PDP, others kick as INEC declares Osun poll inconclusive (PUNCH)
The Peoples Democratic Party and other stakeholders protested on Sunday after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the Osun State governorship election inconclusive. The commission also fixed the rerun poll in the seven polling units where election result was cancelled for Thursday, September 27, 2018. Although the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke scored 254,698 votes to beat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress who polled 254,345 votes, INEC said Adeleke could not be declared the winner because the number of votes cancelled – 3,498, was higher than 353 by which the PDP candidate defeated Oyetola. Read more
Epe indigenes must go spiritual for Ambode’s second term bid – Ikuforiji (PMNews)
In spite of mounting opposition to his second term bid ticket, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s kinsmen and women have resolved to take the battle to God in prayers. An indication to this effect came from Adeyemi Ikuforiji, a former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, as he urged Epe indigenes to pray for Ambode’s successful clinching of the All Progressives Congress’ ticket at the governorship direct primary scheduled for Sept. 29. Ikuforiji made the appeal at the grand finale of Kayokayo festival in Epe on Saturday night. Read more
Tinubu, Ambode and politricks of godfathers (Sun)
It is no longer news that they are playing cat and mouse. The cat appears to be former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. The mouse is his godson and current Governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode. As the game becomes more interesting, Lagosians get more confused. And they have been asking, what is going on? Tinubu, also known as Asiwaju or the Jagaban, allegedly does not want Ambode to go for his second term as governor. All entreaties to him have reportedly fallen on deaf ears. Not even Ambode’s wife, Bolanle, could convince him to support her husband. Read more
‘INEC erred, Ademola Adeleke ought to be returned’ (Guardian)
A legal practitioner, Boye Williams, has averred that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred by not declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner. Williams of Divine Chambers argued that having polled 254, 698 of the lawful votes against his closest rival, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP’s Adeleke ought to be returned as winner. Read more
Omisore, Omoworare may determine winner of rerun poll (Guardian)
The battle for the governorship seat has been shifted to four local government areas following the rerun election fixed for Thursday September 27. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had cancelled elections in seven polling units because of technical hitches and ad hoc staff that absconded with election materials. Read more
2019: Anxiety as Ambode’s loyalty undergoes test, lull in governance (Vanguard)
Noun definition of loyalty in English by Oxford dictionary is the quality of being loyal while the adjective form has it as giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. Tried and true. During his ministerial screening at the Senate, the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, echoed and schooled senators on his own concept of loyalty in respect of his encounters with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, during his tenure at the Government House, Alausa. Read more
Osun: PDP to strike deal with Omisore, others (Punch)
There were indications in Abuja on Sunday that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party might strike a deal with a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in a bid to win the state rerun governorship election slated for Thursday, investigations by our correspondent have revealed. Omisore is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the election in which the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke, came first with 254, 698 votes while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, came second with 254,345 votes. Read more
Buhari to grant presidential pardon to late Ambrose Alli – Obaseki (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed willingness to grant presidential pardon to late Prof. Ambrose Ali, former Governor of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta), according to Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Obaseki made the disclosure at a memorial service held in honour of the former governor, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Emaudo, Ekpoma, on Sunday. Read more
Tambuwal slams Buhari, says President is analogue (Punch)
The Sokoto State Governor and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Aminu Tambuwal, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as an analogue leader who lacks the required capacity to rule modern Nigeria. He said it would be unfortunate for Nigerians to vote Buhari for a second term. Tambuwal stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, when he met some delegates of the PDP ahead of the presidential primary of the party. Read more
Saraki has no justification to remain Senate President – Ndume (DailyTrust)
Sen. Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South), says that Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, has no justification to retain the seat, since he has defected to the opposition party. He said that Saraki should know that he was not supposed to retain the position of President of the Senate, saying that he could not “eat his cake and have it’. Read more
Anambra: Gully erosion threatens court, federal secretariat, others (Sun)
The Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has said gully erosion is threatening the Federal High Court, a hotel, federal secretariat, access roads and other property at the Alex Ekwueme erosion site in Awka, Anambra State. NEWMAP Project Coordinator in Anambra, Mike Ivenso, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, yesterday, that the agency has held a pre-bid meeting with some potential contractors for control works. Read more
Truck crushes okadaman, father, 3-yr-old daughter dead in Delta (Vanguard)
A trailer that crushed a motorcycle rider alongside a man and his daughter at the New Road area of Sapele in Delta State, yesterday, was set ablaze by angry residents. A woman, in tears, told Vanguard that the truck was trying to overtake the okada rider, who was carrying the man and his three-year-old daughter. She said: “The next thing was the accident. The truck driver and another man inside the truck ran into the bush and when boys got there, they angrily set the truck on fire. Read more
Why higher oil prices cripple the economy (Punch)
The crash in the naira exchange rate from N199=$1 by December 2015 to almost N500=$1 in January 2017 was popularly attributed to the erosion of Nigeria’s foreign reserves from a lofty perch of about $60bn to a less exotic retreat nearer $35bn. Although the naira rate has since stabilised between N305-360=$1, conversely, however, higher (and still rising) oil prices and output have reportedly buoyed reserves to almost $50bn. Read more
Tiger Woods wins again (PMNews)
Tiger Woods has done it again, winning his 80th PGA tour trophy and ending a five year drought. The 14 major winner did it in Atlanta, amidst a roaring cheer by the crowd. It was vintage Woods, wowing the Golf crowd all over again. “I would love to win this event. I’ve got a bunch of guys behind me who are playing well. We’ll see what happens,” said Woods on Saturday, going into the final round today. Read more
Pique rescues draw for Barcelona (PMNews)
Gerard Pique rescued 10-man Barcelona in a pulsating Catalan derby against Girona after Clement Lenglet was shown a red card at the Nou Camp. Barca were leading 1-0 when defender Lenglet was dismissed in the 35th minute for elbowing Pere Pons. Girona levelled through Cristhian Stuani before the Uruguay forward rifled the visitors into the lead. Read more
Tanzania buries ferry disaster dead as toll hits 224 (Guardian)
Tanzania declared the whole nation was in mourning Sunday as the first dozen bodies were buried from a devastating ferry capsize on Lake Victoria that left people 224 dead. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa led “national funerals” on the island of Ukara, where the MV Nyerere had been coming in to dock on Thursday. He spoke of “great mourning by the whole nation” as the first coffins were placed in individual graves, many of the victims unidentified. Read more