Ambode delivers LG as APC wins Lagos East Senatorial District (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has successfully delivered Epe Local Government to the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s candidates for the National Assembly. In the final results collated and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday, the APC polled 17,710 votes across the 19 wards in the local government, while the PDP got 13, 305 votes. The breakdown shows that the APC showed its strength, winning in 17 of the 19 wards in Epe local government. Read more
Collation of presidential results begins in Abuja today (Nation)
Collation and announcement of results of Saturday’s elections will begin today. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu opened the collation centre at about 6pm yesterday. Yakubu adjourned sitting till 11am today after setting the ground rules. It was the last step in the conduct of the presidential election. The collation and announcement of results are expected to start today, with results coming from INEC offices from the 38 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). All the agents of registered political parties were represented at the opening of the centre. Read more
EFCC officials storm Ogun INEC office (Punch)
Ten operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Sunday, stormed the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ogun State. Their arrival might not be unconnected with the rumour being spread around that there were plans to compromise the results of the elections in the state. The arrival of the EFCC officials at Magbon INEC Office, Abeokuta around 2pm reportedly caused confusion among the INEC officials. Read more
128 arrested for electoral offences (Nation)
The police are holding 128 persons for electoral offences during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The police also said they had recovered 38 weapons and some explosives. According to the Acting Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Special Election Investigation Team (SEIT) has been directed to begin a discreet investigation of all security-related infractions during the election and ensure that all persons found culpable are brought to book in accordance with the law. Read more
INEC used photocopies of ballot papers in Imo –NBA (Punch)
The Nigerian Bar Association said on Sunday that the Saturday’s elections experienced some logistical shortcomings despite the postponement of the exercise from its originally scheduled date of February 16. The association, through its Election Working Group 2019, said in its preliminary report released on Sunday that the lapses experienced during the polls were avoidable. In the report signed by its Chairman, Afam Osigwe, the EWG noted that largely, the polls started later than the 8am scheduled time. Read more
Falana to INEC: take over trial of poll offenders (Nation)
People’s Alternative Front (PAF) National Chairman Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over the prosecution of the electoral offenders arising from the 2019 elections. Falana, in a letter dated February 22 and addresses to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, said this has become necessary to prevent official impunity. He noted that members of the political class have rejected the popular call for the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal in an attempt to shield electoral offenders from prosecution. Read more
Over eight million workers have pension accounts — PenCom (Punch)
Employers have opened pension accounts for 8,381,768 workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme as of the end of November 2018. According to figures obtained from the National Pension Commission on Friday, this figure rose from 7.3 million at the end of 2016. While the registered workers were under the formal sector, PenCom had disclosed it would soon commence the micro pension scheme for workers in the informal sector. The Head, Research and Corporate Strategy, PenCom, Dr Farouk Aminu, had, at a forum in Lagos, said the commission was working on ensuring that the scheme commenced as planned. Read more
Venezuela defectors fear for families under Maduro (BBC)
Venezuelan soldiers who defected into Colombia on Saturday say they fear for the safety of their families under President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Speaking exclusively to the BBC’s Orla Guerin, one defector aged 23 says he is worried forces loyal to the president may “lash out against my family”. “But I think it was the best decision I could have made,” he adds. More than 100 soldiers are said to have defected, most during deadly clashes over aid deliveries on Saturday. Tensions were high after President Maduro sent troops to block roads and bridges at the borders of neighbouring Brazil and Colombia, where food and medicine deliveries, organised by the US, were set to enter the country. Read more
MPs to have Brexit vote by 12 March (BBC)
MPs will be able to have a fresh vote on the Brexit deal by 12 March, Prime Minister Theresa May has said. Speaking as she travelled to an EU-Arab League summit in Egypt, Mrs May ruled out holding another so-called “meaningful vote” this week. But she said “positive” talks with the EU were “still ongoing” and leaving on 29 March was “within our grasp”. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the prime minister of “recklessly running down the clock”. Read more
D’Tigers bounce back with 72-59 win over CAR (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s senior men basketball team D’Tigers bounced back from defeat to Côte d’Ivoire with a 72-59 win over Central African Republic in a 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification encounter played at the weekend. D’Tigers suffered their first loss of their campaign to Côte d’Ivoire on Friday, February 22 which was their first defeat in ten qualification games. The Nigerian team led by Alex Nwora, however, recorded a win against CAF with several stars missing. Read more
Ighalo helps Shanghai Shenhua to win on debut (Vanguard)
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has made his debut for Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua. The former Changchun Yatai man rejected advances from top European clubs before sealing a transfer to Shanghai Shenhua on February 14 for a fee of 15 million euros, with two young Chinese players moving in the opposite direction. Ighalo was handed his debut on Saturday afternoon as Shanghai Shenhua thrashed Dalian Yifang 3-0 in their final warm-up game ahead of the new season. Read more
Man City win Carabao Cup on penalties (BBC)
Manchester City won the Carabao Cup in a penalty shootout at Wembley after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga defied manager Maurizio Sarri’s attempt to substitute him. City claimed the first major trophy in their four-pronged assault on silverware but this stale final, which was goalless after extra time, will be remembered for an almost unprecedented challenge to Sarri’s authority by Arrizabalaga. The £71m Spanish keeper, Chelsea’s club record signing, had been struggling with cramp in the closing stages of extra time and Sarri decided to send on substitute Willy Caballero, who saved three penalties in a shootout to help Manchester City win this trophy against Liverpool in 2016. Read more
Keeper incident a misunderstanding – Sarri (BBC)
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says the incident involving goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup final was a “misunderstanding”. The club record £71m signing appeared to defy the Italian’s attempt to substitute him in extra time before Manchester City won on penalties. Sarri appeared furious and walked down the tunnel before quickly returning. “I misunderstood the problem and only realised the situation when the doctor arrived at the bench,” said Sarri. Read more