Europe yesterday to meet with her in France.

u are the fkn truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i’m obsessed. no one fux with u!!!!!!! @meekmill thnku for cmn out boo,” Nicki wrote on Instagram

From :36ng.com.ng

Davido disgrace Nigerian Music In Kenyan Concert

Davido flew to Kenya two days ago for a concert scheduled for March 28, 2015.

He missed Nigeria’s election yesterday due to this concert, but the end product brought him nothing but shame as fans blasted him for his supposed proud and immature attitude and for getting drunk at the concert.

They said he smoked too much Kenyan weed and he and his crew lost over 10 phones in one night.

Kenyan fans who were present at the concert took to twitter to express their displeasure over Davido’s rude act.

Presidential Election Results From Sokoto State

Results of residential election in Sokoto State has been released thus:

Kware LGA: APC 36,809 PDP 5,339

Dange Shuni LGA: APC 31,036. PDP 6,918

Guronyo LGA: APC 28,950. PDP 7,664

Gwadabawa LGA: APC 34,929, PDP 5,951

Salami LGA : APC: 18,922 PDP 5,029

Wurno LGA: APC 24414, PDP 3,928

Tangaza LGA: APC 24,719 PDP 4,866

Binji LGA: APC 16,478, PDP 4,722

Bodinga LGA: APC 25,084 PDP 6,816

Sokoto South LGA : APC 48,900 PDP 11,048

Rabah LGA: APC 19,887 PDP 4,994

Tambuwal LGA: APC 51,701 PDP 7,282

Sokoto North LGA : APC 44,705 PDP 8,687

Yabo LGA: APC 20,279 PDP 4,357

Wamakko LGA : APC 46,736 PDP 6,719

Kebbe LGA : APC 22,345 PDP 3,802

Illela LGA: APC 33,847 PDP 8,287

Tureta LGA: APC 12,648 PDP 6,121

Shagari LGA: APC 26,696 PDP 6,396

Photos From The Accident In Abuja This Morning

This happened this morning at Wuye bridge in Abuja. The bridge is before Berger Roundabout coming from Area 1.

The car, with two occupants flew over the bridge and landed beneath it. Thankfully, the passengers survived but one broke his leg.

Photo:- Four-Year-Old Boy, Sister Burnt To Death In Lekki Fire

A four-year-old boy, identified as Paul, and his sister, 1 year, have been burnt to death after fire gutted a bungalow in the Igbo-Efon, Lekki area of Lagos State.The incident happened around 5am on Saturday.

Punch Metro was told that the fire began from a cooking stove which exploded in the bungalow where the victims lived with their parents.

The inferno was said to have quickly spread and torched the room where the children were.

Our correspondent gathered that the mother of the children fled the area and called for help, but the children could not be saved.

PUNCH Metro learnt that firefighters and other officials of the Lagos State Fire Service and National Emergency Management Agency were on ground during the incident.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the agency was not alerted on time, adding that when firefighters got to the scene, they only met the charred remains of the victims.
He said,

“The fire started around 5am, and it involved a bungalow on 11, Fabiyi Street, Igbo Efon. The bungalow has a two and a three bedroom flats.“We were alerted to the incident exactly 6.03am and when we got there, we still met the fire raging. We deployed our men from the Eti-Osa and Onikan divisions in the area.

“However, when they got there, they only saw the corpses of the kids; they had suffered severe burns injuries.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the children’s father was not around, but their mother was. They were preparing a meal on the stove, when the stove exploded.

“The children could not escape it and that was how they were burnt to death.”

Fadipe said an uncle of the victim called the ambulance service which conveyed them to the mortuary, adding that the tragedy was avoidable if precaution had been taken by the children’s parents.

He advised members of the public to avoid storing kerosene and petrol in the same keg, which he said might have been responsible for the incident.

“We suspect that the explosion was because kerosene was mixed up with petrol in the tank of the stove. This could be because the couple used the same keg to buy petrol and kerosene.

“It is very important for people to ensure that the keg they use in buying kerosene is not the same used for petrol.

The spokesperson for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the victims were with a couple in the area because of the elections, when a gas cooker exploded..

He said, “The children were in the area because of the election and wanted to seek refuge in the event that there was violence where they stayed with their parents. They were cooking when there was an explosion.

“The kids hid under the bed, but were burnt to death. Nobody knew they were there until somebody remembered that they were still in the house, but by then, it was too late.”

He added that officials of the agency tried to salvage the situation, but it was too late.

Woman Stabs Husband To Death Over PDP, APC Presidential Candidates

Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old pregnant woman who allegedly stabbed her husband to death during a quarrel over who would emerge winner between the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidates, while voting was on-going , weekend, at Ejigbo area of the state.

The scene

The incident, which threw the densely populated area into disarray, occurred at about 12noon inside the couple’s one room apartment at 81 Military zone junction.

There were different accounts on how tragedy struck. A version of the account said the couple had divergent views on their choice of presidential candidates. While the husband was said to have decided to vote for the PDP, his wife, simply called Onyiyechi, reportedly chose to vote for the presidential candidate of the APC.

An argument which degenerated into a fight over whose choice would hold sway reportedly ensued between them.

In the process, Onyiyechi allegedly stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife in the chest region.

Another version said the deceased, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, told his pregnant wife to take the okro she was grating inside the room, to the veranda which also served as kitchen , an instruction she reportedly disobeyed, following which an argument which led to a fight occurred.

Visit to the scene

When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident yesterday, the couple’s apartment was under lock . Their neighbours however described the suspect as an amicable person who had never quarreled with anyone since she moved into the building.

One of the tenants who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard that they did not witness how the suspect allegedly stabbed her husband.

But he explained that : “ We were all outside waiting to vote when Onyiyechi rushed out, shouting for help. Out of curiosity, we all ran inside, only to discover blood all over the ground, on entering their apartment.

”On closer observation, we noticed that the blood was from her husband chest region. We met him on the ground. Before we could rush him to the hospital, he gave up the ghost.
Perhaps, he would have survived the attack had Onyiyechi called for help early. From all indication, it was clear that she attempted to manage the situation immediately the incident occurred.

It was when she discovered that the situation had overwhelmed her that she raised alarm.

”I do not know the name of her husband. We only know that of his wife, who we fondly call Onyiyechi

The irony of this matter is that she is not cantankerous.

”She has never beaten a little child, let alone to fight with any neighbor. Again on that day, we saw both of them together. They were seen sitting outside, one hour before the incident occurred. Policemen from Ejigbo later came to move the corpse to the Isolo morgue”.

Two Women Give Birth To Babies In Bush While Fleeing From Boko Haram In Bauchi

Two pregnant women gave birth to babies in the bush on Sunday morning while fleeing from suspected Boko Haram insurgents that attacked Gunti Gumi village of Alkaleri Local Government area in Bauchi state.

An eye witness, Malam Bala Kurba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the insurgents stormed the village, forcing the residents to take to their heels.

“The pregnant women were among those who fled the village. I was also in the bush when I saw a group of women battling to assist the two pregnant women deliver their babies. The women gave birth successfully and were taken to a nearby community, where they were kept,” said Kurba, who is the Manager of the Bauchi State government-owned Community FM Radio station in Alkaleri.

Bauchi Police Command’s spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said that some unknown gunmen in a convoy of 10 vehicles attacked some towns in Alkaleri and Kirfi Local Government Areas.

“Today 29/3/2015 at about 12.25 am,  unspecified numbers of unknown gunmen in a convoy of over ten vehicles, stormed many polling units in Kirfi and  Alkaleri Local Government areas,  destroying many election materials.  The hoodlums further attacked Kirfi and Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters, but were repelled and pursued towards Dindima Town along Bauchi Gombe Road.

Meanwhile, operations are still on-going. The entire surroundings have been cordoned-off by combined security forces and effort is being intensified to restore normalcy in the area.

Members of the public are urged to remain calm and disregard rumours from mischief makers,” he said.

Police Arrest INEC Officer In Taraba For Allegedly Collecting N20 Million Bribe From Politician

An INEC officer in Taraba State has been arrested for allegedly collecting N20 million bribe from a politician.

According to Vanguard, INEC resident commissioner in Taraba State, Alhaji Ahmed Makama confirmed the news.

Reports state that the electoral officer who was arrested was presiding over the elections in the Ibbi local government area of the state on Saturday.

Angry youths are said to have attacked the suspect, after they reportedly discovered that the individual collecting 20 million naira bribe from “a staunch politician in Ibbi to change the result of the state house of representative within the area.”

“Yes the Electoral Officer in Ibbi was allegedly arrested over collection of money from a politician and he is under police custody. I informed the national chairman and he asked me not to secure his bail and I am not going to do that until the police concludes the investigation,” said Makama.

APC calls for cancellation of Presidential, NASS elections in A'Ibom

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom has called for the cancellation of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

The state Chairman of the party, Dr Amadu Atai, made the appeal to INEC while briefing newsmen in Uyo on Sunday.

Atai said that virtually in every polling unit in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, result sheets were not available.

He said that he party, after a review of the field reports on the elections across the state, has come to the conclusion that the elections be cancelled.

The chairman explained that the call was based on the fact that the polls were not conducted in accordance with extant electoral laws and guidelines.

According to him, the result sheet is one of the sensitive materials that must be used for the conduct of elections.

He added that some voters at polling units in the affected senatorial district insisted that they would not vote except result sheets were provided.

He stated that the INEC officials later supplied the area with fake result sheets, which obviously lacked the barcode that the original result sheet had.

“The experience in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District was replicated in most polling units in Akwa Ibom North West and Akwa Ibom South senatorial districts, respectively.

“Most of the polling units did not have result sheets.

“We recall that only yesterday (Friday) we issued a press statement alerting the world to the fact that the PDP had colluded with INEC officials to procure original result sheets which were already being filled up with fake results.

“The elections were marred by other forms of irregularities.

“In Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the administration of Godswill Akpabio, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, went around with policemen and thugs beating up and maiming people.

“There were also widespread violence and other irregularities in polling units in Ukanafun and other local government areas across the state.

“In most part of Ukanafun, INEC staff clearly took side and refused to be an umpire in the elections.

“In Unit 2 of Ward 10 in Ukanafun, INEC officials refused to record votes for the presidential candidate of the APC.

“For the fact that the elections were so vitiated with irregularities and cannot therefore reflect the free choice and wishes of the people.

“We hereby call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the elections and reschedule fresh polls that would be conducted within and not in breach of electoral guidelines” he urged.

The party also called for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Austin Okojie, for being biased.

From The guardian

Knocks on INEC over 'failure' of card readers

Knocks on INEC over ‘failure’ of card readers

MORE Nigerians have reacted to the alleged failure of the card readers in some parts of the country during the presidential and National Assembly elections held at the weekend, blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the situation.
Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State challenged INEC to avail the Nigerian public the identities of the suppliers of the equipment as well as the cost of the contract.

Speaking to newsmen at his residence in Minna, the state capital shortly after casting his vote, Aliyu, who was a senatorial candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Niger East in the election, noted that making those details available to the public would enable them make informed judgment about the workability or otherwise of the equipment.

On a personal level, he declared that the equipment, rather than adding value to the whole electoral process, had succeeded in creating more panic in the system, lamenting that 16 years down the line, the Nigerian democracy had experienced several trial and error processes.

For Governor Aliyu, the card reader has not added value to the whole electoral process, instead, it has created some panic in the minds of the people. Though it did not take him long to be accredited, the governor, confirmed that he had to use all his 10 fingers before one was eventually accepted.

“For me, the process didn’t take long, but my 10 fingers had to be used before one of them got accepted by the machine. But I had thought that anything to be done must add value to what you are doing, I thought that was the concept of the card reader.

“I have received complaints already in some local governments where the card reader did not work, and we said they should follow what INEC had already said. Where it is not working, you can by pass it and other things, but up till today, I’m still not convinced that it has added any value to the situation.”

For me, the process didn’t take long, but my 10 fingers had to be used before one of them got accepted by the machine. But I had thought that anything to be done must add value to what you are doing, I thought that was the concept of the card reader

The governor expressed the need for INEC to begin early preparation for e-voting immediately after the April 11 elections so that the next round of elections in 2019 should not suffer this kind of embarrassment.

Also, Governor Aliyu would want the commission to tell Nigerians the status of the earlier claims by the Department of State Services about the alleged cloning of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) by some persons in Lagos, saying coming out clean by the commission would permanently lay to rest the conspiracy theory surrounding the PVCs.

“I’m very much concerned, when we are going to electronic voting, then we should start the process early enough, that is immediately after the April elections. We should not wait until it is six weeks to the election then you begin to introduce something new, that is not fair to the people and I would love to know the contractor and the amount of the contract that was awarded, for his do-called card reader, and then what happens to it after the elections. Is it going to be used now and discarded or will the information remain? Since what we have seen is called permanent voter’s card, that reader must also be permanent because that is where we have information about me.

“ I think we should be ready to deal with all these issues squarely, otherwise will be wasting a lot of resources unnecessarily. I believe that by now, after 16 years, we should be adding more, and not bringing new things into the system that we have not really been familiar with. After this election, I believe we should use the two weeks to correct whatever anomaly had been found and then by April 11, after that election, we must begin to talk about what will happen in 2019: is it electronic voting ?.

“The law says no electronic voting, but somebody issued the card read

ELECTION: INEC Releases Presidential Results From 10 LGs in Ogun

The Independent National Electoral Commission has released results of Presidential election in 10 local governments in Ogun State.

Out of the results of the 10 local government areas councils released as at 2:pm on Sunday in Abeokuta, All Progressives Congress won seven with wide margin while People’s Democratic Party won th e remaining three local government areas.

The local government areas released so far include Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta North, Odogboolu, Odeda, Imeko-Afon, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Remo-North, Ewekoro, and Ijebu North-East.

The details are as follows;

Odeda Local government

Number of registered voters -63,935
Number of accreditted voter -17,463

APC -11,102
PDP -4,456

Total valid votes -16,152
Voided votes -775
Total votes cast -16,927

Imeko Afon Local Government

Number of voters registered -35,311
Number of accreditted voters -23,481

APC -7,657
PDP -12,153

Valid votes cast -20,466
Void votes -1,122

Sagamu Local Government
Number of registered voters -77,955
Number of accreditted voters -37,772

APC -15,761
PDP -17,263

Ijebu Ode Local Government

Number of registered voters -55,127
Number of voters accreditted -25,973

APC -14,043
PDP -8,972

Remo North Local Government
Number of registered voters -39,180
Number of accreditted voters -16,960

APC -6,164
PDP -9,278

Ewekoro Local Government

Number of registered voters -62,425
Number of accreditted voters -14,193

APC -9,626
PDP -3,227

Obafemi-Owode Local Government

Number of registered voters -74,871
Number of accreditted voters -24,402

APC -15,207
PDP -5,786

Ijebu North-East

Number of registered voters 36058
Number of accredited voters 15214

APC- 7638
PDP -6163

Odogboolu local government

Number of registered voters 70658
Number of accredited voters 25752

APC -11623

PDP -11405

Abeokuta North local government

Number of registered voters -12 5485
Number of accredited voters -30556

APC 21213

PDP 5,742

Checkout Funke Akindele's Outfit In London Last Night | Photos

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, was co-host of the Dance Afrique concert, which took place in London on Saturday. The actress was the cynosure of eyes in her stylish multicoloured above-the-knee dress.

More pictures below…

Air Canada Airbus A320 Skids off Halifax Runway, Sending 25 to Hospital

An Air Canada passenger jet skidded off the runway after a "hard landing" at the Halifax airport in Nova Scotia, authorities said early Sunday, sending 25 people to the hospital.

The airline said that Air Canada Flight 624 from Toronto — an Airbus A320 — "exited the runway" upon landing. It said a preliminary count showed 133 passengers and five crew were on board when the incident took place just after midnight local time.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport said its airfield was closed and 25 people were taken to the hospital. The airline said later that 18 had been treated and released.

"We are thankful no serious injuries have been reported," Halifax airport posted on Twitter.

"There was bad weather and reduced visibility. They circled for a while and then went in when they saw a break in weather," a passenger on the plane, Treasure Addis-Mills, said. "People with bloody faces. Took a long time being stranded on the runway with snow coming down."

Addis-Mills said passengers "had to huddle like penguins to stay warm" until they were led to the terminal.

Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said there was some snow and wind when the plane touched down, but that conditions were not terribly difficult for landing.

The incident also knocked out power to the airport. Photos on social media showed passengers in a darkened terminal after the hard landing. Nova Scotia Power said electricity was restored to the airport shortly after 1 a.m.

The plane left Toronto Pearson International Airport bound for Halifax at 9:05 p.m., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.


From NBCNEWS

Was Picked Out Of 5,000 Artistes -Reekado Banks Speaks On How He Was Signed By Don Jazzy

The Headies Awards Rookie of the year, Reekado Banks speaks on how he was signed by Don Jazzy, his stage name and school qualification.
On May 8th 2013 when Mavin Records clocked 1, Don Jazzy put out words on the internet that he wants to sign an upcoming artiste to the Record label. At that time, Mavin Records had onlyh known artistes Tiwa Savage, D’Prince, Wande Coal and Dr Sid.
One of the 5000 artistes that sent in their works was Reekado Banks. He was the only artiste Don Jazzy selected. His stage name was Spicy at that time.
The 21 year old rising star made this known in an interview with Punch,
“Don Jazzy put out a notice on the Internet and wanted people to send in their demo songs in May 2013. I sent mine and I was the only one that got picked out of 5,000 people. I was not Reekado Banks at that time; my stage name was Spicy. After I got signed, I noticed a lot of artistes bore Spicy and I wanted to be different. I decided to change my stage name because I needed a fresh start. So, I chose Reekado Banks.”
Reekado Banks real name Ayoleyi Solomon revealed his degree in History and Strategic Studies will be useful one day…. “I recently graduated from the University of Lagos and I will get to work with it someday. Right now, I want to concentrate on my music career. I am certain my degree will come in handy..” he said

Jonathan Wins Ekiti With 176,474 Votes - Vanguard

President Goodluck Jonathan won in all the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State in Saturday’s presidential election

The PDP candidates equally cleared all the three senatorial seats and 6 House of Representatives seats in the state

Briefing newsmen at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office ,Ado Ekiti Sunday,the Chief Returning Officer for the Presidential election for Ekiti State and Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology,(FUTA), Akure, Prof. Biyi Daramola said the president and other PDP candidates won in all the 16 local government areas of the state

According to Daramola ,Jonathan scored a total of 176,474 votes to defeat his close opponent, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress,(APC) who polled 120,332 votes.

He thanked the electorates for conducting themselves peacefully during the election exercise.

Source: Vanguard

#NigeriaDecides:- 'Only 450 Out Of 150,000 Card Readers Had Challenges' - Jega

#NigeriaDecides:- ‘Only 450 Out Of 150,000 Card Readers Had Challenges’ – Jega
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during the presidential elections on Saturday, March 28.

The INEC boss, in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday night, expressed gratitude to the Almighty for how peaceful the process has been and for the large turnout of Nigerians who showed patience in the face of frustrations.

“Of course, man proposes and God disposes. We thought that this would be near perfect but regrettably there have been challenges,” he said.

“There were still cases of late distribution of materials and late arrivals in polling units but in spite of this we think its been very good also.

“We cannot but thank Nigerians for the passion they have shown, and the commitment to be able to vote in this general elections.”

Professor Jega was particularly happy about the exercise in the north-east region of the country where there had been fears of insecurity.

Election Postponement

He also explained that elections which failed to hold on Saturday will only be conducted in 13 federal constituencies and that will be on April 11.

He explained that the polls would have to be moved to that date as a result of shortage of electoral materials.

Prof. Jega said that the decision was agreed to by all relevant stakeholders, who unanimously asked for all 11 federal constituencies in Jigawa State be moved to April 11 even though only seven federal constituencies were affected.

The INEC boss, however, looked on the bright side when he compared the situation with what obtained in 2011.

“Federal constituencies alone we rescheduled over 60 and then we also rescheduled some senatorial because of shortages of materials,” he recalled.

Nevertheless, he expressed regret over the challenges faced. He stated that lessons have been learnt, which would be factored into preparations for the governorship and State Assembly elections holding on April 11.

Card Reader Flop

Professor Jega admitted that there were indeed challenges in the deployment of the card readers but the challenges were not significant enough to affect the overall success of the elections.

“From our general assessment, out of the 150,000 card readers which we have deployed, only about 450 were affected.

“But because we just wanted to ensure that Nigerians who have been patient in this process have an opportunity to exercise their rights and because the numbers are relatively insignificant, that’s why we thought it was necessary to do an addendum to the guidelines and allow those people to be able to vote once they can be physically authenticated and verified.

“Thank God it went well. The only challenge is that it meant the voting has gone on in some places into late evening and early night.”

He expressed confidence in the assurance given by security agencies that all arrangements had been made to secure all the polling units and ensure the successful completion of voting as well as a successful collation of the results.

Olamide Plans To Release Five Albums In 2015

YBNL Boss and Baddoo of Life Olamide in an exclusive interview with FNN revealed that he was ready to keep releasing hit songs and albums to Nigerians, especially as he was on track to drop five hot new albums this year.

This is in addition to the over a hundred songs he already has to his credit and three albums in just less than five years.

According to Olamide, he is so passionate about music that he feels he owes Nigerians a responsibility to release new tracks very frequently, and he is doing everything within his power to fulfil the responsibility.

When he was asked whether he didn’t feel that he was disturbing Nigerians by obliging them to download new songs every week, he countered by saying that he is not forcing anybody to listen to his tracks, as the tracks were capable of selling themselves.

“I do not force anybody to listen to or download my songs. if you want to hear them, good. if not, carry your bad belle oshi away to another place. whether you listen or not I will still make my money’

Soure:- FNN

Photos: Massive Protest On Going Rite Now In Port Harcourt

APC leading a protest against INEC Rivers State and the harassment and arrest against APC members in Rivers state…

Robbers Rape Church Members During Night Vigil In Edo

Seven ladies who attended a vigil in a new generation church located at 2nd Cemetery Road, Benin-City, were allegedly raped by armed bandits who stormed the location at about 4am on Thursday.
Vanguard Newspaper reports say the robbers had earlier raided a  building near Ewuotubu community where they robbed some tenants living in four different flats in the compound. Two persons, including a police officer, were shot dead while others sustained various degrees of injuries in the process.
What was supposed to be an all-night marathon prayer session, tagged ‘Koboko Night’, meant to cast out demons tormenting some members of the  church, turned sour as the masked armed robbers, numbering six, shot sporadically, ordering the members to go back to the church shortly after they said the final prayers to depart the church.
The robbers had, on arriving the church premises, rained bullets on the roof and ordered members to lie down. They later went ahead to rape the women.
One of the victims, who narrated her ordeal to Sunday Vanguard, said,
“Though I was not raped, I was beaten mercilessly when they were asking us to identify the pastor and we refused. After collecting our phones, money and jewelleries, they ordered some of the ladies to undress. They threatened to kill them if they refused and, of course, they removed their clothes and were raped one by one.
“It was actually two churches that they attacked. They raped five women in our church. Later, we found out that they raped two others in a church close to ours. They ransacked the church and collected any cash they found and escaped. It was a horrible sight.”
The raped women are said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital on Ekenwan Road, Benin City.

Dillish Mathews says the $300k she won on BBA is finished. Spent on Rolexes and luxury travels

In a video she posted on her instagram page a few days ago, Dillish Mathews, who won the grand price of $300k as winner of the 2013 Big Brother Africa contest, said the money is finished
"Read about what I did with my money that I got from Big Brother? It's finished. A couple of Rolexes, kept going to Milan, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai...it's finished. Kaput!" she said.
Hopefully, she's just joking.

Passengers on board a Jet Airways’ flight were outraged as a 30-year-old man jumped off the plane when it landed in Mumbai Airport in India.

According to Dailymail, Jet Airways' Chandigarh to Mumbai flight 9W469 had landed around five minutes earlier before the man, ‘Akash Jain’, sprang into action.

He is reported to have opened the emergency exit in the middle of the plane, and jumped 15 feet down onto the tarmac

Reports say he was directed to the terminal by a staff member working on another flight. He then made his way into the terminal and out of the airport.

Airport officials have reacted with anger as to why it took Jet Airways staff 35 minutes to notify security.


#Mumbai #India #JetAirways

Nigeria's Presidential Election: Abuja Results - Vanguard

Vanguard newspaper has posted the results of 2 voting points out of the three in Government Secondary school, Lugbe, Abuja:

Find below:

1st voting point:

Reps: PDP 60, APC 39, APGA 37, LABOUR 3.

Senate: APC 47, PDP 77, APGA 17, SDP 1, invalid 3.

Presidential: APC 47, PDP 91, IDC 1, SDP 1, APGA 4.

2nd voting point:

Reps: Labour 5, APC 34, APGA 23, PDP 58, Invalid 2.

Senate: APC 32, APGA 10, PDP 82.

Presidency: APC 33, PDP 90,

Source: #Vanguard

Ice Prince's stunning French-Ghanian girlfriend releases new photos

The good or bad thing (depends on the individual) about dating a celebrity is that you automatically get attention. If she wasn't dating Ice Prince, she'd be another pretty random girl on instagram and we won't care what she puts on her page, but since she's with him, we care! :-) Maima yesterday released stunning new photos of herself on instagram.