5.1m voters elect Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi govs today (Punch)
After months of campaigns and preparations by the various stakeholders, voters in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states will on Saturday (today) elect their new governors.
In the three states, the Independent National Electoral Commission had revealed that 5,169,692 voters collected their permanent voter cards out of the 5,409,438 registered voters in the three states.
In Bayelsa State, the data on INEC’s website indicated that there are 1,056,862 registered voters, out of which 1,017,613 collected their PVCs, while 39,249 PVCs remained uncollected. Read more
Saudi Govt to invest in Nigeria’s refineries, support CBN reforms (Vanguard)
The Government of Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest in the revamp of Nigeria’s refineries, as well as provide financial support to sustain the government’s foreign exchange reforms.
Saudi Crown Prince, HRH Mohammed bin Salman made these pledges at a bilateral meeting with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh.
To support the Central Bank’s ongoing reforms of Nigeria’s foreign exchange regime, the Saudi Government will make available a substantial deposit of foreign exchange to boost Nigeria’s forex liquidity. Read more
MohBad’s father responds to Wunmi’s allegation of placenta demands (Nation)
The father of late Nigerian singer, MohBad, Joseph Aloba has reacted to the allegations made by his daughter-in-law, Wunmi over the demand for his grandson’s placenta after birth.
The Nation reported that Wunmi, while testifying before the Lagos coroner inquest on Tuesday, revealed that the relationship with her father-in-law, Oladimeji, deteriorated after the birth of her son, Liam.
She told the coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, that Mohbad’s father became upset with her because Mohbad refused to hold Liam’s naming ceremony in Ikorodu. Read more
Indian petitions police over alleged fraud by another Indian in Lagos (Tribune)
An Indian businessman in Nigeria, Mr Sanjay Kumar, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, over alleged N17 million fraud by another Indian business partner.
Kumar, who made a copy of the petition available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), alleged that his compatriot, identified as Mr Dinesh Verma, also threatened his life and harassed him over his investment.
He said he fell victim to deceitful practices involving fraudulent conversions amounting to N17 million, committed under false pretences by Verma and others. Read more
Appeal Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu Governor (Channels)
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the victory of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah in the March 18 governorship election.
The court dismissed the appeal filed by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, as lacking in merit and upheld the judgment of the Enugu Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal delivered in September.
The three-member panel led by Justice Tijani Yusuf Hassan held that the appellant failed to prove that Mbah forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate and was not qualified to contest the election. Read more
Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, others nominated for Grammy awards (Punch)
Following the release of nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards on Friday the names of Nigerian music stars shone brightly in various categories.
Grammy-award winner, Burna Boy, bagged four nominations, while Davido clinched three nominations.
Davido’s emergence marked his first Grammy nomination. Read more
INEC official abducted in Bayelsa, result sheets missing in boat accident (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been abducted.
The INEC official, whose identity was not known at the time of filing this report, was abducted at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw LGA while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the area.
Also, a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA capsized and election materials. including result sheets, got lost. Read more
IGP orders investigation into attack on NLC President (Vanguard)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated this at a press conference on Friday in Owerri, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Imo.
“Consequently, he has directed the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the true facts surrounding the incident. Read more
Grammy Awards 2024: Taylor Swift breaks nomination record (BBC)
Taylor Swift has broken a Grammys record with her latest nomination for song of the year.
The shortlisting of her hit Anti-Hero makes Swift the first songwriter to score seven nominations in the category – overtaking Sir Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie, who have six each.
She is also nominated in the album and record of the year categories alongside Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus and SZA. Read more
The Beatles make history reaching Number 1 with new single 54 years after last topping charts (ITV)
The Beatles have topped the UK singles chart – 54 years after their last Number One.
“Now And Then” – a song based on a John Lennon demo from the late 1970s – was completed earlier this year by the two surviving members of the group and with the help of AI technology to restore Lennon’s vocals.
It has reached the summit after being released just eight days ago.
The Liverpool legends last reached Number One with The Ballad of John and Yoko in 1969. Read more
Dream or Mirage: Can South Africa’s white-led opposition win in 2024? (AlJazeera)
On April 1, John Steenhuisen was re-elected leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s largest opposition party, in a triennial congress in Midrand, just outside Johannesburg.
In his speech to 2,000 party members, he made clear the DA’s intent to wrestle power away from the governing African National Congress (ANC) in the 2024 national election and to prevent any possible alliance with another rival, the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Independence march: Smaller crowds expected at Poland’s nationalist rally
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“During the remaining months before next year’s election, the DA will make it our number one priority … to prevent an ANC-EFF coalition,” Steenhuisen said in his speech. Read more
Killers Of The Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone warns indigenous viewers of film’s traumatic impact (Deadline)
Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone is encouraging Indigenous viewers to watch the Martin Scorsese film “when and only if you feel ready.”
The film looks at 1920s Oklahoma and the murder of dozens of the Osage people in an attempt to steal their wealth derived from oil and gas on their land. Gladstone portrays Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman who was married to white settler Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio).
In a multiple entry thread posted to X, Gladstone warned of the film’s impact, particularly for younger viewers and women. “See it when and only if you feel ready and see it with people you feel safe with,” she wrote. “You’ll likely have a lot of generational grief to process. You’re not alone.” Read more
Keke Palmer granted temporary restraining order against Darius Jackson, custody of son (PageSix)
Keke Palmer and her baby boy have obtained protection from her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson.
A Los Angeles County judge granted Palmer’s temporary restraining order request, People reported Friday.
The order requires Jackson to remain at least 100 yards away from both the actress and their 8-month old son, Leodis “Leo,” including any childcare or schooling established for the child. Read more
Emmanuel Macron calls for Israel to stop “bombing babies” in Gaza and urges UK and US to back ceasefire (LBC)
Emmanuel Macron has called for a ceasefire in the Israel Hamas conflict, and said British and American leaders should back him.
The French president urged Israel to stop its attacks, saying that babies and the elderly had been killed in its bombardment of Gaza.
Many activists around the world, including in the UK, have called for a ceasefire as Gaza descends into a humanitarian catastrophe amid Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion. More than 10,000 have died and many more are wounded. Read more
Ship heads to Italy after rescuing 118 migrants at sea (AfricaNews)
A rescue ship is heading for the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday with 118 migrants picked up from flimsy boats in rough seas in the Maltese rescue zone.
Non-profit group, Emergency, says crew from the private ship, Life Support, conducted two different operations overnight Wednesday to Thursday.
The first boat was wooden and had 77 people on board. It had reportedly almost run out of fuel and had started taking on water. Read more
Osimhen hopes to return for Madrid clash (Punch)
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, hopes to be fully fit for Napoli’s UEFA Champions League matchday five clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on November 29, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 24-year-old has been sidelined since October 13 after being forced off in the 59th minute of Nigeria’s friendly with Saudi Arabia which ended 2-2 in Portugal.
Osimhen was not called up by Nigeria for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Read more
200 amateur golfers for 62nd FirstBank Lagos Golf Open (Vanguard)
No fewer than 200 amateur golf players will compete at the 62nd edition of the First Bank Golf Lagos Open scheduled to tee off from November 16 to November 19 at the Ikoyi Club, 1938 golf section.
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Olusegun Alebiosu, Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer, FirstBank, who represented the Managing Director, Adesola Adeduntan, said this at a press briefing in Lagos.
He said: “The FirstBank brand is proud to be the headline sponsor of this prestigious golf open, being the sponsor for 62 consecutive years shows the commitment to our brand. I’d like to appreciate the Ikoyi golf section for being a solid partner over the years, we welcome on board our old and new co-sponsors. Read more
Walked “too much”: Liverpool striker Luis Diaz’s dad recounts kidnapping (France24)
Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounted Friday how he was made to walk “too much” with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group.
Diaz, finally liberated Thursday after calls from around the world for his freedom, told reporters at his home in the country’s north he went through a “very difficult” time, surviving “almost 12 days without sleep.”
Diaz’s wife Cilenis Marulanda, who was taken by the same ELN kidnappers on October 28 but rescued hours later, rubbed her husband’s back lovingly as he broke down in tears mid-statement. Read more
Ange Postecoglou issues new Tottenham transfer update amid injury crisis (Standard)
Ange Postecoglou insists that he is not yet fixating upon the January transfer window after a costly week for Tottenham.
Spurs suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at home by Chelsea in a truly chaotic London derby on Monday night, but more damaging than the 4-1 scoreline was the loss of several more key players to either injury or suspension.
Postecoglou has confirmed that both James Maddison (ankle) and Micky van de Ven (hamstring) will be sidelined until the New Year with bad injuries suffered against Chelsea, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie are now suspended after their respective red cards in that game. Read more
Novak Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune at ATP Finals (StraitsTimes)
Novak Djokovic will take on Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune in the group stage of the ATP Finals as the world No. 1 chases a seventh season-ending triumph.
The title holder, who headlines the Green Group in Turin, is looking to cap another memorable year in which he has won three Grand Slams, taking his tally to an all-time record of 24.
Djokovic, 36, comes into the Nov 12-19 tournament in northern Italy on a high after claiming a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title by beating Grigor Dimitrov in early November. Read more
Emily Kristine Pederson fires 65 for 2-shot lead in The Annika (ESPN)
Emily Kristine Pederson had six birdies in her opening 10 holes and held on for a 5-under 65 on Friday, giving her a two-shot lead in The Annika and moving the Danish player two rounds closer to earning a spot in the LPGA Tour season finale.
Pederson dropped three shots over her final seven holes at Pelican Golf Club as the wind picked up late in the morning. Part of her wishes was that her 65 could have been lower.
“It got a little bit more windy out there and my back nine was not as I hoped,” Pederson said. “I hit a few uncommitted golf shots that I’m a little bit mad at myself about. That happens. Hopefully, I can commit a bit more tomorrow and keep it going for the whole round.” Read more